Synthetic biotech, DARPA for intelligence and AI regulation with RAND CEO Jason Matheny

Technology and Security (TS)

Dr Miah Hammond-Errey is joined by Jason Matheny, CEO of RAND Corporation and founder of CSET to delve into the complexities of regulating emerging technologies — from AI to biotechnology, what the United States can learn from Australia, the opportunity a current bottleneck in compute capacity offers democracies, and his work at IARPA — ‘the DARPA of the intelligence world’ — using innovative methods to solve the hard problems of policy and national security. They also discuss the role of alliances such as Five Eyes in combatting AI-generated disinformation and why standards bodies need greater support.

Jason is the President and CEO of RAND Corporation. He previously led technology and national security policy for the White House in the National Security Council and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Jason founded the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) at Georgetown University, was a Commissioner on the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence and the director of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA). He has also worked at the World Bank, Oxford University, the Applied Physics Laboratory and Princeton University.

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

Resources mentioned in the recording:

• Supporting responsible AI: discussion paper (Department of Industry, Science and Resources)
• The Illusion of China’s AI Prowess (Helen Toner, Jenny Xiao, and Jeffrey Ding, Foreign Affairs)
• Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities for the Department of Defense (Jason Matheny, Senate testimony)
• Challenges to US National Security and Competitiveness Posed by AI (Jason Matheny, Senate testimony)
• Dealing with Disinformation: A Critical New Mission Area For AUSMIN (Dr Miah Hammond-Errey, USSC)
• RAND Truth Decay original report (Michael Rich and Jennifer Cavanaugh)
• RAND Truth Decay
• The future of digital health with federated learning (Andrew Trask et al.)
• SILMARILS – Chemical residue detection (IARPA)

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 on the lands of the Ngunnawal people, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging — here and wherever you are listening. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.