Claim OwnershipThe Hill & Valley Forum Podcast
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From heretical to mainstream: The Hill and the Valley Forum is a private bipartisan community of lawmakers and innovators committed to harnessing the power of technology to address America's most pressing national security challenges. In 2025, headliners of the conference included: Palantir CEO Alex Karp, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, Howard Lutnick, Anthropic Co-founder Jack Clark, OpenAI CPO Kevin Weil, Google CIO Ruth Porat, David Friedberg, Vinod Khosla, Josh Kushner, and more. The podcast is hosted by the co-hosts of The Hill & Valley Forum: Author and Under Secretary of State (E) Designate for the Trump administration Jacob Helberg, Principal at 137 Ventures Christian Garrett, and Partner at Founders Fund and Founder of Varda Space Industries Delian Asparouhov.
The Hill & Valley is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: turpentine.co
37 Episodes
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The fourth annual Hill and Valley Forum brings together Silicon Valley and Capitol Hill to strengthen public-private partnerships for American technological leadership, featuring speakers discussing the need to rebuild America's competitive edge against global adversaries in fields like AI, aerospace, and manufacturing.
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@jacobhelberg (Jacob Helberg)
@cgarrett_15 (Christian Garrett)
@zebulgar (Delian Asparouhov)
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Intro
(0:13) Christian Garrett's opening remarks on rebuilding bridges between Silicon Valley and government
(2:42) Delian Asparouhov on U.S. technological advantages and challenges vs. adversaries, particularly China
(6:17) Jacob Helberg on the forum's growth and America's reindustrialization revolution
(11:54) Introduction of Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum discusses the critical importance of energy dominance to American technological leadership, particularly in the AI arms race against China, highlighting the need for increased domestic electricity production, critical minerals development, and sustainable resource management on federal lands.
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@SecretaryBurgum (Doug Burgum)
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Intro
(0:08) Opening gratitude and background of Doug Burgum's career in tech
(2:17) Discussion of AI's transformative impact and policy implications
(3:32) The connection between energy production and winning the AI arms race with China
(9:50) Analysis of America's electricity challenges compared to China's aggressive energy expansion
(16:57) Proposals for critical minerals development, including sovereign risk insurance and federal investment
(20:44) Vision for sustainable resource management on federal lands to generate revenue and strengthen the economy
(23:13) Closing
Senator Bill Hagerty shares his optimistic vision for American technological and economic leadership, outlining the Trump administration's strategy to counter China's unfair trade practices through tax cuts, deregulation, energy dominance, and balanced trade policies, while also highlighting forthcoming legislation to support cryptocurrency innovation.
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@SenatorHagerty (Bill Hagerty)
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Intro
(0:08) Opening remarks and acknowledgment of forum founders
(0:55) Message of optimism about America's innovative potential
(1:34) Discussion of China's unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft
(3:22) Trump administration's economic plans including tax cuts and jobs act extension
(4:51) Benefits of deregulation for American businesses
(4:57) Energy dominance strategy and its economic and geopolitical advantages
(6:02) Explanation of trade and tariff initiatives to rectify imbalances
(7:45) Introduction of the Genius Act to support cryptocurrency innovation
(8:34) Closing remarks on America's innovative capacity and leadership potential
(9:21) Closing
In this conversation at the Hill and Valley Forum, Palantir CEO Alex Karp discusses his book "The Technological Republic," the importance of Western values, and the organizational principles that enabled Palantir's success, while emphasizing the need for America to win the AI arms race and the critical role of conviction and meritocracy in building enduring companies.
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@jacobhelberg (Jacob Helberg)
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Alex Karp's statement on AI power dynamics and America's imperative to win the AI arms race
(0:39) Introduction and discussion about Karp's book on Western values
(4:58) Disruption by a protester and Karp's response about free speech and discourse
(11:23) Shifting to organizational lessons that made Palantir successful
(16:00) The importance of belief systems and conviction in building great companies
(20:50) Discussion of Palantir's support for Israel and the source of Karp's moral convictions
(28:09) Closing
Oracle CEO Safra Catz discusses the company's commitment to supporting U.S. national security, describing Oracle's longstanding relationship with intelligence agencies, their principled stance on moral issues like refusing to operate in China and supporting Israel, and how AI technologies must be leveraged to maintain America's competitive advantage against adversaries.
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@SafraCatz (Safra Catz)
@jacobhelberg (Jacob Helberg)
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Intro
(0:10) Oracle's role in defending Western values and supporting the U.S. government
(1:30) Examples of Oracle staying true to its moral compass, including decisions about China and supporting Israel (4:11) Discussion on how the U.S. government can leverage AI to defend against foreign threats
(6:12) Perspective on America's potential new golden age following the recent election
(7:40) Technology first principles from Oracle that government can draw inspiration from
(9:46) Closing remarks
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang discusses the concept of AI factories—systems that transform electricity into computational intelligence—and explains how AI represents an industrial revolution that will transform every industry, create new jobs in tech and trades, and enable advanced manufacturing through digital twins and physical AI.
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@jacobhelberg (Jacob Helberg)
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Introduction and Jensen's opening statement on AI's impact on jobs
(0:38) Welcome and initial question about AI factories
(3:17) Discussion of AI as a paradigm shift in modern computing
(4:51) Explanation of physical AI and its evolution from perception to reasoning
(9:46) Analysis of what the US needs to do to win the global AI race
(13:04) Impact of AI on the workforce and job market
(17:55) How AI enables reshoring and manufacturing through digital twins
(22:19) Timeline predictions for AI-enabled robots becoming ubiquitous
(23:52) Closing
Anduril co-founder Brian Schimpf and US Ambassador to the United Nations nominee Mike Waltz discuss the urgent need to reform defense acquisition processes, with Schimpf arguing for free market competition in weapons development and emphasizing how improving manufacturing capabilities and industrial capacity is critical for credible deterrence against China's growing military threat.
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@MikeWaltz47 (Mike Waltz)
@SchimpfBrian (Brian Schimpf)
@cgarrett_15 (Christian Garrett)
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Preview
(00:50) Intro
(01:19) Waltz on defense acquisition reform and modernization initiatives
(05:07) Discussion on how tech community can work with government and defense sector
(07:34) Brian Schimpf on increased accountability and performance metrics in defense contracting
(10:17) Schimpf's vision for reimagining defense procurement through market competition
(12:11) Discussion of industrial capacity challenges and manufacturing constraints
(15:36) How Silicon Valley and Capitol Hill can work together to solve defense industrial base issues
(17:46) Challenges with allied defense partnerships and foreign military sales
(19:28) What's at stake if the US falls behind China in critical technologies
(22:06) Closing
In a video address to the Hill and Valley Forum, Taiwan's representative emphasizes the strategic importance of Taiwan-US partnership across three key areas: national security, industrial manufacturing capabilities, and AI leadership, highlighting how Taiwan's resilience and technological ecosystem can contribute to rebuilding America's industrial base and maintaining technological superiority in an increasingly contested global environment.
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@bikhim (Hsiao Bi-Khim)
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Opening
(0:15) Introduction and greeting from Taiwan
(0:35) Taiwan's importance as a resilient partner to the United States
(1:01) First key area: Taiwan's security as global security and defense initiatives
(2:59) Second key area: Taiwan's contribution to American industrial comeback
(3:54) Third key area: Taiwan as a partner in AI leadership
(4:55) Conclusion on Taiwan's resilience, values, and call for partnership
(6:07) Closing
In this panel discussion at the Hill and Valley Forum, leaders from the commercial space industry and government discuss America's space superiority, with SpaceX's Tim Hughes highlighting the transformative impact of reusable rockets, Congressman George Whitesides emphasizing the need for acquisition reform and risk tolerance, and former Space Force executive Bucky discussing how economic power in space is essential for military power in space.
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@gtwhitesides (George Whitesides)
@zebulgar (Delian Asparouhov)
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Preview
(0:24) Applause and introduction by moderator Delian
(1:22) Discussion on the current state of commercial space activities
(3:23) SpaceX's Tim Hughes on Starship development and reusability
(5:30) Congressman Whitesides on bringing space industry perspective to Congress
(9:27) Bucky on space as a contested domain and military strategy
(12:33) Whitesides on defense acquisition reform and regulatory challenges
(15:27) Tim Hughes explaining the meaning of "commercial" in space industry
(18:55) Bucky on procurement process reform and agile development
(20:08) Whitesides on risk tolerance and development challenges in government
(22:01) SpaceX's biggest challenges as a rapidly growing space company
(23:38) Panel discussion on America's goals for the Moon and Mars
(25:20) Closing remarks
In this panel discussion, Senator Joni Ernst, Chair of the DOGE Caucus, joins Ramp CEO Eric Glyman and tech executive Keith Rabois to discuss improving government efficiency through commercial technologies, highlighting shocking examples of payment tracking failures, credit card misuse, and remote work abuse while emphasizing how modern financial technologies could save billions in taxpayer dollars.
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@SenJoniErnst (Sen Joni Ernst)
@rabois (Keith Rabois)
@eglyman (Eric Glyman)
@zebulgar (Delian Asparouhov)
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Preview
(0:33) Introduction to government efficiency panel
(1:07) Senator Ernst on problems with federal payment tracking systems
(3:05) Keith Rabois on applying financial industry lessons to government spending
(3:47) Discussion of GSA credit card issues with 4.6 million cards for fewer employees
(6:18) Eric Glyman on how Ramp's technology prevents inappropriate spending
(9:00) Senator Ernst on expanding commercial technology adoption beyond defense
(10:49) Keith on technology improving productivity and reducing unnecessary taxation
(12:13) Eric explaining how Anduril benefits from Ramp's financial technology
(15:24) Senator Ernst on taxpayer-funded union time and examples of remote work abuse
(19:04) Discussion on benefits of in-person work versus remote environments
(20:52) Attracting and retaining tech talent in government service
(22:40) Keith on how DOGE has become a talent magnet for government service
(23:24) Senator Ernst on codifying DOGE initiatives through bipartisan legislation
(25:18) Closing
In this "Made in America" panel at the Hill and Valley Forum, experts including Senator Todd Young, David Friedberg, and Shaun Maguire discuss the urgent need to rebuild America's industrial capacity, highlighting the critical energy gap with China, the need for education reform focused on vocational training, and the importance of strategic reshoring combined with automation to compete globally.
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@SenToddYoung (Senator Todd Young)
@friedberg (David Friedberg)
@shaunmmaguire (Shaun Maguire)
@cgarrett_15 (Christian Garrett)
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Preview
(1:10) Introduction to the panel on industrial strength and manufacturing challenges
(2:00) Shaun Maguire on creating market leaders in emerging industries to rebuild supply chains
(4:45) Senator Young on government's role in reshoring critical technology manufacturing
(7:53) David Friedberg on addressing energy and education as fundamental baseline issues
(12:32) Senator Young on improving higher education financing and transportation infrastructure
(15:31) Discussion on America's need to embrace higher risk tolerance for innovation
(17:46) Shaun on combating bureaucracy that hampers American progress
(18:00) Conversation on automation's role in bringing back manufacturing capacity
(20:20) Panel discussion on onshoring versus friend-shoring with allies
(25:14) Final thoughts
In this Hill and Valley Forum panel on critical minerals, Congressman Ritchie Torres, MP Materials CEO James Litinsky, Lilac Solutions CEO Raef Sully, and Lowercarbon GP Clay Dumas discuss America's dangerous dependency on China for critical minerals like rare earths and lithium. They highlight the urgent need for domestic supply chains, the challenge of competing against China's mercantilist tactics, and how technological innovation combined with smart government policy can help the US regain mineral independence.
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@RepRitchie (Congressman Ritchie Torres)
@claydumas (Clay Dumas)
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Preview
(0:28) Introduction and Congressman Torres on America's complacency in critical minerals
(3:20) James Litinsky on MP Materials' journey to build a complete domestic rare earths supply chain
(7:46) Discussion of China's mercantilist approach to controlling critical mineral markets
(11:10) Raef Sully on Lilac Solutions' lithium extraction technology advantages
(14:54) Analysis of market manipulation and China's strategy to crash prices
(16:29) Raef on strategic reserves and incubating domestic critical mineral industries
(20:20) James on needing policy solutions beyond tax credits to counter Chinese price manipulation
(22:29) Raef on America's technological advantage and investing in innovation
(24:22) Congressman Torres on the importance of critical minerals for defense and decarbonization
(26:55) Closing
In this Hill and Valley Forum panel, Peggy Johnson, CEO of Agility Robotics, Stephen Miran, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, and Congressman John Moolenaar discuss how humanoid robots are helping address labor shortages in warehouses and factories while supporting America's manufacturing resurgence. They emphasize the importance of maintaining U.S. technological leadership against China's aggressive competition in robotics through smart policies, tariffs, and investments in workforce development.
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@RepMoolenaar (John Moolenaar)
@PeggyJ (Peggy Johnson)
@SteveMiran (Steve Miran)
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Preview
(0:26) Introduction to the panel on robotics and manufacturing
(1:48) Peggy Johnson explaining what humanoid robots are and their capabilities
(3:36) Stephen Miran on manufacturing's importance for national security
(5:36) Discussion of competition with China in robotics technology
(7:32) Bank teller analogy: how automation creates more jobs, not fewer
(8:44) How robots fill jobs humans don't want in logistics and manufacturing
(9:49) Policy needs for robotics: safety regulations and talent development
(13:00) Creating a competitive U.S. economy through tax incentives and regulatory reforms
(15:20) Role of tariffs in addressing unfair trade practices with China(17:49) Supply chain vulnerabilities and critical components
(22:18) Future of humanoid robots in factories and eventually homes
(24:57) Making robotics appealing to the next generation of workers
(27:08) Closing
In this Hill and Valley Forum panel, Senator Mike Rounds, Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark, and Lightspeed Venture Partners founder Ravi Mhatre discuss the critical balance between accelerating AI innovation and implementing necessary controls to maintain US technological leadership against China. They emphasize the importance of public-private collaboration, increased energy capacity, and the transformative potential of AI in healthcare and scientific research.
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@SenatorRounds (Senator Mike Rounds (SD))
@jackclarkSF (Jack Clark)
@ravi_lsvp (Ravi Mhatre)
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Preview
(1:17) Introduction by moderator Ravi Mhatre of Lightseed Venture Partners
(2:29) Context setting about the current state of AI technology advancements
(4:08) Senator Rounds on how the US can stay competitive in AI through public-private collaboration
(6:52) Discussion on balancing innovation speed with necessary security controls
(9:16) Analysis of China's AI capabilities and the DeepSeek model
(13:59) Senator Rounds on China's determination to achieve AI parity with the US
(16:27) Conversation about export controls and policies around open-source AI models
(19:19) Senator Rounds highlighting AI's potential to revolutionize healthcare and cancer research
(21:25) Jack Clark on AI's ability to accelerate scientific research and discovery
(23:18) Discussion on the timeline for AI systems capable of coding and AI R&D
(24:17) Closing thoughts on policy priorities including energy infrastructure and security measures
(26:45) Closing
In this Hill and Valley Forum panel, Applied Intuition CEO Qasar Younis, Senator Jack Reed, and Lux Capital's Josh Wolfe discuss the challenges of maintaining US technological leadership against China. They emphasize the critical importance of attracting global talent, balancing innovation with security concerns, and developing nuanced policy approaches that address espionage risks without sacrificing America's competitive edge in AI and autonomous systems.
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@SenJackReed (Senator Jack Reed)
@qasar (Qasar Younis)
@wolfejosh (Josh Wolfe)
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Preview
(1:37) Introduction of panel with Applied Intuition CEO Qasar Younis and Senator Jack Reed
(3:05) Explanation of Applied Intuition's work on AI for autonomous machines
(4:11) Senator Reed on dual-use technology and military innovation challenges
(6:12) Qasar's insights from recent visit to Shanghai and Chinese approach to IP
(10:34) Discussion on talent acquisition and immigration policy
(12:42) Qasar's observations about China's surveillance state
(15:25) Senator Reed on data security and privacy concerns
(17:09) Conversation about autonomous vehicles and data vulnerability
(19:22) Finding middle ground between privacy protection and innovation
(21:40) Senator Reed departs; continuation with Qasar Younis
(22:08) Insights from Qasar's recent trip to China and the surveillance state
(24:24) Geopolitical implications of AI and autonomous systems
(25:56) Advice for technologists and policymakers in defense autonomy
(28:22) Closing
In this session from the Hill & Valley Forum 2025, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI), Saronic's Co-Founder & CCO Rob Lehman, 8VC partner Alex Moore, and Caffeinated Capital GP Varun Gupta explore how autonomous surface vessels and AI-driven maritime systems could help the US counter China's substantial naval buildup. The conversation highlights the potential for a transformative "hybrid fleet" combining traditional naval assets with unmanned systems, and examines how American shipbuilding can be revitalized through private investment and public-private partnerships.
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Alex Moore on how elite Silicon Valley engineers are entering the naval space
(00:27) America's maritime challenges and China's naval advantage
(01:29) Congressman Gabe Amo on the strategic imbalance in the Indo-Pacific and funding predictability challenges
(03:51) Rob Lehman explaining Saronic's approach to unmanned vessels enhancing the Navy's hybrid fleet concept
(06:38) Alex Moore on the compounding nature of maritime AI and autonomous software stacks
(09:14) Congressman Amo discussing underwater drone development in Rhode Island's maritime industry
(11:58) The evolution of maritime dominance from battleships to distributed autonomous systems
(15:19) Discussion of America's withered shipbuilding industrial base compared to Asian competitors
(17:38) Rob Lehman detailing Saronic's $250 million investment in Gulf Craft and plans for Port Alpha
(20:17) The emergence of tech startups entering naval defense and shipbuilding after decades of Silicon Valley neglect
In this session from the Hill & Valley Forum 2025, Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar and Senator Mike Lee (UT) diagnose the crippling bureaucracy hampering America's defense innovation and outline a path to reform. Sankar argues that America's defense procurement has forgotten the formula that produced previous breakthroughs: competing programs, heretic innovators, and prioritizing people over process. Senator Lee details how excessive regulation (100,000 pages annually costing $1.5 trillion) threatens America's ability to compete with China in the AI arms race, and champions the REINS Act to restore constitutional order and spur innovation by requiring congressional approval for major regulations.
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@senmikelee@CGarrett_15
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Shyam Sankar explains how America's defense innovation has been hobbled
(01:01) Introduction to the panel on "The Great Defense Reformation"
(02:34) Senator Lee on the self-perpetuating bureaucracy that throttles American innovation
(06:15) Sankar on the importance of competition among government programs, not just defense contractors
(09:56) The critical role of "heretics" and founders in American defense innovation history
(13:01) Senator Lee on America's energy disadvantage against China due to regulatory burdens
(16:52) How the tech community can support regulatory reform through the REINS Act
(18:40) Sankar on positive steps from the current administration to streamline federal acquisition
(21:08) Two key reforms: implementing service-level agreements (SLAs) for government processes and recognizing requirements documents are always imperfect
(22:55) Senator Lee's detailed plan for permitting reform to accelerate innovation and development
In this conversation recorded at the Hill & Valley Forum 2025, Josh Kushner, Founder of Thrive Capital, sits with Jacob Helberg to discuss his firm's investment approach and America's AI leadership strategy. Kushner emphasizes that maintaining U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence is "the most important moment in our lifetimes," advocating for policies that secure American access to critical AI inputs: talent, compute, and energy. He urges leaders to treat AI competition as a crisis despite America's current leadership position, warning that AI systems built without democratic values could have extraordinary consequences for the Western world. Kushner also shares his optimism about embodied AI and robotics creating new economic opportunities while enabling domestic manufacturing.
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@jacobhelberg
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Josh Kushner on the critical importance of AI built with American democratic values
(01:34) Overview of Thrive Capital's investment approach
(03:33) Thrive's five-pronged investment strategy in artificial intelligence
(06:33) Why American leadership in AI is crucial and how public-private partnership can secure it
(09:20) Kushner's perspective on DeepSeek and the dangers of supporting Chinese AI models
(11:54) The future of embodied intelligence and AI's expansion into robotics
(14:31) How AI and automation will ultimately create more prosperity despite job displacement
(15:40) Policy advice for Washington: treating AI leadership as a national crisis despite current advantages
(18:00) The importance of first principles thinking in both entrepreneurship and policy making
In this session from the Hill & Valley Forum 2025, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH) and Fatih Ozmen (CEO, Sierra Nevada Corporation) discuss America's strategy for winning the decisive decade in great power competition with China. They examine the critical challenges facing America's industrial base, from supply chain vulnerabilities and consolidation among defense contractors to budget uncertainty caused by Congressional dysfunction. They advocate for expanding the defense industrial base through open architectures, public-private partnerships, and reforms to how the government articulates requirements and approaches life-cycle costs.
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@CGarrett_15
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Fatih Ozmen emphasizes how expanding America's industrial base helps the entire country
(00:28) Introduction to the panel on winning the decisive decade in great power competition
(01:28) Fatih Ozmen on the need to expand America's defense industrial base and increase competition
(04:47) Senator Shaheen's concerns about the first 100 days of the administration and cuts to key programs
(07:55) Discussion of how American foreign assistance cuts have created openings for Chinese influence
(12:00) Fatih on creating a "whole of nation" approach and the importance of open architectures
(16:16) The NASA model of public-private partnerships that enables new companies to enter the market
(18:55) How American leadership in space promotes our values and inspires future generations
(19:16) Senator Shaheen on how Congressional budget uncertainty undermines national security
(22:20) Fatih's proposal for accountability in government through stronger incentive structures
(24:18) Recommendations for government to share capability requirements earlier and focus on life-cycle costs
In this panel from the 2025 Hill & Valley Forum, tech leaders Kevin Weil (Chief Product Officer, OpenAI), Ruth Porat (President and Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet and Google), and Emil Michael (nominee for Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering) discuss America's AI leadership and the strategic imperative of maintaining it against China's growing capabilities. The conversation spans OpenAI's plans to release open-source models one generation behind their frontier systems, Google's breakthrough achievements with AlphaFold, and the critical infrastructure challenges - particularly energy production and modernizing the electrical grid - that must be addressed to ensure continued U.S. technological dominance.
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@emilmichael
@zebulgar
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(00:30) Discussion of America's technological leadership in AI
(01:30) Kevin Weil on ChatGPT's exponential growth to 500 million weekly users and rapid capability improvements
(05:13) Ruth Porat on AlphaFold's Nobel Prize and revolutionizing scientific discovery
(07:43) Kevin on how AI partnerships with national labs are accelerating scientific research
(09:12) Discussion of DeepSeek and the strategy for countering Chinese open-source AI soft power
(12:15) Concerns about U.S. venture capital funding Chinese AI companies
(14:18) Emil Michael on reforming Pentagon acquisition to better leverage commercial AI technology
(16:17) Building a risk-taking culture in government and celebrating success rather than punishing failure
(19:00) Ruth Porat on America's energy infrastructure challenges and Google's policy recommendations
(21:05) OpenAI's Project Stargate and $500 billion investment in U.S. AI infrastructure
(23:51) Final thoughts on maintaining U.S.-Silicon Valley cooperation and technological competitiveness
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