Strengthening Defense Ties through AI

In a recent interview with Nikkei, Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir, emphasized the urgent need for Japan and the United States to accelerate their partnership in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) for defense purposes. Karp proposed the joint development of an AI-powered targeting system, highlighting the potential for Japan to contribute hardware while U.S. companies provide the necessary software infrastructure.

"If I were in charge of Japan, what I would do is build an AI targeting system with America that's co-managed," Karp stated. "That brings the countries together, and it also asserts dominance."

Wake-Up Call for Increased AI Investment

This call to action comes in the wake of claims by Chinese startup DeepSeek, which has developed AI models that rival U.S. capabilities at a fraction of the cost. Karp described this development as a "wake-up call" that should spur the United States to invest more heavily in AI technology to maintain its competitive edge.