What would J.R.R. Tolkien think of Palantir?

Big tech companies often use names inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," with figures like Peter Thiel openly expressing their fandom. Thiel, in particular, has named several companies after Tolkien lore, most notably Palantir, a mysterious software company. A Palantír in "The Lord of the Rings" is a magical seeing stone, not inherently evil, but frequently used by antagonists for deception and malevolent schemes. This raises the question of why Peter Thiel and Palantir CEO Alex Karp would name their company after such an object. "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, a blockbuster film series, tells the story of Frodo Baggins and the Fellowship's quest to destroy a powerful ring and prevent a dark lord from conquering the world. Palantíri in the story allow users to communicate over vast distances or even glimpse the future. While not inherently evil, their use often leads to negative outcomes, predominantly by villains like Sauron and Saruman to dominate and deceive. Palantir Technologies develops software that rapidly analyzes massive datasets for government agencies, the military, and corporations. Founded in 2003 by Peter Thiel and Alex Karp, with initial investment from the CIA, its mission was to support defense and intelligence institutions post-9/11. Palantir can integrate and analyze an institution's data, essentially acting as a "seeing stone" for decision-making. Its primary customer is the Department of Defense, and it has a notable relationship with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Reports indicate its AI tech is used in conflicts from Ukraine to Gaza. Various government agencies and businesses across diverse sectors, from power plants to fast-food chains, also utilize Palantir's technology. Palantir's marketing often leverages the idea of its software being a mysterious, almost magical tool that empowers organizations. This Tolkien obsession extends to their corporate culture; their Palo Alto office was called "the Shire," Virginia's "Rivendell," and London's "Grey Havens," with employees sometimes referred to as "Hobbits." This culture, according to former employee Juan Sebastian Pinto, helps reinforce a worldview where employees feel they are on a "world mission" to "save the Shire," which for CEO Alex Karp means protecting the US and its allies and doing good for warfighters. Karp has stated Palantir aims to "disrupt and make our institutions...the very best in the world and when it's necessary to scare our enemies and on occasion kill them." This self-perception of Palantir as an all-seeing network influencing governments and military operations is unsettling, especially considering Tolkien's own anti-technology and anti-surveillance views. Tolkien believed that the "machine" and the motive of domination could corrupt the world. In his stories, those who use a Palantír are often deceived, with even the most powerful villains making strategic errors. The true heroes of "The Lord of the Rings" are the Hobbits—brave, loyal, ordinary people who protect what they love, reflecting Tolkien's own preference for a rural, decentralized life. In Tolkien's world, being all-seeing is not something to celebrate; the Palantír stone embodies the dangers of technology and industrialization in the hands of power. In 2025, Pinto and 12 other Palantir alumni penned "The Scouring of the Shire," expressing concerns about the company's direction. They argue that big tech is co-opting revolutionary fantasy logic in a way that contradicts Tolkien's core messages of fellowship and shared understanding. The immense influence wielded by big data tech companies like Palantir is undeniable. Palantir