Washington AI Network is a dynamic bipartisan forum to highlight the conversations about artificial intelligence taking place in official Washington. We feature diverse stakeholders from industry, government, and civil society to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and responsible development and deployment of AI technologies as they pertain to public policy, venture capital, AI ethics, and funding for AI innovation. Join host Tammy Haddad to hear top AI experts and thought leaders discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by AI. Brought to you by Haddad Media.
51: Navy CTO Justin Fanelli and Space Llama Engineer Zane Price on Open Source AI—from Ships to Space
May 07, 2025
Show notes
In a conversation recorded live at the White House Correspondents’ Weekend TGAIFriday Lunch, Navy CTO Justin Fanelli describes how he is harnessing AI to make our military smarter, safer, and ensure our war fighters keep their competitive edge. He also explains why the Pentagon is shedding “technical debt,” and moving at “flank speed” to outpace China. Booz Allen engineer Zane Price reveals how the Space Llama model–a collaboration between Meta and Booz Allen that was announced that day–for the first time gives astronauts direct access to information through a trusted, safe open source LLM.
50: Google’s Kent Walker on AI Standards, Quantum Breakthroughs, DeepSeek, and the DOJ Case
Apr 16, 2025
Show notes
In the 50th episode of the Washington AI Network Podcast hosted by Tammy Haddad,Kent Walker, president of global affairs at Google and Alphabet, discusses his company’s pioneering role in artificial intelligence, the complexities of regulating this rapidly evolving technology, and the importance of public-private collaboration to address national security challenges. Walker also shared insights into Google’s quantum computing advancements, highlighting how AI and quantum research will shape the future.
49: Open-Source AI at SXSW: Innovators Transforming Finance, Healthcare, and Music
Apr 10, 2025
Show notes
In this special SXSW edition of the Washington AI Network Podcast—recorded live at the SeedAI House—host Tammy Haddad interviews four innovators harnessing open-source AI to transform finance, healthcare, and music. Listen as Andrei Papancea (CEO, NLX), Dr. Kal Clark (founder, Zauron Labs), Martha Sylla Underwood (founder, Prismm), and award–winning producer Bosko Kante (founder, HiiiWAV) reveal how they’re building next-generation solutions using models like Llama. From reducing errors in medical imaging to empowering new music creators, each conversation underscores how smart content, efficient workflows, and open-source collaboration can deliver real impact across industries.
48: AI Revolution: Senator Mike Rounds and Representative Zach Nunn Discuss Healthcare Breakthroughs, National Security, and Agricultural Innovation
Mar 28, 2025
Show notes
Host Tammy Haddad interviews Senator Mike Rounds, co-chair of the Senate AI Caucus, and Representative Zach Nunn in this special edition of the Washington AI Network podcast, recorded live at the SeedAI House at SXSW. They delve into AI's transformative impact on healthcare, national security, and agriculture, exploring how AI accelerates medical research, enhances defense strategies, and revolutionizes precision farming. Senator Rounds offers a bold vision, suggesting that AI-driven breakthroughs could help cure the majority of cancers within five years. The conversation highlights bipartisan efforts to advance AI research and legislative initiatives like the AI Plan Act and CLARITY Act, which aim to streamline regulations and build a made-in-America blockchain infrastructure.
47: Global Innovation Champions: CTA’s Tiffany Moore and Ambassadors from Luxembourg, Ireland, and New Zealand on AI Readiness, Collaboration, and the Future of Tech Policy
Mar 14, 2025
Show notes
Host Tammy Haddad is joined by Tiffany Moore, senior vice president of policy and industry affairs at the Consumer Technology Association, as well as Amb. Nicole Bintner of Luxembourg, Amb. Geraldine Byrne Nason of Ireland, and Amb. Rosemary Banks of New Zealand, whose countries have been named “Global Innovation Champions” on CTA’s Gloval Innovation Scorecard. The conversation focuses on how government, industry, and public stakeholders can collaborate to harness artificial intelligence while safeguarding public trust, competitiveness, and ethical standards.
46: Ben Brake, Germany’s Director General for Digital and Data Policy, on Europe's Digital Future and the Transatlantic Tech Relationship
Feb 28, 2025
Show notes
Join host Tammy Haddad as she welcomes Ben Brake, Germany’s Director General for Digital and Data Policy at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, to explore how Europe’s regulatory approach to AI and digital policy is shaping its partnership with the United States. Brake responds to Vice President JD Vance’s critique of EU tech oversight, explains what Germany’s election outcome means for innovation, examines how the EU plans to power AI sustainably, and discusses China’s dual role as a competitor and key partner.
45: Innovators at Paris AI Action Summit
Feb 21, 2025
Show notes
In this special on-site episode of the Washington AI Network Podcast, host Tammy Haddad reports from the 2025 Paris AI Action Summit at the historic Grand Palais, where French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened top innovators, investors, and policymakers. Tammy interviews SCSP fellow Eli Sugarman on the launch of their Robust Open Online Safety Tools (ROOST.Tools); Common Sense Media founder Jim Steyer; former French ambassador to the U.S. Philippe Étienne; Avenir founder Andrew Sugrue; Station F director Roxanne Varza; and Axios chief technology correspondent Ina Fried and about Europe’s booming AI ecosystem, open-source safety initiatives, global governance, cutting-edge investments, and the urgent need to protect children and families—all underscoring a call for inclusive, responsible innovation.
44: Paris AI Action Summit
Feb 14, 2025
Show notes
As the world’s attention turned to Paris for the AI Action Summit, host Tammy Haddad takes the Washington AI Network global with an in-depth look at the most influential players and consequential conversations happening in Paris. Ina Fried of Axios joins Haddad to offer an in-the-room perspective on the world leaders, company executives, and policymakers' discourse surrounding AI’s risks and promises. This episode also features an exclusive interview with Milena Harito from the European Network for Women in Leadership, plus hear from OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Meta’s Yann LeCun from the summit stage.
43: British Ambassador to the U.S. Dame Karen Pierce on Trump–Starmer ties, incoming Ambassador Mandelson’s credentials, AI leadership, AUKUS, Afghanistan, and the monarchy
Jan 31, 2025
Show notesDame Karen Pierce DCMG, outgoing British Ambassasor to the United States, joins host Tammy Haddad ahead of the 2025 Alfalfa Club Dinner for a wide-ranging conversation in which she discusses her successor, Peter Mandelson—who she says “loves America” and appreciates President Trump’s approach to China—and reaffirms the productive rapport between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Trump. She also highlights the UK’s AI leadership, Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy, addresses AUKUS and Afghanistan, and reflects on her five years in Washington.
42: CFPB director Rohit Chopra underscores the ways AI accelerates consumer risks, warns of Big Tech’s footprint in financial services and data collection, and addresses speculation that the new Trump administration may dismantle CFPB
Jan 12, 2025
Show notesTammy Haddad interviews Rohit Chopra, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, in the final days of the Biden presidency. He discusses his agency’s approach to AI regulation, and the need to stop potentially “intrusive surveillance” by Big Tech on the same day Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg criticizes federal scrutiny of Meta, singling out the CFPB. Chopra also warns of the danger of “deleting” agencies such as CFPB as Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy look to cut a trillion dollars from the federal budget.
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