Washington AI Network

DC’s hub for thought leadership, innovation, and ethical discourse, enabling meaningful conversations about AI.

[Washington AI Network @WashingtonAINet]

“Proximity is power.”

@USNavy CTO Justin Fanelli and @noblereachfdn CEO Arun Gupta joined Tammy Haddad at the @USChamber B20 USA Summit to discuss why hands-on experience and purpose matter as AI reshapes careers.

[Director Michael Kratsios @mkratsios47]

Today, we released the National Policy for Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening to protect American biotechnology innovation while reducing the risk of misuse.

This policy establishes a new, government-wide screening requirements for synthetic DNA and the equipment used to make it. It will ensure companies selling nucleic acid sequences and synthesis equipment know their customers and prevent the malicious use of these materials and tools.

This policy strengthens our Nation’s biosecurity posture by establishing rigorous U.S. government-wide procurement screening and physical security standards for synthetic biology. It replaces outdated “self-attestation” systems with robust, independent verification. It creates a dynamic, SI-powered screening layer that assesses the biological risk from nucleic acid sequences, allowing the U.S. to anticipate and prevent malicious use and help stop dangerous gain-of-function research.

@NIST will issue rigorous new screening standards and @HHSGov and @USDA will certify synthetic biology providers. Together, these measures will strengthen American biosecurity, safeguard responsible innovation, and establish a global standard for safe and transparent synthetic biology tools and research.

[Washington AI Network @WashingtonAINet]

Google will cut off search access for students at schools that reject AI
https://t.co/AK0teeIEOz

[Mike Allen @mikeallen]

🚨🚨🚨 Jill Hazelbaker, one of Washington's best-known leaders, is jumping from @Uber to @OpenAI as chief corporate affairs officer

She tells @axios it's a "chance to help shape how the world understands, engages with, and ultimately benefits from" AI
https://t.co/hVeg1oD00F

[Bloomberg @business]

OpenAI is hiring former US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to help expand the use of artificial intelligence for national and cyber security https://t.co/7HpKcFEHit

[Know Your AI Agent @KnowYourAIAgent]

AI agents are moving beyond answering questions. They’re taking action for us. But how much do we really understand?

On the latest WAIN Podcast, EQUS CEO Sandy Carter discusses opportunities & challenges of agentic AI, from personal data to the permissions we give our agents.

[Washington AI Network @WashingtonAINet]

NEW PODCAST: Who’s accountable when an AI agent acts on your behalf?

One woman returned from vacation to find 17 bathing suits ordered by her AI assistant. She hadn’t intended to buy them, but the retailer held her responsible.

As AI agents move from answering questions to making purchases and decisions, who controls what they’re authorized to do — and for how long?

On the latest Washington AI Network Podcast, EQUS CEO and former AWS and IBM executive @sandy_carter joins @haddadmedia to discuss the growing stakes of agentic AI, data ownership and why the ability to delete your personal information matters.

We’re also pleased to welcome EQUS as the newest member of the Washington AI Network, bringing its focus on data ownership and responsible AI to our growing community of technology and policy leaders.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alyssa Jaffee @AlyssaJoyJaffee]

You know you’re in SF when you receive this compliment “your baby is so cute she looks AI generated” 😂

[Marc Benioff @Benioff]

Jason is 100% right. Code red. 🚨

[Scott Kupor @skupor]

This is one of the most under-reported stories in tech: Women like Margaret Hamilton were a big part (as much as 40%) of the early programming workforce. Female employment in programming peaked in the 1980s and has never since recovered to that level. https://t.co/yXNPhQoE6X

[Washington AI Network @WashingtonAINet]

@politico Ten of the biggest AI model developers have either made or committed to make data protection changes following scrutiny in the U.K., the country’s data watchdog said this morning. That includes China’s DeepSeek, Amazon, Anthropic, Apple, Cohere, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI and Stability AI — but not xAI, with which the watchdog paused engagement after it opened a formal investigation over Grok.

[Know Your AI Agent @KnowYourAIAgent]

AI agents are changing how work gets done.

Introducing Know Your AI Agent, a new community from @WashingtonAINet that gathers to explore how agents work through events, demos, and expert conversations.

Launching today.

#KnowYourAIAgent

[Washington AI Network @WashingtonAINet]

https://t.co/drUD1FRtRo

[Washington AI Network @WashingtonAINet]

🏛️ Scoop: Tech summit next week https://t.co/2xOF4RNXNt #axiosam

[Director Michael Kratsios @mkratsios47]

October 8
Washington
Choose the frontier.🇺🇸

[Director Michael Kratsios @mkratsios47]

My intervention today at the UN Security Council.

A prosperous future will not be secured by a global regulator. It will be secured by sovereign nations that adopt super intelligence, responsible companies that build it, and free people who refuse to be ruled by fear.

[Washington AI Network @WashingtonAINet]

@skupor @uaustinorg #ScottKuporgoesbacktoschool #techforcecollegetour

[Washington AI Network @WashingtonAINet]

https://t.co/W1NfpHeT1N

[Dina Powell McCormick @DinaPowellMcC]

It was an honor to be with first responders, veterans from Texas and Ohio and @GregAbbott_TX on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. We will never forget the sacrifice of our nation’s heroes on that September day. Twenty-five years later, America is stronger than ever and remains the greatest country in the world.

[Washington AI Network @WashingtonAINet]

🔥🔥🔥@DinaPowellMcC leading business and helping blind veterans

[Bloomberg @business]

A well-connected power player in Washington and Wall Street, Dina Powell McCormick has built relationships with a shocking breadth of people. Now she's Mark Zuckerberg's right-hand adviser as he builds an AI empire. https://t.co/XVDTRvaDCy