The AI Policy Podcast

Latest Episodes:

AI Safety Institute Rebrand, Congressional Hearing on Export Controls, and Meta's New Superintelligence Lab Jun 18, 2025

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In this episode, we discuss the U.S. AI Safety Institute's rebrand to the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (00:37), BIS Undersecretary Jeffrey Kessler's testimony on semiconductor export controls (10:36), and Meta's new AI superintelligence lab and accompanying $15 billion investment in Scale AI (22:26).

Shield AI’s Ryan Tseng on Building an Autonomous Future for the DOD Jun 10, 2025

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On June 9, 2025, the CSIS Wadhwani AI Center hosted Ryan Tseng, Co-Founder and President of Shield AI, a company building AI-powered software to enable autonomous capabilities for defense and national security.

Mr. Tseng leads strategic partnerships with defense and policy leaders across the United States and internationally. Under his leadership, Shield AI secured major contracts with the U.S. Special Operations Command, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy, while expanding internationally with offices opening in Ukraine and the UAE.

Watch the full event here.

AI in the “Big Beautiful Bill” and Safety Concerns About Anthropic’s Newest Model Jun 04, 2025

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In this episode, we discuss House Republicans’ proposed moratorium on state and local AI laws (00:57), break down AI-related appropriations across the executive branch (18:54), and unpack the safety issues and safeguards of Anthropic's newest model, Claude Opus 4 (26:51).

Correction: In this episode, a quote was incorrectly attributed directly to Rep. Laurel Lee (R-Fla.). The statement—“Should the provision be stripped from the Senate reconciliation bill, some Republicans are eyeing separate legislation.”—was reported by The Hill as a paraphrase of Rep. Lee’s comments.

China's AI Industrial Policy, New Controls on Huawei's Ascend Chips, and President Trump's Middle East Trip May 21, 2025

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In this episode, we discuss Princeton researcher Kyle Chan's op-ed in the New York Times on China's industrial policy for AI and advanced technologies (0:35), what the Bureau of Industry and Security's new controls on Huawei's Ascend chips mean for China's AI ecosystem (10:09), and our biggest takeaways from President Trump's visit to the Middle East (19:07).

The AI Diffusion Rule is Rescinded, AI Executives Testify Before Congress, & AI Adoption in the IRS May 14, 2025

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In this episode, we discuss the Trump administration’s decision to rescind the AI Diffusion Framework (1:34), the message of top AI executives in their recent Senate testimony (20:03), what AI adoption could mean for the IRS (35:15), the U.S. Copyright Office’s latest report on generative AI training (44:44), and what AI policy might look like in the new papacy (49:24).

Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request, AI Diffusion Framework Update, and the Politburo's Study Session on AI May 07, 2025

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In this episode, we discuss what the Trump administration's Fiscal Year 2026 budget request means for federal AI spending, what might happen to the AI Diffusion Framework before its May 15 implementation deadline, and what the Chinese Communist Party Politburo's Study Session on AI indicates about China's AI ambitions.

Scale AI’s Alexandr Wang on Securing U.S. AI Leadership May 02, 2025

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On May 1, 2025, the CSIS Wadhwani AI Center hosted Alexandr Wang, Founder and CEO of Scale AI, a company accelerating AI development by delivering expert-level data and technology solutions to leading AI labs, multinational enterprises, and governments. He shared his insights on key issues shaping the future of AI policy, such as U.S.-China AI competition, international AI governance, and the new administration’s approach to AI innovation, regulation, and global standards.

Alexandr founded Scale AI in 2016 as a 19-year-old MIT student with the vision of providing the critical data and infrastructure needed for complex AI projects. Under his leadership, Scale AI has grown to nearly a $14 billion valuation, serving hundreds of customers across industries ranging from finance to government agencies, and creating flexible, impactful AI work for hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.

Watch full event at the following link: https://www.csis.org/analysis/scale-ais-alexandr-wang-securing-us-ai-leadership

Michael Kratsios’s Vision for U.S. Tech Leadership, H20 Export Controls, and Huawei’s Ascend 920 Apr 23, 2025

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In this episode, we discuss OSTP Director Michael Kratsios’s recent speech on US technology policy at the Endless Frontiers Retreat (0:19), the Trump administration’s decision to control the Nvidia H20 chip (10:48), and what Huawei’s announcement of the Ascend 920 chip means for U.S.-China AI competition (18:24).

A New Vision for Advancing AI Governance with Andrew Freedman Apr 16, 2025

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In this episode of the AI Policy Podcast, Wadhwani AI Center Director Gregory C. Allen is joined by Andrew Freedman, Chief Strategic Officer at Fathom, an organization whose mission is to find, build, and scale the solutions needed to help society transition to a world with AI. They will discuss the origins and purpose of Fathom, key initiatives shaping AI policy around the country such as California Senate Bill 813, and the new administration's approach to AI governance. They will also unpack the concept of “Private AI Governance” and what it means for the future of the U.S. AI ecosystem.

Andrew Freedman is the Chief Strategic Officer at Fathom, boasting over 15 years of expertise in emerging industries and regulatory frameworks. Previously, he was a Partner at Forbes Tate Partners, where he led the firm's coalition work in technology and emerging regulatory sectors. Andrew has advised governments in California, Canada, and Massachusetts, and has been a speaker at major conferences like Code Conference and Aspen Ideas Fest. Earlier in his career, Andrew served as Chief of Staff to Colorado's Lieutenant Governor, where he established the Office of Early Childhood and secured a $45 million Race to the Top Grant. He also managed the Colorado Commits to Kids campaign, raising $11 million in three months for education funding. Andrew holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. from Tufts University.

Tariffs, Nvidia’s H20 Export Control Exemption, and OMB’s New AI Guidance Apr 10, 2025

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In this episode, we discuss what the Trump administration’s tariffs mean for the US AI ecosystem (2:42), reporting that Nvidia’s H20s will be exempt from export controls (8:58), the latest AI guidance from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (12:48), and the EU’s AI Continent Action Plan (17:07).

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