Tech Diplomacy

“If we use AI for blind spot detection it helps us see what we could not see and therefore haven’t been able to change” (Petra Dalunde).   In today’s podcast episode we are honoring Women’s History Month, and ask how can AI promote gender inclusion? We are joined by Moa Persdotter who is working with gender mainstreaming and diversity within R&I at Swedens innovation agency, Vinnova, and is the program director of “Acceleration of deep tech startups”. She has a master’s degree in Political Science from Lund University, and was the former director of VentureLab,- Lund University`s startup incubator. Moa represents Vinnova and Sweden in the Nordic Innovation Task Force for Diversity and will later this year take a role at Nordic Innovation House in Palo Alto. In the European Union`s Europe funded project GENDERACTIONplus, she maages the RFO CoP together with Dr. Sophia Ivarsson. Since 2020, Moa has been a part of developing Vinnova`s strategic program "AI to promote gender equality" which was launched 2019. Its purpose is to investigate how AI can be used to help solve gender equality challenges.   Join us for an interesting conversation on how AI can be applied to close the gender gap, unlocking the full potential of women's contributions. Hosted by Kim Jacqueline Sliper       

How does AI impact democratic elections, and what steps can we take to prevent or mitigate negative effects? In this episode, we’re joined by Niels Nagelhus Schia, a Norwegian research professor at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, where he specializes in the intersection of technology and international relations. In addition to leading the Security and Defense Research Group and co-managing the center's Technology Research Center, Schia has chaired the Norwegian Expert Group on AI, Democracy, and Elections  (2024-2025)  The expert group recently finalized its report, Artificial Intelligence and Democratic Elections – International Experiences and National Recommendations (Linked here) and we’re thrilled to sit down with Mr. Schia to discuss their key findings and recommendations. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on how AI is shaping democratic elections, especially in the context of the high-stakes "super election year" of 2024. Hosted by Kim Jacqueline Sliper and consul general Gry Rabe Henriksen

How are the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund investments in big American technology companies? How does The Fund work through an active ownership dialogue with the companies to increase the standards over time? What is The Funds' view on responsible AI? How does The Fund have an impact on climate & environment? With Carine Smith Ihenacho, we answer these questions and discuss the increasing connection with technology companies, geopolitics, and the financial markets. Carine is the Chief Governance and Compliance Officer at the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund. She has more than 20 years of experience as a lawyer, working in financials, the oil and gas industry, and law firms. She also has extensive board experience. Ihenacho holds a law degree from the University of Oslo, a Master of Law from Harvard Law School, and a Master of Economics from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).

What is the mystery of Quantum computing? What can this groundbreaking technology mean for our industries? What happens when you combine Quantum and A.I.? What are Quantum's downsides and security aspects? Is this the "next big thing," and when will we have the big bang? With Kate Weber, Head of Governance & External Affairs in Google Quantum A.I., we answer these questions and discuss how Quantum will impact our daily lives and society. Kate leads external affairs and governance for Google's quantum computing team. Previously, she led global public policy for emerging technologies at Google. Weber also has experience from the U.S. Department of State as the Division Chief for Chemicals, Air Quality, and Waste and an AAAS Fellow. Kate holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Cambridge, where she was a Marshall Scholar, and has a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Richmond.   

How does a company like Meta work to protect the public from misinformation? How does the technology industry work, and how can the industry work to safeguard democracy and ensure free and fair elections in a digital world? Together with Naomi Shiffman, we answer this and shed light on how the Meta Oversight Board answers some of the most challenging questions around freedom of expression online: what to take down and what to leave up. Naomi Shiffman is the Head of Data and Implementation for the Meta Oversight Board. She previously built the academic and research program CrowdTangle, a Meta product. Naomi is also a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council's DFRLab and a founding fellow at the Integrity Institute. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley.

What are the human rights implications of technology? What is the human rights perspective on elections and generative AI? How can social media, digital literacy, and critical thinking be included in the school curriculum? What is the importance of the technology industry to take human rights considerations into account? How can human rights be a powerful transformative force for the better of the world and how can we close the digital divide and use technology to combat hunger and ensure education is innovated around the world? With Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, we answer these questions and discuss the human rights lens on the new and emerging technologies and what role states and technology companies have in safeguarding democracy and human rights.   Volker Türk has devoted his long and distinguished career to advancing universal human rights, notably the international protection of some of the world`s most vulnerable people, refugees, and stateless persons. Before Mr. Türk was appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, he was the Under Secretary General for Policy in the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General and, prior to this, Assistant Secretary-General for Strategic Coordination in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General and several key positions at UNCHR headquarters. Volker Türk holds a doctorate in international law from the University of Vienna and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Linz, Austria.     

What has Telenor Group done to contribute to the green and digital transition? How does a Norwegian state-owned telecom company empower the societies in their markets? What are the most significant opportunities for responsible AI? What is the industry's responsibility, and what is needed from the government to meet concerns on the risks and downsides of AI? What is the largest tech companies' role in shaping the future? With Sigve Brekke, President & CEO of Telenor Group, we answer these questions and discuss what it means for a telecom company to have ethics and sustainability as an integrated part of the business model. Before Sigve Brekke was appointed President and CEO of Telenor Group, he was the Executive Vice President and Head of Telenor Asia Region. He also has experience from political life as State Secretary (Deputy Minister) of Defence in Norway.

How will AI affect our daily lives? What is an AI agent? How can the tech industry and governments ensure that safety considerations are considered in the development of AI? Do we need an AI Agency? How can breakthrough technology contribute to the UN goal on climate and environment? How is Google working to solve the global environmental challenges?  Together with Gopi Kallayil, Chief Business Strategist for AI at Google, we answer these questions and discuss AI & how technology can have a positive impact on the climate and environment and our daily lives. Gopi Kallayil is Chief Business Strategist for AI at Google. He works with Google’s largest customers and the sales team to help transform the customers business through AI powered marketing and the consumer experience. Before joining Google, Gopi was on the management team of two Silicon Valley venture-funded startups and was a consultant with McKinsey & Co. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the podcast are the speaker’s own. Gopi holds a guest faculty position at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He has spoken at TEDx, The World Happiness Summit, and Wisdom 2.0. He is the author of two books, “The Happy Human” and “The Internet to the Inner-net”. Gopi holds MBAs from the Indian Institute of Management and the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania.

What did Microsoft do when the war broke out in Ukraine? How is Microsoft working on AI development and taking safety and ethical considerations into account? How can governments keep pace with the rapid development of AI? Why is capacity building in countries that get access to technology important? How does Microsoft work on cyber security? How is Microsoft ramping up for the US elections in 2024? Together with Amy Larsen, Director of Strategy and Business Management of Microsoft’s Democracy Forward team, we answer these questions and discuss Big Tech companies impact on the intersection of democracy, fundamental rights and technology. Amy Larsen serves as Director of Strategy and Business Management of Microsoft’s Democracy Forward team, where she leads the team’s strategy on cybersecurity, information integrity, election integrity, journalism, and corporate civic engagement. She also leads the team’s international strategy and supports the company’s Ukraine Task Force. Previously, Amy practiced law at Davis Polk and then within Morrison & Foerster’s National Security and Global Risk, Crisis Management groups. Amy previously interned in the Obama White House on then-Vice President Biden’s team, held a human rights fellowship in Congress, and served at the State Department’s U.S. Mission to the EU. Amy holds a B.A. in Political Science from Yale, a J.D. from NYU Law, and an M.P.A. from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She was awarded a Fulbright to South Korea and is an Aspen Security Scholar and member of the Truman National Security Project.

How do Big Tech companies influence geopolitics, providing governmental services and invest in future leaning infrastructure? How can we protect our next generations and children from the downsides of technology? Why do we need to slow down the development of AI? How has Tech Diplomacy emerged in the Bay area over the last 7 years? Why do nations need Tech ambassadors? Together with Alexis Wichowski, author and professor, we answer these questions and discuss how big tech companies have become geopolitical actors and how we can ensure safety AI. Alexis Wichowski’s work and writing focuses on technology, government, and power, with almost two decades in public service and a decade teaching in applied technologies at Columbia University. Alexis has served in US State Department and US Mission to the United Nations, and as Deputy Chief Technology Officer in the City of New York. She’s currently writing a follow-up book to The Information Trade, which was published in 2020 (HarperCollins). Prior work also includes disaster relief, literary translation, media impact research, indexing, web coding, theater production, foreign sitcoms, and pretzel vending. Wichowski holds a PhD in Information Science from SUNY Albany and a BA in Chinese from Connecticut College.