02
November 2026
In-Person Event
AI Power and National Security Conference: Open Models, Governance, and US-China Military Competition

Event will also air live on this page.

 

Inquiries: nhuergo@hudson.org.
 

AI Power and National Security Conference: Open Models, Governance, and US-China Military Competition

In-Person Event
Hudson Institute
November 02, 2026
robots
Caption
One hundred and ten Yuanzheng A3 humanoid robots perform a synchronized dance on October 24, 2026, in Jinan, China. (Getty Images)
02
November 2026
In-Person Event

Event will also air live on this page.

 

Inquiries: nhuergo@hudson.org.
 

Speakers:
joel_scanlon
Joel Scanlon

Executive Vice President

Steve Kelly
Steve Kelly

President, Perry-Shultz Center for Technology & Strategic Stability, Institute of Security and Technology

M Ortiz
Michael Ortiz

Head of International Affairs, Reflection

Bresnick
Sam Bresnick

Research Fellow, Center for Security Emerging Technology, Georgetown University

Zier
Caroline Zier

Open AI

thomas_duesterberg
Thomas J. Duesterberg

Senior Fellow

Kyle
Kyle Crichton

Research Fellow, Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Georgetown University

Tet
Esther Tetruashvily

AI Standards and Global Assurance Lead, OpenAI

David Helvey
David Helvey

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo Pacific Security Affairs

Jamed
James Giordano

Center for Strategic Deterrence and Weapons of Mass Destruction Studies, Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), National Defense University

John
Lieutenant General Jack Shanahan (USAF, Ret.)

Former Director of Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC), Department of War

Moderators:
Riley Walters
Riley Walters

Senior Fellow

Artificial intelligence is a vital source of economic strength, national security, and geopolitical influence. The United States needs to determine how to develop more capable AI systems, deploy them responsibly, manage their risks without stifling innovation, and translate AI development into lasting military advantages for itself and its allies.

Join Hudson Institute for a conference with leaders from industry, government, academia, and defense to discuss the latest developments in the US-China AI competition. Panelists will examine whether open-weight models can strengthen a trusted US-led ecosystem; what policy framework best supports safety, competitiveness, and statecraft; and how AI can reinforce deterrence while reducing the risks of miscalculation and escalation. 

Panel I. Open-Weight Models and US-China Competition

Open-weight models are testing whether openness can spur innovation and strengthen democratic influence without introducing unacceptable security risks. This discussion will examine their role in US-China AI competition, the incentives driving their adoption, and the safeguards needed to manage their proliferation responsibly. 

Panel II. Governing AI Competitiveness, Safety, and Statecraft

The US needs an AI policy that manages risks without undercutting the innovation that sustains American leadership. This session will focus on policy tools that support safety, economic competitiveness, and national security.

Panel III. AI and Military Power: From Technology to Operational Advantage

This panel will assess how the US and its allies can translate AI advances into credible deterrence while preserving human judgment, resilient decision systems, and escalation control.
 

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