Latest Interviews
Showing 46–60 of 497 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist6 min
Google DeepMind’s boss on AI, power, God and what’s next | The Economist
An AI researcher outlines a vision where artificial general intelligence serves as a fundamental scientific instrument to solve existential challenges like disease and energy crises, rather than a tool for corporate dominance or "making God." Despite a fragmented geopolitical landscape that hinders the preferred international cooperation model, the speaker advocates for cautious optimism and the establishment of minimum safety standards agreed upon by leading labs. This approach aims to ensure the safe delivery of AGI within roughly five years, fulfilling a lifelong mission that prioritizes global benefit over personal accolades.
- Milken Institute19 min
A Conversation with Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr | Global Conference 2025
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has launched the agency's most significant deregulatory initiative in history, seeking to eliminate approximately 2,000 active dockets and establish a new Council on National Security to counter perceived Chinese infiltration risks. The administration prioritizes accelerating 5G and 6G deployment by restoring FCC auction authority to generate over $80 billion and transitioning federal spectrum to the commercial market, while simultaneously reviewing major mergers like Verizon-Frontier and T-Mobile U.S. Cellular. Carr further defended distinct regulatory obligations for broadcasters to support localism and dismissed conflicts regarding his Comcast background as the FCC moves to eliminate legacy copper retirement rules in favor of modern IP infrastructure.
- The Economist7 min
Has America frozen Israel out of ceasefire talks with Iran? | The Economist
Direct negotiations led by Donald Trump through Pakistan to resolve the Iran conflict face a stalemate because Iran insists on a Lebanon ceasefire and Israel refuses to participate or extend the truce to its northern front. While President Trump reportedly possesses the leverage to force Netanyahu to halt airstrikes, the Prime Minister persists due to domestic election pressures and the failure of the war to achieve its core strategic objectives. These unresolved tensions, compounded by internal U.S. administration dissent and the strategic threat in the Strait of Hormuz, have begun to fracture the previously unified operational alliance between the two nations.
- Milken Institute17 min
Time to Heal: Bring the Hostages Home Now, A Conversation with Noa Argamani | Global Conference 2025
At the Milken Institute Global Conference, rescued hostage Noam Gamani detailed the lethal conditions and ongoing execution of captives held in Gaza, specifically highlighting the unresolved status of her partner Avi Natan. Gamani, recognized as a 2025 *Time* 100 inductee, urged global leaders to maintain relentless public pressure through visible advocacy to secure a comprehensive negotiation deal for the 59 remaining hostages. She emphasized that the crisis remains an active war zone where daily casualties occur unless immediate diplomatic action addresses the imminent threat of death for those still imprisoned.
- Milken Institute18 min
A Conversation with Fernando Haddad, Minister of Finance of Brazil | Global Conference 2025
Fernando Haddad, Laura Deal Lacey
President Lula's administration projects a sustainable 3% annual economic growth trajectory through structural tax reforms, a new carbon market, and a Vice Presidential-led reindustrialization plan targeting hundreds of billions in private investment. This domestic strategy is reinforced by a dedicated National Data Center Policy promoting green digital infrastructure and solidified international partnerships under the G20 and BRICS frameworks to drive climate governance and the upcoming COP30 summit. With advanced infrastructure concessions and commitments such as a $34 billion corporate investment package, Brazil positions itself as a secure hub for sustainable capital seeking alignment with its 90% clean energy matrix.
- The Economist9 min
Will China be the real winner from the Iran war? | The Economist
Edward Carr, David Rennie, Adam Roberts, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Ed
Chinese strategic leadership now prioritizes establishing new economic chokeholds in pharmaceuticals and chemicals while explicitly exploiting Donald Trump's transactional nature to secure high-end chip access, fearing that his potential political decline would empower hawkish rivals like Marco Rubio. This approach is underpinned by a cynical calculation that the United States is losing global favorability and alliance cohesion, prompting Beijing to cautiously normalize relations with Southeast Asian partners and free-ride on the existing US-led security order. Despite acknowledging the need for systemic adaptation, China's strategy remains paralyzed by an internal contradiction, lacking a viable plan for a destabilized "law of the jungle" environment while simultaneously avoiding the risks required to lead a new global order.
- The Economist9 min
How America is racing China to the Moon | The Economist
The Artemis II crew successfully launched on NASA's largest rocket, marking the first human spaceflight beyond Low Earth Orbit since the Apollo era. Under Administrator Jared Isaacman's leadership, this reconnaissance mission accelerates U.S. lunar ambitions to counter China's 2030 landing plans and establish a permanent lunar presence rather than a temporary visit. The spacecraft is currently executing a unique trajectory designed to culminate in a splashdown near San Diego by mission day ten, paving the way for the eventual Artemis III lunar landing.
- The Economist6 min
Christine Lagarde: “Europe-bashing is vastly excessive” | The Economist
Christine Lagarde, Zanny Minton Beddoes
Despite the European Union's historical success in preventing war, the bloc now faces severe economic stagnation relative to the United States, characterized by a widening GDP gap, declining competitiveness, and growing populist unrest. While former Prime Minister Mario Draghi proposed extensive reforms and external pressures from Donald Trump's administration further exposed European vulnerabilities, progress remains incremental rather than transformative. This deteriorating landscape forces a strategic reckoning as the EU attempts to leverage its superior healthcare and social stability while navigating increasing diplomatic hostility from the US.
- Goldman Sachs20 min
Iran Conflict: How Long, and How Bad?
Sanam Vakil, Dennis Ross, Kevin Donegan, Alison Nathan
Entering its fourth week, the Iran conflict has evolved into a regime-survival struggle where Tehran seeks to spread costs widely while the U.S. military targets Iran's missile capabilities and nuclear program. Strategic deadlock persists over the Strait of Hormuz, as limited convoy operations can only restore roughly 20% of normal oil flows despite rehearsed allied defenses. Panelists conclude that resolving this locked-in scenario requires a mediated outcome, though recent political assassinations and the need to rebuild Iran's collapsed economy complicate any immediate return to pre-conflict stability.
- Goldman Sachs10 min
“I’d Rather Be a Bond”
Goldman Sachs Asset Management projects two U.S. interest rate cuts this year, diverging from market expectations that favor holding rates steady through 2026, as the Federal Reserve focuses on core inflation and labor market stability despite an energy shock driven by the Iran conflict. This geopolitical tension has caused bond yields to expand by 50 to 175 basis points, creating attractive entry points for investors who favor fixed income over equities to capitalize on widened credit spreads and rising real yields. Upcoming policy decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of Japan, the ECB, and the Bank of England in April are expected to clarify rate trajectories and alleviate current market volatility.
- The Economist10 min
Former head of MI6: Iran has the “upper hand” in the war | The Economist
Sir Alex Younger, Shashank Joshi
Despite a powerful U.S. air campaign, Iran maintains strategic initiative through dispersed military capabilities and the threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz, creating a resilient conflict environment that paradoxically bolsters regime morale while facing an estimated 80% domestic opposition. The death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has accelerated a structural transition from religious theocracy to a pragmatic IRGC-dominated junta, characterized by the leadership of General Vahidi and the constrained influence of President Masoud Peseshkian. Analysts suggest that while the regime survives its "death throes" due to internal security crackdowns and limited Western intervention options, its long-term viability remains critically low given the population's desire for an end to theocratic rule and the potential for a successor-driven transition.
- The Economist8 min
The Iran war will cause inflation to surge | The Economist
The escalation of conflict in Iran has triggered a surge in oil prices that threatens to transmit inflationary pressure globally through energy costs and critical fertilizer shortages at the Strait of Hormuz. Central bankers face a complex dilemma balancing the risk of a historical wage-price spiral against the potential for economic stagnation, while navigating political pressure to lower rates despite IMF forecasts predicting a two percentage point inflation jump. This crisis compels immediate policy intervention to prevent a permanent structural shift in inflation expectations, mirroring the cautionary precedents of the 1970s and recent cumulative global shocks.
- Milken Institute18 min
US House Financial Services Subcommittee on Digital Assets Chairman Bryan Steil | Future of Finance
U.S. policymakers are navigating a critical inflection point where new frameworks for the Genius Act and targeted AI regulation aim to solidify American dominance in stablecoins, tokenization, and digital assets against global competitors. These strategies leverage the $300 billion stablecoin market backed by U.S. Treasuries and the projected $4 trillion in 2030 tokenized securities to drive dollarization in unstable economies while avoiding the innovation-stifling effects of broad horizontal laws. By engaging directly with the House Financial Services Subcommittee, industry leaders and regulators seek to protect consumers from bad actors through a scalpel-like approach that preserves market-driven outcomes.
- Goldman Sachs20 min
Steven Mnuchin: Navigating Credit Cycles, AI Investment, and Fiscal Policy
A leading economic strategist analyzes a converging trajectory of massive AI-driven capital expenditure, a resilient credit market dominated by private lending, and persistent fiscal challenges stemming from a 125% debt-to-GDP ratio. The speaker argues that while aggressive infrastructure build-outs and trade tariffs create market volatility, sustained economic growth of 3% or higher remains essential to maintain U.S. fiscal health and global currency dominance. Despite identified risks in labor supply and political spending inaction, the outlook projects continued U.S. outperformance through strategic technological adoption and a shift in banking dynamics.
- Milken Institute19 min
Conversation with Columbia Investment Management Company CEO & President Kim Lew | Future of Finance
Columbia University manages the complex transition from traditional globalization-driven investing to a fragmented landscape defined by geopolitical risk, AI integration, and restrictive cross-border regulations. The institution deploys advanced artificial intelligence tools to rapidly analyze data, streamline operational dashboards, and provide an unbiased perspective within its Investment Committee, thereby distinguishing itself from over-allocated peers. Ultimately, the approach emphasizes building horizontal networks and cultivating future thought leaders to ensure mission-driven organizations can navigate volatile markets while maintaining long-term tactical flexibility.