The Cognitive Crucible

In this discussion, Torvald Ask, a neuroscientist and co-founder of Gonzo Solutions, unveils the UnCODE System—a revolutionary framework for analyzing cognitive warfare. He highlights the challenges of measuring cognitive baselines and the necessity for a neurocentric approach. The conversation dives into the hacker's mindset, exploring how cognitive processes can be manipulated. Ask also addresses the ethical implications of AI and the importance of truthfulness in our digital interactions, emphasizing the urgent need for cognitive security.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Matthew Canham discusses agentic AI's potential to boost productivity by automating tasks and its anticipated influence on user interfaces, potentially creating new security vulnerabilities and opportunities for user manipulation. Matthew emphasized the importance of robust security measures to counteract such threats. He also touched on the "meaning crisis" in modern society, attributing it to increased free time and mental bandwidth, and its connection to rising rates of drug overdoses and suicides. As executive director of the Cognitive Security Institute, Matthew discusses the Institute's growth since 2023, now with over 550 members, and its focus on community engagement and education. He highlighted initiatives like the Cyber Talent Exchange program, connecting job seekers with cybersecurity roles, and addressed AI's significant impact on the job market, leading to overwhelming application numbers. Recording Date: 22 July 2025 Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #89 Ajit Mann and Paul Cobaugh on Narrative #138 Matthew Canham on Cognitive Security #212 Libby Lange on Algorithmic Cognitive Warfare #223 Paul Buvarp on the Demand-side of Disinformation #224 Jake Bebber on Cognitive Warfare #221 Carrick Longley on Influence Automation Cognitive Security Institute NYTimes: A.I. Sludge Has Entered the Job Search The Cognitive Attack Taxonomy (CAT) Crisis of Meaning John Vervaeke Youtube Series Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Dr. Matthew Canham is the Executive Director of the Cognitive Security Institute and a former Supervisory Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), he has a combined twenty-one years of experience in conducting research in cognitive security and human-technology integration. He currently holds an affiliated faculty appointment with George Mason University, where his research focuses on the cognitive factors in synthetic media social engineering and online influence campaigns. He was previously a research professor with the University of Central Florida, School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training’s Behavioral Cybersecurity program. His work has been funded by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology), DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), and the US Army Research Institute. He has provided cognitive security awareness training to the NASA Kennedy Space Center, DARPA, MIT, US Army DevCom, the NATO Cognitive Warfare Working Group, the Voting and Misinformation Villages at DefCon, and the Black Hat USA security conference. He holds a PhD in Cognition, Perception, and Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and SANS certifications in mobile device analysis (GMOB), security auditing of wireless networks (GAWN), digital forensic examination (GCFE), and GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC). About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Dr. James Giordano, an expert in neurotechnology and warfare, discusses the impact of neurotech on national security and global dynamics. He delves into how advances from DARPA's Brain Initiative are reshaping military strategies. Giordano highlights the importance of understanding biopsychology and the ethical concerns around brain-modulating technology. He also emphasizes the interconnectedness of mind, body, and environment, proposing innovative approaches to leverage neuroscience for peaceful global relations.

Austin Branch, founder of Crescent Bridge, Dave Pitts, a former CIA executive, and Joe Miller, Deputy Commander for Support at the US Army Special Operations Command, dive into the intricacies of cognitive warfare and the gray zone. They discuss how Russia and China employ manipulative tactics that impact U.S. policy and national security. The conversation highlights the critical role of collaboration between public and private sectors in countering these threats. They also explore the importance of storytelling and strategic narratives in shaping perceptions in modern conflicts.

Jake Bebber, an Officer in the U.S. Navy and a public policy PhD, dives into the complex realm of cognitive warfare. He highlights how technology manipulates cognition and behavior, setting it apart from traditional information warfare. Bebber discusses the need for a clear framework to navigate these challenges while emphasizing the importance of American values in this evolving conflict. He also raises critical questions about protecting privacy, ethical boundaries, and ensuring democratic systems can withstand cognitive threats.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Paul Buvarp contrasts disinformation as a human demand-side problem with the typical supply-side perspective. Additional discussion threads include thinking about online and real-world environments as differently as forests and tropical environments are different, how young people view TikTok and news consumption, bypassing traditional information filters, and Ashby’s Law of Requisite Variety. Recording Date: 1 Apr 2025 Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #212 Libby Lange on Algorithmic Cognitive Warfare The spread of true and false news online by Soroush Vosoughi, Deb Roy, Sinan Aral Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman The Paradox of Democracy: Free Speech, Open Media, and Perilous Persuasion by Zac Gershberg and Sean Illing Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Bio: Paul M. H. Buvarp, Ph.D., is a senior researcher at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (ffi.no/en), specialising in disinformation and foreign interference in digital media. His work explores the phenomenon through the lenses of media theory, sociology, and philosophy. He is also part of the research team monitoring and analysing attempts to interfere with Norwegian elections. Paul holds a doctorate degree in International Relations from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. He has published numerous academic articles, reports, and essays, and regularly gives lectures and talks in Norway and internationally. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

JD Maddox, an expert in political warfare and former CIA branch chief, shares insights on navigating contemporary information operations. He discusses innovative concepts like letters of marque, advocating for fresh approaches to influence in today's strategic landscape. The conversation touches on the importance of adaptive psychological operations, particularly against groups like the Lord's Resistance Army. Maddox emphasizes the need for public-private partnerships and a shift in mindset to embrace new international outreach opportunities amidst evolving global challenges.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Carrick Longley discusses Large Language Models (LLM) and influence. Key topics include: LLM 101 Usage and changes in prompt engineering Improving influence resonance and speed The recent DeepSeek model controversy Bias in foundational models and Software development Recording Date: 26 Mar 2025 Research Question: Guest suggests an interested student or researcher examine:  Resources: ZenithFlow Company of One by Paul Jarvis Reddit: Local LLama Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Dr. Carrick Longley is the Founder and CEO of ZenithFlow, a company pioneering privacy-first AI solutions for strategic communications. A former Marine Corps SIGINT and Technical IO Officer with a Ph.D. in Information Sciences, he leads the development of StoryForge, an advanced platform that transforms raw data into compelling narratives. Through ZenithFlow's local-first AI approach, Dr. Longley is revolutionizing how organizations leverage artificial intelligence to create impactful messaging while maintaining complete data privacy and control. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Tom Kent returns to the Cognitive Crucible to share his concerns related to the United States recent withdrawal from international broadcasting. Topics include: US soft power, abandoning pro-democracy initiatives, impact on international relations, international broadcasting structure inefficiencies, and language services cost and logistics Recording Date: 25 Mar 2025 Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #10 Tom Kent on Striking Back #105 Tom Kent on Persuasion in the Developing World #177 Tom Kent on How Russia Loses US agency for Global Media (USAGM) Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Thomas Kent teaches and consults on Russian affairs, journalism, and the problems of propaganda and disinformation. President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty until 2018, he now teaches at Columbia University and consults for governments, NGOs, and news organizations. He is a senior fellow for strategic communication of the American Foreign Policy Council and an associate fellow of Slovakia’s GLOBSEC. Previously, he was Moscow bureau chief for The Associated Press, head of AP’s international news coverage, and editor for standards and ethics. His first book, Striking Back: Overt and Covert Options to Combat Russian Disinformation, was published in 2020, and his second, “How Russia Loses,” in 2023. He is now working on a new book, on the propaganda lessons of the Ukraine war. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

In this discussion, Dr. Josh Segal, co-founder of Deft9 Solutions and a national security policy expert, tackles pressing questions about the effectiveness of U.S. information operations against growing threats from China and Russia. He emphasizes the critical need for innovative strategies in soft power and the challenges of effective messaging. Dr. Segal critiques the current administration's cost-cutting measures, advocating for stronger relationships and clearer communication in deterring adversaries, amidst the complexities of modern disinformation.