Stay ConnectedWhat’s happening on the frontlines of tech? Tune in for a zippy conversation about emerging technology hosted by industry veteran Niki Christoff. From the C-Suite and Capitol Hill to AI and crypto, quantum computing to the decentralized internet, Niki breaks down the trends in tech to help savvy listeners get even smarter. Guests include experts, enthusiasts, regulators, policymakers, CEOs, and reporters.
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Akoya CEO Paul LaRusso and National Bankers Association President & CEO Nicole Elam join Niki in the studio to break down the API revolution in banking. They explore why, after decades of traditional banking, there’s been a growing demand for so-called “open banking,” what the CFPB's new rule means for consumers and financial institutions, and how organizations are navigating this tech transition. Plus, Niki shares why screen scraping makes her nervous, Nicole predicts that the future of banking means being both high-tech and high-touch, and Paul makes the case for consumer control of their banking data.
“As a consumer, I should be able to choose what application I want to use, what data I want to use, and with who and for how long. And we're trying to empower that consumer to do that.” -Paul LaRusso
“Fintechs were thought of as disruptors and now they're not seen as disruptors. Now they're a necessary partner that you've got to have at the table to help you serve your customers.” - Nicole Elam
President of the Software Information Industry Association, Chris Mohr, joins Niki in the studio to break down two major tech cases at the Supreme Court involving Meta and NVIDIA, discuss what's next for Section 230 regulation, and share insights from his career transition from private practice to tech policy advocacy. Chris talks about how the courts are increasingly being used to shape tech policy as Congress remains gridlocked on major issues and Niki offers some free advice on deprecation policies.
“...power doesn't like vacuums, right? So, where does that power go? If Congress isn't passing laws, then the courts have to interpret the old ones to new cases.” -Chris Mohr
CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, Gary Shapiro, joins Niki in the studio for an informal chat about his new book Pivot or Die. They discuss pivotal moments in his career, leading the influential trade association fighting for tech and innovation, and looking to the future of tech in America.
“We have to recognize that technology and innovation are actually our secret sauce in this country that allows us to do all these amazing things, and have a strong economy, and grow our way into the future.” -Gary Shapiro
Twitter's former Head of Government Affairs & Public Policy for the US and Canada, Lauren Culbertson Grieco, joins Niki in the studio to talk about her career - from tweeting for senators to navigating Elon Musk's Twitter takeover. Currently President of The Ledyard Group, she shares leadership lessons from the transition days at X, and she and Niki swaptech policy stories. They also share a prediction about what will dominate legislators’ tech agenda in the next Congress.
“Most of the people who worked at Twitter and some of the ones who still work there have a very strong sense of mission for what the platform means in the world.” -Lauren Culbertson
Sr. VP of Policy at Digital Currency Group, Julie Stitzel, sits down with Niki in the D.C. studio to talk about their shared path from Midwestern upbringings to helping shape crypto policy in the nation’s capital. Julie shares her admiration for Hill staffers and why she remains optimistic for the future of crypto in the U.S. They also do a little arm-chair quarterbacking on the 2024 presidential campaign.
“...when I think about innovation, I think the U.S. should be the place where people come. These innovators, these builders should feel free and excited about building in the U.S. and it's been the opposite experience for builders in the digital asset space.” -Julie Stitzel
New York Times reporter, Sheera Frenkel, joins Niki remotely to talk about the AI 2024 campaign season that wasn’t. She shares insights from her reporting on tech, shedding light on the reluctance to use AI by US campaigns compared to other countries, the rush by foreign adversaries to capitalize on AI’s capability to enhance disinformation campaigns, and lays out what has led Facebook to step back from political coverage.
“While our candidates are not excited about using AI…There are nation-states all over the world who are super excited about the possibilities of AI and how it lets them reach Americans in unprecedented ways.” -Sheera Frenkel
VP of Quantum Technology Evangelism at D-Wave, Murray Thom, joins Niki remotely to explore the basics of quantum computing and share some real-world, right-now applications of this leap in compute power. They talk AI, the impact that efficiency improvements have on daily life, and the exciting potential of quantum to facilitate breakthroughs in health care and drug discovery.
“There's a really deep technical connection between quantum computing and artificial intelligence.” -Murray Thom
President and CEO of IQT (In-Q-Tel), Steve Bowsher pulls back the curtain on this CIA-launched non-profit that's been quietly shaping national security for a quarter-century. Steve shares what he looks for in game-changing startup teams, why IQT is not your average VC, and divulges what emerging technology he’s most excited about right now.
“People think of us as an investment platform, but the heart of what we do is to facilitate the piloting of technology” -Steve Bowsher
Punchbowl News reporter, Andrew Desiderio joins Niki in the studio to share his insider handicapping of the state of play of tech policy on the Hill. They talk KOSA/COPPA 2.0, the DEFIANCE Act, and legislative gridlock. Andrew shares why 2024 has been a good year for major tech policy legislation despite the Senate being de-incentivized to pass tech legislation, the House likely to shut down what few bills passed the Senate before August recess, and other agencies being reluctant to pick up the slack.
“When we look back on 2024, in terms of major tech policy legislation, we'll have seen some pretty landmark bills…” -Andrew Desiderio
"...whether you're a large company with a keynote that seats a thousand people, or you’re a startup with a 12 foot table, there is a place for you at CES.” -Tiffany Moore
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