Black billionaire Alex Karp's Palantir expands AI partnership with BP for oil and gas operations

Feyisayo Ajayi -
Key Points
  • Palantir's AI Platform to integrate with BP’s operations, enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency.
  • Since 2014, Palantir’s digital twins and sensor data have improved BP’s offshore and gas field operations.
  • For Q2 2024, Palantir's revenue hit $678 million, with a $134-million net income, marking its best quarter in two decades.

Palantir Technologies, the AI and big data analytics firm co-founded by African-American tech billionaire Alex Karp, has announced a new five-year strategic agreement with British multinational oil and gas giant BP. This marks the next phase in their AI-driven collaboration.

Under the new agreement, Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) will be integrated into BP’s operations. This builds on a decade-long success of incorporating Palantir software into BP’s oil and gas production systems.

Palantir upgrades BP's offshore platforms

Since 2014, Palantir’s technologies have significantly enhanced BP’s offshore oil platforms in the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the Khazzan gas fields in Oman. The use of model-based digital twins—simulations of BP’s physical assets—has improved operational efficiency by leveraging data from more than 2 million sensors.

Matthew Babin, Palantir’s Head of Energy and Natural Resources, expressed his enthusiasm for the expanded collaboration. “We are incredibly excited to continue our strategic relationship. AIP offers the opportunity to help accelerate human decision-making on top of the robust digital twin and deep operational workflows already in place,” Babin said.

The integration of AIP will further enhance BP’s decision-making processes by utilizing large language models (LLMs) to automate data analysis and suggest actions based on real-time information. This advancement will improve performance management and ensure transparency and security in AI usage.

Palantir reports 27 percent revenue growth

Under Alex Karp’s leadership, Palantir has seen notable growth. The Denver-based software company reported a 27-percent increase in revenue year-over-year for Q2 2024, totaling $678 million, with the U.S. commercial segment leading the growth. Palantir’s net income reached $134 million, marking its most profitable quarter in two decades.

Karp, ranked 1,040th on Forbes’ global rich list with a net worth of $3.8 billion, continues to drive Palantir’s strategic success. The recent achievements underscore Palantir’s role in advancing digital transformation within the energy sector and position the company for sustained growth.