Dr Miah Hammond-Errey interviews Susan Gordon, former US Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, discussing the potential of public disclosures of intelligence to build trust, the nuanced differences between American and Australian cultures that impact technology policy and innovation, especially in areas like AI regulation, and what is needed to make AUKUS Pillar II a success. They also cover the increasing role of private-sector firms in national security — from supply chain decisions to the role of Starlink in the Russian invasion of Ukraine to Chinese infrastructure investment in the Indo-Pacific — how best to harness them and their technologies, and the new heights disinformation could reach, and the fact “2022 was the last time we talked about AI in the future.”

Susan M. Gordon was the former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, advising the President on intelligence matters and providing operational leadership of the US intelligence community. She has had an extensive career in the US Intelligence Community — working as the Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and spending 29 years at the CIA where she also led the establishment of In-Q-Tel, the CIA’s venture arm. She is a fellow at Duke and Harvard Universities and has worked with leading companies and government on intelligence integration, outreach and driving innovation.

Technology and Security is hosted by Dr Miah Hammond-Errey, the inaugural director of the Emerging Technology program at the United States Studies Centre, based at the University of Sydney.

Miah’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Miah_HE
The USSC website: https://www.ussc.edu.au/

Resources mentioned in the recording:  

• (USSC Report) Secrecy, sovereignty and sharing: How data and emerging technologies are transforming intelligence 
• (USSC Polling Explainer) Collaboration with trusted allies and distrust in Chinese technology: American, Australian and Japanese views on technology
• (USSC Disinformation Commentary) Dealing with disinformation: A critical new mission area for AUSMIN 

Making great content requires fabulous teams. Thanks to the great talents of the following.  

Research support and assistance: Tom Barrett  

Production: Elliott Brennan  

Podcast design: Susan Beale 

Music: Dr Paul Mac 

This podcast was recorded in Washington DC, which sits on the ancestral lands of the Anacostans or Nacotchtank, and the neighbouring Piscataway and Pamunkey peoples. We acknowledge the Native Peoples on whose ancestral homelands we gather and pay our respects to their elders past and present — here and wherever you’re listening.