Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Artificial intelligence has become the biggest variable in the U.S. economy, but is the country really positioned to win the global race for economic dominance in AI? This week, Rebecca Patterson and Sebastian Mallaby draw on Patterson's new chapter for the book Geopolitics of AI to guess at an eventual winner. The pair weighs the inputs of talent, capital, energy, and public support, and question popular assumptions about inevitable American success.
Hosts:
Sebastian Mallaby, Paul A. Volcker Senior Fellow for International Economics, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) - cfr.org/experts/sebastian-mallaby
Rebecca Patterson, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) - cfr.org/experts/rebecca-patterson
00:00 - Introduction to The Spillover
01:32 - Today’s Topics: AI, Geopolitics, & Trade
03:15 - Geopolitics: The Global Energy Shift
06:40 - Trade: Supply Chains & Tariffs
10:20 - Monetary Policy: Interest Rate Outlook
14:15 - AI: The Productivity Paradox
18:30 - Ethical AI: Governance & Safety
22:45 - Global Markets: Volatility Analysis
26:10 - Future Outlook: Economic Resilience
30:20 - Q\&A: Audience Perspectives
34:55 - Closing Remarks & Summary
Artificial intelligence has become the biggest variable in the U.S. economy, but is the country really positioned to win the global race for economic dominance in AI? This week, Rebecca Patterson and Sebastian Mallaby draw on Patterson's new chapter for the book Geopolitics of AI to guess at an eventual winner. The pair weighs the inputs of talent, capital, energy, and public support, and question popular assumptions about inevitable American success.
Hosts:
Sebastian Mallaby, Paul A. Volcker Senior Fellow for International Economics, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) - cfr.org/experts/sebastian-mallaby
Rebecca Patterson, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) - cfr.org/experts/rebecca-patterson
00:00 - Introduction to The Spillover
01:32 - Today’s Topics: AI, Geopolitics, & Trade
03:15 - Geopolitics: The Global Energy Shift
06:40 - Trade: Supply Chains & Tariffs
10:20 - Monetary Policy: Interest Rate Outlook
14:15 - AI: The Productivity Paradox
18:30 - Ethical AI: Governance & Safety
22:45 - Global Markets: Volatility Analysis
26:10 - Future Outlook: Economic Resilience
30:20 - Q\&A: Audience Perspectives
34:55 - Closing Remarks & Summary
