Palantir chief technology officer Shyam Sankar says some AI researchers have started smoking, arguing they believe advances in AI will eventually cure cancer—specifically smoking-related cancers. The claim is attributed to Sankar in reporting by multiple outlets.
The articles present the statement as part of Sankar’s broader commentary on AI’s perceived medical potential, and all describe the same core idea: that some people in the AI field think technology could reduce or eliminate cancer risks associated with smoking. While the outlets differ only in wording, they converge on the attribution to Palantir’s CTO and on the specific rationale he gives for the alleged behavior.
None of the sources provide evidence or details about who the researchers are, where they work, or whether the behavior is widespread. The reporting focuses on the remarks themselves rather than any independent verification of the claim.
