The AI Policy Podcast

5.0 (51)
GOVERNMENT
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Join CSIS’s Gregory C. Allen, senior adviser with the Wadhwani AI Centers, on a deep dive into the world of AI policy. Every two weeks, tune in for insightful discussions regarding AI policy regulation, innovation, national security, and geopolitics. The AI Policy Podcast is by the Wadhwani Center for AI and Advanced Technologies at CSIS, a bipartisan think-tank in Washington, D.C.

4D AGO

Inside Anthropic's Standoff with the Pentagon and What It Means for Military AI

In this episode, we break down the escalating Anthropic-Pentagon clash, including the best arguments for either side, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's ultimatum, and the potential consequences of designating Anthropic as a "supply chain risk" or invoking the Defense Production Act (00:34). We then discuss several recent stories that are sparking discourse about the economic impacts of AI (28:58) and a senior government official's claim that DeepSeek's forthcoming model was trained using Nvidia's Blackwell chips and frontier model distillation (45:51).

1 hr
FEB 20

Live from New Delhi: Our Takeaways from the India AI Impact Summit

This special episode was recorded in India on the last day of the India AI Impact Summit. We discuss the highlights of our experience at the Summit (00:25), whether India accomplished its goals for the event (10:25), major AI investments announced (16:01), and key messages from speeches by AI CEOs (19:45) and government officials (28:35).

51 min
FEB 10

Inside The Second International AI Safety Report with Writers Stephen Clare and Stephen Casper

The second International AI Safety Report, released on February 3, brings together insights from over 100 AI experts across 30 countries to assess the current state of frontier AI systems. The report examines advanced models' capabilities, the risks they pose, and the technical and governance measures needed to ensure their safe development and deployment. In this episode of the AI Policy Podcast, Wadhwani AI Center senior adviser Gregory C. Allen is joined by lead writer Stephen Clare and MIT Ph.D. student Stephen Casper, who authored the section on technical safeguards. They discuss how the latest Safety Report compares to the first edition published last year, explore the Report’s findings on technical safeguards, and unpack the document’s key policy implications.

1h 34m
FEB 5

Jennifer Pahlka on Reforming Government for the AI Era

In this special episode recorded at Fathom’s 2026 Ashby Workshops, Greg sits down with Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America and author of Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. Jennifer walks us through her career journey, from filing paperwork at a child welfare agency to helping pioneer the U.S. Digital Services in the Obama administration (3:45). She describes the need for upstream policy reform (11:29), and discusses AI’s potential to both empower public servants to challenge antiquated practices and help policymakers simplify complex regulations (28:03). Finally, Jennifer shares some AI use cases she’s particularly excited about in government (59:34). Jennifer Pahlka is a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center and the Federation of American Scientists and a senior advisor at the Abundance Network. She previously served as U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer, helping start the U.S. Digital Services under the second Obama administration, and as a member of the Defense Innovation Network. Read Jennifer’s book Recoding America and check out her Substack Eating Policy. Jennifer’s recommended reading: Hack Your Bureaucracy by Marina Nitze & Nick Sinai Crisis Engineering by Marina Nitze, Matthew Weaver, & Mikey Dickerson The Procedure Fetish by Nicholas Bagley Why Nothing Works by Marc J. Dunkelman Kill It with Fire by Marianne Bellotti

1h 10m
JAN 30

The Indian and French Ambassadors to the US on Global AI Summits

This episode cross-posts a fireside chat with the Ambassadors of India and France to the United States, Amb. Vinay Kwatra and Amb. Laurent Bili. The discussion was recorded at the Wadhwani AI Center’s January 30 conference, “Exploring Global AI Policy Priorities Ahead of the India AI Impact Summit.” A full recording of the conference, including additional panels and speakers, can be found here.

36 min
JAN 22

The Future of Nvidia’s H200 in China and the Pentagon's New AI Strategy

In this episode, we discuss and evaluate the BIS' new export policy for Nvidia's H200 chips (00:31) before turning to Beijing's decision to block H200 imports (20:18). We then unpack the Pentagon's recently published AI Strategy, including the shift it represents in DOW's approach to AI integration (29:17). Read the CNAS commentary "Unpacking the H200 Export Policy" here.

1 hr
JAN 9

xAI's Latest Controversy and New York's New AI Safety Bill

In this episode, we examine Grok’s public posting of child sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate imagery (00:27), the legal consequences xAI may face (12:41), and the international policy community's response (19:05). We then unpack New York’s RAISE Act, including the politics leading up to Gov. Hochul’s signature (22:51) and the final outcome of negotiations (28:16).

44 min
JAN 6

China's EUV Manhattan Project and Export Control Mythbusting with Chris McGuire

In this episode, we're joined by Chris McGuire for a conversation about AI and semiconductor export controls. We begin by discussing Chris' career path into AI and national security (1:55), then turn to his views on recent developments, including reports about a Chinese EUV prototype (11:07). We spend the rest of the episode rating common arguments against AI export controls as fact, fiction, or somewhere in-between (40:25). Chris is a Senior Fellow for China and Emerging Technologies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a leading expert on U.S.-China AI competition. Before joining CFR, he served as a career government official for over a decade, including as Deputy Senior Director for Technology and National Security at the National Security Council (NSC) from 2022 to 2024. Links to some of Chris' recent work, as discussed in the podcast, are included below. China’s AI Chip Deficit: Why Huawei Can’t Catch Nvidia and U.S. Export Controls Should Remain Testimony on Strengthening Export Controls on Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment

1h 28m

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5

out of 5

51 Ratings

A Must-Listen for Anyone Interested in AI Policy and Innovation

08/28/2024

K5SCM

This series is informative and deeply insightful. The discussions blend technical depth and policy analysis, making complex topics accessible to both experts and those new to the field. I enjoy its focus on the intersection of AI, national security, and geopolitic areas that are often overlooked in mainstream AI discussions by covering nuances of AI regulation, innovation, and the global implications of AI advancements and a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape. Gregory curates a variety of perspectives through interviews with industry leaders, policymakers, and academics. This diversity of viewpoints enriches the conversation and gives a well-rounded view of the issues at hand. This is a great resource that will keep you informed and engaged in a highly dynamic and rapidly evolving technology policy domain. Highly recommended. In addition to the excellent content, the episodes are professionally produced and the audio quality is high. Easy and enjoyable listening.
Clear, concise, and enjoyable

01/27/2024

Arubin17

I learn a lot every episode
Incredible Insight

01/25/2024

HA Schwartz

This is the podcast for you if you want to understand and explore the intersection of AI and the policies that govern it.

Join CSIS’s Gregory C. Allen, senior adviser with the Wadhwani AI Centers, on a deep dive into the world of AI policy. Every two weeks, tune in for insightful discussions regarding AI policy regulation, innovation, national security, and geopolitics. The AI Policy Podcast is by the Wadhwani Center for AI and Advanced Technologies at CSIS, a bipartisan think-tank in Washington, D.C.