Palantir and other tech companies are stocking offices with tobacco products

Source: Hacker News

Tech companies like Palantir and Hello Patient are stocking office vending machines with tobacco‑derived nicotine pouches to boost employee productivity—and it appears to be working.

Tobacco startups Lucy and Sesh have installed branded vending machines in Palantir’s Washington, D.C., office, filled with nicotine pouches that keep employees “zipped up” and ready to work. These pouches—about the size of a piece of gum—stay tucked between the gum and cheek, delivering nicotine without smoke or vapor.

The pouches are offered for free to employees and guests over the age of 21. A Palantir spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that the company pays to stock the products — see the article here.

Eliano A. Younes, Palantir’s head of strategic engagement, posted a photo of a Lucy‑branded vending machine on X, captioned: “Palantir DC Office 🤝 @LucyNicotine 😵‍💫 🚀.” Link to tweet.

No smoke without fire

Palantir’s move is part of a broader biohacking trend in Silicon Valley. As tech workers experiment with health‑optimizing practices—ranging from plasma transfusions to specialized clinics—nicotine pouches have emerged as a “smoke‑free” alternative that fits office culture. Brands such as Zyn and On! have gained popularity among right‑leaning influencers, and the aesthetic has been dubbed “Zynternet” by commentator Max Read.

Medical experts caution against using nicotine products for biohacking. Although the pouches contain no tobacco leaf, they deliver nicotine via a cellulose‑based fiber matrix mixed with sweeteners and flavorings. According to Jennifer Cofer of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, “That’s what this new product is touting: that it’s a smoke‑free alternative,” but she adds, “If your goal is to be free of the addiction, oral nicotine pouches are not the best way to go.” Source.

Another tech startup has tried a similar approach. Alex Cohen, founder of the AI‑powered health‑care app Hello Patient, installed a nicotine‑pouch fridge in the Austin office. He noted an initial boost in productivity after seeing Zyn tins on engineers’ desks, but the effect was short‑lived. “After going through two or three pouches a day, I knew I had to stop. Then, I accidentally got addicted,” Cohen told the Wall Street Journal.