Multi-million dollar Palantir Technologies is one of the most secretive and powerful companies in Silicon Valley.

It develops software that can quickly analyze massive amounts of data.

It's used by government agencies, the military, and major corporations.

A new book, The Philosopher in the Valley, Alex Karp Palantir, and the rise of the surveillance state, gives readers a glimpse inside this controversial tech firm and its outspoken and colorful CEO.

Ali Rogan spoke with the author, New York Times Magazine contributing writer Michael Steinberger.

Michael, thank you so much for joining us.

Let's start with the most essential question.

Who is Alex Carp and what is Palantir?

Alex Carp is the CEO and co-founder of Palantir,

and Palantir is a technology firm that specializes in data analytics.

It makes software that enables organizations to make faster, more efficient use

of their own data. It's important to clear up some of the things that Palantir doesn't do.

It doesn't collect data. It doesn't store data and it doesn't sell data. It just enables

organizations, and these are typically large organizations, to make better use of their own data.

Depending on who you talk to, Palantir is an amazing tool for data collection and efficiency,

or it's very dangerous technology that has potential for great abuse.

Why is it that this company arouses such strong feelings on both sides?

Because both of those things are true. It enables lots of companies to make better use of the information they collect.

It makes their businesses more efficient. Their operations more efficient. But Palantir also works,

for instance, with the CIA and a number of other clandestine services. Its technology is being

used now by ICE to help facilitate deportations here in the United States. So it's used by a wide

range of organizations. Most of the work it does is pretty benign.

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