"The manifesto also argues the atomic age is ending and the next era of deterrence will be built on AI.

That makes it essential, the authors claim, that American tech companies build AI weapons and don't give in to protesters, because America's adversaries "will not pause to indulge in theatrical debates" about whether they should build advanced AI weapons.

The argument is aimed squarely at employee resistance that has troubled Palantir and others.

Google declined to renew its Project Maven AI military contract in 2018 after employee protests; Palantir took it on.

Last year, 13 former Palantir employees also wrote an open letter criticizing the company's work with the Trump administration."