Alan Shimel, Jon Swartz, Tracy Ragan, Jack Poller and Wickey Wang dive into the latest developments in the standoff between Anthropic and the Pentagon.

Then the gang takes a look at how artificial intelligence (AI) agents are about to transform the way we work and the way software is developed, following updates from ServiceNow and Cursor.

On today’s Techstrong Gang, Mike Vizard, Jon Swartz, Fred Wilmot and Gina Rosenthal examine the controversy surrounding AI safety after Anthropic reportedly softened its guardrails under pressure tied to U.S. military interests.

What does this signal about the intersection of national security and AI governance?

The discussion then turns to a claim that AI service providers could be required to build or fund their own energy systems to support surging compute demand. As electricity use climbs, who should bear the cost of powering the AI boom?

Finally, the gang explores an apparent effort by the Trump administration to persuade governments, particularly in Europe, not to exclude U.S.-based technology companies from digital sovereignty initiatives.

From military alignment to energy infrastructure to global lobbying, this episode examines the evolving power structure behind AI.

Are AI agents about to wipe out entire categories of software providers?

On today’s Techstrong Gang, Alan Shimel, Mike Vizard, Jon Swartz, Teri Robinson and Jack Poller examine the growing wave of speculation predicting the collapse of traditional application providers in the age of agentic AI.

If AI agents can autonomously execute workflows and generate software on demand, what happens to SaaS vendors and legacy application models?

The conversation then shifts to the broader economic impact. Could AI-driven efficiency create productivity gains that traditional metrics fail to capture, or does it introduce new systemic risks to growth and labor markets?

Finally, the gang explores the funding impasse surrounding the Department of Homeland Security and its effect on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. What does uncertainty around DHS funding mean for national cyber defense and critical infrastructure protection?

From AI disruption to economic uncertainty to cybersecurity funding pressure, this episode connects the structural risks shaping the next phase of technology.

Alan Shimel, Mike Vizard, Mitch Ashley, Chris Blask, Kate Scarcella and Sid Nag dive into the politics of artificial intelligence (AI) following a pledge to promote innovation that 88 countries have signed, before delving into the identity management issues that will arise as more AI agents are deployed.

Then the gang pays a visit to Gastown, a new approach to building software in Kubernetes environments that relies on an ability to orchestrate multiple AI agents.

Are technology providers responsible for reporting potential criminal activity on their platforms?

On today’s Techstrong Gang, Alan Shimel, Mike Vizard, Stephen Foskett, and Garima Bajpai examine whether companies such as Apple and OpenAI are culpable for failing to alert authorities about potential crimes, including child exploitation material or violent intent.

The conversation explores the legal and ethical boundaries of platform responsibility and the limits of corporate oversight.

The gang then analyzes a US effort to create a portal for posting content banned in Europe, raising questions about digital sovereignty and cross-border governance.

Finally, the discussion turns to AI economics. Is artificial intelligence generating meaningful return on investment for most businesses, or is the hype outpacing measurable results?

From liability to regulation to ROI, this episode examines the accountability gap in modern technology.

On today’s Techstrong Gang, Mike Vizard, Jon Swartz, Tracy Ragan and Jack Poller examine what this challenge means for executive power, global trade policy and digital sovereignty.

The conversation then shifts to artificial intelligence and a growing debate over governance. Does AI pose a meaningful threat to democracy, or is the real issue who controls its development and deployment?

The gang also explores GitHub’s initiative enabling AI agents to manage software repositories and what that signals for DevOps and enterprise IT.

From trade authority to AI governance to autonomous development workflows, this episode connects the forces shaping technology and power.

Subscribe for daily AI and tech policy coverage. Then tell us below. Should courts limit executive power in trade and AI governance?

Alan Shimel, Jon Swartz, Fred Wilmot, Anne Ahola Ward and Gina Rosenthal dive into the impact artificial intelligence (AI) is having on how we work and the kinds of jobs that will be created and eliminated, before delving into the degree to which AI agents might be intelligent.

Then the gang takes a look at an application the Supreme Court plans to deploy that surfaces potential conflicts of interest.

Artificial intelligence is colliding with media power, surveillance technology, and platform governance in ways that are reshaping the digital landscape.

In this episode, Alan Shimel, Mike Vizard, Jon Swartz, Teri Robinson and Andi Mann break down three developments that signal broader structural change across the AI ecosystem.

Hollywood Backlash

ByteDance pledges safeguards after criticism of AI driven “smash and grab” content practices, raising questions about intellectual property, creator rights, and the future of digital media.

Meta Vision

Meta signals a potential return of facial recognition through AI powered smart glasses, reigniting debates over biometric data, privacy, and ambient surveillance.

Super Bowl Surveillance Split

Amazon’s Ring scraps certain law enforcement integrations amid growing scrutiny over surveillance and data sharing practices, highlighting the tension between innovation and civil liberties.

Across all three stories, the common thread is governance. As AI systems become more embedded in everyday platforms, the question shifts from capability to control.

Who should control AI’s growing power — platforms, regulators, or creators?