America’s AI Challenge: Strategic Imperatives

To sustain its role as the leading military and economic power and uphold global security, freedom, and prosperity, the United States needs to shape and win the race to develop and field advanced technologies like artificial intelligence.

This conference will bring together experts, policymakers, and representatives from leading firms to discuss the intersection of AI, strategic policy, and national security.

In-person attendance is by invitation only. The event will stream live on this page.

Agenda

9:30 a.m. | Panel 1 | The Great AI Competition: Can the US Out-Diffuse China?

The opening session will examine Chinese and American strengths and vulnerabilities, identify critical inflection points, and establish the strategic context.

• Jimmy Goodrich, Senior Fellow, University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC)
• Tarun Chhabra, Head of National Security, Anthropic
• Paul Lekas, Executive VP for Global Public Policy and Government Affairs, SIIA

Moderator

• Patrick Cronin, Asia-Pacific Security Chair, Hudson Institute

10:45 p.m. | Panel 2 | Other Frontiers: Strategic AI Arenas Beyond Frontier Models

This panel will identify specialized (or narrow) AI areas that are the highest strategic priorities and examine how Washington can rebalance the AI agenda to win these crucial sectors.

• Lior Susan, Founder and CEO, Eclipse Ventures
• Anna Puglisi, Technology and Security Fellow, RAND
• Patrick Wilson, VP of Government Relations, MediaTek

Moderator

• Jason Hsu, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

12:00 p.m. | Luncheon Keynote

• Speaker to be announced.

1:30 p.m. | Panel 3 | AI’s Ideological Competition: Addressing the Techno-authoritarian Advantage

This panel will assess China’s asymmetrical advantages in pursuing AI-enhanced control and explore paths for the United States to pioneer the use of AI technologies for democracy.

• Kirsten Asdal, Founder and Partner, Asdal Advisory Group
• Sam Hammond, Chief Economist, Foundation for American Innovation

Moderator

• Michael Sobolik, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

2:30 p.m. | Panel 4 | AI on the Battlefield: Evolving Military Implications

Experts will examine how AI is reshaping military capabilities, the evolving challenges it poses for defense planning, and the strategic implications of AI-enabled warfare for US-China competition.

• Shyam Sankar, Chief Technology Officer, Palantir and Trustee, Hudson Institute
• James Mulvenon, Vice President, Intelligence, Pamir Consulting
• Lorenz Meier, Chief Executive Officer, Auterion
• Matt Cronin, Senior National Security Advisor, Andreessen Horowitz

Moderator

• Tim Walton, Senior Fellow, Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute

3:30 p.m. | Concluding Remarks