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Archives for August 2024

Exclusive Interview: U.S. AI Safety Institute’s Elizabeth Kelly on U.S. Leadership in AI Innovation and Safety

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On August 12, the Washington AI Network podcast welcomed Elizabeth Kelly, Director of the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute, for a conversation with host Tammy Haddad around the implementation of the AI Executive Order and recent 270-day milestone deliverables led by the Institute, as well as the upcoming Paris AI Action Summit, the private sector’s role in ensuring trust in AI, and global collaboration on AI standards. The interview was recorded before a live audience in the theater of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. 

L to R: Elizabeth Kelly, director of the U.S. AI Safety Institute, on stage at the JHU Bloomberg Center in DC with Tammy Haddad, founder of the Washington AI Network.

In addition to announcing the hiring of Conrad Stosz as the U.S. AI Safety Institute’s new head of policy, Kelly highlights recent bipartisan progress on the Future of AI Innovation Act in the Senate, which would formally authorize the Institute, and newly released draft guidance on model misuse that is open for public comment.

Kelly on US leadership on AI innovation and safety: “We really view our role at the Commerce Department as driving and leading U.S. innovation, and safety is a key part of that. Safety enables trust, enables adoption, enables innovation. And that’s why we all get up in the morning and why we think our work is so important. And we are incredibly lucky to have so many outstanding researchers, companies who are really on the forefront of this incredible technology here in the U.S. and we think it’s imperative that we continue to maintain that lead.” 

When discussing transparency in private sector AI development: “It’s not just the US government that has this knowledge, but the companies are helping foster this broader ecosystem of trust. And that’s why we think it’s such a key component of the guidance.”

On the Paris Action Summit: “I think that the work that we’re doing in the AI Safety Institute network, the convening that we’ll be having at a technical level in November, really feeds into this drive for action. We’re excited to help produce deliverables ahead of Paris.” 

Watch the full video on YouTube or listen to the full episode on Audioboom, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, Wins 5 Podcast Awards as Host of ‘The White House 1600 Sessions’ Podcast

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Stewart D. McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association wins multiple podcasting awards for overall excellence as host of The White House 1600 Sessions podcast, including for his special on the 60th Anniversary of Remembering President John F. Kennedy. Photo taken at historic Decatur House in Washington, D.C., August 16, 2024.

Today, Stewart D. McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association, received not one – but five – podcast awards for his work as host of the Assocation’s official podcast The White House 1600 Sessions. 

The White House 1600 Sessions is an award-winning documentary-style video and audio podcast that boasts a catalogue nearing 100 episodes featuring prominent guests who are attached to the history of the White House in some capacity.

McLaurin won two Communicator Awards for Excellence. The first for the historic episode: Remembering President John F. Kennedy: A 60th Anniversary Special, and, second, for best overall series: The White House 1600 Sessions. McLaurin also received three Telly Awards for the video podcast, including one for the specific episode Remembering President John F. Kennedy: A 60th Anniversary Special

Stewart McLaurin (right) poses with the podcast awards at his desk overlooking Lafayette Square with Tammy Haddad (left) of Haddad Media, which produces The White House 1600 Sessions podcast.

The awards come as the Association is planning to open its new state-of-the-art interactive experience called The People’s House located directly across from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue. The People’s House experience, which opens to the public in September, features two floors of interactive White House educational exhibits and features an exact-to-scale replica of the Oval Office. Admission will be free of charge and furthers the Association’s education mission.

The White House Historical Association was founded in 1961 by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to support her vision to restore and preserve the Executive Mansion and its legacy for generations to come. Mrs. Kennedy sought to inspire Americans, especially children, to explore and engage with American history and its presidents. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that has contributed more than $100 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, visit WhiteHouseHistory.org.

Lynda Carter, Rep. Debbie Dingell Co-Host Powerhouse DC Book Party for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Bestselling Memoir, ‘True Gretch’

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Rep. Debbie Dingell and Lynda Carter co-hosted a lunch reception on Tuesday, July 30th at the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Capitol Hill to celebrate Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the publication of her new bestselling memoir, True Gretch: What I’ve Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between.

The event opened with inspiring remarks from Lynda Carter, best known for her iconic role as Wonder Woman, in which she lauded Whitmer’s courage and authenticity—qualities that resonate prominently throughout the book. Next up was Rep. Debbie Dingell, a longtime family friend and ally of Whitmer, who praised the Governor’s unwavering dedication to the people of Michigan, noting how she has consistently put the needs of Michiganders first even in the face of immense pressure and opposition. Before introducing the Governor, Rep. Dingell closed by expressing her pride in Whitmer’s accomplishments and her excitement for the future as the Governor continues to rise as a formidable national figure.

Lynda Carter, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Rep. Debbie Dingell pose with copies of “True Gretch” at the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Capitol Hill, Tuesday July 30th

Whitmer then took the stage and reflected on the personal journey of writing her memoir and how the book provided her with an opportunity to share her story with genuine candor and vulnerability, especially on the challenges she has faced throughout her career. Whether it be navigating sexism in politics or making difficult decisions during crises like the pandemic, she emphasized that these obstacles have not only shaped her but made her a stronger and more resilient leader.

The afternoon concluded with a book signing where guests had the opportunity to meet and take photos with the Governor and receive personalized copies of True Gretch. 

Antony Lynch, Rep. Haley Stevens, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Australian Ambassador and Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd

Lynda Carter, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Rep. Debbie Dingell

Amy Ricchetti, Amb. Oksana Markarova and John McCarthy

Lynda Carter and French Amb. Laurent Bili

British Ambassador Karen Pierce and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Attendees included prominent members of Congress, senior White House officials, influential media figures, and other key influencers in Washington, D.C.

SPOTTED: Sec. Jennifer Granholm, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Rep. Dan Kildee, Rep. Gabe Amo, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, Rep. Marilyn Strickland, British Ambassador Dame Karen Pierce, Irish Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, French Ambassador Laurent Bili, Australian Ambassador Kevin Rudd, Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova, Teresa Carlson, Jessica Nigro, Lisa Allen, Olivia Igbokwe, Jill Hazelbaker-Franks, Sally O’Brien, Gideon Bragin, Elizabeth Falcone, Helen Milby, Liz Johnson, Robert Costa, Lara Tennyson, Crystal Carson, Sumi Somaskanda, Pamela Brown, Timothy Lowery, Eugene Daniels, Shuwanza Goff, Dr. Christine Grady, Amanda Katz, DeDe Lea, Meg Makarewicz, Cathy Merrill, Melissa Moss, Jane Oates, Ruth Marcus, Rita Braver, Amy Ricchetti, and Jayne Sandman

Washington AI Network Hosts DHS Under Secretary for Policy Rob Silvers

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The Washington AI Network hosted a cocktails and conversation event on August 1 featuring special guest Rob Silvers, the under secretary for policy at the Deparment of Homeland Security. 

Washington AI Network founder Tammy Haddad conducted a wide ranging interview with Silvers, which was recorded as an episode of the Washington AI Network podcast. The under secretary addressed how conflicts in the Middle East impact domestic security efforts, the power and fragility of the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure, China’s standing in the global AI race, and how DHS deploys AI, including at the border to stop fentanyl.  

Silvers, who also serves as chair of the Cyber Safety Review Board, praised Microsoft’s response to the recent Crowdstrike outage, calling it “fantastic,” yet said the entire incident was “a very stark reminder of both the power of our internet infrastructure and technology and how much it does for us.”

Nicoletta Giordani, Victoria Virasingh and Nicole Sganga
Tammy Haddad and Rob Silvers

On increased domestic threats due to the conflict in the Middle East, Silvers said: “We are very conscious that we’re in a heightened threat environment …  and we are pouring unprecedented levels of resources into our communities, into ensuring that the American people are safe.”

On competition with China, Silvers said: “When it comes to AI … I’m happy to say that at this moment, I think the United States is ahead of China. But it’s not a foregone conclusion that we always will be.”

On combating the Chinese government’s human rights abuses of the Uyghurs, Silvers said DHS “is on the front lines of making sure that products made with forced labor by Uyghurs in Xinjiang province are not allowed to come into this country so that China cannot profit from that.”

“Our enforcement has been so strong that we are seeing supply chains start to shift,” he continued. “We are seeing companies, big U.S. retailers and importers start to do really deep diligence into who they are buying from and … it is changing trade for the benefit of human rights.”

And on the use of AI at the border, Silvers said:  “We are using machine learning models now that can analyze factors, including a vehicle’s travel history to look for anomalies, to look for things that seem suspicious.” Silvers said the new tools recently led border patrol officers to stop a vehicle containing 75 kilos of narcotics.

Gov. Tim Walz Wins The White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch Primary

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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 27: Gov. Tim Walz attends the 31st Annual White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch at Beall-Washington House on April 27, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Haddad Media)

Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz, Vice President Kamala Harris’s new running mate, attended the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch this year – the annual gathering of leaders in government, politics, media, business, and entertainment during the Correspondents’ weekend. Earlier in the day, he was spotted attending the Deadline Netflix reception hosted by Irish Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason at the Irish Embassy with the stars of Netflix’s series, “The Diplomat.” He arrived with Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar.

This was the first time the new democratic running mate attended the annual gathering and the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 27: Gov. Tim Walz attends the 31st Annual White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch at Beall-Washington House on April 27, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Haddad Media)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 27: Gov. Tim Walz attends the 31st Annual White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch at Beall-Washington House on April 27, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Haddad Media)