DSR's Siliconsciousness - The DSR Network

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AI and Government: The Success Stories You Need to Hear About Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

The relationship between artificial intelligence and government has been a contentious one here in the US. Yet the same can’t be said for countries around the world. Many in the global south are embracing AI to supercharge their governance in ways that are leaving wealthier nations behind. Apolitical CEO Robyn Scott joins David Rothkopf to explore how countries are taking advantage of AI, why there is such a big artificial intelligence trust gap across different cultures, and more.

This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

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The March of the Law Bots Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

With a growing use of artificial intelligence in law, will we soon have robots defending us in court? Not exactly. Firms are increasingly using AI to take care of the more mundane aspects of law, but the effects will be profound. General Counsel at Luminance Harry Borovick joins David Rothkopf to explore the fundamental ways that AI is evolving the field of law and more.

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Facing Up to Opportunities and Challenges Linked to Video Recognition AI Nov 07, 2025

Show notes

Despite its newness, artificial intelligence can recognize you like an old friend. With the rise of AI-based facial recognition services, the question arises: How do we balance the use of such a system with privacy? Jeff Boehm, the COO of Wicket, joins David Rothkopf to explore the critical ethical implications of facial recognition software, the need to accuracy and reliability, and how it is being integrated into everyday experiences.

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Trump AI Policy May Not Mean What You Think It Means Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

The Trump administration’s laissez-faire approach to big tech might just be a mirage. The strange marriage of the White House to some of the biggest names in AI has meant a huge influence over the exploding industry. But who is really influencing who? Former Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Alondra Nelson joins David Rothkopf to explore the administration’s unique relationship with big tech and the profound effects that are already underway.

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A Conversation with Representative Ted Lieu Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

The US government has taken a ‘light touch’ approach to regulating artificial intelligence under Trump and a Republican controlled Congress. Should our government be doing more? California Representative Ted Lieu joins David Rothkopf to explore the pitfalls of hands-off federal regulation, how AI has become a critical component of national security and the labor market, and more.

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Why Responsible AI Begins with Each of Us Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

The best time to regulate AI was yesterday, and the next best time is now. There is a clear and urgent need for responsible AI development that implements reasonable guidelines to mitigate harms and foster innovation, yet the conversation in DC and capitals around the world remains muddled. NYU’s Dr. Julia Stoyanovich joins David Rothkopf to explore the role of collective action in AI development and why responsible AI is the responsibility of each of us.

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What Washington (and Plenty of Other Folks) are Getting Wrong About AI Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

Everybody and their mother is talking about AI, but how much of what people are saying is true? Powerful tech CEO’s surround the administration and Washington is abuzz with AI hype and everyday Americans range from excited to terrified of artificial intelligence. TechCrunch AI Editor Russell Brandom joins David Rothkopf to cut through the misinformation haze to explain why so many people are getting AI so wrong.

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The AI and Energy Scenario Exercise: Part 2 Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

In four years time, how might a theoretical 'blue' administration grapple with the expanding energy consumption and demand for AI? This is the question the second half of TRG Media and MIT Technology Review’s AI and Energy Scenario Exercises seeks to explore. Leading experts come together to role play as key actors in government, private industry, and more to simulate how public policy might take shape in the coming years. This episode contains the second and final phase of the game and a brief wrap-up from the editor in chief of MIT Technology Review Mat Honan and game designer Ed McGrady.

The Players:

US Federal

POTUS - Merici Vinton, Former Senior Advisor to IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel
Security (DoD, DHS, DOS) - Mark Dalton, Senior director of technology and innovation at R Street
Energy (DOE, EPA, Interior) - Wayne Brough, Former President of the Innovation Defense Foundation and senior fellow on R Street’s Technology and Innovation team
Red State Leadership- Soren Dayton, Director of Governance at the Niskanen Center

Power generation industry

Fossil - David Sandalow, Inaugural Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University
Solar - Enock Ebban, host of “Sustainability Transformations Podcast”
Nuclear [1] - Ashley Finan, Jay and Jill Bernstein Global Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University

Investors in Al

Domestic- Josiah Neeley, R Street Institute’s Energy team advisor
International - Josh Felser, CO Founder and Managing Partner at Climatic
International (Middle East, EU, Russia, China, etc.) - Shaolei Ren, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California
International (Middle East, EU, Russia, China, etc.) - Rachel Ziemba, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS)

Blue State Leadership

POTUS Adam Zurofsky - former Director of State Policy and Agency Management for the State of New York
Ari Peskoe - Director of the Electricity Law Initiative at the Harvard Law School Environmental and Energy Law Program
Beth Garza - senior fellow with R Street’s Energy & Environmental Policy Team

Public interest

Environmental - Brent Eubanks, founder of Eubanks Engineering Research
Domestic political - Meiyi Li, Ph.D. candidate at The University of Texas at Austin
Media - Jen Sidorova, policy analyst at Reason Foundation

Al and other Digital Industries

AI - Valerie Taylor, division director of Mathematics and Computer Science at Argonne National Laboratory
Blockchain -Erica Schoder, Executive Director and co-founder of the R Street Institute
Erica Schroder - Elliot David, Head of Climate Strategy at Sustainable Bitcoin Protocol
Other digital systems (chips, data center operations, online gaming, streaming, etc.) [1] - Ken Briggs, Faculty Assistant at Harvard University

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The AI and Energy Scenario Exercise: Part 1 Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

How might this administration and future administrations approach the critical issue of AI and energy demands? This is the question the second of TRG Media and MIT Technology Review’s AI Scenario Exercises tries to answer. Leading experts come together to role play as key actors in government, private industry, and more to simulate how public policy might take shape in the coming years. This first episode contains the first phase of the game and an introduction from the editor in chief of MIT Technology Review Mat Honan, as well as an overview of the game by designer Ed McGrady.

The Players:

US Federal

POTUS - Merici Vinton, Former Senior Advisor to IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel
Security (DoD, DHS, DOS) - Mark Dalton, Senior director of technology and innovation at R Street
Energy (DOE, EPA, Interior) - Wayne Brough, Former President of the Innovation Defense Foundation and senior fellow on R Street’s Technology and Innovation team
Red State Leadership- Soren Dayton, Director of Governance at the Niskanen Center

Power generation industry

Fossil - David Sandalow, Inaugural Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University
Solar - Enock Ebban, host of “Sustainability Transformations Podcast”
Nuclear [1] - Ashley Finan, Jay and Jill Bernstein Global Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University

Investors in Al

Domestic- Josiah Neeley, R Street Institute’s Energy team advisor
International - Josh Felser, CO Founder and Managing Partner at Climatic
International (Middle East, EU, Russia, China, etc.) - Shaolei Ren, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California
International (Middle East, EU, Russia, China, etc.) - Rachel Ziemba, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS)

Blue State Leadership

POTUS Adam Zurofsky - former Director of State Policy and Agency Management for the State of New York
Ari Peskoe - Director of the Electricity Law Initiative at the Harvard Law School Environmental and Energy Law Program
Beth Garza - senior fellow with R Street’s Energy & Environmental Policy Team

Public interest

Environmental - Brent Eubanks, founder of Eubanks Engineering Research
Domestic political - Meiyi Li, Ph.D. candidate at The University of Texas at Austin
Media - Jen Sidorova, policy analyst at Reason Foundation

Al and other Digital Industries

AI - Valerie Taylor, division director of Mathematics and Computer Science at Argonne National Laboratory
Blockchain -Erica Schoder, Executive Director and co-founder of the R Street Institute
Erica Schroder - Elliot David, Head of Climate Strategy at Sustainable Bitcoin Protocol
Other digital systems (chips, data center operations, online gaming, streaming, etc.) [1] - Ken Briggs, Faculty Assistant at Harvard University

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The Trump Administration Wants "Truthful" and "Unbiased" AI. What Could Go Wrong? Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

The Trump administration has expressed a desire for “truthful” and “unbiased” AI, yet the reality seems to be a crusade on “woke” AI. Yet the results of such a crusade would go far beyond eliminating DEI from artificial intelligence. The Brennan Center’s Amos Toh joins David Rothkopf to explore the effects the administration’s AI regulations and how AI is playing a larger role in militaries around the world.

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