ChinaTalk Ben Buchanan on AI and Cyber
60 snips
Jan 11, 2026 
In a fascinating discussion, Ben Buchanan, a Professor at SAIS and former White House AI advisor, dives into how AI is revolutionizing U.S. national security. He highlights the vast implications of AI in cyber operations, from automating vulnerability discovery to its impact on offensive strategies. Ben warns that while America may lead in AI technology, failing to integrate it into defense operations could mean losing strategic advantages. He also emphasizes the need for an innovative leader to bridge private sectors with government workflows.
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Compute Was The Real Fulcrum
- Scaling laws and compute became the dominant driver of rapid AI progress since ~2018–2020.
- Ben Buchanan argues compute, not data, was the fulcrum that made frontier models possible.
Quiet Team, Big Early Moves
- A small White House team moved early on export controls before AI hit the mainstream.
- Buchanan expresses pride that key policies were set before public awareness exploded in 2022.
Fund Enforcement, Not Just Rules
- Build enforcement and state capacity alongside policy rules for export controls.
- Fund and staff agencies like BIS and Commerce to make restrictions credible and enforceable.
