Dr Rhiannon Mihranian Osborne of Medact told the BBC that the NHS’s ongoing contract with Palantir makes the health service complicit in the company’s AI warfare operations and ideology.
What Medact’s representative said about the NHS contract
Osborne stated that every day the NHS continues its contract with Palantir makes the health system complicit in Palantir’s violent operations, such as AI warfare, and deeply alarming ideology, which includes powering America and its allies to their “innate superiority”.
Why the controversy over Palantir’s contract matters
The controversy matters because Palantir holds a £300 million contract to create a data platform for the NHS, a deal opposed by the British Medical Association and subject to intense debate as the company embeds itself in public bodies.
How Palantir’s leadership influences the debate
Palantir’s co-founder and chief executive Alex Kru has criticised the belief that all cultures are equal, called for universal national service, labelled the post-World War Two disarmament of Germany and Japan an “overcorrection”, backed AI weapons, and condemned the “ruthless exposure” of private lives of public figures.
What specific operations did Osborne reference?
Osborne referenced Palantir’s involvement in AI warfare as part of its violent operations that the NHS contract allegedly supports.
What ideological stance did Osborne attribute to Palantir?
Osborne attributed to Palantir an ideology that includes powering America and its allies to their “innate superiority”.