Technology and Intelligence: In Conversation with CIA CTO Nand Mulchandani ’91

November 11th, 2024

Nand Mulchandani joined the CIA as Chief Technology Officer in June 2022. In this role, 
he focuses on driving CIA’s efforts in leveraging cutting-edge and future innovations to 
further CIA’s mission. He previously served as the Chief Technology Officer and Acting Director of the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC). Prior to that, he spent 25+ years in the technology industry as a serial entrepreneur and senior executive in the enterprise infrastructure and security software industry as co-founder & CEO of Oblix, Determina, OpenDNS, and ScaleXtreme, and as an EIR at the venture capital firm Accel Partners. 

Killing Precisely

October 31st, 2024

A History of Drones and Precision Warfare

Since 2012, the global proliferation of drones has increased by 96.3 percent. Inspired by the American pioneering of ‘pin-point’ precision strike and remote-control technologies during the early 2000s and 2010s, a total of 118 nation-states have now developed a military drone program (2024). These drones are transforming the character of war around the globe, from Ukraine to Yemen and most notably with the Houthis over the Red Sea. Yet, how did drones and precision technologies rise up to become the ‘go-to’ weapons of nation-states and increasingly violent non-state actors?

In this talk, James Patton Rogers (Executive Director of the Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute, Cornell University), will take us back to 1917 and the origins of this quest for ‘precision’ in war within American strategic thought. Along the way, he will outline how precision developed throughout the 20th Century and highlight what the contemporary proliferation of precision weapons and drones means for the future of international security.

Deepfakes, Deception, and AI-Enabled Cybercrime: The New Frontier

October 29th, 2024

Adjunct Professor of Law at NYU School of Law

Senior Fellow, Cornell Brooks Technology Policy Institute.

Deepfakes are an increasingly prevalent and powerful tool for cybercriminals. This talk will explore examples of deepfake-enabled cybercrime relating to fraud, disinformation, harassment, and blackmail. We also will discuss geopolitical implications of deepfakes, and how the technology can be used to impact elections and national security, as well as positive applications of deepfakes for education and art. Understanding the benefits and risks of deepfakes is integral to developing effective policies and laws that encourage innovation while helping to reduce harm. 

Tracking Digital Surveillance and Repression

September 5th, 2024

In this presentation, Ronald J. Deibert, University of Toronto, will provide an overview of the Citizen Lab’s research with a special focus on case studies around mercenary surveillance and digital transnational repression. In particular, he will discuss the real-world impacts and unique ethical issues involving the type of mixed methods digital accountability research they have developed.

Technology, Great Power Competition, and the Multi-Polar World

May 3rd, 2024

Great powers utilize emerging technologies and geopolitical strategies to compete for global influence and position. This panel will explore how the interactions between today’s major powers are molding the technological landscape and reshaping the global order.

Killing Precisely: A History of Drones and Precision Warfare

April 19th, 2024

The Tech Policy Institute will be hosting Dr. James Rogers on April 19th at 10:15 in MVR G151. Please consider sharing with your respective departments/organizations. Below is a summary of the event and a promotional poster.

The Brooks Tech Policy Institute (BTPI) invites you to attend a Book Talk on the origins and evolution of drones and precision warfare. This event is part of the international book tour that draws on James Patton Rogers’ new book, ‘Precision: A History of American Warfare.’

In this talk, James Patton Rogers will take us back to 1917 and the origins of this quest for ‘precision’ in war within American strategic thought. Along the way, he will outline how precision developed throughout the 20th Century and highlight what the contemporary proliferation of precision weapons and drones means for the future of international security.

Revenge of the Nation-State: Borders, Sovereignty, and Cyberspace

April 18th, 2024

Conventional wisdom holds that cyberspace is borderless. That assertion is wrong.  Borders exist everywhere in cyberspace, generated by firewalls, network interconnections, or other control points. However, those borders do not line up with the physical boundaries of nation-states and information often flows across those borders with ease. Yet, as cyberspace has become critical to almost every aspect of modern life, nation-states have begun to try to assert control over this domain. Many countries claim that, like land, water, or air, some portion of cyberspace represents their sovereign territory. The tension between a global Internet and nation-state imperatives generates many of the cybersecurity problems we face today.

Michael Daniel, President & CEO of the Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA), will explore the implications of nation-state sovereignty in cyberspace, including the potential effects on cybersecurity, crime, and national security.

Careers in Tech Policy with Michael Daniel

April 17th, 2024

Interested in Tech Policy? Join us in a discussion with Michael Daniel, President & CEO of the Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA), a nonprofit that promotes cybersecurity through high-quality information sharing.

As a thought leader in the field, Michael served as Special Asistant to the President and Cybersecurity Coordinator on the National Security Council Staff under President Obama. In this role, he led the development and implementation of national cybersecurity strategy and policy, focusing on improving cyber defenses in the public and private sectors.

National Cybersecurity Strategy: Artificial Intelligence and Us

A conversation moderated by Sarah Kreps
April 24, 2023

Len Kennedy ’74, JD ’77, is a nationally recognized award-winning attorney, has held senior corporate, government and public interest leadership roles. His career has focused on communications and consumer financial services. He has vast experience with policymakers in communications and firms undergoing rapid growth, technological and regulatory change. In government, business and leadership positions, he has contributed to and advanced technological developments and implementation of policies for a set of vital industries, including