9.1 - Foreign Policy

Artificial Intelligence Policy

🧭 Reorienting and Taking Stock

• We are halfway through the class!
• Today, we’ll talk about geopolitics and foreign policy, but also recenter ourselves after the first half of the course (and after the week off).
• Where have we been, and what have we learned?
  
• As we make our transition from talking about the philosophy, technology, and development of AI to talking about implications and impacts, what has been surprising?
  
• Where do we most need policy, and what areas of AI most call out for intervention or support?

🧠 Think

• What is AI’s role in national defense and security?
• What responsibility do AI firms have to their “home” countries? Are they like defense contractors? Should the government have a special role in controlling AI technology and approving AI military technology sales?

📖 Read

• Horowitz et al, “AI, the International Balance of Power, and National Security Strategy”. The Oxford Handbook of AI Governance
• Make sure to be familiar with the Anthropic/Department of Defense story for class discussion (see possible sources below).

🎧 Listen:

• Nothing required, but see the two (optional) recommended podcasts on Anthropic and the Pentagon under “🌐 Browse”

🌐 Browse:

• The recent Anthropic/Pentagon dustup is relevant and interesting from a variety of dimensions.
  • The core story:
    • “Anthropic Refuses Pentagon’s Proposal to Loosen AI Guardrails. Wall Street Journal.
    • OpenAI announces Pentagon deal after Trump bans Anthropic. NPR.
    • Pentagon Officially Notifies Anthropic It Is a ‘Supply Chain Risk’. New York Times.
    • A ‘Fight About Vibes’ Drove the Pentagon’s Breakup with Anthropic. Wall Street Journal.
    • Anthropic Sues U.S. Defense Department, Pete Hegseth for Targeting the Company. Wall Street Journal.
    • A Guide to the Pentagon’s Dance With Anthropic and OpenAI. New York Times.
  • A counter take: Anthropic and Alignment, 2026. Stratechery blog.
  • Side effects:
    • The Pentagon-Anthropic Spat Is Good for China Wall Street Journal.
    • Anthropic’s Standoff With the Pentagon Shakes Up AI Talent Race Wall Street Journal.
    • OpenAI and Google employees rush to Anthropic’s defense in DOD lawsuit. Tech Crunch.
  • Two podcasts:
    • Dean Ball, 2026. “Why the Pentagon Wants to Destroy Anthropic”, The Ezra Klein Show, New York Times. Also see Youtube link
    • Mike Masnick, 2026. “Anthropic doesn’t trust the Pentagon, and neither should you”, Decoder with Nilay Patel, The Verge. Also see Youtube video link
• “What Google’s Return to Defense AI Means”. Defense One.
• “Elon Musk Moves Against the Russians in Ukraine”. The Atlantic.

TipTip

• “📖 Read”, “🎧 Listen”, and/or “📺 Watch” items are required content for the day, and should be read/heard/watched before class on that day.
• “🌐 Browse” items should be briefly looked at but do not need to be read deeply unless you want to
• “📚 Additional Resources” do not need to be looked at; they are there to serve, if useful, as further references for your debates, final projects, and general edification later.