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Microsoft, Palantir Expand Partnership to Bring AI, Analytics to U.S. Security Networks

• By John K. Waters
• 08/09/2024

Microsoft and data fusion platform provider Palantir Technologies announced an expansion of their partnership this week, to provide enhanced cloud, AI, and analytics capabilities to the U.S. Defense and Intelligence Community. This collaboration will integrate Microsoft’s advanced large language models (LLMs) through its Azure OpenAI Service with Palantir’s AI Platform (AIP) within Microsoft’s government and classified cloud environments, marking a first-of-its-kind initiative for critical national security operations, the companies said.

This integrated solution combines Microsoft’s Azure cloud compute and language models, such as GPT-4, with Palantir’s data integration and ontology capabilities. The collaboration will enable operators to build AI-driven operational workloads across various defense and intelligence functions, the companies said, including logistics, contracting, and action planning. The availability of these services is contingent on the completion of authorization and accreditation by the relevant government agencies.

"Bringing Palantir and Microsoft capabilities to our national security apparatus is a step change in how we can support the defense and intelligence communities," said Shyam Sankar, Chief Technology Officer of Palantir, in a statement. "Palantir AIP has pioneered the approach to operationalizing AI value—beyond chat—across the enterprise. It’s our mission to deliver this software advantage, and we’re thrilled to be the first industry partner to deploy Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service in classified environments."

Palantir's platforms use AI to enable organizations to integrate, manage, and analyze vast amounts of data to make informed decisions. Its AIP was designed to operationalize artificial intelligence across different domains, allowing users to build and deploy AI models directly within their existing data environments. This platform emphasizes the responsible and secure use of AI in critical applications, the company says.

"This expanded partnership between Microsoft and Palantir will help accelerate the safe, secure and responsible deployment of advanced AI capabilities for the U.S. government," said Deb Cupp, President of Microsoft Americas, in a statement. "Palantir, a leader in delivering actionable insights to government, will now leverage the power of Microsoft’s government and classified clouds and robust Azure OpenAI models to further develop AI innovations for national security missions."

The Palantir Federal Cloud Service, which includes Gotham, Foundry, AIP, Apollo, and FedStart Mission Manager Platforms, is also authorized to deploy on Microsoft Azure for IL5 environments. Both companies have committed to incorporating responsible privacy standards and ethical AI practices, which reflects their shared values in product engineering and operational approaches.

Palantir's products are used primarily by government agencies, especially in defense and intelligence sectors, but they're also utilized by commercial enterprises in various industries, including finance, healthcare, and energy.

Foundry was designed for commercial and enterprise use. The platform was designed to allow organizations to integrate and analyze data from across their operations to improve decision-making, optimize processes, and drive innovation. It's used in primarily in manufacturing, healthcare, and finance.

Gotham is widely used by government agencies, particularly in defense and intelligence. It was designed to enable users to integrate and analyze large datasets from different sources to uncover patterns, connections, and insights. It's known for its applications in counterterrorism, military operations, and law enforcement.

Apollo is a continuous delivery system that allows organizations to deploy and manage software across different environments, from on-premises to cloud and hybrid setups. Apollo was developed to ensure that Palantir’s software can operate seamlessly in different and secure environments.

As part of the expanded partnership, Palantir and Microsoft will offer bootcamp experiences for the Defense and Intelligence Community to try out the technology.