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The Geopolitics of Technology

Taking on the implications of technology for global politics and stability, which will shape innovation, supply chains, prosperity, and national and international security

Technology not only increasingly shapes the future of individual democracies, but also of global power dynamics and international conflicts. Through our Geopolitics of Technology practice area, IST is working to help governments, private companies, and civil society understand these threats so we can devise plans, policies and products to bolster our resilience.

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Meet the Religious Voices and Responsible AI Steering Committee

Meet the Religious Voices and Responsible AI Steering Committee

Thirteen computer science, philosophy, theology, and public policy experts have joined IST and AI and Faith to provide strategic guidance on the Religious Voices and Responsible AI initiative.

AI, artificial intelligence, Christianity, faith, Islam, religion

March 19, 2026

IST Experts Weigh in on the 2026 Cyber Strategy

IST Experts Weigh in on the 2026 Cyber Strategy

Today’s Cyber Strategy for America outlined six key priorities for the administration’s “cyber vision.” IST experts weigh in on what’s there, what isn’t, and what the plan means for cybersecurity going forward.

critical infrastructure, cyber offense, cybersecurity, deterrence, National Cybersecurity Strategy, Strategy, White House

March 6, 2026

A Changing Export Control Landscape: H200 Exports, Remote Access Rules, and What Comes Next

A Changing Export Control Landscape: H200 Exports, Remote Access Rules, and What Comes Next

January 2026 was, in many ways, an inflection point for export controls. From the resumption of Nvidia H200 sales to China to congressional discussion on restricting remote cloud access, IST's AI Chip Export Control Initiative team unpacks what these developments mean for the future.

AI, artificial intelligence, Bureau of Industry and Security, China, chip, export control, NVIDIA, semiconductor

February 24, 2026

Q&A: The Missing Middle: Solving America’s Deep-Tech Financing Gap

Q&A: The Missing Middle: Solving America’s Deep-Tech Financing Gap

In this month's edition of The TechnologIST, Lillian Ilsley-Greene sits down with Fatima Faisal Khan to discuss a new report on how to close America's deep tech financing gap in strategic competition with China.

biotech, China, deep tech, energy, quantum, venture capital

October 31, 2025

The Missing Middle: How to Close America’s Deep-Tech Financing Gap in Strategic Competition with China

The Missing Middle: How to Close America’s Deep-Tech Financing Gap in Strategic Competition with China

The United States and China are locked in competition to finance & deploy foundational technologies that will underwrite economic leadership and ensure national security for decades to come. Building on the prior work of IST’s Strategic Balancing Initiative, "The Missing Middle" digs into the systematic gap between early-stage capital and late-stage financing facing American deep-tech companies and the strengths and weaknesses of China's bifurcated system.

capital, China, deep tech, finance, hardware, national security, quantum, venture capital

October 31, 2025

IST and AI and Faith launch Religious Voices and Responsible AI Initiative with support from the Future of Life Institute

IST and AI and Faith launch Religious Voices and Responsible AI Initiative with support from the Future of Life Institute

Religious Voices and Responsible AI will explore the complex ethical, moral, and societal implications of Artificial Intelligence through a religious and spiritual lens. By bringing together leading religious scholars, AI ethicists, and technologists, IST, in partnership with AI and Faith, aim to foster a deeper, more inclusive conversation about the responsible development and deployment of AI.

AI, artificial intelligence, faith, religion, religious voices, responsible AI

October 30, 2025

The Unnoticed Component That Could Cripple America’s Grid

The Unnoticed Component That Could Cripple America’s Grid

When the average citizen thinks about energy security, they might picture oil pipelines, nuclear power plants, or the last time they lost power. Rarely do they consider the electric power transformers that serve as the backbone of the U.S. electric power system. IST Vice President for Energy and National Security Dr. Steve Burns takes a hard look at the transformer shortage that could threaten the resilience of our entire electric system.

electric power, grid, manufacturing, power, security, transformer

October 14, 2025

Announcing the Energy FIRST Initiative at IST, led by Dr. Steven Burns

Announcing the Energy FIRST Initiative at IST, led by Dr. Steven Burns

IST is announcing the launch of Energy FIRST, an initiative to fortify the reliability, affordability, and security of the energy systems that power modern life and national defense, led by IST Vice President for Energy and National Security Dr. Steven Burns.

critical infrastructure, cyber-physical, energy, grid, national security, power, resilience, security

October 6, 2025

Q&A: National security, competition, and risk reduction — AI at IST

Q&A: National security, competition, and risk reduction — AI at IST

As AI models continue to proliferate and gain prominence, what are the cross-sector implications for national security, strategic competitiveness, and more? In this month's edition of the TechnologIST, Lillian Ilsley-Greene sat down with IST AI experts Jennifer Tang, Gabrielle Tran, and Fatima Faisal Khan to hear about how their work addresses the potential risks and opportunities of AI.

AI, antitrust, CFIUS, China, chips, competition, national security, NVIDIA, outbound investment, TechnologIST, venture capital

August 29, 2025

IST Statement on President Trump’s AI Action Plan and Related Executive Orders

IST Statement on President Trump’s AI Action Plan and Related Executive Orders

In February, IST submitted comments in response to the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s request for information on the development of an AI Action Plan. We were heartened to see many of the key issues we raised reflected in the Trump Administration’s recent AI executive orders.

AI, artificial intelligence, chips, compute, distributed energy, energy security, export control, national security, risk reduction

July 25, 2025

IST Launching AI Chip Export Control Initiative with Support from Open Philanthropy

IST Launching AI Chip Export Control Initiative with Support from Open Philanthropy

Malicious actors continue to exploit loopholes to access the powerful microprocessors required to train AI. IST, with support from Open Philanthropy, is launching an effort to investigate compliance failure and develop a framework to strengthen AI chip export policy & enforcement.

AI, chips, dual-use, microprocessors, national security

May 28, 2025

Q&A: Reflecting on IST’s Mission in Action

Q&A: Reflecting on IST’s Mission in Action

In the February 2025 newsletter, on the heels of recent gatherings of the world's most prominent technology and policy leaders, members of IST leadership reflected on what they heard, what seems to be missing from global dialogue, and what IST can do about it.

AI, critical infrastructure, cyber, cybersecurity, Munich Cyber Security Conference, Paris Peace Forum, Public-private partnerships, Ransomware, WEF

February 28, 2025

A Transatlantic Perspective on Quantum Tech

A Transatlantic Perspective on Quantum Tech

IST CSO Megan Stifel welcomes Markus Pflitsch. Formerly in the financial services sector, Markus transitioned back into the quantum space in 2019. He details his path to becoming CEO and founder of a leading quantum company, his unique take on the quantum ecosystem, and the differences in the funding environments in Europe and the United States.

artificial intelligence, China, Europe, quantum, venture capital

December 18, 2024

The Future is Quantum

The Future is Quantum

IST CSO Megan Stifel interviews Stefan Leichenauer, a member of the inaugural team at SandboxAQ with experience in both AI and quantum science. Stefan explains his journey from academia to private industry, SandboxAQ’s origins within Alphabet, and where quantum science is going next.

artificial intelligence, China, quantum

December 12, 2024

The Cleantech Boom

The Cleantech Boom

IST Chief Trust Officer Steve Kelly speaks with Dr. Alex Gagnon, co-founder and CEO of Banyu Carbon and an associate professor at the University of Washington School of Oceanology. They discuss the transformative potential of direct ocean capture in carbon dioxide removal and explore the ecosystem of partnerships needed to scale cleantech solutions.

carbon removal, China, cleantech, climate change, venture capital

December 5, 2024

Delivering results requires a critical action think tank

Delivering results requires a critical action think tank

Our role as a 501(c)(3) critical action think tank has never been more crucial. As technology empowers us, it also brings incredible challenges. We help accelerate its benefits while keeping individuals, businesses, governments, and society safe from harm. On Giving Tuesday, we extend our sincere thanks to all of our supporters. Our work would not be possible without you. To celebrate, IST CEO Philip Reiner shares his reflections on the last year, our impact, and why what we do is so important.

artificial intelligence, critical action, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, public-private, Ransomware

December 3, 2024