Subvolts take Understand AI's geopolitical impact and the fight for computing power with a former White House advisor. Mar 9, 2026 - Business
- Learn how global power dynamics and computing resource control impact AI strategy and international competition.
- Everyday users
- Understand the broader implications of AI development on global relations and national interests.
Features a former White House advisor discussing critical AI policy and geopolitical issues, offering valuable context.
AI policy and the battle for computing power
Audio streams from Daniel Whitenack and Chris Benson. Your place is remembered on this device.
From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
This Practical AI episode features Ben Buchanan discussing AI policy, global power dynamics, and the race for computing power. Buchanan, a former White House advisor, explores how AI innovation intersects with geopolitics, US-China relations, and international cooperation. The conversation covers the strategic importance of computing resources, the future of AI governance, and how democracies can lead responsibly in the AI era.
This episode explains how AI affects global power, like who makes the computer chips and controls the technology. It's important because countries are competing for AI leadership, and this affects how AI is developed and used safely for everyone.
This episode offers insights into the geopolitical landscape of AI development, a critical area for frontier labs like Google Gemini and OpenAI. It's for policymakers, business leaders, and anyone concerned with the strategic implications of AI. Understanding the battle for computing power and AI governance is crucial as these labs navigate international regulations and competition, influencing their research directions and deployment strategies.
- HostDaniel Whitenack
- HostChris Benson
- GuestBen BuchananAssistant Professor, The Johns Hopkins University
- Guest: Ben Buchanan
- Guest Role: Assistant Professor at The Johns Hopkins University and former White House Special Advisor for AI
- Show: Practical AI
- Length: 49 minutes
- Topics Covered: AI policy, global power, chip manufacturing, computing power, AI governance, US-China relations, international cooperation, AI innovation, AI safety.
Chapters from the publisher ↗ · Transcript ↗ Key moments and transcript search come with a later piece.
AI is reshaping global power, from chip manufacturing and computing power to AI governance and US-China relations. In this episode, Ben Buchanan, Assistant Professor at The Johns Hopkins University and former White House Special Advisor for AI, explores how AI policy, geopolitics, and international cooperation intersect with AI innovation and AI safety. We discuss the strategic importance of computing power, the future of AI governance, and what it will take for democracies to lead responsibly in the age of AI.
Featuring:
Links:
Upcoming Events:
- Register for upcoming webinars here!
- AI governance
- Ben Buchanan
- Rules and decisions about how AI is developed and used.
- geopolitics
- Ben Buchanan
- How geography and politics influence international relations and power.
44 minNarrative intelligence and the human advantage
WithReed Frerichs
47 minOpen models and the future of Physical AI with NVIDIA
WithMing-Yu Liu
49 minFrom AGENTS.md to Enterprise Deployment
WithNick Kuhn
Questions people ask
- Who is Ben Buchanan?
- Ben Buchanan is an Assistant Professor at The Johns Hopkins University and a former White House Special Advisor for AI.
- What is the AI Grand Bargain?
- The show notes mention 'The AI Grand Bargain' as a related link, suggesting it is a topic discussed or relevant to the episode's themes.
Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to Daniel Whitenack and Chris Benson.