TechTank

Cyber risk in an interconnected environment is increasingly complex for organizations to assess and address. Navigating such challenges elevates the question of vendor concentration, which can introduce certain risks but also provide important strengths. In this episode, guest host Stephanie Pell is joined by Diana Burley and Rhea Siers to discuss their recent paper, which argues that resilience should be an organization’s guiding objective.

As AI becomes more ubiquitous in our lives, babies and toddlers are also interacting with it more. But it's unclear how the technology could affect children in this critical stage of development. In this episode, Nicol Turner Lee is joined by Sweta Shah and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek of Brookings' Center for Universal Education to discuss their findings as part of a series called, "Generation AI starts early.

The space economy is accelerating at a rapid pace with advances in space tourism, mining, exploration, communications, and defense, but to expand upon these activities, the U.S. needs to invest in ground stations and space infrastructure to help commercial firms take advantage of the growing opportunities. In this episode, co-host Darrell West is joined by Bridgit Mendler of Northwood Space and Mariel Borowitz of the Georgia Institute of Technology to discuss the importance of these investments and how the government can best support new advancements.

Technological advances are reshaping manufacturing processes, and robotics, in particular, are important to improve efficiency and advance military preparedness. Yet there are questions about what robotics can do and what governments and businesses should be doing to accelerate these technologies. In this episode, co-host Darrell West is joined by Suzy Teele of the ARM Institute to discuss these questions and her work on advancing innovations. 

Technology is accelerating rapidly, raising concerns about how artificial intelligence and other tools are altering communications, decisionmaking, and governance. Yet, these important conversations often overlook how technology can strengthen democratic institutions by expanding participation and improving service delivery. In this episode, co-host Darrell West is joined by Beth Simone Noveck to discuss these possibilities explored in her new book, “Reboot: AI and the Race to Save Democracy.” 

Cars and trucks are being digitally connected through online sensors, safety devices, and entertainment systems, leading some observers to call vehicles today "smart phones on wheels." These features offer tremendous convenience for drivers and passengers, though the ubiquitous connections raise questions about privacy, security, legal liability, and consumer protection. In this episode, Darrell West is joined by Ian Barlow to discuss connected vehicles and opportunities to protect consumers.