Shows
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Case for Smarter AI Regulation, With Matt PeraultRegulating how AI is used—not how it's built—is the only way to protect innovation and give small startups a fair shot. Rob and Jackie sit down with Matt Perault, Head of Artificial Intelligence Policy at Andreessen Horowitz, to discuss the significant burden regulatory frameworks can place on smaller tech companies and the critical role of government in AI regulation. MentionedEzra Klein and Derek Thompson, Abundance, (Simon and Schuster, March 2025).Robert D. Atkinson and Meghan Ostertag, “Congress Should Fully Fund NSF’s TIP Directorate to Make America More Competitive Versus China,” (ITIF, June 2025).Robert D. Atkinson...
2025-07-0725 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicymRNA and the Future of Personalized Medicine, With Andrew Geall and Deborah BarbaraContinued innovation and investment is vital to maintaining the U.S.'s leadership in the biopharma sector. Rob and Jackie sit down with Andrew Geall, Chief Development Officer at Replicate Bioscience, and Deborah Barbara, strategic advisor to Primrose Bio, to discuss the development and potential of mRNA as the fourth pillar of pharmaceutical innovation.MentionedSandra Barbosu, “Harnessing AI to Accelerate Innovation in the Biopharmaceutical Industry,” (ITIF, November 2024) Richard Fleischer, dir. Fantastic Voyage, (20th Century-Fox, 1966).RelatedStephen Ezell and Meghan Ostertag, “The Bayh-Dole Act’s Role in Stimulating University-Led Regional Economic Growth,” (ITIF, June 2025)
2025-06-2327 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyDecoding the Techno-Economic Power Struggle, With Alex CapriThere is a clear linkage between technology and national security, economic strength and social stability. Rob and Jackie sit down with Alex Capri, author of Techno-Nationalism: How It's Reshaping Trade, Geopolitics and Society to discuss how nations leverage technological innovation for national security and stability and how that applies to evolving United States-China competition.MentionedAlex Capri,
2025-05-1221 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe United States Needs a Robust Industrial Policy, With Marc Fasteau and Ian FletcherWhat is the correct economic strategy for a nation? Rob and Jackie sat down with Marc Fasteau and Ian Fletcher, authors of Industrial Policy for the United States, to discuss how industrial policy, done right, will develop the kind of economy the United States wants.MentionedMarc Fasteau and Ian Fletcher, Industrial Policy for the United States, (Cambridge University Press, November 2024).Ian Fletcher, Free Trade Doesn't Work: What Should Replace It and Why, (Coalition for a Prosperous America, February 2011).“Are You a “Marketist” or a “Producerist” on Economic Policy?,” (ITIF, December 2024).
2024-12-1628 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyLeveraging Data to Improve Communities, With Rochelle HaynesData-informed and evidence-based decision making can drive optimum outcomes in local governments. Rob and Jackie sat down with Rochelle Haynes, managing director of What Works Cities, to discuss how technology and innovation are being used in cities to equitably deliver services and solve problems.RelatedRochelle Haynes, “How Cities Can Harness the Power of AI in 2024,” (What Works Cities, 2024)Ash Johnson. “Balancing Privacy and Innovation in Smart Cities and Communities,” (ITIF, 2023).
2024-10-0729 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyInformation Technology Is Increasingly Critical and Increasingly Demonized, With Daniel CastroOver the last several years, public opinion on technology and the use of data has shifted from excitement to skepticism to fear. Rob and Jackie sat down with Daniel Castro, Vice President of ITIF and Director of the Center for Data Innovation, to discuss the negative effect of techlash on human outcomes.RelatedRobert D. Atkinson and David Moschella. Technology Fears and Scapegoats: 40 Myths about Privacy, Jobs, AI, and Today’s Innovation Economy, (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024).Robert D. Atkinson, Doug Brake, Daniel Castro, Colin Cunliff, Joe Kennedy, Michael McLaughlin, Alan McQuinn, and Joshua New, “A Policymaker’s Guide...
2024-07-0121 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyRemaining Realistic and Optimistic About the Promise of the Future, With Jim PethokoukisThe future will be much improved if society fights the fear of technology. Rob and Jackie sat down with Jim Pethokoukis, Senior Fellow and DeWitt Wallace Chair at the American Enterprise Institute, to discuss how the sci-fi fantasy of the future isn’t as far off as we think. MentionedJames Pethokoukis. The Conservative Futurist: How to Create the Sci-Fi World We Were Promised, (Center Street, 2023).Robert D. Atkinson and David Moschella. Technology Fears and Scapegoats: 40 Myths about Privacy, Jobs, AI, and Today’s Innovation Economy, (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024).RelatedRobert D. Atkinson, Doug Brake, Danie...
2024-06-1023 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyEmbracing Innovation is the Ultimate Key to Tackling Climate Change, With Robin GasterClimate change is a global problem, with two polarized viewpoints making it difficult to find a solution. Rob and Jackie sat down with Robin Gaster, Director of Research at ITIF's Center for Clean Energy Innovation, to discuss how price/performance parity in green technologies can bridge the gap between left and right viewpoints on clean energy. MentionedRobin Gaster, Robert D. Atkinson, and Ed Rightor, “Beyond Force: A Realist Pathway Through the Green Transition,” (ITIF, July 2023).RelatedRobin Gaster, “A Realist Approach to Hydrogen,” (ITIF, January 2024).
2024-05-1318 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyNavigating Deepfakes While Promoting Innovation, With Ryan LongThe past few years have seen a remarkable rise in the quality and quantity of deepfakes. Rob and Jackie discussed the rise of deepfakes with Ryan Long, Vice-Chairman of the California Lawyers Association, Licensing and Technology Transactions Group, Intellectual Property Section, and explored how to harness this technology responsibly while preventing abuse.MentionedHenry A Kissinger, Eric Schmidt and Daniel Huttenlocher. The Age of AI: And Our Human Future, (Little, Brown and Company, 2021).Megan Garber, “The Man Who Saved the World by Doing Absolutely Nothing,” (The Atlantic, September 2013).RelatedDaniel Castro, “Joe Biden Did Not Ap...
2024-04-2225 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicySupply Chain Origins and Innovations, With Yossi SheffiThe term ‘supply chain’ is relatively new, but the activities involved are not as new as we think. Rob and Jackie sat down with Yossi Sheffi, Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, to discuss the complex history of supply chains and how technology and AI will continue to evolve supply chain processes in the future.MentionedYossi Sheffi. The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, A.I., and the Future of Work, (MIT CTL Media, 2023).RelatedStephen Ezell and Stefan Koester, “Transforming Global Trade and Development With Digital Technologies,” (ITIF, May 2023).
2024-04-0124 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyUsing Artificial Intelligence to Augment Workflow, With Nitin MittalUsed to its full potential, artificial intelligence (AI) can assist employees, improve interactions with customers, and increase efficiency. Rob and Jackie sat down with Nitin Mittal, a principal with Deloitte Consulting, to discuss how AI is being used to enhance work environments. Mentioned Thomas H. Davenport and Nitin Mittal. All-in On AI: How Smart Companies Win Big with Artificial Intelligence, (Harvard Business Review Press, 2023).“State of AI in the Enterprise, 5th edition report,” (Deloitte United States, 2022).RelatedPatrick Grady and Daniel Castro, “Tech Panics, Generative AI, and the Need for Regu...
2024-01-2930 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyWe Need to Remain Proactive About Supporting Digital Free Trade, With Nigel CoryForced local data storage requirements are at the heart of both digital protectionism and digital authoritarianism. Rob and Jackie sat down with Nigel Cory, associate director covering trade policy at ITIF, to discuss how data localization reduces trade, slows productivity, and increases prices.RelatedNigel Cory, “How the G7 Can Use ‘Data Free Flow With Trust’ to Build Global Data Governance,” (ITIF, July 2023).Nigel Cory, “USTR Tai’s Justification to Take a Time-out on Digital Trade Does Not Hold Up,” (ITIF, Dec 2023).
2024-01-0830 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyCultivating Innovation Ecosystems, With Jessica CorriganTo flourish, innovation hubs need the right combination of talent, tech, funding, and market access. Rob and Jackie sat down with Jessica Corrigan, the director of M&T's Tech Academy, to discuss how smaller regions can become powerful innovation ecosystems.MentionedRobert D. Atkinson, “Comments to the Commerce Department Regarding Implementation of the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program,” (ITIF, March 2023).RelatedMatt Ashare, “At M&T Bank, modernization and talent strategies intersect in the cloud,” (CIO Dive, June 2023).Robert D. Atkinson, “Understanding the U.S. National Innovation System, 2020,” (ITIF, November 2023).
2023-12-0430 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Importance of Reducing Anticompetitive Market Distortions, With Alden Abbott and Shanker SinghamThere is a troubling chasm between trade policy and competition policy. Rob and Jackie sat down with Alden Abbott, senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center, and Shanker Singham, one of the world's leading international trade and competition economists, to discuss how to bridge the gap between barriers at the border and conditions of competition inside the border.MentionedShanker Singham and Alden F. Abbott. Trade, Competition and Domestic Regulatory Policy, (Taylor & Francis Group, 2023).Stephen Ezell, “The Bayh-Dole Act’s Vital Importance to the U.S. Life-Sciences Innovation System,” (ITIF, March 2019).
2023-11-1330 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyHow China Continues to Shirk Its Trade Obligations, With Dennis SheaChina has had a dismissive attitude about its obligations as a member of World Trade Organization (WTO) ever since it joined the organization. Rob and Jackie sat down with Dennis Shea, executive director of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy, to discuss how China’s current non-market economic system is simply incompatible with WTO norms. MentionedDennis Shea. China’s Trade-Disruptive Economic Model and the Implications for the WTO. (U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Geneva, 2018).
2023-10-2330 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyGetting Export Controls Right, With Kevin WolfExport controls exist at the perilous intersection of economic policy and national security. What could go wrong? Rob and Jackie sat down with Kevin Wolf, a partner at Akin Gump, to discuss how to strike the right balance between keeping certain advanced technologies away from adversarial militaries without locking U.S. firms out of global markets. RelatedRobert D. Atkinson, “Export Controls Shrink the Global Markets U.S. Semiconductors Need to Survive” (ITIF, July 2023). Stephen Ezell and Caleb Foote, “How Stringent Export Controls on Emerging Technologies Would Harm the U.S. Economy” (ITIF, May 2019).
2023-10-0229 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public Policy‘Regulation by Outrage’ Is a Detriment to Emerging Technologies, With Patrick GradyPolicy regarding new technologies can be reactionary, confused, and focused on the wrong things. Rob and Jackie sat down with Patrick Grady, former policy analyst at ITIF’s Center for Data Innovation, to discuss what the European Union’s policymaking process can teach us about regulating emerging tech.Mentioned:Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council Laying Down Harmonised Rules on Artificial Intelligence, (European Commission, April 2021).Related"Patrick Grady, “The AI Act Should Be Technology-Neutral” (Center for Data Innovation, February 2023).Ashley Johnson, “Restoring US Leadership on Digital...
2023-09-1120 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyCounterfeiting is a Crime Against Innovation, With Kebharu Smith Counterfeiting—one of the oldest, simplest crimes—has only continued to evolve as technology has grown more complex. Rob and Jackie sat down with Kebharu Smith, director of Amazon's Counterfeit Crimes Unit and Associate General Counsel, to talk about how counterfeiting negatively impacts business, taxes, intellectual property, and innovation itself. MentionedBecca Trate and Daniel Castro. Best Practices to Combat Online Sale of Counterfeits in the EU and US, (ITIF, July 2022).RelatedSujai Shivakumar. How Data-Sharing Partnerships Can Thwart Counterfeits on Online Marketplaces, (March 2021).
2023-08-0720 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Complicated Evolution of Information, With Jim CortadaOver the past 150 years, humanity has generated an unprecedented amount and variety of information, surpassing the cumulative knowledge of previous eras. Rob and Jackie sat down with Jim Cortada, a senior research fellow at the Charles Babbage Institute at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities to talk about how information shapes society.MentionedJim Cortada, Birth of Modern Facts: How the Information Revolution Transformed Academic Research, Governments, and Businesses, (Sandman Books, 2023). Sarah Lamdan, Data Cartels: The Companies That Control and Monopolize Our Information, (Stanford University Press, 2022).RelatedDavid Moschella, “We Shouldn’t Ask Technologists To Be...
2023-07-1727 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyWhy Societal Trust Is Imperative For Innovation, With David MoschellaLooking ahead to the technological challenges and opportunities of the next decade, social trust will be more important than ever for the tech industry. Rob and Jackie sat down with David Moschella, a nonresident senior fellow at ITIF and the author of ITIF’s “Defending Digital” series, to discuss how a lack of societal trust harms the U.S. innovation system.MentionedDavid Moschella, “Digital Innovation Isn’t Undermining Societal Trust; It’s the Other Way Around” (ITIF, February 2023).RelatedDaniel Castro, “Groupthink Is To Blame for Recent TikTok Bans” (ITIF, February 202...
2023-06-0521 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyContaining China While Rebuilding the United States, With Jonathan WardAmerica can’t just pick up speed to beat China economically; it needs to slow down China, because there’s no use in accelerating when your adversary is along for the ride. Rob and Jackie sat down with Jonathan Ward, author of China’s Vision of Victory, to discuss where things stand in innovation and technology, and how the U.S. can maintain its position as the world’s largest and most sophisticated economy.MentionedJonathan Ward. The Decisive Decade: American Grand Strategy for Triumph Over China, (Diversion Books, 2023).Jonathan Ward. China’s Vision of Victory...
2023-04-0324 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Future of Smart Cities in a Data-Driven Society, With Jonathan ReichentalTo improve quality of life for as many people as possible, the places to start are cities. Rob and Jackie sat down with multiple award-winning technology and business leader Jonathan Reichental to discuss why the United States is falling behind other countries in the “smart city” movement and why it matters in a data-driven world.MentionedJonathan Reichental. Data Governance for Dummies.For Dummies, 2022.Jonathan Reichental. Smart Cities for Dummies.For Dummies, 2022.“New Urban Mechanics.” boston.gov, January 29, 2016. RelatedAshley Johnson, “Balancing Privacy and Innovation in Smart Cities and Communities” (ITIF, Februar...
2023-03-0629 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyShould Section 230 Cover Algorithms? What’s at Stake in Gonzalez v. Google, With Ashley JohnsonGoogle doesn’t create terrorist propaganda videos, doesn’t allow them on YouTube, and takes them down as fast as it can when extremist groups post them anyway. But a question now before the Supreme Court is whether Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects Google and other platform operators from liability if their algorithms end up spreading harmful content. To parse the potential ramifications, Rob and Jackie sat down with Senior Policy Analyst Ashley Johnson, one of ITIF’s resident experts on Internet policy issues such as privacy, security, and platform regulation.MentionedRobert...
2023-02-1325 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyMicrochips Are the New Oil, With Chris MillerSemiconductors are arguably the most important core technology in the modern world. You can’t fully understand the current state of politics, economics, or technology until you consider the role they play. Rob and Jackie sat down with economic historian Chris Miller to discuss the extent to which microchips are the new oil. MentionedMiller, Chris. Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology. Simon & Schuster, 2022. Remarks by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at the Special Competitive Studies Project Global Emerging Technologies Summit. The White House. The United States Government, September 16, 2022. Rel...
2023-01-2324 min
Innovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyMeasuring the Whole Spectrum of Mathematics Achievement, with Richard RusczykTeaching students to combine basic ideas to solve novel, difficult problems is imperative to lay a foundation for STEM pursuits. Rob and Jackie sat down with Richard Rusczyk, founder of the Art of Problem Solving Initiative, coauthor of the original Art of Problem Solving books, and cofounder of the Mandelbrot Problem Solving Competition.MentionedAoPS and Beast Academy Math programs for Advanced Students. Art of Problem Solving. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2022.Robert D. Atkinson and Merrilea Mayo, “Refueling the U.S. Innovation Economy: Fresh Approaches to STEM Education” (ITIF, December 2010)
2022-12-1227 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThree Historic Tech Booms Shaping Our Times, With Peter Leyden There are techniques for thoroughly thinking through how technologies will be adopted, what their implications will be, how they will spur growth, and how they will create new industries. Rob and Jackie sat down with futurist and tech expert Peter Leyden, who hosts Civilization Salons at The Long Now Foundation, to discuss how digital technologies are shaping the future for the economy, the work force, manufacturing, and more. Mentioned:Jason Feifer, “Wearing A Walkman Was Illegal,” Building For Change podcast (formerly Pessimists Archive), September 12, 2016.Related:Robert D. Atkinson, “The Task Ahead of...
2022-09-1230 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyWhat Happens to the Economy When Patent Protections Are Weakened, With Jonathan BarnettRobust intellectual property rights provide the incentives necessary to drive innovation by allowing markets to form for tangible and intangible assets. Without them, incentives get distorted and innovation slows. Rob and Jackie sat down with Jonathan Barnett, director of the Media, Entertainment and Technology Law Program at USC’s Gould School of Law, to discuss the recent history, current political dynamics, and economic stakes associated with patent protections.Mentioned:Jonathan Barnett, “The Great Patent Grab” (August 20, 2021). In The Battle over Patents: History and Politics of Innovation (eds. Stephen H. Haber and Naomi R. Lamoreaux, Oxford...
2022-08-1529 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyLife Sciences Innovation Through the Bayh-Dole Act, With Joe AllenInnovation in life sciences is crucial for many key industries in the United States and across the globe. It supports advances in human biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, health care policy, and beyond. Such advances would not always have been possible without the Bayh-Dole Act. Rob and Jackie sat down with Joe Allen, who served as a professional staffer on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to former Senator Birch Bayh, to discuss the importance of the Bayh-Dole Act and the future of life sciences innovation. RelatedStephen Ezell, “The Bayh-Dole Act’s Vital Importance to the U.S...
2022-08-0132 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicySecuring US Leadership in Quantum Computing, With Edward ParkerQuantum technologies, especially quantum computing, hold great promise in revolutionizing everyday systems. Quantum computing can be applied to health care, artificial intelligence, national security, and beyond. Rob and Jackie sat down with Edward Parker, a physical scientist at the RAND Corporation, to discuss the implications of quantum computing and how the United States can remain the global leader in this technology.Mentioned:Edward Parker, et al., “An Assessment of the U.S. and Chinese Industrial Bases in Quantum Technology” (RAND Corporation, February 2022). Hodan Omaar, “Why the United States Needs to Support Near-Term Quantum Computing Applica...
2022-07-1825 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Future of Climate Tech Through the U.S. Electric System, With Peter Fox-Penner The world is facing a climate crisis. But venture-backed clean energy technologies can help avert the worst outcome. Rob and Jackie sat down with Peter Fox-Penner, senior fellow and founding director of Boston University’s Institute for Sustainable Energy and chief impact officer of Energy Impact Partners, to discuss the promise of climate-tech innovation in the U.S. electrical system and venture capital’s role in slowing climate change. RelatedHoyu Chong, “Mission Critical: The Global Energy Innovation System Is Not Thriving” (ITIF, January 2022). “How 5G Can Spur Climate Tech Innovation” (ITIF Event, June 2022).Linh Nguyen, “R...
2022-07-0528 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Economics of Data, With David DemingData is one of the most essential and valuable assets in the world. It impacts everything from the ads we see and the products we buy to national security. Rob and Jackie sat down with David Deming, the Academic Dean and a Professor of Political Economy at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Director of the Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, to discuss the importance of data, data sharing, and ways to protect individual data privacy.MentionedDavid Deming, “Balancing Privacy With Data Sharing for the Public Good,” The...
2022-06-2126 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyWhen the Chips Are Down: Why Domestic Semiconductor Production Matters, With John ZysmanThe United States used to be a leader in semiconductor production, but its share of global output dropped from 37 percent in 1990 to just 12 percent in 2019. That helps explain why the country now faces serious supply issues. Rob and Jackie sat down with John Zysman, a professor emeritus at UC Berkeley and co-founder/co-director of the Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy, to discuss why U.S. semiconductor production is down, what it portends, and how America can regain its footing in the industry. Mentioned:Stephen S. Cohen and John Zysman, Manufacturing Matters: The Myth o...
2022-06-0624 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyChina’s Race to the Top: Authoritarianism in Technology and Global Affairs, With Keith KrachChina is taking an authoritarian approach in its quest to be a dominant power in technology and global affairs. Silicon Valley innovator and former Under Secretary of State Keith Krach has a unique perspective on both aspects. Rob and Jackie sat down with him to discuss how China is impacting global market competition and what it means for U.S. competition policy. MentionedKeith Krach, “Present your China contingency plan at the next board meeting,” Fortune Magazine, April 2022.RelatedRobert D. Atkinson, “China’s ‘State Capitalism’ Is Not Capitalism” (ITIF, August 2021).Ro...
2022-05-2328 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyBack to the Future: Historical Lessons of U.S. AI Policy, With Arthur HermanThe United States has been a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) since the 1950s. But AI and other advanced industry leadership in the United States has been threatened by increased competition with China. Rob and Jackie sat down with Arthur Herman, a senior fellow and director of the Quantum Alliance Initiative at The Hudson Institute, to discuss how AI leadership in the United States has eroded and what policymakers can do to save it for the future. Mentioned:Arthur Herman, Freedom’s Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II, (Random House Tra...
2022-05-0228 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Future of Buying Cars, With Daniel CraneOne of the benefits of electric vehicles is they cost less to maintain. But that also means there’s less profit to be had in servicing their warranties, which gives car dealers less incentive to sell them. That’s why EV makers like Tesla and Rivian depend on direct-to-consumer sales and distribution. Unfortunately, there are decades-old dealer-distribution laws standing in the way. Rob and Jackie sat down with Daniel Crane, the Frederick Paul Firth Senior Professor of Law at University of Michigan, to discuss how these laws harm consumers and undermine technological innovation. RelatedDavid...
2022-04-1828 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyInvesting in American Dynamism, With Ben Horowitz and Katherine BoyleVenture capitalists know what it feels like when a company is firing on all cylinders. But it’s been a while since the whole country had that feeling of dynamism—so why not focus on companies that help the cause by supporting the national interest, solving critical problems, and doing fundamentally new things? Rob and Jackie sat down with Ben Horowitz and Katherine Boyle of the leading VC firm Andreessen Horowitz to talk about investing in American dynamism.MentionedBen Horowitz, The Hard Things About Hard Things (Harper Business, 2014). Ben Horowitz, What You Do Is Wh...
2022-04-0431 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Promise of 5G, With Susie ArmstrongTechnology is rapidly developing across many sectors—and that is especially true with wireless technologies. 5G phones give consumers better, stronger, faster service and more capacity to download. But 5G goes beyond phones, it provides great innovative capacity for businesses. Rob and Jackie sat down with Susie Armstrong, senior vice president for engineering at QUALCOMM, to discuss what makes 5G unique and how it impacts smart factories, healthcare, and more. RelatedDoug Brake, “ITIF Technology Explainer: What Is 5G?“ (ITIF, September 2018). “A National Strategy for 5G, With Doug Brake,“ ITIF Innovation Files podcast, July 2020. Doug Brake, “...
2022-03-2126 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Future of US-EU Trade, With Denis RedonnetTrade tensions between the United States and the EU have increased over the past few years. Decreasing those transatlantic tensions while promoting fair competition will be especially important with the challenge of a rising China. That is a key goal of the new U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC). Rob and Jackie sat down with Denis Redonnet, the EU’s chief trade enforcement officer, to discuss the opportunities and challenges for the TTC and the broader implications for trade policies in the United States, the EU, and in the World Trade Organization. Mentioned:R...
2022-03-0723 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Challenges China Presents to U.S. Technological Capabilities, With Matt TurpinChina’s rapid technological development has put tremendous pressure on the United States to remain competitive in strategically important industries. Rob and Jackie sat down with Matt Turpin to discuss what the United States has done so far to face the China challenge and what future policies should look like. Turpin is a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution and has served as the National Security Council’s director for China and as the senior advisor on China to the Secretary of Commerce.Mentioned:James Fallows, “China’s Great Leap Backward,” The Atlantic, December 2016.Rob Atkins...
2022-02-2126 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyHow China’s Role in Technology Development Affects the United States and the World, With Sam OlsenChina views technology and the tech companies that produce it as strategic assets to be leveraged in a global race for geopolitical advantage. That’s why it doesn’t treat its domestic champions as players in a free market—the point is to make sure they win at the expense of Western competitors. Rob and Jackie sat down with entrepreneur and strategist Sam Olsen, author of What China Wants, to discuss the implications of China’s technological development. Mentioned:Sam Olsen, What China Wants, (Substack, 2022). Stefan Link, Forging Global Fordism: Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, and the Co...
2022-02-0723 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyHow China Influences U.S. Innovation and Technological Capabilities, With Barry NaughtonConcerns about China’s rapid rise in recent decades have affected U.S. policies on technology, innovation, and industrial competitiveness. Rob and Jackie discussed the history of Chinese industrial policy and its implications for America and its allies with Barry Naughton, the So Kwanlok Chair of Chinese International Affairs at UC San Diego and author of The Rise of China’s Industrial Policy, 1978 to 2020. Mentioned:Barry Naughton, The Rise of China’s Industrial Policy, 1978 to 2020, (Academic Network of Latin America and the Caribbean on China, March 2021). Nigel Cory, “Heading Off Track: The Impact of China’s Me...
2022-01-2428 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyHow APIs Are Transforming the Internet, With Rob DickinsonApplication programming interfaces (APIs) are among the most important technologies for Internet the today, enabling software-based systems to automate tasks and redraw the lines between organizations, suppliers, customers, and partners in ways not seen since the birth of the web. Rob and Jackie sat down with Rob Dickinson, co-founder and CEO of Resurface Labs, to discuss the future of APIs and the implications for public policy. MentionedAshley Johnson and Daniel Castro, “Improving Accessibility of Federal Government Websites,” (ITIF, June 2021). RelatedDaniel Castro and Michael Steinberg, “Blocked: Why Some Companies Restric...
2022-01-0326 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Keys to Diversifying Computer Science Education, With Dr. Juan GilbertSTEM-related fields are booming in the United States, but they often lack diversity. If the United States wants to remain a leader in these fields, policymakers must take steps to adequately fund state institutions to ensure that all students receive access to STEM programs. Rob and Jackie sat down with Dr. Juan Gilbert, chair of the University of Florida’s Computer & Information Science & Engineering Department, to discuss how the United States has fallen behind in recruiting students in science, technology, engineering, and math and what policymakers, universities, and industries can do diversify their candidate pools. Related:...
2021-12-1329 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Ghosts of Supply Chains Past, Present, and Future, With Chris CaineGlobal supply chains are cracking up. Even before the pandemic, a confluence of economic and geopolitical factors were accelerating the trend—from rising wages in China to nationalist sentiments sweeping the West, to the beginnings of a U.S.-China decoupling. Rob and Jackie sat down with Chris Caine, president of the Center for Global Enterprise, to break down the reasons for the massive disruption, discuss how different industry sectors are making different strategic calculations, and consider what the future might hold. Related:“Global Supply Chains Under Pressure, With Willy Shih,” ITIF Innovation Files podcast...
2021-11-2926 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyR&D Costs, Rx Prices, and the Formula for Success in Life Sciences Innovation, With Stephen EzellThe United States is the leader in life sciences innovation, but that has not always been the case. As global competition intensifies, it needs to continue spurring investment in R&D to stay on top. Rob and Jackie sat down with Stephen Ezell, vice president of global innovation policy at ITIF, to discuss the history of U.S. life sciences innovation and break down R&D costs versus the market prices of innovative biopharmaceuticals.MentionedAnusuya Chatterjee and Ross C. DeVol, “Estimating Long-Term Economic Returns of NIH Funding on Output in the Biosciences” (Milken Inst...
2021-11-1527 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyHow Giants Rise and Fade in Silicon Valley, With Avram MillerSilicon Valley obviously has a rich history of technological innovations that have transformed technology and the world as we know it. But with increased competition and stringent policies coming from Washington, its landscape has shifted. Rob and Jackie sat down with Avram Miller, co-founder of Intel Capital and author of The Flight of a Wild Duck to discuss how the decisions made by Intel and other tech giants have impacted Silicon Valley and how policymakers can better support the IT industry. MentionedAvram Miller, The Flight of a Wild Duck, (BOOKBABY, 2021)....
2021-11-0135 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Evolution of Robotics and Prospects for Maximizing Adoption, With Rian WhittonThe first industrial robots appeared in the early 1960s and were initially optimized for production lines. These days, innovation in robotics is progressing rapidly as sophisticated localization and mapping enables improved robotic mobility, and as new levels of flexible manipulation allow robots to perform more specialized tasks. Rob and Jackie sat down recently with Rian Whitton, a strategic technologies analyst at ABI Research, to discuss the evolution of robotics and the prospects for accelerating productivity gains. Related:Robert D. Atkinson, “In Defense of Robots,” National Review, April 2017.Robert D. Atkinson, “Robotics and the Future of Prod...
2021-10-1826 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyWhy There Is a Disconnect Between the Economics of Innovation and U.S. Antitrust Policy, With David TeeceAntitrust policy should favor dynamic, innovation-driven competition, yet antitrust regulators generally don’t see it that way. Why is that? Rob and Jackie sat down recently with David Teece, the Thomas W. Tusher Professor in Global Business at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, to discuss the intersection of innovation and economics in antitrust policy. MentionedDavid J. Teece, Dynamic Capabilities and Strategic Management: Organizing for Innovation and Growth (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009).Rob D. Atkinson, Michael Lind, Big Is Beautiful: Debunking the Myth of Small Business, (MA: MIT Press, 2018). RelatedE...
2021-10-0429 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyAI and Defense Innovation, With Lt. Gen. Jack ShanahanFor the military, capabilities in the field matter most, not R&D. So, when it comes to artificial intelligence, the Defense Department has been moving quickly by standing up a special team, like a startup enterprise. Its first pilot project, “Project Maven,” began as an intelligence application. Now the push is on to apply it in other areas. Rob and Jackie sat down with retired Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan, the first director of the Defense Department’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC), to discuss how AI is being used in the defense world and the implications for the broader AI eco...
2021-09-2030 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyInside U.S. Industrial Policy and Operation Warp Speed, With David AdlerIndustrial policy can produce great technological innovations to address major challenges for society. A perfect example is Operation Warp Speed, which has saved millions of lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rob and Jackie sat down with David Adler, an adviser on industrial strategy at the Common Good Foundation in the United Kingdom and author of “Inside Operation Warp Speed: A New Model for Industrial Policy,” published in the summer issue of the American Affairs Journal, to discuss lessons we can draw from the success of Operation Warp Speed to strengthen U.S. industrial policy in the future. Menti...
2021-09-0729 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyAddressing Climate Change Through Innovation, With David HartAddressing climate change requires accelerating clean energy innovation across the full range of economic sectors—from transportation to electricity, manufacturing, and agriculture. Rob and Jackie sat down with David Hart, a professor of public policy at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government and director of ITIF’s Center for Clean Energy Innovation, to discuss the scope of the challenge and the best paths forward for policymakers. Mentioned:United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, “Paris Agreement” (UNFCCC, November 2016).Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis” (IPCC, August 2...
2021-08-2329 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyDemystifying Industrial Automation, With Dave VaskoFrom bottle manufacturing to machine repair, automation has made just about every industry more efficient and adaptive to consumer demands. But despite its omnipresence, policymakers have failed to fully understand what drives industrial automation and why it matters for the economy. Rob sat down with Dave Vasko, director of advanced technology at Rockwell Automation, to discuss the latest trends in industrial automation—including innovations powered by artificial intelligence and virtual reality—and to consider how policymakers can spur manufacturing productivity and ensure the United States is globally competitive.Mentioned:Robert D. Atkinson and Daron Acem...
2021-08-0928 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyChinese Antitrust Exceptionalism, With Dr. Angela ZhangAntitrust policy provides a perfect lens to see the systematic differences between China and Western liberal democracies, according to Dr. Angela Zhang, director of the Center for Chinese Law at the University of Hong Kong. In her book Chinese Antitrust Exceptionalism: How the Rise of China Challenges Global Regulation, Zhang argues China leverages antitrust law to achieve industrial policy objectives—including in the tech sectors that are crucial to its rivalry with the United States—but it does so through an insular bureaucracy that is surprisingly fragmented and therefore difficult for outsiders to understand. Rob and Jackie sat down with...
2021-07-2629 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyA Doorman for the Masses—Debunking Attacks on Facial Recognition, With Daniel CastroFacial recognition technology has faced widespread allegations of discrimination in recent years, leading some cities to restrict its use—but exactly how valid are these claims? Rob and Jackie sit down with ITIF’s vice president and director of the Center for Data Innovation, Daniel Castro, to discuss why many of the claims are misleading, and how facial recognition can make public and private services more accessible, efficient, and useful.Mentioned:Joy Buolamwini and Timnit Gebru, Gender Shades: Intersectional Accuracy Disparities in Commercial Gender Classification (FAT, 2018).Jacob Snow, Amazon’s Face Recognition Falsely Matched 28 Members...
2021-07-1222 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Rise, Fall, and Reinvention of IBM, With Jim CortadaIBM shaped the way the world did business for decades, driving the government’s technological innovation, competing to build the first PCs, and adapting to service economy. Few people know IBM’s fascinating history as well as Jim Cortada, a senior research fellow at the University of Minnesota and the author of IBM: The Rise and Fall and Reinvention of a Global Icon. He spent 38 years at IBM in sales, consulting, managerial, and research roles. Rob and Jackie sit down with Jim to discuss how IBM’s strategies led to its biggest successes and failures, and how these decisions shed l...
2021-06-1431 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyDynamic Antitrust Policy in the Digital Era, With Aurelien PortueseWhen it comes to the innovation economy, there is no hotter issue these days than antitrust. Technology companies, in particular, are on the firing line as an increasingly vocal populist movement seeks to refashion late 19th century antitrust laws to guard against monopoly power and slow down disruptive innovation in the digital era. In these conditions, there is a risk that the so-called “precautionary principle” will take hold at the expense of economic dynamism. Rob and Jackie parse the debate and weigh the best options for policymakers with Aurelien Portuese, ITIF’s director of antitrust and innovation policy.M...
2021-06-0126 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyNorway’s Innovation Ecosystem and the Pivot to Renewable Energy, With Hege BarnesWhen it comes to national innovation ecosystems, Norway has been a standout performer. After discovering oil, it vaulted from being one of Europe’s poorest countries in the 1950s to become a high-wage, high-cost nation with strengths in B2B products, heavy industry, shipping, and shipbuilding. Now it is pivoting toward renewable energy—including offshore wind and electric vehicle technologies—while broadening and deepening its national innovation ecosystem to encourage new firms in a range of industries to scale up and compete globally. Rob and Jackie discuss the secrets of Norway’s success with Hege Barnes, regional director for the Amer...
2021-05-0328 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyA New Roadmap for Workforce Education, With Bill Bonvillian and Sanjay SarmaThere is a deep disconnect between the U.S. education system and the workplace. How can policymakers bridge the gap and create clear pathways to good jobs? How do technical schools, community colleges, employers, governments, and universities fit together as pieces of the workforce education puzzle—and how can new education technologies help deliver the training workers need? Rob and Jackie discuss the challenges, opportunities, and policy solutions with Professor Sanjay Sarma and Bill Bonvillian of MIT, authors of the new book Workforce Education: A New Roadmap.Mentioned:William B. Bonvillian and Sanjay E. Sa...
2021-04-1923 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyHow Pack Journalism and Predictable Crisis PR Responses Have Influenced the Techlash, With Nirit Weiss-BlattThe “techlash” is a story of extreme pendulum swings—from an era in which splashy product launches earned gushing media reviews to a relentless crisis narrative in which the tech industry is viewed with harsh suspicion. How has this happened? Is it a case of pack journalism run amok, or have tech companies contributed to the narrative with predictable formulas for handling a PR crisis? Rob and Jackie discuss all this with Nirit Weiss-Blatt, a former research fellow at the University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and author of the new book The Techlash and Tech C...
2021-04-0524 min
Ellysse and Ashley Break the InternetSection 230 and the Need for Change, With Andrew BolsonAndrew Bolson, privacy lawyer advocating for Section 230 reform, joins Ellysse and Ashley to evaluate the need for Section 230 reform in order to protect consumers and limit online abuse, suggest what form that should take, and explain the risks of taking a subjective approach to reforming online intermediary liability.MentionedAndrew P. Bolson, “Flawed But Fixable: Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act at 20,” Rutgers Computer & Technology Law Journal 42 (2016).Andrew P. Bolson, “Moderate the Hate: A Scoring System to Grade the Content Moderation Policies & Safety Procedures of Websites” (2020).RelatedAshley Johnson...
2021-03-3130 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyPodcast: The Hype, the Hope, and the Practical Realities of Artificial Intelligence, With Pedro DomingosThere is an inordinate amount of hype and fear around artificial intelligence these days, as a chorus of scholars, luminaries, media, and politicians nervously project that it could soon take our jobs and subjugate or even kills us off. Others are just as fanciful in hoping it is on the verge of solving all our problems. But the truth is AI isn’t nearly as advanced as most people imagine. What is the practical reality of AI today, and how should government approach AI policy to maximize its potential? To parse the hype, the hope, and the path forward fo...
2021-03-2229 minEllysse and Ashley Break the InternetA News Media Perspective on Section 230, With David ChavernDavid Chavern, CEO of a news industry trade association representing nearly 2,000 publishers, joins Ellysse and Ashley to discuss the impact of Section 230 on traditional media and the spread of misinformation, as well as how the news industry handles the issue of intermediary liability.MentionedDavid Chavern, “The News Media and Section 230,” News Media Alliance, February 19, 2020.David Chavern, “Section 230 Is a Government License to Build Rage Machines,” Wired, September 14, 2020.Sacha Baron Cohen, “Sacha Baron Cohen’s Keynote Address at ADL’s 2019 Never Is Now Summit on Anti-Semitism and Hate,” ADL, November 21, 2019. “H.R.8636 - Protecting Americans from Dang...
2021-03-1727 minEllysse and Ashley Break the InternetAn International Perspective on Section 230, With David KayeDavid Kaye, free speech expert at the University of California, Irvine, joins Ellysse and Ashley to explore the challenges of developing effective and culturally relevant content moderation policies in different countries and how intermediary liability laws like Section 230 impact online speech for billions of users around the world.MentionedDavid Kaye, Speech Police: The Global Struggle to Govern the Internet(New York: Columbia Global Reports, 2019).Jack Goldsmith and John Wu, Who Controls the Internet?: Illusions of a Borderless World (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006). “Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a S...
2021-03-1739 minEllysse and Ashley Break the InternetHow Section 230 Shapes Content Moderation, With Daphne KellerDaphne Keller, platform regulation expert at Stanford University and former Associate General Counsel for Google, joins Ellysse and Ashley to explain Section 230’s role in shaping how large companies approach content moderation on a massive scale, and how intermediary liability protections allow platforms of all sizes to thrive.MentionedJennifer M. Urban, Joe Karaganis, and Brianna L. Shofield, Notice and Takedown in Everyday Practice(Berkeley Law, 2016).Maarten Sap et al., “The Risk of Racial Bias in Hate Speech Detection,” Proceedings of the 57th Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics (2019): 1668-78.Thomas Davidson, Debasm...
2021-03-1028 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyAssessing Chinese Industrial Policy and the Impact of U.S. Export Controls, With Dan WangIn the final weeks of the Trump administration, Rob and Jackie sat down with Dan Wang, a technology analyst and China expert at Gavekal Dragonomics Research, to discuss the successes and failures of Chinese industrial policy and to evaluate the impact of U.S. export restrictions. In the previous four years, there weren’t many Chinese tech companies that the Trump administration didn’t sanction or at least threaten. What did that achieve in the technological race with China? What was the impact on the American brand writ large? And what should the Biden administration do next?Me...
2021-03-0825 minEllysse and Ashley Break the InternetEvaluating Proposals to Amend Section 230, With Aaron MackeyAaron Mackey, staff attorney and free speech expert at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, joins Ellysse and Ashley to evaluate recent proposals to amend or repeal Section 230 based on their potential impact and effectiveness. Mentioned “S.3398 - EARN IT Act of 2020,” Congress.gov. “S.4534 - Online Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity Act,” Congress.gov. “S.4632 - Online Content Policy Modernization Act,” Congress.gov. “S.4066 - PACT Act,” Congress.gov. Related Ashley Johnson and Daniel Castro, “Proposals to Reform Section 230” (ITIF, February 2021). Sophia Cope, Aaron Mackey, and Andrew Crocker, “The EARN IT Act Violates the Constitution,” EF...
2021-03-0332 minEllysse and Ashley Break the InternetThe Political Debate Over Section 230, With Klon KitchenKlon Kitchen, a tech policy expert at the American Enterprise Institute who authored the Heritage Foundation’s Section 230 reform proposal, joins Ellysse and Ashley to unpack the political debate surrounding Section 230 and the treatment of political speech online.MentionedKlon Kitchen, “Section 230—Mend It, Don’t End It” (Heritage Foundation, October 2020).RelatedAshley Johnson and Daniel Castro, “Proposals to Reform Section 230” (ITIF, February 2021).
2021-03-0324 minEllysse and Ashley Break the InternetAn Introduction to Section 230, With Cathy GellisCathy Gellis, veteran Internet professional-turned-lawyer working in the intersection of technology and civil liberties, joins Ellysse and Ashley to explain what Section 230 is, what it does, why it has attracted so much attention and controversy, and what the key players in the debate are saying.Mentioned:Cathy Gellis, “If We’re Going To Talk About Discrimination In Online Ads, We Need To Talk About Roommates.com,” Techdirt, February 19, 2021.Cathy Gellis, “How To Think About Online Ads And Section 230,” Techdirt, February 10, 2021.Fair Hous. Council of San Fernando Valley v. Roommates.com, LLC, 521 F.3d 1157 (9th Cir. 2008...
2021-02-2422 minEllysse and Ashley Break the InternetA Brief History of Section 230, With Patrick CaromePatrick Carome, one of the leading advocates in Section 230 litigation famous for representing AOL in the landmark Section 230 case, Zeran v. AOL, joins Ellysse and Ashley to explore the history behind Section 230, Congress' intentions in passing it, and the foundational case that set the precedent for how courts interpret it.Mentioned:Zeran v. Am. Online, Inc., 129 F.3d 327 (4th Cir. 1997).Stratton Oakmont, Inc. v. Prodigy Servs. Co., No. 31063/94, 1995 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 229 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. May 24, 1995).Cubby, Inc. v. CompuServe, Inc., 776 F. Supp. 135 (S.D.N.Y. 1991).Related:Ashley...
2021-02-2433 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Ins and Outs of the Section 230 Debate, With Ellysse Dick and Ashley JohnsonSection 230 of the Communications Decency Act is at the center of a contentious, high-stakes debate about free speech, intermediary liability, and the future of the Internet. Why is a 1996 law so important today? Why have Presidents Biden and Trump both said they want to repeal it? Was it to blame when Twitter and Facebook banned Trump from their platforms, or was it the reason they didn’t ban him sooner? Rob and Jackie discuss the issue with ITIF policy analysts Ellysse Dick and Ashley Johnson, co-hosts of the new podcast series Ellysse and Ashley Break the Internet, which will st...
2021-02-2220 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Promise of Artificial Intelligence, With Steven ShwartzArtificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science devoted to creating computer systems that perform tasks characteristic of human intelligence, such as learning and decision-making. AI overlaps with other areas of study, including robotics, natural language processing, and computer vision. Understanding what AI can do—and perhaps more importantly what it cannot—is critical for understanding the substantial benefits AI can bring to many sectors of the economy and society. Rob and Jackie talk to veteran AI researcher, statistician, and investor Steve Shwartz about the mechanics of AI and how to spur further development and adoption of the tech...
2021-02-0824 minEllysse and Ashley Break the InternetEllysse and Ashley Break the Internet: Series TrailerWhat exactly is Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, and why is a 1996 law so important today? Why have Presidents Biden and Trump both said they want to repeal it? Was it to blame when Twitter and Facebook banned Trump from their platforms, or was it the reason they didn’t ban him sooner?Join policy analysts from the world’s leading tech policy think tank as they break down one of the most contentious debates about free speech, intermediary liability, and the future of the Internet. Ellysse and Ashley Break the Internet takes a deep dive into...
2021-02-0602 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyMaintaining a Robust VC Ecosystem Despite Changing Tides, With Dan ScheinmanVenture capital firms have reined in their funding for resource-intensive start-ups trying to commercialize new technologies in fields such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and robotics. Today, for a fraction of the costs involved in those enterprises, you can bring innovations to market in months—and be relatively capital efficient—thanks partly to the transition to cloud computing. Rob and Jackie discuss what’s needed to maintain a robust VC ecosystem in the United States with veteran angel investor Dan Scheinman. Mentioned:“The COVID-19 ‘Reallocation Shock,’ With Nick Bloom,” ITIF Innovation Files podcast, August 17, 2020. Adams Nager, et...
2021-01-2521 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Dangerous Campaign Against Genetically Modified Foods, With Val GiddingsCrops and foods improved through biotechnology, popularly known as “GMOs” (for “genetically modified organisms”) remain at the center of a maelstrom of conflicting claims and assertions. It is difficult for a layperson to make sense of it all, and this becomes even more important when the layperson is a government official in a position to make or influence policy decisions. Rob and Jackie talk about the unfounded fears surrounding GMOs with L. Val Giddings, senior fellow at ITIF and leading expert on policy relating to biotechnology innovations in agriculture and biomedicine.MentionedNancy Marie Brown, M...
2021-01-1122 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Importance of Being Wise Stewards of National Innovation Capacity, With John KaoThe United States has no national, coordinated innovation policy system. In fact, its overall innovation system has been deteriorating. The country’s economic future and national security will depend on rising to the challenge of addressing this problem. Rob and Jackie discuss how policymakers can be responsible stewards of innovation with John Kao, a leading thinker on innovation.Mentioned:John Kao, Jamming: The Art and Discipline of Business Creativity (Harper Business, 1997). John Kao, Innovation Nation: How America Is Losing Its Innovation Edge, Why It Matters, and What We Can Do to Get It Back (Fre...
2020-12-2128 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Case for Improving U.S. Computer Science Education, With Pat YongpraditDespite the growing use of computers and software in every facet of our economy, not until recently has computer science education begun to gain traction in American school systems. The current focus on improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in U.S. schools has disregarded differences within STEM fields. Indeed, the most important STEM field for a modern economy is not only one that is not represented by its own initial in the acronym “STEM,” but also the field that the fewest high school students study and the one with the most room for improvement, by far: comp...
2020-12-0727 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyInnovating in the Defense Sector to Remain Competitive With China, Featuring Michael BrownIt has become abundantly clear that the United States faces a robust economic and military competitor in China. In at least one respect, this is a more daunting challenge than America faced in the Cold War, because while the former Soviet Union had a strong military, it struggled with a weak economy. In those days, the United States also could rely on specialized defense contractors to provide most of the technologies that the Defense Department needed to maintain military superiority, but that’s no longer true. Now, many of the capabilities the country needs for its defense reside in th...
2020-11-2328 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Nuts and Bolts of Broadband Internet Operations, With Robert RockellThere was a time, a decade or so ago, when many people thought it would be a long while before telecommunications networks could handle the migration from cable TV to over-the-top video streaming. Clearly a lot of Americans still do both, but it is striking how easy it has become to stream HD content on multiple screens at home at once. Rob talks about what happens behind the scenes to make this possible with Robert Rockell, vice president of network infrastructure at Comcast. Mentioned:Doug Brake, “Lessons From the Pandemic: Broadband Policy After COVID-19” (ITIF...
2020-11-0926 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Risks and Life-Saving Rewards of Biopharmaceutical Investment, With Josh BilenkerAmerica leads in biopharmaceutical innovation and drug development, in large part due to effective life-science policies, including significant federal investment in basic research, robust intellectual property protections, effective technology transfer policies, investment incentives, and, importantly, drug pricing policies that enable companies to invest in high-risk drug development. Rob and Jackie talk about conducive environments for biopharmaceutical startups—and what the federal government can do to maintain U.S. competitiveness—with Josh Bilenker, CEO of Loxo Oncology at Lilly. Mentioned:Robert D. Atkinson, “Why Life-Sciences Innovation Is Politically “Purple”—and How Partisans Get It Wrong” (ITIF, February...
2020-10-2627 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyBuilding Digitally Inclusive Communities, With Joshua EdmondsThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus the digital divide affecting millions of American families, especially those in low-income households. One of the most pernicious challenges is the divide between those with reliable access to computers and high-speed Internet in their homes and those without. Rob and Jackie discuss how local governments are on the front lines of addressing this challenge—and what the federal government can do to support healthy and inclusive digital ecosystems nationwide—with Joshua Edmonds, Director of Digital Inclusion for the City of Detroit, Michigan.MentionedRocket Mortgage, “Detroit’s Vision...
2020-10-1230 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyTechnology Panic Attacks, From Radio to Social Media, With Amy OrbenIf Netflix’s “The Social Dilemma” is to be believed, social media giants are surely responsible for the breakdown of our mental health, politics, and the economy. Generations of fear mongers have found reasons to believe new technologies—from books and bicycles to video games and email—are to blame for society’s ills. Rob and Jackie take a deep breath and discuss these predictable cycles of technology panic with Dr. Amy Orben, an expert in the history of technology panics at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge.Mentioned:Amy Orben, “The Sisyphean Cycle of Technology Pan...
2020-09-2826 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyA New Way to Think About Government’s Role in Wealth Creation, With David SainsburyFor too long, economic policy in the U.S. and Commonwealth nations has been guided by the “market efficiency” school. The result has been a widespread unwillingness to view government roles as critical to boosting innovation, growth, and competitiveness. It’s time for a new approach, which Lord David Sainsbury, author of Windows of Opportunity: How Nations Make Wealth, calls the “production capability” school. Under this school, the key question for economic policy is how well it enables enterprises to be more innovative and efficient. Rejecting the old doctrine in favor of the new is perhaps the most economic important...
2020-09-1424 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyAccelerating Clean Energy Innovation, With Colin CunliffInnovation is central to addressing global climate change while increasing economic growth, boosting international competitiveness, and strengthening energy security. Yet out of a $4 trillion budget, the United States only invests about $8 billion a year—or 0.04 percent of GDP—on clean energy research and development. Rob and Jackie discuss the urgent need for innovation in the clean energy sector—and “must pass” legislation that will accelerate progress—with Colin Cunliff, senior analyst at ITIF’s Clean Energy Innovation Program.Related:Colin Cunliff, “An Innovation Agenda for Deep Decarbonization: Bridging Gaps in the Federal Energy RD&D Portfolio” (IT...
2020-08-3122 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyHow Automation Expands Opportunities for Human Labor, With James BessenA vocal group of alarmists worry that the pace of automation—particularly advances in robotics and artificial intelligence—will soon displace human labor to such an extent that many workers will be left with nothing to do. Never mind that generation after generation of technological innovations in industries ranging from textiles to steel to banking have always produced the opposite result: expanding the labor force, not wiping it out. Rob and Jackie delve into the evidence with Dr. James Bessen, executive director of the Technology & Policy Research Initiative (TPRI) at Boston University School of Law and author of Learning by D...
2020-08-2423 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe COVID-19 “Reallocation Shock,” With Nick BloomThe U.S. Labor Department’s jobs report in February 2020 showed the country’s lowest rate of unemployment in 60 years. Two months later, it showed the highest rate of unemployment in 80 years. As The Wall Street Journal put it, “The coronavirus pandemic is forcing the fastest reallocation of labor since World War II, with companies and governments mobilizing an army of idled workers into new activities that are urgently needed.” Rob and Jackie discuss this “reallocation shock”—and which sectors will fare well or bare the brunt—with Nick Bloom, the William Eberle Professor of Economics at Stanford University, who also co-dire...
2020-08-1735 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Case for Killer Robots, With Robert MarksThere’s a lot of doomsday hype around artificial intelligence in general, and the idea of so-called “killer robots” has been especially controversial. But when it comes to the ethics of these technologies, one can argue that robots actually could be more ethical than human operators. Humans can commit war crimes. They can deliberately kill innocent people or enemies that have surrendered. Humans get stressed and tired and bring any number of biases to the table. But robots just follow their code. Moreover, U.S. adversaries are deploying these technologies quickly, and stakes are high if we don’t keep up...
2020-08-1024 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyDesigning a Federal Privacy Standard, With Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA)Congress is rightly considering substantial reforms to federal data-privacy law. In particular, there is a pressing need to preempt states from subjecting organizations to multiple, conflicting privacy rules. The debate now is not over whether to pass new legislation, but how to design such a law to protect consumers while encouraging continued innovation. Rob and Jackie discuss one proposal with its sponsor, Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), honorary co-chair of ITIF. MentionedRobert D. Atkinson, Daniel Castro, and Doug Brake, “Technology Should Be Part of Any Stimulus Plan,” ITIF Innovation Files blog post, March 13, 2020. Office of Rep...
2020-08-0320 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Dangers of Digital Services Taxes, With Clete WillemsThere has been a global consensus for nearly a century that countries should tax multinational companies in the jurisdictions where they create value, not where they generate sales. But that consensus has begun to fall apart as digitalization has made it easier to serve regional markets remotely and Internet companies have successfully capitalized on the opportunity. A growing number of countries, from the United Kingdom and France to Chile and Australia, are now looking to impose “digital services taxes” (DSTs) on a select few of these Internet companies—mostly American—on the dubious theory that users are creating a signific...
2020-07-2725 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyCOVID and the Future of Work, With Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA)The changing nature of labor markets—and how best to prepare people and society for the jobs of the future—is one of the most crucial public policy challenges that policymakers around the world will face in the coming years. This was already the case before COVID-19, but disruption from the pandemic has made things exponentially more challenging. Rob and Jackie discuss how Congress can address these challenges with Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), chairman of the House New Democrat Coalition.MentionedRobert D. Atkinson Jeffrey Brown, “The Future of Work: A Guide for Transatlantic Policym...
2020-07-2024 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyA National Strategy for 5G, With Doug Brake5G wireless will drive economic growth for decades to come, but we need a comprehensive strategy to ensure a robust deployment and adoption of secure networks. A U.S. strategy for 5G should play to our strengths to overcome unfair practices that have made Huawei a leader. Rob and Jackie discuss why 5G is important, separating hype from reality, and what a national framework should look like with Doug Brake, Director of Broadband and Spectrum Policy at ITIF and author of “A U.S. National Strategy for 5G and Future Wireless Innovation.” Mentioned:Doug Brake...
2020-07-1326 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyAdvanced Leadership Through Smart Innovation, With Rosabeth Moss KanterThe entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in America, but it’s easy for successful organizations to get comfortable and stop innovating to avoid disrupting their success. We see this across industries, as well as in government and the nonprofit sector. Rob and Jackie discuss advanced leadership and the importance of continuous innovation with Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Ernest L. Arbuckle professor of business at Harvard Business School and author of Thinking Outside the Building: How Advanced Leaders Can Change the World One Smart Innovation at a Time.MentionedRosabeth Moss Kanter, Think Outside the Bu...
2020-07-0626 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyTransforming Government Operations Using IT, With Bill EggersCOVID-19 has forced governments at all levels to implement changes in their operating structures that probably should have happened a decade ago. A worldwide shift toward remote work and a more distant lifestyle now means governments will need to find different methods of delivering public services long term. Rob and Jackie discuss e-government opportunities and how flipping orthodoxies can (and should) reinvent government operating models with Bill Eggers, executive director of Deloitte’s Center for Government Insights.MentionedDaniel Castro, Galia Nurko, and Alan McQuinn, “Benchmarking U.S. Government Websites” (ITIF, November 2017).Daniel Castro and Mic...
2020-06-2925 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyMaintaining America’s Global Competitive Edge, With Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)China engages in egregious “innovation mercantilism,” including massive tech subsidies and forced tech transfer, all designed to have China replace America as the global tech leader. It’s time for America to rise to the challenge by developing its own plan to maintain competitive advantage in advanced and emerging technology industries that are critical to U.S. economic and national security. Rob and Jackie discuss all of this—along with what an Energy and Commerce agenda might look like next Congress--with Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Ranking Member on E&C’s Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee.Mentione...
2020-06-2223 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyAccelerating the Digital Transformation of Healthcare, With Pat CombesPeople have been working on digital transformation of health care for decades, but the COVID pandemic has added urgency to the challenge. This is creating a window of opportunity to reinvent how the health care system works—for example, the United States is on track to surpass more than 1 billion virtual office visits by the end of the year, even though only about a quarter of health-care organizations offered virtual visits before the pandemic. But of course, we still need to deal with important issues like privacy, security, and usability of all this new technology. ITIF VP Daniel Castro jo...
2020-06-1520 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Real History of Silicon Valley and the Lessons It Holds for Innovation Policy Today, With Margaret O’MaraThe dominant narrative about Silicon Valley, and U.S. tech innovation generally, is that it sprang from garages of quirky, but committed entrepreneurs. Yes, but… What many don’t realize is how important federal investments were in kick-starting the growth of Silicon Valley and other tech hubs in the past. Rob and Jackie discuss this history and its potential lessons for federal policy to spur growth in other parts of the country today with Professor Margaret O’Mara, author of The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America.Mentioned:Margaret O’Mara, The Code: Si...
2020-06-0832 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyWhat the COVID Crisis Teaches Us About Broadband Policy, With Larry Downes and Blair LevinThe COVID-induced isolation economy has demonstrated just how important broadband networks are for work, learning, and entertainment. But it has also highlighted important gaps, such as the rural divide and the “homework divide,” that government policy can play a role in filling. Rob and Jackie discuss these issues with broadband and IT experts Larry Downes, a senior industry and innovation fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Business & Public Policy, and Blair Levin, a nonresident senior fellow with the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program and prior director of the 2010 National Broadband Plan.Mentioned:Blair Levin and La...
2020-06-0131 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyCOVID and Its Impacts on Technology, the Tech Industry, and Tech Policy, With David MoschellaThe COVID crisis has highlighted more than ever the importance of information technology and the tech companies that produce it as many of us work at home, rely on e-commerce, and enjoy streaming video and social media. What is the impact of this on the so-called “techlash” and on broader perceptions of technology companies? What gaps has the COVID crisis exposed in current IT system that need more innovation and investment? And what does all of this say about government’s role in spurring the digitalization of the economy? Rob and Jackie discuss these issues with IT expert David Mosche...
2020-05-2030 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe COVID Privacy Challenge, With Amitai EtzioniThe COVID crisis has shifted the data privacy debate away from its prior focus on individual rights to one more focused on collective needs and responsibilities—for example, when it comes to sharing and analyzing medial data related to the pandemic, or tracking individuals’ contacts. Rob and Jackie discuss these issues with noted scholar and public intellectual Amitai Etzioni, professor of international affairs and director of the Institute for Communitarian Policy Studies at George Washington University. Mentioned:Amitai Etzioni, The Limits of Privacy (Basic Books, 2000). Amitai Etzioni, Privacy in a Cyber Age: Policy and Practi...
2020-05-1828 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyThe Post-COVID China Challenge, With James McGregorThe COVID crisis has exposed new vulnerabilities in U.S. supply chains, as well generated even more distrust of the Chinese government. At the same time, China is doubling down its “Made in China, 2025” ambitions to be the global technology leader. How will these developments affect U.S. technology competitiveness? What should the next administration do vis-à-vis U.S.-China trade relations? Rob and Jackie discuss these issues with James McGregor, Chairman of APCO Worldwide’s greater China region and a leading expert on China and Chinese economic policy.Mentioned in this episode:Books by James M...
2020-05-1127 minInnovation Files: Where Tech Meets Public PolicyGlobal Supply Chains Under Pressure, With Willy ShihGlobal supply chains have been under intense pressure during the coronavirus pandemic, particularly when it comes to medical supplies and drugs. What should the U.S. policy response be? Rob and Jackie discuss the issue with Willy Shih, a renowned professor of management practice at Harvard Business School. Mentioned in this episode:Willy C. Shih, “Bringing Manufacturing Back to the U.S. Is Easier Said Than Done” Harvard Business Review, April 15, 2020. Joshua Murray and Michael Schwartz, Wrecked: How the American Automobile Industry Destroyed Its Capacity to Compete (Russel Sage Foundation, 2019).Manufacturing USA: manufacturingusa.com.Willy Shih’s facult...
2020-05-0527 min