NatSec Tech

Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than any technology before it, yet the United States still has no federal framework to govern it, leaving a patchwork of state and foreign rules that startups can barely navigate. With Europe regulating aggressively and China surging forward, the central tension is sharper than ever: regulate too much and risk falling behind, regulate too little and risk chaos. In this episode, we ask: As AI reshapes jobs, children's lives, and the integrity of our information, can America strike the right balance between innovation and safety before it's too late?  Teresa Carlson joins NatSec Tech to share her perspective on AI policy and the global technology race. Teresa is CEO of General Catalyst Institute, which bridges venture capital and government to advance national resilience, and previously founded and led Amazon Web Services' Worldwide Public Sector business. Drawing on more than two decades at the intersection of big tech and government, she explains why the recent federal executive order on frontier models is only a first step, how the "Mythos moment" became a wake-up call for Washington, and why she believes the gravest risk isn't regulation, but a failure to act with urgency. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

For decades, the path from scientific breakthrough to real-world impact has taken ten to twenty years, with researchers relying on tools not far removed from a high school chemistry lab. The Department of Energy's Genesis Mission aims to change that, harnessing artificial intelligence to compress discovery from decades to mere years. In this episode, we ask: Can a "Manhattan Project 2.0" for science deliver the breakthroughs America needs to stay ahead of China?  Angela Sheffield joins NatSec Tech live at the 2026 AI+ Expo to share her perspective on AI's power to revitalize American science. Angela is the Director of AI Strategy for Energy at Accenture Federal Services, one of the private partners building the digital infrastructure behind the Genesis Mission. Drawing on her experience as a national lab scientist, military officer, and DOE program manager, she explains how connecting data across the national laboratories could unlock everything from critical mineral independence to next-generation nuclear reactors — and why the mission's aggressive deadlines signal a new era for American scientific ambition. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Propaganda has existed for centuries, but artificial intelligence and neurological research are transforming it into something far more dangerous: cognitive warfare. Today, adversaries aren't just shaping what we think, they're targeting how we think, exploiting fear, anxiety, and tribalism at massive scale. In this episode, we ask: As AI gives bad actors the power to destabilize populations and cloud the decision-making of leaders, is the world prepared for this new kind of war?  Anshu Roy joins NatSec Tech live at the 2026 AI+ Expo to share his perspective on the rise of cognitive warfare. Anshu is the founder and CEO of Rhombus Power, an AI company delivering predictive intelligence for national security. Drawing on his experience building predictive intelligence tools and supporting active military operations, he explains how information warfare and kinetic warfare are converging and why cognitive warfare may be the next nuclear weapon. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In Ukraine and the Middle East, cheap and easy-to-produce drones have fundamentally altered the battlefield. But while technology moves at the speed of a text message, the Pentagon’s procurement process remains stuck on a different clock. In this episode, we ask: Is the Department of Defense actually equipped to counter this evolving threat, or are we just buying the wrong things faster? Pete Newell joins the show to share his perspective on the drone revolution. Pete is a 32-year Army veteran, the former Director of the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force (REF), and the co-founder and CEO of BMNT. Drawing on his experience deploying the first military UAS systems in Iraq and the Switchblade in Afghanistan, he explains why today’s drones are essentially "IEDs that fly"—and why the military's biggest hurdle isn't technology, but institutional inertia. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of NetSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve sits down with Sal Khan, the visionary founder and CEO of Khan Academy, at the AI+ Education Summit. As AI reshapes national security and the global workforce, Khan shares how his nonprofit is leveraging artificial intelligence to solve the "two-sigma" problem: providing every student with a personalized, one-on-one tutor. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

To celebrate our 100th episode, NatSec Tech is evolving. We are moving from audio-only to a full video and audio experience. You can now watch our deep dives into the intersection of technology and national security on the SCSP YouTube channel and Spotify, or continue listening on your favorite podcast platform.  For this milestone, host Jeanne Meserve welcomes Keith Strier, Senior Vice President of Global Markets at AMD and a leading global voice on the geopolitics of computing. In a wide-ranging conversation, Strier breaks down the transition from "AI as a novelty" to "AI as a matter of sovereignty." NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of NatSec Tech, Former Rhode Island Governor and Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Former Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb joined host Jeanne Meserve, live at the AI+ Education Summit, to discuss how states can stay competitive as AI reshapes the workforce. The conversation focused on outcome-based retraining programs, stronger employer participation, AI literacy and education reform, and state-led efforts to prepare workers for automation. Raimondo & Holcomb emphasized aligning public-private incentives, expanding digital infrastructure, and making states “AI-ready” rather than attempting to restrict the technology. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve sits down with Dr. Erik Brynjolfsson, Director of the Stanford Digital Economy Lab and member of the newly formed SCSP-NVIDIA Task Force on AI and the Future of Work.  Dr. Brynjolfsson argues that we are entering a "Second Machine Age" that will be ten times faster and significantly larger than the Industrial Revolution. As artificial intelligence races ahead of our economic institutions, the United States faces a critical turning point: will we lead the most advanced workforce in history, or succumb to a new "technology shock"? NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve explores India's emerging role as a global AI superpower. Guests Rama Elluru, Senior Advisor at the Special Competitive Studies Project, and Eli Sugarman, Director of Special Projects at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, provide a firsthand account of the massive AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The discussion highlights a shift in the global AI narrative from Western-centric safety concerns to the population-scale adoption of technology in the Global South. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of NatSec Tech, recorded at the Munich Security Conference, host Jeanne Meserve is joined by André Loesekrug-Pietri, Chairman and Scientific Director of the Joint European Disruptive Initiative (JEDI). JEDI focuses on accelerating frontier technologies across energy, life sciences, and computing.Loesekrug-Pietri offers a candid assessment of why the West must move past "innovation theater"—the tendency to talk about technological advancement without fundamentally changing how organizations operate. The conversation explores the urgent need to move from linear, years-long procurement cycles to an exponential model measured in days and weeks, as seen on the modern battlefields of Ukraine. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Jeanne Meserve is joined by Sree Ramaswamy, Chief Innovation Officer at the NobleReach Foundation. The conversation explores how NobleReach is addressing this through the NobleReach Scholars Program, which recruits engineering and computer science graduates to enter public service for short-term, high-impact stints. The conversations cover the critical need to bridge the "tech talent gap" within the U.S., the U.S. Tech Force initiative, and the necessity of creating "dual citizens" who can move fluidly between the public and private sectors to maintain America's technological edge. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Jeanne Meserve is joined by Steve Blank, adjunct professor at Stanford and co-founder of the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. They discuss the Department of Defense's proposal to transform its defense acquisition system. The conversation covers the shift from a requirements-based process to a problem-solving model, the introduction of portfolio management, and the challenges of integrating Silicon Valley-style innovation into a three-million-person organization to better compete with adversaries like China. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of NatSec Tech, Planet Labs CEO Will Marshall joins host Jeanne Meserve to discuss the vital role of satellite constellations in modern conflict, specifically as seen in Ukraine. Marshall explains how daily global imaging, paired with AI at the edge, is providing a critical information advantage by enabling rapid threat detection and "tipping" systems for drone operations. The conversation highlights how the democratization of this unclassified data allows not only militaries but also NGOs and journalists to hold global actors accountable in real time. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

On this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve sits down with General Jay Raymond, the first Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force. As the service marks its sixth year, Raymond discusses the rapid transition of space into a warfighting domain where active satellites have surged from 1,500 to nearly 13,000 since 2019. He details how the Space Force is leveraging AI and "digital twins" to manage this massive congestion, track maneuvering "nesting doll" satellites from adversaries, and accelerate decision-making at the speed of space. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

On this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve is joined by Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov to examine the critical risks and opportunities at the intersection of AI, nuclear, and biosecurity. Dr. Kusnezov explains that the democratization and convergence of emerging technologies—like AI and gene editing—have lowered the barriers to creating highly sophisticated threats. He details NTI’s Future Safe initiative, which uses these same technologies to generate real-time risk awareness and develop new mitigation strategies, stressing that fighting technology with technology is the only path forward. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode, host Jeanne Meserve welcomes Andrew King, Executive Director of Future Union, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to galvanizing the private sector to stand with democracy. The conversation addresses the critical issue of how U.S. firms and investors are, sometimes unwittingly, fueling Chinese technological innovation, fundamentally undercutting U.S. national security. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode, host Jeanne Meserve welcomes Dr. Amber Jaycocks, Senior Vice President of Data Science at Dun & Bradstreet, and Mounir Ibrahim, Chief Communications Officer and Head of Public Affairs for TruePic, to discuss the critical challenge of digital visual deception in the age of AI. They explore how deepfakes and AI-generated content are being used to perpetrate widespread business fraud and detail the necessary technological counter-measures, such as robust authentication and cryptographic verification, for maintaining national security and global commerce. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode, host Jeanne Meserve welcomes Dr. Sarah Miller, Assistant Professor of Emergency Management at Pierce College and co-chair for the International Association of Emergency Managers Emerging Technology Caucus, to discuss how Artificial Intelligence is poised to radically transform emergency management. They discuss the critical role AI is playing across the entire crisis timeline—from predicting a storm's course and screening 911 calls to assessing damage and speeding up long-term recovery efforts. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

How does the American public really feel about artificial intelligence? On this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve is joined by Justin Lall of Gallup and Rama Elluru of the Special Competitive Studies Project to discuss the findings of their joint poll on public opinion on AI. They break down what Americans think about AI's impact on the economy, national security, and daily life. Read our Substack about the Gallup poll: https://scsp222.substack.com/p/we-commissioned-a-poll-with-gallup NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve welcomes Steve Bowsher, the Chief Executive Officer of In-Q-Tel. Bowsher explains In-Q-Tel's role in identifying and funding cutting-edge commercial technologies for a wide range of government customers. He discusses why In-Q-Tel is needed, its rigorous process for vetting companies, its collaboration with other innovation entities, and its strategic priorities for the future, including autonomy software, generative AI, and the reindustrialization of the U.S. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Jeanne Meserve hosts a conversation with David Barboza, co-founder of WireScreen and The Wire China, on the complexities of China's business ecosystem. The discussion highlights Wirescreen, a data analytics platform that maps out business networks to reveal potential risks. They explore how the platform is used to uncover ties to sanctioned entities, and more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Rob Geckle, Chairman and CEO of Airbus U.S. Space and Defense, joined Jeanne Meserve for a conversation on the future of military and defense technology. They discussed adapting commercial technology for military use, the "Golden Dome" missile defense project, and the strategic necessity of closer U.S.-European defense cooperation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Horacio Rozanski, CEO of Booz Allen Hamilton, joined Jeanne Meserve live at The Exchange for a conversation on delivering tech solutions rapidly to the warfighter. They discussed the pivotal role of AI and space-based technology in national security, the AI competition with China, and more.Miss any of the recent episodes of NatSec Tech recorded live at the AI+ Expo? Catch up below! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Meredith Potter, Executive Director of the American Security Fund, joined Jeanne Meserve live at SCSP’s AI+ Expo for a conversation on working with allies in the emerging technology space. They discussed India and Taiwan, the strategic importance of building democratic tech alliances, and more.Miss any of the recent episodes of NatSec Tech recorded live at the AI+ Expo? Catch up below! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Jaap van Etten, Co-Founder and CEO of Datenna, joined Jeanne Meserve live at SCSP’s AI+ Expo for a conversation on rethinking tech policy in the U.S.-China competition. They discussed leveraging open-source intelligence to track China’s technological and military-civil fusion ecosystem, and more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve is joined by Rye Barcott, co-founder and CEO of With Honor, live from the AI+ Expo. Barcott discusses With Honor's mission and bipartisan efforts, offering insights from his military background on the importance of service and an optimistic outlook for America's future. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve welcomes Greg Little, Senior Counselor for Palantir and former Deputy Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer at the Pentagon. Recorded live at the AI+ Expo, this discussion tackles the state of American shipbuilding, highlighting the contrast between the U.S. and global leaders like China in shipbuilding capacity and efficiency. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Margaret Woolley Bussey, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, joins host Jeanne Meserve to discuss Utah's establishment of an Office of AI Policy, Utah's thriving tech sector, and regulations and protections on AI. Bussey explains the office's three core objectives—encouraging innovation, protecting the public, and building a continuous learning function within government. The discussion highlights the office's successful work on mental health chatbots and its future plans to tackle deepfakes and AI companions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Nadia Schadlow, National Security Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution and Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, and John Maslin, CEO and co-founder of Vulcan Elements, join host Jeanne Meserve to discuss the critical role of rare earth magnets, in everything from consumer electronics to advanced military systems like F-35s and submarines. The conversation covers how China's near-monopoly on rare earth processing and magnet manufacturing poses a significant national security and economic vulnerability for the United States, along with the urgent efforts to build a resilient, independent U.S. rare earth magnet supply chain.Join us for the AI+ Expo on June 2-4, 2025, at the Washington Convention Center, where we will be recording six live episodes of NatSec Tech! This premier gathering will be the ultimate meeting space for networking and building meaningful connections that will drive progress as we bring together the brightest minds in artificial intelligence, policy, and industry. Register today. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Dr. Nandita Balakrishnan, Director of Intelligence at the Special Competitive Studies Project, and Anna Knack, Senior Research Associate at the Alan Turing Institute join Jeanne Meserve to discuss their recent report, “Applying AI to Strategic Warning.” The conversation covers applying AI for strategic warning, examining how artificial intelligence could forecast geopolitical risks, and the report’s benefits, challenges, and future implications. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

SCSP’s Chair, Dr. Eric Schmidt discussed the convergence of artificial intelligence and biotechnology at last week’s AI+ Biotechnology Summit. The conversation delved into the rapid progress of AI, its potential impact on various industries, and the implications of underfunded science in the face of intense global competition.Also check out last week’s episode with the Executive Director of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, Caitlin Frazer, for a conversation on biotechnology’s national security impact. https://scsp222.substack.com/p/episode-74-caitlin-frazer-on-biotechnologys This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Caitlin Frazer, Executive Director of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, joins Jeanne Meserve to discuss the intersection of biotechnology and national security. The conversation focuses on the growing strategic competition with China, and their new report “Charting the Future of Biotechnology.”For more information on the report, visit: https://www.biotech.senate.gov/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Ryan Gury, CEO of PDW, joins Jeanne Meserve to discuss the rapid evolution of drone technology and its impact on the future of modern warfare. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Dr. Bob Mumgaard and Dr. Steven Cowley join Jeanne Meserve to discuss the latest advancements in fusion research and its potential to revolutionize the energy landscape. Make sure to check out our most recent episodes of NatSec Tech, where members of the Commission sit down with Jeanne Meserve to break down the report and explore the fascinating potential of fusion energy.For more information on the Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy and their preliminary report “Fusion Power: Enabling 21st Century American Dominance,” visit: https://fusion.scsp.ai/. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Make sure to listen to last week’s episode on the stakes of fusion energy featuring Paul Dabbar and Mark Menezes!For more information on the Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy and their preliminary report “Fusion Power: Enabling 21st Century American Dominance,” visit: https://fusion.scsp.ai/. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Paul Dabbar and Mark Menezes join Jeanne Meserve on NatSec Tech to discuss the potential of fusion energy and a new report “Fusion Power: Enabling 21st Century American Dominance.”More on the Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy: https://fusion.scsp.ai/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Rob Joyce, founder of Joyce Cyber LLC, joins Jeanne Meserve for a critical conversation on the latest Chinese cyber threats, including Volt Typhoon, Salt Typhoon, and the TP-Link router vulnerability. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Sabra Horne, Entrepreneur in Residence at BMNT, joins Jeanne Meserve for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities of innovation within the government and how to foster a culture of innovation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Kevin Xu, author and founder of the Interconnected newsletter, joins Jeanne Meserve on NatSec Tech to delve into the complex world of open source software and its role in the global AI race. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Estonia's Ambassador at Large for Cyber Diplomacy, Tanel Sepp, joins Jeanne Meserve for a conversation on the importance of cyber diplomacy, e-governments, and the Tallin Mechanism. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Major General Mick Ryan, author of "The War for Ukraine: Strategy and Adaptation Under Fire" joins Jeanne Meserve for a conversation on the state of the war in Ukraine and lessons already drawn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Paul Nakasone joins Jeanne Meserve for a conversation on election interference, cyber attacks, and the Vanderbilt University Institute of National Security. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Co-founder and CEO of Liquid AI, Ramin Hasani, joins Jeanne Meserve for a conversation on the liquid neural networks and their possible use cases ahead of SCSP's upcoming AI+ Robotics Summit.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Dmitri Alperovitch, author of "World on the Brink" joins host Jeanne Meserve for a conversation on China's geopolitical position in the Indo-Pacific. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Co-Founder of the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, Steve Blank, joins Jeanne Meserve for a conversation on defense innovation and ensuring U.S. competitiveness in technology. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

MIT's Liz Reynolds joins Jeanne Meserve to talk about advanced manufacturing, and cautions the need for a national strategy, public-private partnerships, and strengthening the U.S. industrial base. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Vishwanath Madhugiri and Atul Joshi of SAAZ Micro, Inc. join Jeanne Meserve to discuss space imaging and the international space competition. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.