The Interconnect

Amy Zegart is a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, while Adam Segal directs the Digital and Cyberspace Policy program at the Council on Foreign Relations. They are joined by Kat Duffy and Herb Lin, both experts in cyber and technology policies. The conversation dives into the geopolitical implications of emerging technologies, contrasting innovation strategies between the U.S. and China. They also discuss the crucial role of government funding in innovation and the global talent competition impacting the future of technology.

Drew Endy, a Stanford bioengineering professor, and Luciana Borio, a global health expert, delve into the exciting realm of biotechnology. They explore how innovations like bioluminescent plants and mRNA vaccines are transforming everyday life. The discussion highlights the role of AI in drug discovery and emphasizes the importance of U.S. leadership in biomanufacturing for pandemic preparedness. They also tackle the national security implications of biotech advancements and inspire future entrepreneurs to pursue their passions in this dynamic field.

In this episode of The Interconnect, Stanford University Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics Simone D’Amico and CFR’s Space Task Force Project Director Esther Brimmer discuss how private companies are driving innovation in orbit, the new moon race that’s underway, and how increased commercial and military activity raises questions about the responsible use of space.   Guest: Simone D’Amico, associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford University and a science fellow at the Hoover Institution   Guest: Esther Brimmer, the James H. Binger senior fellow in global governance at the Council on Foreign Relations and project director for CFR’s Space Task Force   Host: Martin Giles, managing editor of the Stanford Emerging Technology Review   Read the 2025 Stanford Emerging Technology Review at https://setr.stanford.edu/    Read CFR’s 2025 Space Task Force Report, Securing Space: A Plan for U.S. Action

In this episode of The Interconnect, Stanford mechanical engineering professor Allison Okamura and OpenAI’s Kevin Weil discuss how artificial intelligence will transform modern robotics, where more capable robots will have a significant impact on the economy, and why the United States still lags behind China, Germany, and other countries in deploying robots in manufacturing.   Guest: Allison Okamura, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University and a Senior Fellow and Science Fellow at the Hoover Institution   Guest: Kevin Weil, Chief Product Officer of OpenAI and member at the Council on Foreign Relations   Host: Martin Giles, Managing Editor of the Stanford Emerging Technology Review   Read the 2025 Stanford Emerging Technology Review at https://setr.stanford.edu/

Mark Horowitz, a leading semiconductor expert and Chair of Electrical Engineering at Stanford, joins Sebastian Elbaum, a technologist focused on AI implications, to discuss the future of computing. They dive into the evolving landscape of chip manufacturing, the challenges posed by diminishing returns of Moore's Law, and how hardware strides are essential for AI advancement. Their conversation navigates the geopolitics of semiconductor exports, the need for a skilled workforce, and the exciting, yet cautious, outlook on quantum computing.

How do we connect science and engineering labs with Washington and the world of business? From the Council on Foreign Relations and the Stanford Emerging Technology Review this is The Interconnect, a new podcast discussing emerging technologies and their foreign policy implications.