ChinaTalk

In this thought-provoking discussion, Sergey Radchenko, a prominent expert on Cold War history, dives into the tumultuous Sino-Soviet rivalry. He explores Khrushchev's ousting and Brezhnev's rise, revealing how Vietnam shaped their relations. Radchenko also discusses the surprising Sino-American rapprochement during Nixon's era and the implications of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. He draws parallels between past and present leadership ambitions, ultimately reflecting on how these historical dynamics inform current U.S. strategies towards China and Russia.

Dan Hendrycks, a computer science PhD and head of the Center for AI Safety, dives into the complex interplay between the US and China on the path to artificial general intelligence (AGI). He discusses the risks of superintelligence, including the need for international regulation to prevent catastrophic outcomes. Hendrycks draws parallels to Cold War nuclear strategies, emphasizing the importance of strategic stability. He also explores the balance between AI safety and creative freedom, advocating for adaptive policies in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.

Dive into the world of AI and chip technology as experts discuss Google's Gemini 2.5 and its impact on the industry. Enjoy a lighthearted banter on semiconductors, where humor meets serious analysis of competition among giants like Intel and TSMC. Explore the remarkable advancements in Chinese robotics, including a vacuum with LiDAR technology, while weighing national security concerns. Finally, discover the nuances of GPU performance between NVIDIA’s H20 and H100 models in a technical showdown that reveals the future of efficiency.

Sergey Radchenko, author of "To Run the World: The Kremlin’s Bid for Global Power," explores the motivations and absurdities of Soviet and Chinese leaders in their pursuit of global prestige. He delves into Stalin's colonial ambitions, Khrushchev's economic failures, and the complex Sino-Soviet relations shaped by Cold War dynamics. The discussion offers intriguing anecdotes, including humorous interactions between leaders and insights into the historical significance of legitimacy in international politics. Radchenko’s perspective reshapes our understanding of past and present global power struggles.

Ben Della Rocca, former director for technology and national security on Biden's NSC, along with Arnab Datta and Tim Fist from IFP, discuss the urgent need for robust AI infrastructure in the U.S. They dive into the challenges of new power generation amidst soaring demand for compute and the implications of a 2025 executive order. The conversation reveals the potential of geothermal energy, the pitfalls of financing green power solutions, and the importance of prioritizing AI lab security against emerging threats.

Join Rohit Krishnan, author of Strange Loop Canon, Shawn Wang, editor of Latent Space, and Dean Ball, contributor to Mercatus, as they dive into the AI sensation Manus. They discuss Manus's capabilities and its potential to outshine existing competitors. The conversation explores the political and economic implications of AI autonomy, the shift toward practical applications over theoretical models, and the future landscape of AI ethics. With engaging insights, they highlight the importance of innovation intertwined with user safety in the rapidly evolving tech world.

Shashank Joshi, a Defense editor at The Economist renowned for his Ukraine coverage, teams up with Michael Horowitz, a Penn professor and former defense official specializing in AI. They delve into Ukraine's battlefield prospects, debating political cohesion and defense capacity. The discussion turns to Trump's shifting stance on Putin and its implications. They also explore how AI, particularly through 'precise mass' tactics, revolutionizes modern warfare. The pair emphasize the incremental nature of AI advancements in combat and the enduring challenges in defense innovation.

Eddie Fishman, a former civil servant at the State Department and adjunct professor at Columbia, discusses his book on U.S. sanctions policy. He explores whether sanctions truly work, providing historical insights from cases like Iran and Russia. The conversation highlights how the U.S. dollar evolved into a pivotal economic tool through deals with Saudi Arabia. Fishman also critiques the challenges in current economic warfare strategies against China, shedding light on the complexities of governance and the role of key policymakers in shaping these strategies.

Andrei Iancu, former director of the US Patent Office, discusses the dramatic shift in the patent landscape, where China now leads in patent acquisitions, raising alarm bells for US innovation. He highlights the complex balance between inventors' rights and public access to innovations. The conversation also touches on how congressional inaction is stifling AI progress and the potential impact of new bills. Iancu speculates on future reforms in patent law under political influences, including Trump's potential strategies for strengthening US intellectual property.

David C. Kang, a professor at the Korean Studies Institute at USC and co-author of "Beyond Power Transitions," explores how imperial China's history informs current East Asian geopolitics. He discusses the concept of great power peace in East Asia compared to Europe’s conflicts. Kang delves into the implications of historical interactions, why certain territories were conquered while others were not, and the potential for avoiding war in the Taiwan Strait. He also examines contemporary responses to China's rise and challenges the inevitability of a U.S.-China conflict.