POLITICO Tech

By POLITICO

What's POLITICO Tech about?

The POLITICO Tech podcast is your daily download on the disruption that technology is bringing to politics and policy. From AI and the metaverse to disinformation and microchips, we explore how today’s technology is shaping our world — and driving the policy decisions, global rivalries and industries that will matter tomorrow.

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POLITICO Tech episodes:

04.19.2024
Inside the Chinese embassy’s quiet lobbying on TikTok
Officials from the Chinese embassy have been making the rounds on Capitol Hill as U.S. lawmakers weigh a forced sale of the video-sharing app TikTok. Reporter Hailey Fuchs joins POLITICO Tech host Steven Overly to explain what happened inside the...
04.18.2024
Ciao. Adios. Au revoir. Will AI squash European languages?
Our language is fundamental to our cultural identity. And many European countries worry artificial intelligence will erase those languages and the cultures that come with them. But could those fears really be code for falling behind in the AI race?...
04.17.2024
‘Godzilla vs. Kong: AI Edition’: Talking net neutrality with a former FCC chair
The Federal Communications Commission will vote next week to restore regulations that require internet service providers to treat websites equally, otherwise known as net neutrality. Tom Wheeler was the chair of the FCC the last time those rules were put...
04.16.2024
The White House defends contentious foreign surveillance law
The future of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act now lies in the Senate, following a contentious path to reauthorization in the House last week. Behind the scenes, the Biden administration has been pressing both chambers to extend the law --...
04.15.2024
This tax day, how AI is changing up the IRS
Today, we’re talking taxes. Stanford law professor Dan Ho has been working with the IRS to figure out how machine learning and artificial intelligence can improve the agency -- including a study he led last year that found evidence of...
04.12.2024
The controversy around FISA, a key foreign surveillance law, explained
The House is expected to vote on a key foreign surveillance law set to expire next week. The fight over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, has pit national security hawks who defend the government surveillance program against lawmakers...
04.11.2024
‘Picture your MAGA auntie's Twitter account’: Why a Chinese disinformation group started imitating Americans
The Chinese disinformation network known as Spamouflage has never gotten much traction on social media. Then, a small number of accounts started pretending to be American. On POLITICO Tech, senior analyst Elise Thomas from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue explains...
04.10.2024
A skeptic's guide to the new data privacy bill
There’s a new data privacy bill floating around Capitol Hill this week -- backed by the chairs of two powerful committees. And at first glance, it seems to have a lot of potential. But POLITICO Tech host Steven Overly and...
04.09.2024
One critic's case for why artificial intelligence is actually dumb
Gary Marcus is a cognitive scientist and serial entrepreneur who is an AI critic, and not shy about it. He’s one of the tech experts pushing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others in Washington to pass sweeping and stringent...
04.08.2024
Millions of kids use Roblox. Now, it wants Washington’s attention.
If you haven’t heard of Roblox, your kids certainly have. It’s an online platform for games and other virtual experiences, and most of its users are under 17 years old. As Congress weighs kids’ online safety legislation, Roblox is dispatching...
04.05.2024
How the U.S. is becoming more like China on tech
The Biden administration is in the midst of its latest attempt at a diplomatic reset with China, its chief geopolitical rival on all things tech. Council on Foreign Relations President Mike Froman — who served as U.S. trade representative during...
04.04.2024
What Trump’s return would mean for trans-atlantic tech relations
U.S. and European officials will meet in Belgium today and tomorrow for the latest gathering of the Trade and Technology Council, a body meant to mend the trans-atlantic relationship following four years of President Donald Trump. But the TTC is...
04.03.2024
This organization could decide how AI is regulated in health care
AI is coming to health systems — in fact, it's already here. As it rolls out, the government is taking a light approach to regulation, issuing guidance, but no binding rules. The Coalition for Health AI is working to develop...
04.02.2024
What a U.S.-UK AI alliance really means
The U.S. and UK have inked a memorandum of understanding that will see the allies join forces on AI safety research and testing. But what will that mean in reality? On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly sits down with UK...
04.01.2024
How surging tech demand will stress America’s power grid
Electricity demand in the United States is projected to skyrocket over the next decade, partly because of the rising power needs of data centers and electric vehicles. That poses big challenges for the power grid. Today, host Catherine Morehouse sits...
03.29.2024
The author of 'Broad Band' on what you didn't know about tech’s hidden heroines
Claire Evans, the author of "Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet," joins guest host and Deputy Tech Editor Daniella Cheslow to talk about frequently overlooked female tech pioneers.
03.28.2024
The author of ‘Chip War’ on the state of the fight
Chris Miller wrote the definitive book on microchips. Now, the author of “Chip War” joins guest host Phelim Kine to break down the U.S. strategy for becoming a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, and the implications for the country’s ever-complicated...
03.27.2024
Connecticut is looking to be a first mover on AI regulation
The state level is really where the tech action is at right now. On today’s Politico Tech, Morning Tech author Mallory Culhane sits in for Steven Overly to talk with Connecticut State Senator James Maroney, who helped get the state’s...
03.26.2024
Mozilla took on Big Web. Now, it’s taking on Big AI.
Tensions between large and small tech companies over the rules for artificial intelligence are already palpable. On POLITICO Tech, Linda Griffin from Mozilla tells host Steven Overly why Mozilla sees competition as key to minimizing the risks of AI --...
03.25.2024
Chinese hackers and the Rubik’s Cube: One-on-one with CISA Director Jen Easterly
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, also known as CISA, is tasked with tackling two of Washington’s biggest and most politically fraught challenges: confronting Chinese hackers and securing U.S. elections. On POLITICO Tech, reporter Maggie Miller sits down with CISA...
03.22.2024
My mom's Facebook got hacked. Here's what happened next
Social media hacking and the scams that come with it affect thousands of people each year -- including host Steven Overly’s mom. It can be a major inconvenience for those cut off from friends and loved ones, and a serious...
03.21.2024
Intel lobbied hard for chips money — and got a big payout
The Biden administration announced Wednesday it will provide Intel with subsidies, grants and tax credits in exchange for building new manufacturing and research facilities in the U.S. Combined, Intel’s haul could be worth as much as $44.5 billion. On POLITICO...
03.20.2024
Why states are losing the fight to protect voters from doxxing
The names and addresses of millions of Americans can be found online through voter registration records. And some states argue that’s a privacy concern as voters are targeted with doxxing and harassment. But their efforts to change public disclosure laws...
03.19.2024
SEC chair Gensler on AI's threat to Wall Street: "I don't want everybody to drive off the cliff"
Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler warns on today’s episode of POLITICO Tech that Wall Street’s headlong rush to embrace artificial intelligence could create new weaknesses in the U.S. financial system. The solution, Gensler says, requires Washington regulators to...
03.18.2024
SCOTUS to tackle online disinformation today
Should the government be telling social media companies what misinformation to remove? That’s the central question in a major tech case being heard at the Supreme Court today. On POLITICO Tech, Nina Jankowicz from the Centre for Information Resilience delves...
03.15.2024
The AI doctor will see you now
Artificial intelligence has begun to transform health care. But how do you separate the promise from the hype? And will only the rich actually benefit? Host Steven Overly asked those questions at the POLITICO Live Heath Care Summit this week,...
03.14.2024
What’s next in TikTok’s Washington drama
The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to force a sale, and perhaps eventually a ban, of the video sharing app TikTok. But many hurdles remain before that becomes a reality. And the drama surrounding the legislation reveals just how convoluted TikTok...
03.13.2024
Why the U.S. Army is recruiting at South By Southwest
South By Southwest took over Austin. The annual tech and entertainment festival attracts an eccentric crowd, which this year includes a strong contingent of Washington policymakers and U.S. defense officials. Digital Future Daily author Derek Robertson joins POLITICO Tech from...
03.12.2024
A new political playbook for countering disinformation
The rise in online disinformation has forced political campaigns to develop a new playbook. Journalist Sasha Issenberg tackles that subject in his new book, “The Lie Detectives.” He joins POLITICO Tech to break down lessons from the front lines of...
03.11.2024
Put down your pencil. The SAT has officially gone digital
The Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT, has long been a rite of passage for students applying to college in the U.S. Now, the test has undergone a digital transformation that became official over the weekend. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven...
03.08.2024
Why AI could be the death and rebirth of high school English
Generative artificial intelligence is transforming the way students learn to read and write. To understand how, POLITICO Tech host Steven Overly called up California high school teacher Daniel Herman. Herman’s students are using AI today -- and he believes the...
03.07.2024
What tech to put on your State of the Union bingo card
President Joe Biden will deliver the State of the Union address tonight. And while tech probably won’t dominate the speech, Biden could mention issues like AI, microchips and competition with China. MIT fellow R. David Edelman contributed to State of...
03.06.2024
The AI behind Israel’s strikes on Gaza
Israel is using artificial intelligence to identify strike targets in Gaza as it goes after Hamas following the Oct. 7 attacks. Critics are now pressing for details on the technology as the death toll surpasses 30,000 Palestinians. On POLITICO Tech,...
03.05.2024
What a 2024 campaign looks like online
It’s Super Tuesday — and President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are expected to be the big winners. But the digital campaign is not exactly a 2020 rematch. On POLITICO Tech, Republican digital strategist Eric Wilson dives into...
03.04.2024
The White House's AI guy on the data Biden doesn’t want China to get
The Biden administration escalated its tech war with China last week, taking a pair of actions aimed at cracking down on Beijing’s access to data on Americans. Ben Buchanan, the White House special adviser on artificial intelligence, tells host Steven...
03.01.2024
How Russia outmaneuvers U.S. tech restrictions
In the two years since the invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. has tried to cut off Russia’s access to microchips and other technology that helps its war effort. But Moscow has proven resilient — and continues to circumvent trade restrictions...
02.29.2024
‘It's a tug-of-war’: Public vs. expert opinions on AI
A new report out today shows that tech experts and the general public don’t see eye to eye on some of the biggest risks posed by artificial intelligence. Lee Rainie from Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center tells host...
02.28.2024
'Any nightmare use for data you can think of will probably happen'
Steven Overly interviews journalist Byron Tau about his newly published book, “Means of Control,” which details how he came to learn that a trove of personal information was being peddled to federal agencies by an opaque network of government contractors.
02.27.2024
Inside the Brussels spyware crisis
At least two lawmakers in the European Parliament have found spyware on their phones. This is a major breach, especially since both members sit on the defense subcommittee. And it shows serious cybersecurity risks as the EU prepares for elections...
02.26.2024
The social media content moderation laws before SCOTUS today
The Supreme Court will hear arguments in two lawsuits today -- the outcomes of which could shape the way governments regulate social media. At issue are laws in Texas and Florida that put restrictions on how platforms like Facebook, YouTube...
02.23.2024
How AI is changing Homeland Security from the inside out
The Department of Homeland Security has an enormous footprint. Everything from policing the southern border to processing visas for high skilled immigrants, Investigations into child sexual material online, domestic security threats, and election security. So how DHS brings AI to...
02.22.2024
How federal agencies are fighting deepfakes
Washington is in the midst of its first real crackdown on AI-generated deepfakes, as federal agencies take action to combat robocalls, election misinformation and fraud. But will it be enough? Public Citizen CEO Robert Weissman tackles that question with host...
02.21.2024
Biden's chips problem in Michigan
A Michigan company called Hemlock Semiconductor got the red carpet treatment from President Joe Biden back in 2022. As Biden stood outside the White House, he pledged the CHIPS and Science Act would support Hemlock and other suppliers. But...
02.20.2024
Parler’s ousted CEO is trying for a second act
John Matze is the former CEO of Parler. You might recall, that’s the social media app that became a favorite for far-right personalities spreading conspiracies during the 2020 election. And he was fired in the wake of the Jan. 6th...
02.16.2024
Tech layoffs are 'the new normal'
Tech companies worldwide have laid off nearly 35,000 workers so far this year, adding to the worst stretch of job cuts the industry has seen in decades. In the U.S., cities dependent on the tech sector like Seattle and San...
02.15.2024
The U.S. president is on TikTok. Now what?
President Joe Biden officially joined TikTok this week -- a surprise that may have delighted no one more than TikTok itself. The video sharing app has been sharply criticized in Washington over supposed ties to China, and the Biden...
02.14.2024
The UK’s new crypto minister comes to Washington
The U.K.’s Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Bim Afolami, is making a swing through the U.S. and Canada this week, pitching his home country as a hub for crypto and fintech. Afolami sat down with POLITICO Tech ahead of meetings...
02.13.2024
AI in elections? A former Facebook exec says it's time to ‘panic responsibly’
A series of recent headlines about politicians using AI-generated deepfakes of themselves got us thinking the gray areas in how artificial intelligence can be used on the campaign trail. In Indonesia, the front runner for president is a military general...
02.12.2024
When is an AI invention still manmade?
Artificial intelligence alone cannot be considered as an inventor, but the humans who use it can be. That’s according to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office guidelines put out this morning. On POLITICO Tech, the agency’s director, Kathi Vidal, joins host...
02.09.2024
Breaking down the debate around border security tech
The Senate’s bipartisan border deal met a rapid demise this week, But tucked inside the proposal was hundreds of millions of dollars for new technology along the U.S. southern border. Border security technology is increasingly sophisticated, and also increasingly...

What's POLITICO Tech about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

POLITICO Tech episodes:

Inside the Chinese embassy’s quiet lobbying on TikTok

Ciao. Adios. Au revoir. Will AI squash European languages?

‘Godzilla vs. Kong: AI Edition’: Talking net neutrality with a former FCC chair

The White House defends contentious foreign surveillance law

This tax day, how AI is changing up the IRS

The controversy around FISA, a key foreign surveillance law, explained

‘Picture your MAGA auntie's Twitter account’: Why a Chinese disinformation group started imitating Americans

A skeptic's guide to the new data privacy bill

One critic's case for why artificial intelligence is actually dumb

Millions of kids use Roblox. Now, it wants Washington’s attention.

How the U.S. is becoming more like China on tech

What Trump’s return would mean for trans-atlantic tech relations

This organization could decide how AI is regulated in health care

What a U.S.-UK AI alliance really means

How surging tech demand will stress America’s power grid

The author of 'Broad Band' on what you didn't know about tech’s hidden heroines

The author of ‘Chip War’ on the state of the fight

Connecticut is looking to be a first mover on AI regulation

Mozilla took on Big Web. Now, it’s taking on Big AI.

Chinese hackers and the Rubik’s Cube: One-on-one with CISA Director Jen Easterly

My mom's Facebook got hacked. Here's what happened next

Intel lobbied hard for chips money — and got a big payout

Why states are losing the fight to protect voters from doxxing

SEC chair Gensler on AI's threat to Wall Street: "I don't want everybody to drive off the cliff"

SCOTUS to tackle online disinformation today

The AI doctor will see you now

What’s next in TikTok’s Washington drama

Why the U.S. Army is recruiting at South By Southwest

A new political playbook for countering disinformation

Put down your pencil. The SAT has officially gone digital

Why AI could be the death and rebirth of high school English

What tech to put on your State of the Union bingo card

The AI behind Israel’s strikes on Gaza

What a 2024 campaign looks like online

The White House's AI guy on the data Biden doesn’t want China to get

How Russia outmaneuvers U.S. tech restrictions

‘It's a tug-of-war’: Public vs. expert opinions on AI

'Any nightmare use for data you can think of will probably happen'

Inside the Brussels spyware crisis

The social media content moderation laws before SCOTUS today

How AI is changing Homeland Security from the inside out

How federal agencies are fighting deepfakes

Biden's chips problem in Michigan

Parler’s ousted CEO is trying for a second act

Tech layoffs are 'the new normal'

The U.S. president is on TikTok. Now what?

The UK’s new crypto minister comes to Washington

AI in elections? A former Facebook exec says it's time to ‘panic responsibly’

When is an AI invention still manmade?

Breaking down the debate around border security tech