

NatSec Tech
Special Competitive Studies Project - SCSP
Every two weeks, Jeanne Meserve will host a series of guest expert conversations on topics ranging from how artificial intelligence impacts students in school, how synthetic labor impacts the workforce, the impact of export controls, and more! scsp222.substack.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 16, 2025 • 31min
Episode 82: Meredith Potter on the Future of Democratic Tech Alliances
Meredith Potter, Executive Director of the American Security Fund, joined Jeanne Meserve live at SCSP’s AI+ Expo for a conversation on working with allies in the emerging technology space. They discussed India and Taiwan, the strategic importance of building democratic tech alliances, and more.Miss any of the recent episodes of NatSec Tech recorded live at the AI+ Expo? Catch up below! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com

Jul 9, 2025 • 28min
Episode 81: Jaap van Etten on Rethinking Tech Policy in the U.S.-China Competition
Jaap van Etten, Co-Founder and CEO of Datenna, joined Jeanne Meserve live at SCSP’s AI+ Expo for a conversation on rethinking tech policy in the U.S.-China competition. They discussed leveraging open-source intelligence to track China’s technological and military-civil fusion ecosystem, and more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com

Jul 2, 2025 • 29min
Episode 80: Rye Barcott on With Honor's Mission
In this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve is joined by Rye Barcott, co-founder and CEO of With Honor, live from the AI+ Expo. Barcott discusses With Honor's mission and bipartisan efforts, offering insights from his military background on the importance of service and an optimistic outlook for America's future. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com

Jun 25, 2025 • 27min
Episode 79: Greg Little on the Future of Shipbuilding
In this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve welcomes Greg Little, Senior Counselor for Palantir and former Deputy Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer at the Pentagon. Recorded live at the AI+ Expo, this discussion tackles the state of American shipbuilding, highlighting the contrast between the U.S. and global leaders like China in shipbuilding capacity and efficiency. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com

Jun 18, 2025 • 22min
Episode 78: Margaret Busse on Balancing Innovation and Protection
Margaret Woolley Bussey, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, joins host Jeanne Meserve to discuss Utah's establishment of an Office of AI Policy, Utah's thriving tech sector, and regulations and protections on AI. Bussey explains the office's three core objectives—encouraging innovation, protecting the public, and building a continuous learning function within government. The discussion highlights the office's successful work on mental health chatbots and its future plans to tackle deepfakes and AI companions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com

May 21, 2025 • 31min
Episode 77: Nadia Schadlow & John Maslin on Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Magnets
Nadia Schadlow, National Security Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution and Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, and John Maslin, CEO and co-founder of Vulcan Elements, join host Jeanne Meserve to discuss the critical role of rare earth magnets, in everything from consumer electronics to advanced military systems like F-35s and submarines. The conversation covers how China's near-monopoly on rare earth processing and magnet manufacturing poses a significant national security and economic vulnerability for the United States, along with the urgent efforts to build a resilient, independent U.S. rare earth magnet supply chain.Join us for the AI+ Expo on June 2-4, 2025, at the Washington Convention Center, where we will be recording six live episodes of NatSec Tech! This premier gathering will be the ultimate meeting space for networking and building meaningful connections that will drive progress as we bring together the brightest minds in artificial intelligence, policy, and industry. Register today. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com

May 7, 2025 • 25min
Episode 76: Dr. Nandita Balakrishnan and Anna Knack on Applying AI to Strategic Warning
Dr. Nandita Balakrishnan, Director of Intelligence at the Special Competitive Studies Project, and Anna Knack, Senior Research Associate at the Alan Turing Institute join Jeanne Meserve to discuss their recent report, “Applying AI to Strategic Warning.” The conversation covers applying AI for strategic warning, examining how artificial intelligence could forecast geopolitical risks, and the report’s benefits, challenges, and future implications. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com

51 snips
Apr 16, 2025 • 46min
Episode 75: Dr. Eric Schmidt on AI, Biotech, and Global Competition
In this engaging discussion, Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google and chair of the Special Competitive Studies Project, dives into the fascinating convergence of AI and biotechnology. He highlights how AI is revolutionizing drug discovery, making processes faster and more efficient. The conversation also tackles the fierce competition between U.S. and Chinese tech industries, emphasizing the need for better funding in science. Additionally, Schmidt discusses the ethical implications of AI in healthcare and the importance of data integrity in preserving national security.

Apr 9, 2025 • 27min
Episode 74: Caitlin Frazer on Biotechnology's National Security Impact
Caitlin Frazer, Executive Director of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, joins Jeanne Meserve to discuss the intersection of biotechnology and national security. The conversation focuses on the growing strategic competition with China, and their new report “Charting the Future of Biotechnology.”For more information on the report, visit: https://www.biotech.senate.gov/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scsp222.substack.com

Apr 2, 2025 • 26min
Episode 73: Ryan Gury on Drone Technology
Ryan Gury, CEO and co-founder of Performance Drone Works, dives into the fascinating world of drone technology and its profound implications for modern warfare. He discusses the remarkable evolution from recreational drone racing to sophisticated military applications, highlighting innovations like the C100 drone, which dramatically shifts combat strategies. Gury also addresses challenges like jamming technology and the need for advanced countermeasures, reflecting on the ethical and strategic facets of drones in future military operations.