Carnegie Council Podcasts

ThinkTech is an independent nonprofit association, started by and for students, young technologists, and professionals working to shape the impact of artificial intelligence and other digital technologies on individuals and society. Under the slogan "Think before you code," it serves as a platform to create guidance for the responsible development of technology. In this podcast, Senior Fellow Anja Kaspersen speaks with ThinkTech's Lukas D. Pöhler, Eva Charlotte Mayer, and Agnes Gierulski about their projects.

Artificial intelligence (AI) will affect the socio-economic development of nations across the globe. Caribbean countries are particularly susceptible because they tend to be labor intensive economies and are therefore at risk of significant economic and social disruption from automation and artificial intelligence. Three experts in this space--Cordel Green, Stacey Russell, and Erica Simmons--discuss these issues and much more.

Cryptocurrencies are dominating headlines with El Salvador recently announcing Bitcoin as the country's legal tender and Biden and Putin discussing ransomware and crypto at their Geneva meeting this week. NYU Stern's Professor David Yermack joins Carnegie Council Senior Fellows Nick Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin to discuss how an experimental digital currency may change the definition of the nation-state over the next decade. Will we be citizens of the country of Google or Amazon?

What is grand strategy? What differentiates it from normal strategic thought? What, in other words, makes it "grand"? In answering these questions, most scholars have focused on diplomacy and warfare, but the most thorough interpretations consider the bases of peace and security--including gender, race, the environment, and a wide range of cultural, social, political, and economic issues. Oregon State's Christopher McKnight Nichols, editor of "Rethinking American Grand Strategy," joins Senior Fellows Nikolas Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin to discuss these issues and much more.

The post-World War II liberal order faces unprecedented upheaval as countries and their leaders retreat from globalism, embrace nationalism, and attack democratic norms. Whether it's Bolsonaro in Brazil, Orbán in Hungary, or Modi in India—illiberalism is on the rise. Carnegie Council President Joel H. Rosenthal hosts a virtual panel to assess the current threats against democracy; discuss steps to support a revival of democratic values globally; and finally, examine the question: Is democracy an ethical standard?

Advocating for press freedom around the globe has long been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. The Trump administration changed the rules, but what can Biden do to restore the public's faith in the press? "Doorstep" co-hosts Nick Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin speak with Stephen J. Adler, board chair of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and Carlos Martínez de la Serna, program director for Committee to Protect Journalists.

How is the new global digital economy taking form? What are the trade-offs? Who are the stakeholders? How do we build "participatory intelligence"? In this wide-ranging AI & Equality Initiative podcast, Senior Fellow Anja Kaspersen speaks with Carnegie-Uehiro Fellow Wendell Wallach about the history of computational and human ethics and their synergies and conflicts, the growing impact of AI on society, how to make sure that this technology works for everyone, and much more. Wendell Wallach has occupied a unique role in the evolution of AI ethics and shares creative insights on how we ought to tackle the challenges brought to the fore by the bio/digital revolution.

Sanctions are becoming an increasingly important part of the Biden administration's foreign policy toolkit. Carnegie Council Senior Fellows Nick Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin discuss their impact and effectiveness, looking at the latest moves vis-à-vis Russia, China, Iran, and more with Center for a New American Security's Rachel Ziemba.

Susan Sloan is the author of "A Seat at the Table: Women, Diplomacy, and Lessons for the World." With organizations facing challenges of the pandemic, diversifying the workforce, and the spread of fast-paced technology, Sloan discusses why gender diversified leadership, at all levels, redefines how we solve critical problems. How can women be more involved in diplomacy? What skills and knowledge do they bring to the table?

Jonathan Cristol, author of "The United States and the Taliban before and after 9/11," discusses ethics and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in the latest in a series of talks with host Alex Woodson. Is President Biden making the correct choice? What does it mean for the U.S. to end the Afghanistan War "honorably"? What are the prospects for women's rights after the withdrawal?