Katherine Boyle speaks with Sarah Rogers, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, about the intersection of AI, free speech, and global information systems. They discuss how major technological shifts, from the printing press to the internet to AI, have reshaped communication and power, and why this moment may be even more consequential.

Recorded at the a16z American Dynamism Summit, the conversation explores the role of public diplomacy in the digital age, the risks of censorship and overregulation, and how governments are approaching AI as both a national security priority and a platform for global influence. Rogers also highlights the importance of maintaining “AI with a Western soul,” and why preserving open systems and freedom of expression will shape the future of innovation.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Trailer
00:43 - Introduction & What is Public Diplomacy?
03:23 - Internet Freedom: From the Arab Spring to the Censorship Era
05:28 - The Digital Freedom Office & Reversing Government Censorship
07:02 - EU's Attacks on Free Speech & the Thierry Breton Letter
11:35 - AI with a Western Soul & the Global Regulatory Landscape
16:42 - AI, National Security & the Rule of Law
19:00 - How Government Can Encourage Free Speech in Tech

Resources:
Follow Sarah B. Rogers on X: https://x.com/UnderSecPD
Follow Katherine Boyle on X: https://x.com/KTmBoyle

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