Best Innovation Foundation Itif The Leading Think Tank For Science Podcasts (2024)

1
Information Technology Is Increasingly Critical and Increasingly Demonized, With Daniel Castro 21:06

13d ago21:06

21:06

Over 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. Related Robert D. Atkinson and David Moschel…

1
Remaining Realistic and Optimistic About the Promise of the Future, With Jim Pethokoukis 23:54

1M ago23:54

23:54

The 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. Mentioned James Pethokoukis. The Conservative Futurist: How to Create the …

1
Embracing Innovation is the Ultimate Key to Tackling Climate Change, With Robin Gaster 18:47

2M ago18:47

18:47

Climate 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. Me…

1
Navigating Deepfakes While Promoting Innovation, With Ryan Long 25:18

3M ago25:18

25:18

The 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 prevent…

1
Supply Chain Origins and Innovations, With Yossi Sheffi 24:38

4M ago24:38

24:38

The 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. Mentioned Y…

1
The Interplay of Hype and Skepticism in Autonomous Vehicle Advancements, With Richard Mudge 20:49

4M ago20:49

20:49

Amidst the burgeoning advancements in autonomous vehicles (AVs), striking a balance between expectation and reality emerges as a challenge. Rob and Jackie sat down with Richard Mudge, president and founder of Compass Transportation and Technology, to discuss how innovations in the world of AVs can affect safety, productivity, and job creation. Ment…

1
Quantum Computing’s Potential to Drive Business Results, With Murray Thom 30:21

5M ago30:21

30:21

While quantum computing technology is maturing more slowly than other innovations, its potential is vast. Rob and Jackie sat down with Murray Thom, vice president of product management at D-Wave, to discuss quantum computing applications already being put into place, and possible advancements in the future. Mentioned Hodan Omaar. “The U.S. Approach…

1
Using Artificial Intelligence to Augment Workflow, With Nitin Mittal 30:21

6M ago30:21

30:21

Used 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 …

1
We Need to Remain Proactive About Supporting Digital Free Trade, With Nigel Cory 30:21

6M ago30:21

30:21

Forced 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. Related Nigel Cory, “How the G7 Can Use ‘Data Free Fl…

1
Cultivating Innovation Ecosystems, With Jessica Corrigan 30:21

8M ago30:21

30:21

To 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. Mentioned Robert D. Atkinson, “Comments to the Commerce Department Regarding Implementation …

1
The Importance of Reducing Anticompetitive Market Distortions, With Alden Abbott and Shanker Singham 30:21

8M ago30:21

30:21

There 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 competitio…

1
How China Continues to Shirk Its Trade Obligations, With Dennis Shea 30:21

9M ago30:21

30:21

China 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 …

1
Getting Export Controls Right, With Kevin Wolf 29:58

10M ago29:58

29:58

Export 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.…

1
‘Regulation by Outrage’ Is a Detriment to Emerging Technologies, With Patrick Grady 20:52

10M ago20:52

20:52

Policy 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 Eu…

1
Counterfeiting is a Crime Against Innovation, With Kebharu Smith 20:55

11M ago20:55

20:55

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…

1
The Complicated Evolution of Information, With Jim Cortada 27:40

1y ago27:40

27:40

Over 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. Mention…

1
Why Societal Trust Is Imperative For Innovation, With David Moschella 21:41

1y ago21:41

21:41

Looking 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. innovat…

1
Deciphering the World of Data, With George Sciadas 26:32

1y ago26:32

26:32

A data-driven world raises the stakes for numeric literacy. Rob and Jackie sit down with George Sciadas, the former director of the Statistics Canada Center for Special Business Projects and author of the new book Number Savvy, to discuss the past, present, and future of data in society. Mentioned George Sciadas. Number Savvy: From the Invention of…

1
Containing China While Rebuilding the United States, With Jonathan Ward 24:14

1+ y ago24:14

24:14

America 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 pos…

1
The Future of Smart Cities in a Data-Driven Society, With Jonathan Reichental 29:44

1+ y ago29:44

29:44

To 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. Mentioned Jonatha…

1
Should Section 230 Cover Algorithms? What’s at Stake in Gonzalez v. Google, With Ashley Johnson 25:54

1+ y ago25:54

25:54

Google 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 sp…

1
Microchips Are the New Oil, With Chris Miller 24:46

1+ y ago24:46

24:46

Semiconductors 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. Mentioned Miller, Chris.…

1
Measuring the Whole Spectrum of Mathematics Achievement, with Richard Rusczyk 27:32

1+ y ago27:32

27:32

Teaching 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. Mentioned…

1
Growth and the Character of Society, With Benjamin Friedman 31:23

1+ y ago31:23

31:23

Economics is about more than the economy. It also intersects public and private institutions, culture, religion, morality, and politics. Rob and Jackie explored these subjects with Benjamin Friedman, a professor of Political Economy at Harvard and author of The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth and Religion and the Rise of Capitalism. Mentioned…

1
Seven Ways Nations Attain and Keep National Competitiveness, With Michael Mazaar 29:42

1+ y ago29:42

29:42

Rob and Jackie sat down with Michael Mazarr, a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, to discuss his report identifying characteristics that are associated with competitive advantage. They touch on how the U.S. is currently lacking most if not all of them, and potential steps moving forward. Mentioned: Michael J. Mazaar, The Societal F…

1
How Henry Ford’s Populist Attitude Led Him to Share Tech With Enemies, With Stefan Link 26:41

2y ago26:41

26:41

Midwestern populism caused a ripple effect that extended to open technology transfers and exchanges between Ford Motor Company and both Soviet and Nazi specialists. Rob and Jackie sat down with Stefan Link, Associate Professor of History at Dartmouth University, to discuss Henry Ford and his “open door policy” regarding methods and engineering. Men…

1
Three Historic Tech Booms Shaping Our Times, With Peter Leyden 30:09

2y ago30:09

30:09

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 …

1
What Happens to the Economy When Patent Protections Are Weakened, With Jonathan Barnett 29:26

2y ago29:26

29:26

Robust 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 …

1
Life Sciences Innovation Through the Bayh-Dole Act, With Joe Allen 32:48

2y ago32:48

32:48

Innovation 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 staf…

1
Securing US Leadership in Quantum Computing, With Edward Parker 25:53

2y ago25:53

25:53

Quantum 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 computin…

1
The Future of Climate Tech Through the U.S. Electric System, With Peter Fox-Penner 28:58

2y ago28:58

28:58

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 inn…

1
The Economics of Data, With David Deming 26:36

2y ago26:36

26:36

Data 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…

1
When the Chips Are Down: Why Domestic Semiconductor Production Matters, With John Zysman 24:34

2y ago24:34

24:34

The 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 Rou…

1
China’s Race to the Top: Authoritarianism in Technology and Global Affairs, With Keith Krach 28:21

2y ago28:21

28:21

China 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. com…

1
Back to the Future: Historical Lessons of U.S. AI Policy, With Arthur Herman 28:50

2y ago28:50

28:50

The 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 discu…

1
The Future of Buying Cars, With Daniel Crane 28:42

2y ago28:42

28:42

One 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-dist…

1
Investing in American Dynamism, With Ben Horowitz and Katherine Boyle 31:14

2+ y ago31:14

31:14

Venture 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 Horow…

1
The Promise of 5G, With Susie Armstrong 26:10

2+ y ago26:10

26:10

Technology 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…

1
The Future of US-EU Trade, With Denis Redonnet 23:34

2+ y ago23:34

23:34

Trade 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,…

1
The Challenges China Presents to U.S. Technological Capabilities, With Matt Turpin 26:34

2+ y ago26:34

26:34

China’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 Hoo…

1
How China’s Role in Technology Development Affects the United States and the World, With Sam Olsen 23:51

2+ y ago23:51

23:51

China 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 strategi…

1
How China Influences U.S. Innovation and Technological Capabilities, With Barry Naughton 28:08

2+ y ago28:08

28:08

Concerns 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 au…

1
How APIs Are Transforming the Internet, With Rob Dickinson 26:01

2+ y ago26:01

26:01

Application 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 Re…

1
The Keys to Diversifying Computer Science Education, With Dr. Juan Gilbert 29:13

2+ y ago29:13

29:13

STEM-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 …

1
The Ghosts of Supply Chains Past, Present, and Future, With Chris Caine 26:55

2+ y ago26:55

26:55

Global 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, t…

1
R&D Costs, Rx Prices, and the Formula for Success in Life Sciences Innovation, With Stephen Ezell 27:55

2+ y ago27:55

27:55

The 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…

1
How Giants Rise and Fade in Silicon Valley, With Avram Miller 35:04

2+ y ago35:04

35:04

Silicon 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…

1
The Evolution of Robotics and Prospects for Maximizing Adoption, With Rian Whitton 26:38

2+ y ago26:38

26:38

The 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 sa…

1
Why There Is a Disconnect Between the Economics of Innovation and U.S. Antitrust Policy, With David Teece 29:26

3y ago29:26

29:26

Antitrust 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 antitru…

1
AI and Defense Innovation, With Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan 30:16

3y ago30:16

30:16

For 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 an…

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