DoubleChecks

What was claimed

Some AI researchers have started smoking because they believe AI will cure cancer (per Palantir CTO)

Our verdict

Inaccurate

Sources explicitly state Sankar provided no names, evidence, surveys, or data to support the claim. It was presented as an unverified anecdote. Sankar presented this as an example of problematic 'mass psychosis' and 'social delusion' in AI discourse, using it as criticism rather than endorsement of actual behavior.

Combined assessment14 sourcesChecked Oct 19, 2026

Why this verdict

  • The statement was based on verified evidence about actual researcher behavior

    Incorrect
    One assessment reached this conclusion

  • The claim represents Sankar's genuine belief about widespread researcher behavior

    Misleading
    One assessment reached this conclusion

  • Some AI researchers have started smoking because they believe AI will cure cancer (per Palantir CTO)

    Can’t verify
    One assessment reached this conclusion; one differed·ChatGPT: Misleading

  • Palantir CTO made a statement about AI researchers smoking

    Verified
    All assessments reached this conclusion

Evidence reviewed

14 sources

Perplexity, Claude and ChatGPT sources are combined here.

fortune.comafrica.businessinsider.comyahoo.comndtv.comxenospectrum.comtheregister.comau.finance.yahoo.comndtv.commoneycontrol.comgizmodo.com

Individual assessments

Assessment summary

The statement accurately attributes the claim to Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar, who made it in a CBS interview.fortune.com africa.businessinsider.com However, Sankar provided no names or evidence, so the claim that AI researchers actually started smoking is unverified rather than established fact.fortune.com africa.businessinsider.com

Claims reviewed

Some AI researchers have started smoking because they believe AI will cure cancer.

Can’t verify
Sankar made this claim, but he did not identify any researchers or provide supporting evidence.fortune.com africa.businessinsider.com Reports therefore confirm the allegation, not that the behavior actually occurred.

The statement was made by Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar.

Verified
Multiple reports attribute the statement to Sankar during an interview on CBS's Face the Nation.fortune.com africa.businessinsider.com

Assessment summary

  • The statement accurately reports what Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar claimed in a CBS interview.
  • However, Sankar provided no names, evidence, or data to support this claim, and multiple sources explicitly note it was unverified.
  • The claim itself is presented as anecdotal and was made as part of his criticism of what he called "mass psychosis" in AI discourse.

Claims reviewed

The statement was based on verified evidence about actual researcher behavior

Incorrect
Sources explicitly state Sankar provided no names, evidence, surveys, or data to support the claim. It was presented as an unverified anecdote.

This claim may mislead readers without added context.

The claim represents Sankar's genuine belief about widespread researcher behavior

Misleading
Sankar presented this as an example of problematic 'mass psychosis' and 'social delusion' in AI discourse, using it as criticism rather than endorsement of actual behavior.

This claim may mislead readers without added context.

Palantir CTO made a statement about AI researchers smoking

Verified
Multiple credible sources confirm Shyam Sankar, Palantir's CTO, made this statement on CBS News' Face the Nation in October 2026.

Assessment summary

  • The Palantir CTO, Shyam Sankar, did make a public remark describing AI researchers taking up smoking to signal belief in AI and saying AI will cure cancer.
  • However, he offered no evidence that this behavior is widespread or that researchers actually believe smoking is safe because AI will cure cancer, so the behavioral claim is unverified and potentially misleading.
  • Sources reporting the quote confirm he said it but do not substantiate the underlying factual claim about researchers' motivations or prevalence.

Claims reviewed

Some AI researchers have started smoking because they believe AI will cure cancer (per Palantir CTO)

Misleading
Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar did say on CBS that "so many AI researchers have started smoking" as a signal and added he believes AI will cure cancer fortune.com techspot.com. He did not provide evidence for the prevalence or true motivations, so reporting his quote is accurate but presenting the behavior as factual and widespread is unsupported techspot.com.

This claim may mislead readers without added context.

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