Archives for May 2025

June 3rd marks a milestone moment for artificial intelligence in America – and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you.

This Tuesday, the Washington AI Network will host our first-ever AI Honors, a black-tie gala celebrating the remarkable individuals and organizations driving AI innovation, policy, and research forward. Taking place in the elegant ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, this inaugural event represents more than just a celebration – it’s a recognition of the pivotal moment we’re experiencing in AI development and American leadership in this transformative field.

Honoring Excellence Across the AI Ecosystem

We’re proud to recognize six outstanding honorees who exemplify leadership at the intersection of technology, governance, and ethics:

Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) will receive our AI Impact in Governance Award for his work as co-chair of the Senate AI working group, demonstrating how thoughtful policy leadership can shape technology’s future.

Congressmen Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) and Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) will be honored with our Bipartisan Leadership on AI Award. As co-chairs of the House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, they’ve shown that interest in getting things right transcends party lines and requires collaborative solutions.

Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, receives the Guardian of America Award for his crucial work protecting our nation’s interests in the age of AI.

Jack Hidary, CEO of SandboxAQ, earns our AI Visionary Award for his groundbreaking work in quantum-AI technologies and enterprise solutions.

Dr. Patricia K. Falcone, deputy director for science and technology at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, receives the AI Honors in Public Science Award for her contributions to advancing AI research in service of the public good.

Father Paolo Benanti, the Vatican’s official adviser on AI ethics, will be honored with our Ethics in Artificial Intelligence Award, recognizing the critical importance of ethical framework and thinking as AI reshapes our world.

A Community United by the AI Moment

The AI Honors wouldn’t be possible without our incredible sponsors, including Amazon, Meta, OpenAI, Microsoft, IBM, AMD, TikTok, Salesforce, ScaleAI, Bloomberg, LinkedIn, Booking Holdings, Uber, General Catalyst Institute, RhinoAI, NobleReach Foundation, Flex Association, Silverado Accelerator, GlobalWIN, and many others who understand that collaboration drives progress. Their support reflects the broad coalition necessary to navigate AI’s challenges and opportunities responsibly.

As our founder Tammy Haddad noted, “This is a pivotal moment for AI and for American competitiveness. The AI Honors are designed to recognize the people and ideas driving meaningful progress—and to connect leaders from across the ecosystem in a setting worthy of the moment.”

LISTEN BELOW: New Washington AI Network Podcast Features SCSP CEO Ylli Bajraktari on the Global AI Race, National Security, and the 2025 AI Expo in Washington, DC

On Friday, May 16, Washington’s political, media, and diplomatic circles gathered at The House at 1229 to celebrate the release of Zbig: The Life of Zbigniew Brzezinski, America’s Great Power Prophet, the acclaimed new biography by Financial Times columnist and commentator Ed Luce.

The event was hosted by Tammy Haddad, Teresa Carlson, Juleanna Glover, and Helen Milby, and brought together a lively crowd for an evening of conversation, reflection on strategic leadership, and a toast to one of America’s most influential foreign policy thinkers.

Teresa Carlson opened the program with brief remarks and introduced Luce, who spoke about the making of the book and Brzezinski’s lasting relevance in today’s shifting global landscape. The diplomatic community was well represented, with British Ambassador Peter Mandelson and Reinaldo Avila da Silva—still riding high from the recent tariff deal with President Trump—joining Polish Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Bogdan Klich and his wife Anna, who shared warm stories from their 20-year friendship with Dr. Brzezinski. The group raised their glasses to toast Niamh King, Luce’s wife and director of the Aspen Security Forum. Meanwhile, Karalee Geis, a Trump White House aide, along with Robert Costa, Josh Dawsey of the Wall Street Journal, and other guests, traded thoughts on everything from Cold War history to the future of diplomacy—and then, the party kept going.

As the night unfolded, guests sipped champagne, enjoyed ice cream sandwiches and late-night pizza, and danced through the historic halls of 1229. What began as a thoughtful book salon evolved into a spirited celebration — a fitting tribute to Brzezinski’s intellect and charisma, and to the vibrant Washington community that came together in his honor.

LINK TO BUY BOOK HERE: Zbig | Book by Edward Luce | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster

Notable Guests Included: British Ambassador Peter Mandelson and Reinaldo Avila da Silva, New Zealand Ambassador Rosemary Banks, Polish Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Bogdan Klich, German Deputy Chief of Mission Axel Dittmann, Niamh King, Senay Bulbul, Maryam Mujica, Tina Anthony, Bob Costa, Stuart and Barbara Jones, Karen Knutson, Heather Florance, Chloe Autio, Alexis Marks, Kevin Walling, Liz Johnson, Robyn and Jeremy Bash, Angeli Chawa, Matt Gorman, Peter Baker, Phil Rucker, Peter Pham, Sydney Paul, George Conway, Josh Dawsey, Govind Shivkumar, Adam Branch, Don Graham, Charlotte Smith and Evan Hollander.

Tammy Haddad’s Washington AI Network Podcast, a leading voice in the national conversation on artificial intelligence, has been honored with two 2025 Communicator Awards. With over 50 episodes and a growing roster of influential guests from government, industry, and academia, the podcast has become a trusted platform for unpacking the societal, political, and economic impact of AI.

The Washington AI Network Podcast received the Award of Excellence in Science & Technology, the competition’s highest distinction, for its ongoing series on artificial intelligence. The award highlights the show’s role as a trusted forum where influential voices unpack the complex and rapidly evolving implications of AI across sectors.

In addition, the podcast earned an Award of Distinction for the episode featuring Ted Leonsis and Grant Verstandig on healthcare in the age of AI. The conversation explored how emerging technologies are reshaping healthcare delivery and diagnostics, highlighting both the promise and the challenges of deploying AI within the national health infrastructure.

PHOTOS: Ted Leonsis and Grant Verstandig siscuss healthcare in the age of AI with Tammy Haddad at the House at 1229 in Washington, DC on October 9, 2024.

Ted Leonsis, founder and partner of Revolution Growth (an investor in Zephyr AI) and founder and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and Grant Verstandig, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Red Cell Partners, and co-founder and executive chairman of Zephyr AI, discussed innovation at the intersection of digital medicine, personalized care, and public health preparedness.

The Communicator Awards are presented by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts (AIVA) and judged by a panel of leaders from organizations including Microsoft, Spotify, Google, Amazon, and the Smithsonian Institution. This year’s competition received thousands of entries from around the globe. Other 2025 Award of Excellence recipients include NASA+, Netflix, Apple, The Walt Disney Company, and Bank of America. As Washington’s focus intensifies on the regulatory, strategic, and ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence, the Washington AI Network Podcast continues to stand out as a timely and essential platform for thoughtful dialogue on AI’s role in shaping public policy, national security, and global competitiveness. 

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Building on this momentum, the Washington AI Network will host Washington’s first-ever black-tie AI Honors awards dinner on June 3, celebrating leadership, innovation, and responsibility in the AI space with distinguished guests from across government, business, and tech. Find out more here: aihonors.us.