As advanced militaries converge on similar hardware, the decisive edge in future conflict may come from how quickly commanders can sense, decide and act. Christopher Kirchhoff, who founded the Pentagon’s Silicon Valley office and authored Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley are Transforming the Future of War, joins Sam Roggeveen to discuss agentic AI, nuclear stability, lessons from Ukraine and sovereignty for middle powers like Australia.

As advanced militaries converge on similar hardware, the decisive edge in future conflict may come from how quickly commanders can sense, decide and act. Christopher Kirchhoff, who founded the Pentagon&rsquo;s Silicon Valley office and authored Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley are Transforming the Future of War, joins Sam Roggeveen to discuss agentic AI, nuclear stability, lessons from Ukraine and sovereignty for middle powers like Australia.

Welcome to Lowy Institute Conversations – a podcast in which Lowy Institute researchers and some of the world’s leading experts delve into the big issues in international affairs.  

Welcome to Lowy Institute Conversations – a podcast in which Lowy Institute researchers and some of the world’s leading experts delve into the big issues in international affairs.

Lowy Institute Conversations

The Lowy Institute is a leading international think tank that looks at the world from Australia’s perspective.

This channel aggregates audio from across all of our event and podcast channels.

The Lowy Institute is a leading international think tank that looks at the world from Australia’s perspective.
This channel aggregates audio from across all of our event and podcast channels.

Lowy Institute

Welcome to Lowy Institute Conversations — a podcast in which Lowy Institute researchers and some of the world’s leading experts delve into the big issues in international affairs.

Welcome to Lowy Institute Conversations &mdash; a podcast in which Lowy Institute researchers and some of the world&rsquo;s leading experts delve into the big issues in international affairs.

AI and the future of warfare

Australia’s economic future will be shaped less by domestic policy debates than by forces beyond its borders: the US–China relationship, artificial intelligence, and the health of the global economic order. In this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Sam Roggeveen speaks with economist and historian John Edwards, author of the latest Lowy Institute Paper, Overhaul: How Australia Can Adapt to a Changing World Economy, about why he is cautiously optimistic about the next 25 years — and why Canberra should be more sanguine about US–China rivalry.

More episodes of the Lowy Institute's podcasts are available on your favourite podcast apps, including Spotify, YouTube and Apple.

Australia&rsquo;s economic future will be shaped less by domestic policy debates than by forces beyond its borders: the US&ndash;China relationship, artificial intelligence, and the health of the global economic order. In this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Sam Roggeveen speaks with economist and historian John Edwards, author of the latest Lowy Institute Paper, Overhaul: How Australia Can Adapt to a Changing World Economy, about why he is cautiously optimistic about the next 25 years &mdash; and why Canberra should be more sanguine about US&ndash;China rivalry.
More episodes of the Lowy Institute's podcasts are available on your favourite podcast apps, including&nbsp;<a href="https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F1CMTUWiszBFIq3UoIXW7mJ%3Fsi%3D9a8671e772364062%26nd%3D1%26dlsi%3Da2545d11f6f34d6e&amp;data=05%7C02%7CCCaldwell%40lowyinstitute.org%7Cdf2253bf2a8645900fec08de6375004f%7C1fb32338ad1940db98fdc701f150c316%7C0%7C0%7C639057551324026127%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=vuuqYi2Ge46zIai6AQv1GEshCFdMvxChf%2Fu8FiOEu8A%3D&amp;reserved=0">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPL0bvjLds5_8SzwlqtE2U1NjCD3ftO3-QZ&amp;data=05%7C02%7CCCaldwell%40lowyinstitute.org%7Cdf2253bf2a8645900fec08de6375004f%7C1fb32338ad1940db98fdc701f150c316%7C0%7C0%7C639057551324051410%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=SNKL4SD1uY8Q%2BE6u5GTyCvbVkKnFC5DpG8c5NQLkFrA%3D&amp;reserved=0">YouTube</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts.apple.com%2Fau%2Fpodcast%2Flowy-institute%2Fid191062366&amp;data=05%7C02%7CCCaldwell%40lowyinstitute.org%7Cdf2253bf2a8645900fec08de6375004f%7C1fb32338ad1940db98fdc701f150c316%7C0%7C0%7C639057551324065273%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=kHVnZP0Ul0I70SDl4wRsQqBnybDrUbNB8Wv%2BSm6%2FuOw%3D&amp;reserved=0">Apple</a>.

Why the world economy could double again by 2050

The public’s anxiety about artificial intelligence appears to be growing, with high-profile data security breaches and opposition towards data centres attracting negative attention. Yet a more hopeful view is also gaining ground: that the technology could help rebuild struggling democratic institutions. In this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Lydia Khalil speaks with Beth Noveck, author of Reboot: AI and the Race to Save Democracy, about public AI, digital sovereignty, diplomacy and the role middle powers such as Australia can play in shaping how it is governed.

More episodes of the Lowy Institute's podcasts are available on your favourite podcast apps, including Spotify, YouTube and Apple.

The public&rsquo;s anxiety about artificial intelligence appears to be growing, with high-profile data security breaches and opposition towards data centres attracting negative attention. Yet a more hopeful view is also gaining ground: that the technology could help rebuild struggling democratic institutions. In this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Lydia Khalil speaks with Beth Noveck, author of Reboot: AI and the Race to Save Democracy, about public AI, digital sovereignty, diplomacy and the role middle powers such as Australia can play in shaping how it is governed.
More episodes of the Lowy Institute's podcasts are available on your favourite podcast apps, including&nbsp;<a href="https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F1CMTUWiszBFIq3UoIXW7mJ%3Fsi%3D9a8671e772364062%26nd%3D1%26dlsi%3Da2545d11f6f34d6e&amp;data=05%7C02%7CCCaldwell%40lowyinstitute.org%7Cdf2253bf2a8645900fec08de6375004f%7C1fb32338ad1940db98fdc701f150c316%7C0%7C0%7C639057551324026127%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=vuuqYi2Ge46zIai6AQv1GEshCFdMvxChf%2Fu8FiOEu8A%3D&amp;reserved=0">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPL0bvjLds5_8SzwlqtE2U1NjCD3ftO3-QZ&amp;data=05%7C02%7CCCaldwell%40lowyinstitute.org%7Cdf2253bf2a8645900fec08de6375004f%7C1fb32338ad1940db98fdc701f150c316%7C0%7C0%7C639057551324051410%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=SNKL4SD1uY8Q%2BE6u5GTyCvbVkKnFC5DpG8c5NQLkFrA%3D&amp;reserved=0">YouTube</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts.apple.com%2Fau%2Fpodcast%2Flowy-institute%2Fid191062366&amp;data=05%7C02%7CCCaldwell%40lowyinstitute.org%7Cdf2253bf2a8645900fec08de6375004f%7C1fb32338ad1940db98fdc701f150c316%7C0%7C0%7C639057551324065273%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=kHVnZP0Ul0I70SDl4wRsQqBnybDrUbNB8Wv%2BSm6%2FuOw%3D&amp;reserved=0">Apple</a>.

Can AI rebuild democracy?

Despite being close neighbours, Australia and Papua New Guinea have only recently become formal allies through the Pukpuk Treaty. But what does this new alliance mean beyond government-to-government ties?

In this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Dominic De Moura McCarthy, President and Founder of the Pacific-Australia Youth Association, and Sharon Bala Woruba, Environment and Sustainability Manager for PNG at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, join the Institute's Sarah Thompson to discuss the future of the bilateral relationship.They discuss PNG's forthcoming NRL team, the Chiefs; what real economic opportunity for small businesses and grassroots communities looks like; the underused potential of diaspora communities in places like 

North Queensland; and why formal exchange and education programs matter at every stage of life.
The conversation lands on a bigger question: what would it take for everyday Australians and Papua New Guineans to feel genuine ownership of this relationship, rather than watching it play out at the top?

Dominic De Moura McCarthy and Sharon Bala Woruba were participants in the Australia–PNG Network's 2026 Emerging Leaders Dialogue. You can read the recommendations of the emerging leaders in a joint communiqué published by the Lowy Institute.

More episodes of the Lowy Institute's podcasts are available on your favourite podcast apps, including Spotify, YouTube and Apple.

Despite being close neighbours, Australia and Papua New Guinea have only recently become formal allies through the Pukpuk Treaty. But what does this new alliance mean beyond government-to-government ties?
In this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Dominic De Moura McCarthy, President and Founder of the Pacific-Australia Youth Association, and Sharon Bala Woruba, Environment and Sustainability Manager for PNG at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, join the Institute's Sarah Thompson to discuss the future of the bilateral relationship.They discuss PNG's forthcoming NRL team, the Chiefs; what real economic opportunity for small businesses and grassroots communities looks like; the underused potential of diaspora communities in places like&nbsp;
North Queensland; and why formal exchange and education programs matter at every stage of life. The conversation lands on a bigger question: what would it take for everyday Australians and Papua New Guineans to feel genuine ownership of this relationship, rather than watching it play out at the top?
Dominic De Moura McCarthy and Sharon Bala Woruba were participants in the Australia&ndash;PNG Network's 2026 Emerging Leaders Dialogue. You can read the recommendations of the emerging leaders in&nbsp;<a href="https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowyinstitute.org%2Fpublications%2Fbilums-to-boardrooms-the-business-of-australia-papua-new-guinea-relations&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cshayes%40lowyinstitute.org%7C664c6101cba244dac6e608df1dc6f08c%7C1fb32338ad1940db98fdc701f150c316%7C0%7C0%7C639262412421497727%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=5nEPZTEcBx8PqQ5y4bPkWfxzgtPW2twBvjIgyw%2B4vJE%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-outlook-id="29d1e42b-25f6-421e-bcbe-4006f1123ec4">a joint communiqu&eacute; published by the Lowy Institute</a>.
More episodes of the Lowy Institute's podcasts are available on your favourite podcast apps, including&nbsp;<a href="https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F1CMTUWiszBFIq3UoIXW7mJ%3Fsi%3D9a8671e772364062%26nd%3D1%26dlsi%3Da2545d11f6f34d6e&amp;data=05%7C02%7CCCaldwell%40lowyinstitute.org%7Cdf2253bf2a8645900fec08de6375004f%7C1fb32338ad1940db98fdc701f150c316%7C0%7C0%7C639057551324026127%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=vuuqYi2Ge46zIai6AQv1GEshCFdMvxChf%2Fu8FiOEu8A%3D&amp;reserved=0">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPL0bvjLds5_8SzwlqtE2U1NjCD3ftO3-QZ&amp;data=05%7C02%7CCCaldwell%40lowyinstitute.org%7Cdf2253bf2a8645900fec08de6375004f%7C1fb32338ad1940db98fdc701f150c316%7C0%7C0%7C639057551324051410%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=SNKL4SD1uY8Q%2BE6u5GTyCvbVkKnFC5DpG8c5NQLkFrA%3D&amp;reserved=0">YouTube</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts.apple.com%2Fau%2Fpodcast%2Flowy-institute%2Fid191062366&amp;data=05%7C02%7CCCaldwell%40lowyinstitute.org%7Cdf2253bf2a8645900fec08de6375004f%7C1fb32338ad1940db98fdc701f150c316%7C0%7C0%7C639057551324065273%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=kHVnZP0Ul0I70SDl4wRsQqBnybDrUbNB8Wv%2BSm6%2FuOw%3D&amp;reserved=0">Apple</a>.

AI and the future of warfare

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