

POLITICO Tech
POLITICO
The POLITICO Tech podcast is your download on the disruption that technology is bringing to politics and policy. New episodes on Thursdays.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 30, 2024 • 20min
Will Hurd on his time at Open AI and what regulation it needs
Former Republican Congressman Will Hurd spent two years on the board of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, and is out in a new Op-Ed in Politico magazine warning that AI is too powerful to be left in the hands of a few Silicon Valley players. On POLITICO Tech, Hurd tells host Steven Overly what can be done.
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Jan 29, 2024 • 16min
Sen. Ben Ray Luján on the Capitol Hill fight over internet subsidies
Key government programs that subsidize internet access for low-income and rural communities are in jeopardy. And Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), who chairs the Senate’s broadband subcommittee, has been entrenched in the Capitol Hill debate to save them. On POLITICO Tech, Luján tells host Steven Overly what to expect from the bipartisan working group pursuing a solution and why the next several weeks will be crucial.
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Jan 26, 2024 • 22min
Scammers made a Biden deepfake. Here's why it wasn't very good.
A robocall mimicking the voice of President Joe Biden earlier this week is the latest instance of AI-generated deepfakes invading the campaign trail. But Pindrop CEO Vijay Balasubramaniyan warns these audio dupes could soon erode trust in just about every facet of our lives. On POLITICO Tech, Balasubramaniyan argues voice analysis technology can spot the fakes and makes the case for policymakers to act now.
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Jan 25, 2024 • 15min
The geopolitical storm surrounding Dutch tech giant ASML
One of the biggest tech companies at the center of the microchip war between the U.S. and China is actually Dutch. ASML manufactures equipment used by the world’s biggest semiconductor companies, making it the target of U.S. export controls aimed at curtailing Beijing’s tech ambitions. On POLITICO Tech, reporter Pieter Haeck joins host Steven Overly to detail ASML’s geopolitical predicament and the CEO’s message during a recent interview.
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Jan 24, 2024 • 18min
The UN’s tech envoy on the need for global AI rules
At a time when global institutions are under strain, United Nations tech envoy Amandeep Gill says AI has the potential to be an “area of collaboration.” But making sure some nations aren’t left behind will require a new set of incentives for wealthy countries and tech companies. On POLITICO Tech, Gill delves into some of the existential threats around AI and what can be done about them.
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Jan 23, 2024 • 18min
How Arizona State came to fully embrace AI
Arizona State University partners with OpenAI to bring AI into classrooms, discussing the benefits and challenges of AI integration in education. The podcast also delves into the ethical considerations of using AI in academia and the importance of policymakers in certifying AI solutions for education.

Jan 22, 2024 • 15min
Inside the opaque court that hears spying complaints
The Biden administration created a court to hear complaints from European citizens who accuse the U.S. government of unfairly spying on them. It was part of a deal with the European Union that allows companies to freely move customer data across the Atlantic. But privacy advocates are planning to sue -- saying the court is too opaque and fails to uphold EU privacy rights. On POLITICO Tech, reporter Alfred Ng takes us inside Biden’s secret surveillance court.
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Jan 19, 2024 • 14min
The streets in Davos are lined with AI
The World Economic Forum has been happening in Davos Switzerland this week – a gathering of the world’s muckety mucks, world leaders and billionaires. The setting is posh, the ski slopes are freshly powdered and the champagne is (presumably) ice cold. New this year? The streets are lined with AI. Stuart Russell, a leading academic in the field of artificial intelligence and at Davos this week, talks with host Steven Overly.
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Jan 18, 2024 • 20min
An exit interview with Europe’s most powerful privacy regulator
Helen Dixon is Europe’s most powerful privacy regulator. As the head of Ireland’s data privacy watchdog, she has overseen the largest investigations to date into tech companies for violations of the EU’s landmark General Data Protection Regulation. But next month, she is leaving the role after nearly a decade. On POLITICO Tech, reporter Clothilde Goujard talks with Dixon on her way out the door.
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6 snips
Jan 17, 2024 • 17min
The hot commodity behind AI-powered tech: spectrum
Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce and head of the NTIA, dives into the challenges of spectrum management in an AI-driven world. He highlights how our increasing reliance on connected devices is pressuring spectrum resources. Davidson discusses the necessity of regulations to bridge the digital divide while fostering innovation. He also explores the responsibilities linked to open-source AI tools and the delicate balance needed to ensure technological accountability amidst rising demands for spectrum.