The Great Tech Game Podcast: Geopolitics, Technology, Business and Global Affairs, with Anirudh Suri

Afleveringen

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  Are We Fighting A New Cold War For The Global South? Nils Gilman of Noema Magazine and Berggruen Institute with Anirudh Suri on The Great Tech Game Podcast 17.10.2026 57min

  In this episode of The Great Tech Game, Anirudh Suri, Author and Host of The Great Tech Game Podcast, sits down with Nils Gilman, Deputy Editor of NOEMA Magazine, Editor-in-Chief of Berggruen Press and Executive Vice President of the Berggruen Institute, to unpack how history can help us make sense of today's contest over technology, sovereignty and global governance.This conversation spans a wide range of topics: from whether we are fighting a new Cold War for control and influence over the Global South to why China built its own tech champions while India opened its doors, to what Thailand and Malaysia's car industries teach us about "tech sovereignty" strategies, to how AI is breaking the way universities teach and test.We explore:- Are today's tech giants the new East India Company?- Is technology pushing nations toward economic convergence or divergence?- China kept foreign tech out. India let it in. Who got it right?- Can smaller countries like Vietnam really build their own AI stack?- Is "tech sovereignty" just autarky by another name?- What is "weaponized interdependence," and why are countries pulling back from globalization?- Can we govern planetary problems like climate change, pandemics and open-weight AI models?- How should universities and careers change in the age of AI?About the Guest:Nils Gilman is Deputy Editor of NOEMA Magazine, Editor-in-Chief of Berggruen Press and Executive Vice President of the Berggruen Institute. A historian by training, he is the co-author of Children of a Modest Star: Planetary Thinking for an Age of Crisis, and the author of Mandarins of the Future: Modernization Theory in Cold War America and Deviant Globalization: Black Market Economy in the 21st Century.About Anirudh Suri, Host of The Great Tech Game Podcast:Anirudh Suri is a non-resident scholar with Carnegie India, where his research and writing focus on technology, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. He is the author of The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations, and host of The Great Tech Game Podcast. He is also the Managing Partner at India Internet Fund, a US and India based technology-focused venture capital fund.The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38MyFollow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedIn: / anirudhsuri Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Facebook: / anirudhsuri.in Website: https://anirudhsuri.com/#thegreattechgame #tgtgpodcast #noema #berggrueninstitute #noemamagazine #berggruen #geopolitics #AI #artificialintelligence #globalaffairs #techpolicy #sovereignAI #techsovereignty #indiaAI #china #globalgovernance #education #postAIuniversity #anirudhsuri #nilsgilman
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  Ep. 56 - The Old World Order is Dead. What Comes Next? Ian Bremmer with Anirudh Suri 24.07.2026 56min

  In this episode of The Great Tech Game Podcast, Anirudh Suri, Author and Host of The Great Tech Game Podcast, sits down with Ian Bremmer, Founder and President of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media. Bremmer has spent his career helping business leaders, policymakers and the public make sense of global power shifts, and in this conversation he makes the case that tech companies, and the people running them, are evolving into a new category of geopolitical actors, one that didn't really exist before.We start with the Starlink decision during the Russia-Ukraine war as a case study in what this kind of power actually looks like in practice. From there, we dig into the structural forces driving today's geopolitics, the competing models of the US, China and Europe, the push for "sovereign AI," and where India stands in the global AI race.We explore:How are tech companies and their founders starting to function as sovereigns in the geopolitical space?What kind of social backlash could this shift in power trigger, and could it change how governments and tech companies work together?What are the structural forces reshaping the balance of power in the world today, but especially between the US, Russia and China? Is the "Thucydides Trap" the right historical analogy for the US-China relationship? What do the US, Chinese and European models of capitalism reveal about where each system is headed?Is "sovereign AI" a viable strategy for middle powers, or should countries think about it differently? Where does India genuinely stand in the AI race, and what's the risk most people aren't talking about? ▶️ Watch the full conversation now, and subscribe to The Great Tech Game Podcast!About the guest, Dr. Ian Bremmer: Dr. Ian Bremmer is the founder and president of Eurasia Group, one of the world's leading global research and advisory firms, and GZERO Media, a digital media company providing intelligent and engaging coverage of international affairs. He helps business leaders, policymakers and the general public make sense of global events through speeches, commentary, and media formats reaching a wide public audience.About Anirudh Suri, Host of The Great Tech Game Podcast: Anirudh Suri is a non-resident scholar with Carnegie India, where his research and writing focus on technology, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. He is the author of The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations, and host of The Great Tech Game Podcast. He is also the Managing Partner at India Internet Fund, a US and India based technology-focused venture capital fund.
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  Ep. 55 - Govts, Big Tech and India's Bid to Shape AI's Future | Ft. Amitabh Kant and Wilson White, with Anirudh Suri 02.07.2026 53min

  In this episode of The Great Tech Game Podcast, Anirudh sits down with Amitabh Kant, India's former G20 Sherpa and former CEO of NITI Aayog, alongside Wilson White, Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Policy at Google Asia-Pacific.The relationship between governments and Big Tech is growing more precarious by the day, even as the two become increasingly interdependent. One would assume their larger interests to be aligned in service of society, but it's growing harder to tell if they're fundamentally at odds. And so as AI becomes a strategic asset, where does corporate power end and state control begin?We start with how these two central actors respond to a crisis as significant as Iran: Google's shift toward operational resilience, and governments' focus on securing supply chain stability. From there, we widen the lens to the global AI race and India's positioning within it: where its strengths lie, and what it can learn from examples elsewhere in the world.We explore:- What distinguishes how governments and Big Tech firms like Google respond to a global crisis like Iran?- Is India really a 'loser' in the AI race, as many argue, or does that framing limit how we think about AI's possibilities more holistically?- What steps do firms like Google take to ensure AI readiness?- In a world built on global interoperability and mutual learning, what does the idea of Sovereign AI really mean, and how should we view it through a wider lens?- What are the critical gaps in India's AI ecosystem that need urgent attention, and where do its unique strengths lie?- Finally, what lessons can India draw from other countries across the APAC region?▶️ Watch the full conversation now, and subscribe to The Great Tech Game Podcast!---Chapters:0:00 - Introduction3:38 - How India and Google Handled the Iran Crisis10:47 - What do India and Google Need to Power AI14:44 - Assessing India's AI Ecosystem21:40 - India's Critical Gaps and Unique Strengths25:48 - Lessons India Can Learn from APAC29:14 - How Can Big Tech Help India Achieve Its AI Ambitions?37:01 - Will Access to Frontier Models Be a Problem for India?41:28 -The Myth of Sovereign AI46:17 - Rapid Fire Round---About the Guests:Amitabh Kant is one of India's most influential policymakers, having served as the CEO of NITI Aayog and India's G20 Sherpa. Over a four-decade career in public service, he has led several of the country's most ambitious reform initiatives, including Make in India, Startup India, and the Aspirational Districts Programme. Wilson White is Google's Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy, based in Singapore, where he leads the company's engagement with governments and regulators across Asia-Pacific while also overseeing global policy efforts for several core product areas.About Anirudh Suri, Host of the Podcast:Anirudh Suri is a non-resident scholar with Carnegie India, where his research and writing focus on technology, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. He is the author of The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations, and host of The Great Tech Game Podcast. He is also the Managing Partner at India Internet Fund, a US and India based technology-focused venture capital fund.---The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38MyFollow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: https://anirudhsuri.com/Book and Podcast: https://anirudhsuri.com/the-great-tech-game/#TheGreatTechGamePodcast #AmitabhKant #WilsonWhite #Google #NITIAayog #AIPolicy #ArtificialIntelligence #SovereignAI #AIRace #TechPolicy #Geopolitics #IndiaAI #BigTech #GlobalSouth #IndiaVsChina #FutureOfAI #TechAndPolicy
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  Ep. 54 - Entrepreneurs: The New Freedom Fighters For India? Kanwal Rekhi, VC with Anirudh Suri 21.05.2026 58min

  In this episode of The Great Tech Game podcast, we sit down with Kanwal Rekhi, venture capitalist, the first Indian-American to take a venture-backed company public on the NASDAQ, and co-founder of The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE). We discuss why he believes entrepreneurs are the new freedom fighters for India. Rekhi traces the journey of India from being branded as a "land of snake charmers" to becoming a global "technological powerhouse," arguing that the next phase of India’s independence is economic—freedom from hunger and poverty driven by a massive surge in entrepreneurship.Rekhi offers a provocative look at how India should aim to reclaim its #1 global economic spot by 2047. He challenges conventional wisdom on "brain drain," the role of the government in regulation, and why a "politics of wealth creation" must precede the "politics of wealth distribution".We explore:- How has the nature of starting a business changed from the early days of PC hardware and networking to the current era of AI?\- Why are entrepreneurs the "new freedom fighters"? - Is "brain drain" actually a benefit? Has the exodus of Indian talent to the US built a "brain trust" for India instead?- What is the "Noble Experiment" of India? Can a country this diverse and poor sustain both a constitutional democracy and a free market better than the model seen in China?- Why should India build 1,000 IITs? Why is investing in "people and their brains" the highest ROI the government can achieve?- How do we fix the "dead arm" of the Indian economy by empowering entrepreneurs in small towns?- What can India learn from the US about venture capital and taxes? - Why is the current Indian regulatory framework potentially stifling the 10 million entrepreneurs we need by 2047?▶️ Watch the full conversation now, and subscribe to The Great Tech Game.---About the Guest: Kanwal Rekhi is an Indian-American entrepreneur, investor, and mentor best known as the first Indian-American founder to take a venture-backed company public in the United States, when networking startup Excelan was listed on the stock exchange in 1987. After the company’s IPO and merger, Rekhi shifted his focus toward enabling entrepreneurship, mentoring more than 10,000 founders and investing in over 200 early-stage startups, including companies such as Exodus Communications, Poshmark, redBus, Sierra Atlantic, and NetMagic. Today, as Managing Director of Inventus Capital Partners and SV Quad, and as a co-founder of TiE Global, Rekhi continues to champion entrepreneurship with a mission to help create 10 million entrepreneurs by India’s 100th anniversary.About Anirudh Suri, Host of the Podcast:Anirudh Suri is a non-resident scholar with Carnegie India, where his research and writing focus on technology, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. He is the author of The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations, and host of The Great Tech Game Podcast. He is also the Managing Partner at India Internet Fund, a US and India based technology-focused venture capital fund. The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: (http://www.anirudhsuri.com/) Book and Podcast: (http://www.greattechgame.com/)#thegreattechgame #tgtgpodcast #anirudhsuri #IndianEconomy #Entrepreneurship #Startups #IndianStartups #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #IndiaAI #Technology #Innovation #Geopolitics #EconomicGrowth #ViksitBharat #SiliconValley #VentureCapital #FutureOfIndia #TechPodcast #GlobalSouth #IIT #EconomicFreedom #Entrepreneurs #TechAndGeopolitics #IndianTech #AIRevolution #KanwalRekhi
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  Ep. 53 (AI Futures) - How Local Innovations Could Drive Global AI Breakthroughs | Vilas Dhar, Patrick McGovern Foundation 03.04.2026 21min

  In this episode of the AI Futures Podcast, host Anirudh Suri sits down with Vilas Dhar, President of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, member of the UN High Level Advisory Body on AI, and Harvard Kennedy School alum, to unpack Vilas' unique perspective on how technology can be harnessed as a force for global good. The conversation explores Vilas’s personal journey—from a childhood split between rural Illinois and villages outside Bangalore—to his current work overseeing half a billion dollars in investments focused on responsible AI. Dhar highlights successful initiatives like Climate Trace, which uses data to monitor carbon emissions, as examples of how AI can serve humanity beyond mere profit. The conversation addresses the importance of moving away from a Western-centric "AI race" toward a model of inclusive leadership.Key topics include:* How local constraints in the Global South are driving world-class innovation, such as India’s Sarvam AI.* The transition from tech "overdependence" to global interdependence, where every country finds its unique niche.* Real-world examples of AI for good, including Climate Trace, a platform for tracking carbon emissions used by thousands of organizations.* Why the next generation of students in Indian universities gives Vilas more hope for the future than anything coming out of Silicon Valley.Watch Anirudh and Vilas in conversation to understand what an AI-enabled world could look like if we started from values and principles first, as the world's AI conversation moves to India.Subscribe and listen to the full conversation now.Chapters & Timestamps00:00 – Introduction & Reflections on the India AI Summit02:30 – A Journey Between Two Worlds05:15 – The Patrick McGovern Foundation & Responsible AI06:45 – AI for Good: Tracking Climate Change with Climate Trace08:30 – India’s AI Strategy: Innovation, Constraints, and Sarvam AI11:00 – From Overdependence to Global Interdependence in AI13:15 – Why Indian University Students are the Real Source of Hope15:30 – Shifting the Narrative: From "AI Race" to "AI Leadership"18:00 – Grounding Technology in Music, Arts, and Human Values20:15 – Final Reflections & Book/Podcast Recommendations-------Follow the India AI Impact Summit 2026: https://impact.indiaai.gov.in/*About Vilas Dhar*Vilas Dhar is recognized as a leading global expert on the future of AI and its role in shaping society. As President of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, he leads one of the world’s foremost philanthropies committed to demonstrating how data and AI can be harnessed to advance equity, human dignity, and collective progress. Vilas has also served as a member of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence, and is the U.S. Government’s nominated expert to the Global Partnership on AI. Read more about Patrick J. McGovern Foundation here: https://www.mcgovern.org/Climate Trace Project: https://climatetrace.org/*About Anirudh Suri, Host of the Podcast*Anirudh Suri is a non-resident scholar with Carnegie India. He is the author of The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations, and host of The Great Tech Game Podcast. He is also the Managing Partner at India Internet Fund, a US and India based technology-focused venture capital fund. The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: (http://www.anirudhsuri.com/) Book and Podcast: (http://www.greattechgame.com/)#IndiaAI #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 #AIFuturesPodcast #AISummit #TGTGPodcast #AnirudhSuri #AI #TheGreatTechGame #VilasDhar #patrickjmcgovernfoundation #aiforgood #philanthropy #responsibleai #climatetrace #globalsouth #globalsouthai
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  Ep. 52 (AI Futures) - Switzerland 2027: Is a Global AI Treaty Possible? Amb. Thomas Schneider with Anirudh Suri 25.03.2026 1u 10min

  In this episode of the *AI Futures* podcast, host Anirudh Suri sits down with *Ambassador Thomas Schneider* who led the negotiations for the *world's first binding international treaty on Artificial Intelligence.* Ambassador Schneider shares his views on how Switzerland is adopting a decentralised, bottoms up approach to devising its AI strategy, unlike other countries that have a top-down, centralised approach, and what AI for good really means. As the person who will also be helping put together the 2027 Switzerland AI Summit, he also shares how Switzerland is planning to leverage its "trusted hub" reputation in the world of AI as well.We explore:- How can a small country compete with AI giants like the US and China? Discover why Switzerland doesn't have one single, centralised "AI strategy" and how they use an "agile ecosystem" to stay ahead.- Is a global treaty on AI actually possible? Hear from the person who negotiated with 55 countries to create shared AI rules for a fragmented world.- Will AI take our jobs in the next five years? We discuss the risk of 10% to 20% of office jobs being displaced and which skills humans must keep for themselves.- Who is responsible when AI goes wrong? We explore the idea of "liability" and why companies should pay for the risks they create.- In a world optimized for efficiency, how do we ensure ecologically responsible energy choices? - How can we avoid some of the same mistakes made during the Industrial Revolution that are causing an ecological crisis now?---The AI Futures Podcast series, hosted by Anirudh Suri, is organized in collaboration with the *Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India* as the intellectual prelude to the India AI Impact Summit 2026 being held from Feb 16 - 20, 2026 in New Delhi, India.Follow the India AI Impact Summit 2026: https://impact.indiaai.gov.in/ Whether you are a student, a policymaker, or just curious about the future of AI, this conversation breaks down the complex world of AI into lessons we can all understand.---*About Thomas Schneider*Thomas Schneider is Ambassador and Director of International Affairs at the Swiss Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) in the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC). He is a long-standing expert in digital governance and in the governance of the information and knowledge society and artificial intelligence. He led the negotiations for the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, adopted in 2024 as the world's first legally binding international treaty on AI. *About Anirudh Suri, Host of the Podcast*Anirudh Suri is a non-resident scholar with Carnegie India, where his research and writing focus on technology, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. He is the author of The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations, and host of The Great Tech Game Podcast. He is also the Managing Partner at India Internet Fund, a US and India based technology-focused venture capital fund. Previously, Anirudh has worked with the Government of India in New Delhi, McKinsey and Co in New York, Goldman Sachs in London, the Carnegie Endowment in Washington DC, and China Institute of International Studies in Beijing. He completed his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and his MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. Named a Goldman Sachs Global Leader, Anirudh has also served on the Board of the Harvard Alumni Association.The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: (http://www.anirudhsuri.com/) Book and Podcast: (http://www.greattechgame.com/)#IndiaAI #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 #AIFuturesPodcast #AnirudhSuri #ThomasSchneider
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  Ep. 51 (AI Futures) - Why You’ll Soon Be a "Manager of AI Agents": Jeetu Patel, President, CISCO with Anirudh Suri | AI Futures | Ep. 51 19.03.2026 1u 9min

  In this episode of the *AI Futures* podcast, host Anirudh Suri, tech investor and policy advisor, sits down with Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer of Cisco, for a raw and visionary conversation about the AI revolution. This conversation is a deep exploration of how AI is reshaping business, labor, and society, interwoven with the inspiring story of how Jeetu rose to one of the most influential leadership roles. Whether you're a developer, a student, or a business leader, this interview provides a roadmap for thriving in a world where AI is no longer a tool, but a colleague. Key Discussion Points:- How can countries like India carve out leadership amidst the US-China duopoly in AI?- How are companies like Cisco positioning themselves in the AI revolution?- Why modern software development has "completely flipped" and what it means for the next generation of engineers.- How will organizational structures change as AI automates entry-level tasks? - What skills should the next generation build to stay relevant in an AI-driven world?- How do we embed trust, ethics, and human values into AI agents and AI systems?- Will AI make us intellectually weaker—or push us toward deeper thinking?-----The AI Futures Podcast series, hosted by Anirudh Suri, is organized in collaboration with the *Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India* as the intellectual prelude to the India AI Impact Summit 2026 being held from Feb 16 - 20, 2026 in New Delhi, India.Follow the India AI Impact Summit 2026: https://impact.indiaai.gov.in/-----*About Jeetu Patel*Jeetu Patel is the President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco and is recognized as one of the world’s leading thinkers on product strategy and technological disruption. Under his leadership, Cisco has driven innovation across its broad portfolio of products, establishing the company as the critical infrastructure for the AI era.Patel joined Cisco in 2020 to lead the collaboration and security business. He quickly became recognized for his commitment to product design and user experience, leading the team through a period of rapid innovation to transform Webex and support customers through the global pandemic. In 2024 he was promoted to the role of Chief Product Officer, where he now leads several multibillion-dollar categories, including networking, computing, security, Splunk, and more.*About Anirudh Suri, Host of the Podcast*Anirudh Suri is a non-resident scholar with Carnegie India, where his research and writing focus on technology, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. He is the author of The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations, and host of The Great Tech Game Podcast. He is also the Managing Partner at India Internet Fund, a US and India based technology-focused venture capital fund. Previously, Anirudh has worked with the Government of India in New Delhi, McKinsey and Co in New York, Goldman Sachs in London, and the Carnegie Endowment in Washington DC. He completed his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and his MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: (http://www.anirudhsuri.com/) Book and Podcast: (http://www.greattechgame.com/)#IndiaAI #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 #AIFuturesPodcast #AISummit #AI #Cisco #FutureOfWork #JeetuPatel #AnirudhSuri #Coding #IndiaTech #TechLeadership #TGTGpodcast #AIcoding #humanintheloop #AIsecurity #TechSovereignty #FutureOfWork #AIStrategy #India #PersonalJourney #Podcast
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  Ep. 50 (AI Futures) - AI vs AI: The New Cyber Wars | Anne Neuberger, Former US Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber | AI Futures Series | Ep. 50 05.03.2026 27min

  In this episode of the *AI Futures* Podcast, host Anirudh Suri sits down with Anne Neuberger, former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology under the Biden administration, to explore the intersection of AI and cybersecurity. As cyber conflict has evolved from a human-led “cat-and-mouse” game to a machine-against-machine battlefield, we unpack critical questions in this episode:- How is AI reshaping both cyber threats and cyber defense?- As attacks become faster and more scalable, can defenders realistically keep up?- Who are the key actors in cyberspace today — nation-states, criminals, transnational groups — and how do they operate in a borderless digital domain?- Can AI-driven secure code meaningfully reduce systemic vulnerabilities?- How can AI strengthen the protection of critical national infrastructure?- What can the world learn from India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (India Stack)?- And as AI automates technical work, what cross-disciplinary skills will define the next generation of leaders?As non-state actors proliferate and geopolitics increasingly plays out in cyberspace, this conversation offers a rare policymaker’s perspective on how these risks should be managed. Watch Anirudh and Anne in conversation to understand what’s at stake in the world of AI and cyber, as the world’s AI conversation moves to India.#IndiaAI #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 #AIFuturesPodcast #AISummit #TGTGPodcast #AnirudhSuri #AI #TheGreatTechGame #cyberattacks #cybersecurity #AICyberSecurity #AnneNeuberger
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  Ep. 49 (AI Futures) - Will AI Transform the Existing Economic Growth Model? Iqbal Dhaliwal, J-PAL, MIT | Anirudh Suri 03.03.2026 26min

  In this episode of the AI Futures Podcast, Anirudh Suri sits down with Iqbal Dhaliwal, the Global Executive Director of MIT’s Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), at the India AI Impact Summit. They explore the shift from traditional technology in development to the rapid rise of AI, focusing on how countries like India can leverage these tools for the public good while avoiding common pitfalls of "hype" over "impact."This interview explores the evolving role of technology in global development, specifically comparing historical innovations like the Green Revolution to the rapid, multimodal rise of artificial intelligence. Dhaliwal emphasizes that while AI offers unprecedented speed and accessibility, it should be viewed as a functional enabler rather than a standalone solution. He critiques the current tendency to prioritize user engagement metrics over tangible life outcomes, urging development practitioners to focus on rigorous impact evaluation. Our discussion also highlights the need for locally-derived applications that address specific regional challenges, such as South Asian healthcare needs or tax compliance. Ultimately, Iqbal suggests that for nations like India to succeed, they must balance technological adoption with supportive labor policies and a commitment to democratizing research.0:00 – Introduction 1:30 – From Seeds to Laptops: The History of Tech in Development 3:45 – Why the AI Revolution is "Breathtakingly" Different 6:15 – Economists vs. Technologists: Who Should Lead? 8:30 – AI as an Enabler: The Brazil Essay Grading Case Study A practical example of AI in action10:45 – The Problem with "Vanity Metrics" in AI Dhaliwal critiques the focus on "intermediate outcomes" like downloads and subscribers, and that true impact must be measured by final outcomes.13:20 – Avoiding the "AI Trap": Call Centers vs. High-Tech A warning against being a "solution in search of a problem"15:45 – Why Local Context Matters: Silicon Valley vs. India The conversation explores the gap between Western "labor-replacing" tech and the need for "labor-enhancing" tech in India18:15 – India as a "Digital Outlier" India is described as being on the "right side of the digital divide" for the first time.20:30 – Policy Advice: Fixing the Labor-AI Incentive Gap Dhaliwal offers advice for the Labor Minister.22:45 – Using AI for Progressive Taxation For the Finance Minister, Dhaliwal suggests the focus areas.25:00 – Democratizing Tech at the AI Impact Summit A reflection on how the India AI Impact Summit democratized access to tech leaders like Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai, moving beyond a small circle of intellectuals to reach the public.27:30 – Launching the "Evaluation Playbook" About Anirudh SuriAnirudh Suri is the host of the AI Futures Podcast and the "Great Tech Game" series. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School’s MPP program and has a professional background in venture capital, which he uses to bridge the gap between frontier technology and economic policy. His work focuses on how the "Global Tech Game" is shifting and how countries like India can navigate the evolving geopolitical and technological landscape.About Iqbal DhaliwalIqbal Dhaliwal is the Global Executive Director of MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). An economist by training and an alumnus of Princeton, he has dedicated his career to using rigorous evaluation to improve development outcomes worldwide. In addition to his leadership at MIT, he serves on the boards of several high-impact organizations, including Rocket Learning, Nura Health, and Adalat AI, where he helps guide the application of technology for the public good.#AI #India #EconomicDevelopment #MIT #JPAL #TechForGood #IndiaAIImpactSummit #AnirudhSuri #IqbalDhaliwal #DigitalDivide #PublicGood #Innovation #Policy #FutureOfWork
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  Ep. 48 (AI Futures) - How Can India and Japan Navigate the AI Race? Ren Ito, CEO, Sakana AI and Anirudh Suri 27.02.2026 1u 3min

  In this episode of the *AI Futures* Podcast, host Anirudh Suri sits down with Ren Ito, the Co-founder and CEO of Sakana AI—Japan’s fastest-ever unicorn startup.Ren brings a unique perspective to the table, blending 15 years of experience in the Japanese Foreign Service with leadership roles at tech giants like Mercari. They explore why the future of AI isn't just a "bigger is better" arms race and how countries like India and Japan can carve out their own strategic autonomy in a shifting global landscape.In this episode, we unpack key questions including:• Is the "scaling law" of AI sustainable? • Is the "bigger is better" approach only be for a handful of hyperscalers, and how the rest of the world can find a different, more efficient path?• How can nations achieve "strategic autonomy" in a bipolar US-China tech world? • Can we balance AI progress with ecological sustainability? • Will AI create a new "digital divide" in the workforce? • What does "AI as Soft Power" mean for global diplomacy? From the "switchboard" approach to model building to the role of AI as a form of soft power, this conversation dives deep into the intersections of technology, diplomacy, and the human element.🔔 Subscribe and listen to the full conversation now.-----Follow the India AI Impact Summit 2026: https://impact.indiaai.gov.in/*About Ren Ito*Ren Ito is the Co-Founder and COO of Sakana AI, Japan’s fastest unicorn after one year in business, backed by Nvidia and a broad spectrum of Japanese enterprises. Previously, Ren was CEO of Mercari Europe, Japan’s first unicorn. Before tech, Ren spent 15 years as a Japanese diplomat where he worked on the security alliance with the US, negotiated a free trade agreement with the EU, and represented Japan at the World Bank board. *About Anirudh Suri, Host of the Podcast*Anirudh Suri is a non-resident scholar with Carnegie India, where his research and writing focus on technology, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. He is the author of The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations, and host of The Great Tech Game Podcast. He is also the Managing Partner at India Internet Fund, a US and India based technology-focused venture capital fund. Previously, Anirudh has worked with the Government of India in New Delhi, McKinsey and Co in New York, Goldman Sachs in London, the Carnegie Endowment in Washington DC, and China Institute of International Studies in Beijing. He completed his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and his MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. Named a Goldman Sachs Global Leader, Anirudh has also served on the Board of the Harvard Alumni Association.The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: (http://www.anirudhsuri.com/) Book and Podcast: (http://www.greattechgame.com/)#IndiaAI #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 #AIFuturesPodcast #AISummit #tgtgpodcast #anirudhsuri#AI #renito #thegreattechgame #aifuturespodcast #ArtificialIntelligence #Geopolitics #Sustainability #SakanaAI #TechSovereignty #IndiaAI #FutureOfWork #AIStrategy #uschina
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  Ep. 47 (AI Futures) - Are AI Agents A Threat to Global Cybersecurity? | Jay Chaudry, CEO, Zscaler 17.02.2026 1u 6min

  In this episode of the *AI Futures* podcast, host Anirudh Suri sits down with Jay Chaudhry, the entrepreneur behind Zscaler and a pioneer in the cybersecurity world. From his humble beginnings in a small village in Himachal Pradesh to founding a string of groundbreaking tech companies in Silicon Valley, Jay shares his unique perspective on the "mega waves" of technology and why he believes *AI is the biggest wave of all—a "gigawave"*.We dive deep into how the cyber threat landscape has shifted from simple website defacing to nation-state spying and attacks on critical infrastructure like the Colonial Pipeline attack. Jay explains why traditional "castle and moat" security is failing and why the world must move toward a Zero Trust architecture.In this conversation, we explore:- How do modern cyberattacks actually unfold? How are hackers using AI to identify vulnerabilities in under 30 seconds?- Is India moving toward becoming a global hub for high-tech manufacturing and R&D?- If humans are today’s weakest link, could tomorrow’s threat come from thousands of hijacked AI agents running amok?- Is “hunger and hustle” more decisive than strategy? Is adversity be a founder’s greatest advantage?-- As AI accelerates into a “gigawave,” how will we keep our systems secure against intelligent threats?🔔 Subscribe and listen to the full conversation now.-----Follow the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026: https://impact.indiaai.gov.in/*About Jay Chaudhry*Jay is an accomplished entrepreneur, and has founded a series of successful companies, including AirDefense, CipherTrust, CoreHarbor, SecureIT, and Zscaler, now a public company as of March 16, 2018.Prior to founding Zscaler in 2008, he founded and led AirDefense, a wireless security pioneer, before its acquisition by Motorola. From 2000 to 2006, Jay founded and led CipherTrust, the industry’s first email security gateway, before its merger with Secure Computing. He also founded and led CoreHarbor, a managed ecommerce solution, before it was acquired by USi/AT&T. Jay has been honored as an Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year,” IIT BHU's “Distinguished Alumnus,” and Goldman Sachs “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs.” He earned his Bachelor of Technology in Electronics Engineering from IIT BHU Varanasi. *About Anirudh Suri, Host of the Podcast*Anirudh Suri is a non-resident scholar with Carnegie India, where his research and writing focus on technology, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. He is the author of The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations, and host of The Great Tech Game Podcast. He is also the Managing Partner at India Internet Fund, a US and India based technology-focused venture capital fund. Previously, Anirudh has worked with the Government of India in New Delhi, McKinsey and Co in New York, Goldman Sachs in London, the Carnegie Endowment in Washington DC, and China Institute of International Studies in Beijing. He completed his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and his MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. Named a Goldman Sachs Global Leader, Anirudh has also served on the Board of the Harvard Alumni Association. He tweets @AnirudhSuri.The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: (http://www.anirudhsuri.com/) Book and Podcast: (http://www.greattechgame.com/)#IndiaAI #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 #AIFuturesPodcast #AISummit #tgtgpodcast #anirudhsuri #jaychaudhry #zscaler #AIAgents #hackers #cyberhackers #zerotrustsecurity #cloudsecurity #cybersecurity #cyberattacks #ai #podcast #thegreattechgame #digitalsovereignty #datacenters #datasovereignty
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  Ep. 46 (AI Futures) - The Global South Needs to Step Up To The AI Challenge | Yoshua Bengio, Turing Award Winner 12.02.2026 1u

  In this episode of *AI Futures* , host Anirudh Suri sits down with Professor Yoshua Bengio — Turing Award winner and one of the world’s most influential AI researchers, and chair of the International AI Safety Report (2025 and 2026) — for a wide-ranging conversation on what the next phase of AI progress could mean for global power, economic inequality, and human control.As AI systems grow more capable and increasingly autonomous the stakes are no longer theoretical. From AI agents that can plan, deceive, and evade oversight to an intensifying US–China AI arms race, this episode explores whether the world is heading toward shared prosperity or a second great divergence.In this conversation, we explore:• Why is the US–China competition blocking effective global regulation?• What can “middle powers” like India and Canada do to avoid being left out?• What “deceptive alignment” means—and why AI models' deception tendencies is worrying leading researchers• How AI could be misused for cyberattacks or biological threats• Will AI will displace more white-collar jobs than it creates?• Can AI be built as a global public good, rather than a winner-takes-all race?🔔 Subscribe and listen to the full conversation now.-----Follow the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026: https://impact.indiaai.gov.in/*About Yoshua Bengio*Recognized worldwide as one of the leading experts in artificial intelligence, Yoshua Bengio is most known for his pioneering work in deep learning, earning him the 2018 A.M. Turing Award, “the Nobel Prize of Computing,” with Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun, and making him the computer scientist with the largest number of citations and h-index. He is Full Professor at Université de Montréal. Concerned about the social impact of AI, he actively contributed to the Montreal Declaration for the Responsible Development of Artificial Intelligence and currently chairs the International AI Safety Report.Read the AI International Safety Report, chaired by Prof. Yoshua Bengio: https://internationalaisafetyreport.org/publication/international-ai-safety-report-2026*About Anirudh Suri, Host of the Podcast*Anirudh Suri is a non-resident scholar with Carnegie India, where his research and writing focus on technology, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. He is the author of The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations, and host of The Great Tech Game Podcast. He is also the Managing Partner at India Internet Fund, a US and India based technology-focused venture capital fund. Previously, Anirudh has worked with the Government of India in New Delhi, McKinsey and Co in New York, Goldman Sachs in London, the Carnegie Endowment in Washington DC, and China Institute of International Studies in Beijing. He completed his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and his MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. Named a Goldman Sachs Global Leader, Anirudh has also served on the Board of the Harvard Alumni Association. He tweets @AnirudhSuri.The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: (http://www.anirudhsuri.com/) Book and Podcast: (http://www.greattechgame.com/)#IndiaAI #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 #AIFuturesPodcast #AISummit #GlobalGovernance #anirudhsuri #YoshuaBengio #thegreattechgame #TGTGpodcast #AIAgents #AIRisks #uschina #aimisuse #InternationalAISafetyReport #CyberAttacks #AI #MiddlePowers #Canada #India #Japan #DeceptiveAlignment #TechAlliances #podcast
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  Ep. 45 (AI Futures) - The 'Looming AI Divide': How Global Cooperation Can Help | UN Tech Envoy Amandeep Gill 08.02.2026 56min

  In this episode of the *AI Futures* podcast, Anirudh Suri sits down with UN Under-Secretary General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, Amandeep Gill. USG Gill offers a glimpse into the global governance of AI, the "looming AI divide," and the urgent need for international cooperation to prevent a "second great divergence" between the Global North and South. The conversation dives deep into the high-stakes risks of concentration of power, the sustainability crisis facing AI infrastructure, and the human impact on children’s mental health and cognitive development.Questions unpacked in this episode:- What new mechanisms is the UN building to ensure all countries can shape the AI future?- Will AI trigger a “second great divergence”?- Why does a single Chinese university have more compute power than the entire continent of Africa?- Are we facing a “cognitive decline” due to the increasing use of AI?- How do we ensure global AI standards are tech-neutral and inclusive, rather than set by dominant powers?- How can countries like India and Nigeria move from “market bystanders” to active players in the AI ecosystem?- Will AI create new productive opportunities—or displace the entry-level coders and data analysts of tomorrow?🔔 Subscribe and listen to the full conversation now.------Follow the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026: https://impact.indiaai.gov.in/*About USG Amandeep Gill*United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on 10 June 2022 the appointment of Amandeep Singh Gill of India as his Envoy on Technology. Mr. Gill is the Chief Executive Officer of the International Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence Research Collaborative (I-DAIR) project, based at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva. *About Anirudh Suri, Host of the Podcast*Anirudh Suri is a non-resident scholar with Carnegie India, where his research and writing focus on technology, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. He is the author of The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations, and host of The Great Tech Game Podcast. He is also the Managing Partner at India Internet Fund, a US and India based technology-focused venture capital fund. Previously, Anirudh has worked with the Government of India in New Delhi, McKinsey and Co in New York, Goldman Sachs in London, the Carnegie Endowment in Washington DC, and China Institute of International Studies in Beijing. He completed his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and his MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. Named a Goldman Sachs Global Leader, Anirudh has also served on the Board of the Harvard Alumni Association. He tweets @AnirudhSuri.The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: (http://www.anirudhsuri.com/) Book and Podcast: (http://www.greattechgame.com/)#IndiaAI #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 #AIFuturesPodcast #AISummit #globalgovernance #aiguardrails #anirudhsuri #amandeepgill #unsecretarygeneral #unitednations #ai #aiimpact #standards #digitaldivide #AIDivide #digitalsovereignty #Techsovereignty #nigeria #africa #india #aifutures #tgtgpodcast #thegreattechgame #podcast
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  Ep. 44 (AI Futures) - Beyond the AI Hype: The Real Breakthroughs AI Needs | Prof. Stuart Russell, UC Berkeley 05.02.2026 51min

  In this episode of the *AI Futures* podcast, we speak with Professor Stuart Russell, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, one of the world’s leading experts on artificial intelligence, and the author of the field’s standard textbook, _AI: A Modern Approach_ .The *AI Futures* podcast series is hosted by Anirudh Suri, in collaboration with the *Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India* This podcast serves as the intellectual prelude to the *India AI Impact Summit 2026* , which is taking place from February 16–20, 2026, in New Delhi, India.In this conversation, Professor Russell and Anirudh discuss how fast AI is changing, the limits of today’s dominant ways of building AI systems, and why there is a growing need for global rules to keep AI safe. They explore key questions such as:- How close are we really to Artificial General Intelligence?- Does today’s 'brute force' approach of using more data and computing power risk creating an economic bubble?- Where is AI making the biggest real-world impact right now, in areas like healthcare, education, or science?- Which countries have the strongest AI strategies, and why is the U.S. approach of resisting regulation surprising?- Could the “Age of AI” weaken our mental skills, much like the Industrial Revolution reduced the need for physical labor?This conversation looks at what it will take to move AI debates beyond theory and into real-world outcomes, especially for the Global South.🔔 Subscribe and listen to the full conversation now.-----Follow the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026: https://impact.indiaai.gov.in/*About Prof. Stuart Russell*Stuart J. Russell is professor (and formerly chair) of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California at Berkeley. He is holder of the Smith-Zadeh Chair in Engineering and director of the Centre for Human-Compatible AI. His book *Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach* is the standard text in AI; it has been translated into 14 languages and is used in over 1,400 universities in 128 countries.*About Anirudh Suri, Host of the Podcast*Anirudh Suri is a non-resident scholar with Carnegie India, where his research and writing focus on technology, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. He is the author of The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations, and host of The Great Tech Game Podcast. He is also the Managing Partner at India Internet Fund, a US and India based technology-focused venture capital fund. Previously, Anirudh has worked with the Government of India in New Delhi, McKinsey and Co in New York, Goldman Sachs in London, the Carnegie Endowment in Washington DC, and China Institute of International Studies in Beijing. He completed his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and his MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. Named a Goldman Sachs Global Leader, Anirudh has also served on the Board of the Harvard Alumni Association. He tweets @AnirudhSuri.The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: (http://www.anirudhsuri.com/) Book and Podcast: (http://www.greattechgame.com/)#AIFuturesPodcast #IndiaAI #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 #AISummit #AIFutures #ArtificialIntelligence #AGI #Computing #GlobalSouth #DataCenters #AIInfrastructure #AnirudhSuri #StuartRussell #UCBerkeley #AIEthics #TheGreatTechGame #TGTGpodcast #podcast #IndiaAIMission
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  Ep. 43 (AI Futures) - Passing the AI Summit Baton: From France to India | Anne Bouverot, French AI Envoy 28.01.2026 48min

  *As France passes the Global AI Summit baton to India, what can we expect from the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026?* In the first episode of our podcast series *AI Futures: The Road to the India AI Impact Summit 2026* , we speak with Anne Bouverot, Special AI Envoy of the French President Emmanuel Macron. Bouverot organized the previous global AI summit - The AI Action Summit - in Paris in 2025. The AI Futures Podcast series, hosted by Anirudh Suri, is organized in collaboration with the *Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India* in the run up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026 being held from Feb 16 - 20, 2026 in New Delhi, India.Bouverot and Suri unpack how the global AI race is shifting beyond a US–China race, and why countries like India and France want to be actors, not just customers, in the AI economy. They deep dive into questions like:- Why is “Impact” the core focus of the upcoming AI summit being hosted by India?- Can AI leadership be multi-polar, or will it remain a US - China race?- What are the energy and climate cost implications of large-scale AI? - What are the most exciting use cases of AI that we can expect in 2026?- Will AI simply reshape work—or quietly hollow out human skills?🔔 Subscribe and listen to the full conversation now.Follow the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026: https://impact.indiaai.gov.in/*About Anne Bouverot* Anne Bouverot is Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS-PSL), and the French President's special envoy for the AI Action Summit. She has spent most of her career in the technology sector and now advises a number of public and private technology companies and scale ups. With economist Philippe Aghion, in 2024 she co-chaired the Commission that published the report ‘AI: our ambition for France’. She spent the first 20 years of her career at Orange, then became Director General of GSMA, the global mobile operators’ association, and later CEO of digital security and identity solutions company Morpho. She is a graduate of Ecole Normale Supérieure in mathematics and holds a PhD in artificial intelligence.*About Anirudh Suri, Host of the Podcast*Anirudh Suri is a non-resident scholar with Carnegie India, where his research and writing focus on technology, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. He is the author of The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations, and host of The Great Tech Game Podcast. He is also the Managing Partner at India Internet Fund, a US and India based technology-focused venture capital fund. Previously, Anirudh has worked with the Government of India in New Delhi, McKinsey and Co in New York, Goldman Sachs in London, the Carnegie Endowment in Washington DC, and China Institute of International Studies in Beijing. He completed his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and his MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. Named a Goldman Sachs Global Leader, Anirudh has also served on the Board of the Harvard Alumni Association.The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: (http://www.anirudhsuri.com/) Book and Podcast: (http://www.greattechgame.com/)#IndiaAI #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 #AISummit #franceai #indiafrance #globalsouth #indiafrancerelations #geopolitics #anirudhsuri #aifutures #thegreattechgame #tgtgpodcast
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  Ep.42 - Is the Middle East Ready for the AI Wave? ft. Yousuf Al-Bulushi, Muscat Policy Council 11.01.2026 1u 10min

  Can the Middle East build an AI-powered future while the region remains unstable?In this episode of The Great Tech Game, we sit down with Dr. Yusuf Al-Bulushi, Chairman of the Muscat Policy Council, for a deep dive on the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, the diversification strategies of the GCC countries and India-Oman ties. From regional conflict and reconciliation to AI, digital sovereignty, and energy security, this episode unpacks how Gulf states are positioning themselves in AI wave.🎯 In this conversation, we explore:The new AI Great Game: data centers, subsea cables, and the hidden infrastructure shaping powerThe positive competition within the GCC—and how cities like Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, and Muscat are attempting to diversify beyond oilWhat digital sovereignty really means—and why it’s something to be managed, not “solved”The strategic importance of the India–Oman partnership, maritime security, and the blue economyWhat are Oman's greatest strengths and weaknesses?Dr. Al-Bulushi also shares insights from his personal journey building Oman’s first “think-and-do tank,” and why ideas, institutions, and infrastructure matter as much as capital. Tune in soon for this episode.🔔 Subscribe and listen to the full conversation now—only on The Great Tech Game Podcast.-----Host of the Podcast, Anirudh Suri:The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin:   / anirudhsuri  Instagram:   / anirudh_suri  Facebook:   / anirudhsuri.in  Website: [www.anirudhsuri.com](http://www.anirudhsuri.com/) Book and Podcast: [www.greattechgame.com](http://www.greattechgame.com/)#tgtgpodcast #thegreattechgame #anirudhsuri #middleeastcrisis #ai #aiimpact #indiaoman #indiaomanrelations #geopolitics #techgeopolitics
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  Ep. 41 - In a Post-China Era, Can India Take the Lead? | Amb. Kurt Tong, Asia Group 04.12.2025 58min

  In the latest episode of The Great Tech Game Podcast, Ambassador Kurt Tong argues that by 2070, 'all roads lead to Mumbai and New Delhi' as India is set to become the world's biggest and most powerful economy. We explore:- Why the intensive global focus on China might soon be viewed as merely a 'first half of the 21st century thing'- The surprising weaknesses displayed by both the US and China in their geopolitical dynamic - How today's technological rivalry differs from the US-Japan competition of the 1980s - Why Hong Kong remains a critical financial centre for greater China for the foreseeable future- What could stop India from becoming the world's biggest economy by 2070?- ...and more.🔔 Subscribe and listen to the full conversation now—only on The Great Tech Game Podcast.--------------------------Amb. Kurt TongAmbassador Tong is the Managing Partner at the Asia Group, where his work focuses on Japan, China, Korea, and broader Asia-Pacific policy. He provides strategic council to multinational corporations navigating the complex policy and market challenges across Asia. A career US diplomat for three decades, his past roles include serving as the Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs, and the US Ambassador for APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation)🌐 More about Amb. Tong: https://theasiagroup.com/talent/amb-kurt-tong/#:~:text=Managing%20Partner&text=Prior%20to%20joining%20The%20Asia,with%20that%20important%20financial%20center.Host of the Podcast, Anirudh Suri:The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: [www.anirudhsuri.com](http://www.anirudhsuri.com/) Book and Podcast: [www.greattechgame.com](http://www.greattechgame.com/)#India #India2070 #AsiaGeopolitics #KurtTong #AnirudhSuri #TheGreatTechGame #USChinaRivalry #NewDelhi #Mumbai #Japan #GlobalEconomy #WolfWarrior #TechCompetition #HongKong #AsiaGroup #TGTGPodcast #Podcast
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  Ep. 40 - The China vs India Conundrum: Inside Apple's Race to Exit China | Patrick McGee, FT 18.11.2025 1u 27min

  Can Apple Pivot Away from China to India? An Inside Look at the Complexities of Apple's Choices: In this episode of The Great Tech Game podcast, host Anirudh Suri sits down with Patrick McGee, Financial Times San Francisco correspondent and author of Apple in China, to unpack the deeper story behind one of the most important corporate–state relationships of the 21st century. Through Apple’s journey, McGee explores how Apple became central to the US–China tech rivalry, and how its search for scale and perfection created ripple effects that reshaped global geopolitics, technology, and industry. And now, as the Apple - China relationship has become so convoluted, how Apple is trying to navigate away from China to other countries such as India. This episode tackles questions such as: - Why is Apple’s relationship with China so consequential — and what does it reveal about the future of US–China tech competition? - How did Apple’s investments, training programs, and suppliers fuel the rise of Chinese tech giants like Huawei and Xiaomi? - What changed under Xi Jinping, and how did Apple learn to “play politics” in a new era of state power and surveillance? - Can India or Mexico realistically serve as the next major manufacturing hubs as companies seek to decouple from China? - What lessons can Indian states like Tamil Nadu and Telangana learn from Chinese provinces such as Shenzhen? Tune in for an in-depth conversation on how Apple’s pursuit of efficiency and growth supercharged China’s rise, but how its deep dependence now leaves it with few exits, if at all.🔔 Subscribe and listen to the full conversation now—only on The Great Tech Game Podcast.00:00 Introduction09:12 Apple's Dependence on China: Why is it a Cautionary Tale?12:16 The Rise of Chinese Tech Companies16:40 Apple's Political Challenges in China38:46 Lessons for India and Other Nations49:42 Challenges in Scaling Up American Industry53:38 Comparing Production in India and China55:32 Advice for Indian Leaders on Attracting Apple01:02:29 Apple's AI Strategy and Future Prospects01:08:51 Rapid Fire: Advice for Global Leaders01:22:50 Book Recommendations and Final ThoughtsAbout Patrick McGee:Patrick McGee has written for the Financial Times since 2013, reporting from Hong Kong, Germany, and California. He led the FT’s Apple coverage (2019–2023) and won a San Francisco Press Club Award in 2023 for best tech article in a newspaper. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Times of London, and more. Patrick's focus over the past decade has been on Apple, digital advertising, robotaxis, electric vehicles, the Volkswagen diesel scandal, and connected fitness. His debut book, Apple in China, is considered both an insider’s historical account and a cautionary tale.📘 Link to Apple in China: https://www.amazon.in/Apple-China-Capture-Greatest-Company/dp/1668053373🌐 More about Patrick McGee: https://patrick-mcgee.com/Host of the Podcast, Anirudh Suri:The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My Follow Anirudh here:X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuriLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.inWebsite: [www.anirudhsuri.com](http://www.anirudhsuri.com/) Book and Podcast: [www.greattechgame.com](http://www.greattechgame.com/)#tgtgpodcast #thegreattechgame #appleinchina #patrickmcgee #anirudhsuri #apple #china #appleinindia #indiachina #bigtech #supplychain
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  Ep.39 - Drones, Rockets and Satellites: The New Power Asymmetry? | Ft. Chris Kemp, CEO of Astra & Ex CTO, NASA 14.10.2025 1u 30min

  In this episode of The Great Tech Game, host Anirudh Suri sits down with Chris Kemp — Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Astra, and former CTO of NASA — to unpack how the commercial space race is reshaping technology, defense, and geopolitics.From drones and rockets to optical space internet, Kemp explains how a new generation of private space companies are breaking into this domain that was initially dominated by states, especially during the Cold War when the first Space Race was between the United States and the Soviet Union.🔑 Highlights from the episode:- Why space is becoming the ultimate geopolitical high ground.- Which companies and countries are leading in this space- How cheap, mobile rocket systems are redefining military deterrence.- The shift from billion-dollar satellites to swarms of small ones.- What Astra’s Rocket 4 and propulsion business reveal about the future of scalable space manufacturing.- Why optical communication (light-based data transfer) could spark a new, unjammable internet in space.Kemp also discusses his time at NASA, founding OpenStack, and how commercial satellite networks like Starlink and Planet Labs are already influencing modern conflicts — from Ukraine to beyond. The conversation traces how space tech is moving from elite national programs to a mass-produced, distributed ecosystem that could reshape both global security and the everyday internet.
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  Ep. 38 - Is Silicon Valley Changing the Defense Tech Industry? | ft. Michael Brown, Shield Capital 26.09.2025 1u

  In this episode of The Great Tech Game, host Anirudh Suri speaks with Michael Brown — Partner at Shield Capital, Visiting Scholar at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, and former Director of the Defense Innovation Unit — about the frontlines of the US–China technology competition and what the U.S. must do to stay ahead.Together they explore:– How China’s top-down innovation model is challenging U.S. leadership– The urgent reforms needed in R&D, budgeting, and industrial policy– How Silicon Valley and the Pentagon are reconnecting through defense tech– Why allies and partners remain America’s biggest asymmetric advantageBrown also unpacks the decline in federal R&D spending, the rise of defense-tech startups, and how conflicts like Ukraine reveal the power of commercial technology in modern warfare.Tune in for an insider’s look at the race shaping global innovation — and what it means for the future of defense, technology, and geopolitics.Follow The Great Tech Game for more conversations at the intersection of technology, strategy, and the global economy.