Subvolts take US strategy to control the AI supply chain through international partnerships and industrial policy. May 14, 2026 - Business
- Understand how geopolitical strategies like Pax Silica impact AI hardware sourcing and supply chain resilience.
This episode features a high-ranking government official discussing a significant international initiative for AI supply chain security.
Pax Silica: Inside the Trump Administration’s Tech Strategy with US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg
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From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
On the No Priors podcast, hosts Sarah Guo and Elad Gil interview US Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg about Pax Silica, a 14-country economic security coalition. The initiative aims to secure the entire AI supply chain, from raw materials to manufacturing, including a new industrial base in the Philippines. Helberg discusses comparisons to China's Belt and Road Initiative and US reindustrialization strategies.
The US is building a global team of 14 countries, called Pax Silica, to control all the parts needed for AI, like minerals and factories. This helps ensure America can build advanced AI without relying on other countries, which is important for future technology.
This episode offers insight into the US government's strategy for securing AI supply chains beyond just semiconductors. It's for policymakers, business leaders, and anyone interested in geopolitical competition in AI. Understanding Pax Silica helps contextualize how governments are trying to ensure national AI dominance, a critical factor for companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI as they scale their AI infrastructure and development.
- HostSarah Guo
- HostElad Gil
- GuestJacob HelbergUS Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, US Department of State
- Episode Title: Pax Silica: Inside the Trump Administration’s Tech Strategy with US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg
- Show: No Priors
- Guest: Jacob Helberg
- Length: 38 minutes
- Pax Silica Countries: 14
- Philippines Development: 4,000 acres for an economic security zone
Securing AI dominance requires more than just semiconductors; it demands a complete overhaul of how the West manages everything that goes into them, from rare earth minerals to actuators. Enter: Pax Silica. Sarah Guo and Elad Gil sit down with US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg to discuss the launch and expansion of Pax Silica, a 14-country economic security coalition designed to secure the entire AI supply chain. Jacob talks about the creation of a forward-deployed industrial base in the Philippines, where 4,000 acres will be developed into an “economic security zone.” He also compares and contrasts Pax Silica with China’s Belt and Road initiative, explains how the US plans to reindustrialize through automation and robotics, and explores how the Trump administration envisions making these policies durable across future presidencies. Plus, we hear why Jacob believes America to be a “global underdog.”
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Chapters:
00:00 – Cold Open
00:41 – Jacob Helberg Introduction
01:02 – Pax Silica’s Mission
03:51 – Investing in AI Chip Supply Chains
05:43 – Comparing Pax Silica to China’s Belt and Road Initiative
12:38 – Pax Silica’s Value Proposition
14:38 – US vs. Partnered Manufacturing
19:10 – Rare Earth Mineral Pricing
22:16 – Role of Venture Capital in Pax Silica
24:50 – Near vs. Long-Term Priorities
27:09 – Making AI Policy Durable
28:09 – How Policies Impact Entrepreneurs
31:00 – Trump’s Entrepreneurial Administration
33:00 – Why America is a Global Underdog
38:00 – Conclusion
- actuators
- Jacob Helberg
- mechanical components that move or control something
- industrial base
- Jacob Helberg
- the infrastructure and resources needed for manufacturing and production
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Questions people ask
- What is Pax Silica?
- Pax Silica is a 14-country economic security coalition designed to secure the entire AI supply chain, from raw materials to manufacturing.
- What is the goal of Pax Silica?
- The initiative aims to secure AI dominance for the West by creating a robust and resilient supply chain, including a forward-deployed industrial base.
Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to Conviction.