Archives for June 2025

The Washington AI Network hosted its first-ever Speakeasy Thursday night at The House at 1229, drawing a crowd of AI-adjacent policy pros, investors, and technologists for cocktails, karaoke, slushies, and ice cream sandwiches. Guests voted on which AI they use the most and revealed their favorite chatbot prompts. The invite promised “clever cocktails, engaging company, and just the right amount of AI mischief,” and it delivered. Think boozy frozen cocktails, surprise karaoke, and yes, even an ice cream truck parked outside. 

Guests whispered a secret password at the door before slipping into a cool, mood-lit space that brought together policy thinkers, tech insiders, and DC Influencers. The dress code? ‘AI Casual’—relaxed, stylish, and smart. A DJ kept the energy pulsing late into the night as DC’s AI glitterati gathered to escape the sweltering heat wave that had gripped the capital all week. 

The evening came on the heels of the massively successful Inaugural AI Honors Gala hosted by the Washington AI Network on June 3rd, and the crowd was still riding high. It was clear this crew isn’t just celebrating—they’re keeping the momentum going as AI continues to dominate conversations across Washington.

It was a more relaxed midpoint in D.C.’s summer AI swirl—less summit, more speakeasy. Expect more from this growing network as it heads into a high-energy fall.

SPOTTED: Attendees included Jake Denton, Pierson Furnish, Adam Branch,  Miriam Vogel, Max  Fenkell, Ashley Callen, Mary Kozeny, Mitchell Rivard, Govind Shivkumar, Emma Mears, Cristobal Alex, Josh Dawsey, Joanna Guy, John Rizzo, Rachel Green Horn, Jack Kinney, James Perry Adams, Helen and Joe Milby, Meridith McGraw, Sylvia Varnham O’Reagan, Jonathan Clifford, Dan Meyers, Kevin Latek, John McCarthy, TW Arrighi, Shannon Ricchetti, Liz Johnson, Martin Stanley, Michael Falcone, Kevin Cirilli, Pierson Furnish and Sydney Snowden.

Jacob Helberg is just days away from confirmation as Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, but most people in Washington know him for his famous Hill & Valley Forum conference, as co-host Teresa Carlson, president of the General Catalyst Institute, noted in her remarks.

Meridian International Center, in partnership with the General Catalyst Institute, hosted Mr. Helberg for a lively and well-attended reception Tuesday evening at Ned’s Club in downtown D.C. to celebrate. The event quickly turned into a standing-room-only affair, drawing a VIP crowd of diplomats, tech founders, investors, national security insiders and top White House brass. The guest list in part reflected Helberg’s unique positioning at the nexus of technology, global markets, and policy.

Helberg, a longtime figure in both national security and technology sectors, has built a reputation for bridging public and private efforts to address complex global challenges. His background includes senior roles focused on innovation, economic strategy, and critical infrastructure—experience many see as vital for the evolving demands of the Under Secretary role.

Though Helberg’s Senate confirmation hearing is imminent, last night’s gathering was a clear sign of the enthusiasm surrounding his nomination and the expectations for his future impact.

Backed by General Catalyst Institute’s growing commitment to health and defense innovation, the evening was equal parts celebration and scene—an elegant mix of policy talk, industry chatter, and early-summer energy as guests lingered well past sundown.

SPOTTED: Belgian Ambassador Frédéric Bernard, Luxembourg Ambassador Nicole Bintner-Bakshian, Dutch Ambassador Birgitta Tazelaar, Latvian Ambassador Elita Kuzma, Greek Ambassador Ekaterini Nassika, Filipino Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, Liechtenstein Ambassador Georg Sparber, UK Deputy Ambassador James Roscoe, Maryam Mujica, Stuart and Gwen Holliday, Brandon Beach, Helen Milby, Joe Bartlett, Michael Kratsios, Yehuda Kaploun, Paolo Zampolli, Ivan Kanapathy, Nick Clemens, Elena Hernandez, Jason Geske, Stewart Barber, Tammy Haddad, Heather Podesta, Anita McBride, Mary Brady, Ashley Callen, Craig Carbone, Jake Denton, Joel Gardner, Karalee Geis, Jimmy Loomis, Parker Magid, James Rockas and Brendan Shields.

Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chief Deputy Whip and a leading Democratic voice on climate and technology, headlined Puck’s Power Breakfast on Thursday morning, hosted by Puck News CEO Jon Kelly at the Hay-Adams Hotel.

In an interview with Puck’s Chief Washington Correspondent Leigh Ann Caldwell, Senator Brian Schatz discussed a broad range of issues, including the Senate’s evolving approach to artificial intelligence and the future of federal climate investments. He also addressed the recent unrest in Los Angeles, connecting the protests to wider national debates over policing and public governance. The conversation also touched on whether Congress can reclaim authority from the White House—and if Democrats may be overreaching on the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

With his growing influence inside the Democratic leadership circle, Schatz offered perspective on caucus dynamics, legislative strategy, and the challenges of governing in a narrowly divided Senate. The breakfast drew a curated group of policymakers, journalists, and strategists for a lively discussion that mirrored the format’s signature style—intimate, substantive, and high-level.

The Puck Power Breakfast series continues to solidify its role as a premier venue for timely conversations with Washington’s power players, blending journalism, access, and insight at a moment when all three are in high demand.

Spotted: Sarah Personette, Reema Dodin, Sara Fischer, Mike Smith, Olivia Igbokwe, Helen Milby, Sarah Milby, Maryam Mujica, Jacob Freedman, David Reid, Nick Carr, Tony Samp, Marianna Sotomayor, Alex Tureman, Asad Ramzanali, Michael Hacker, Keenan Austin Reed, Lisa Allen, Antony Lynch, Tizzy Brown, Scott Sloofman, Alex Wirth and Kevin Walling. 

CALLS FOR GUESTS IN THE ROOM TO DRIVE CHANGE

In remarks at the inaugural AI Honors hosted by the Washington AI Network, Commerce Secretary Lutnick described how the Trump Commerce Department will handle industry standards after the late afternoon announcement by President Trump that he is closing the U.S. Safety Institute set up by the Biden Administration. “So let’s embrace what we’re great at and we are announcing the Center for AI Standards and Innovation to be the standards, to be a standards place, to be a place where people voluntarily go to drive analysis and standards.”

On Tuesday, June 3rd, the Washington AI Network convened technologists, policymakers, media and other influencers at the beautiful Waldorf Astoria to celebrate the inaugural AI Honors Black Tie Gala. The brightest minds in tech and AI policy came together for an evening that reminded us why we’re so excited about the future of AI. 

Lutnick also talked about Trump’s next push, “So let our great allies participate with us in the AI industrial revolution. Let them buy our ships, let them invest in data centers. And here’s the model. The data center has to be operated by an approved operator. Now obviously those approved operators, there’ll be all the large US hyperscalers of course, but other companies can apply and they can be operators as well on a smaller scale if they wish, but only operated by great American companies. The cloud associated with those data centers also has to be operated by American companies.”

CALL TO ACTION FOR ATTENDEES

“And I’m going to need the people in this room to be the drivers of that outcome because America needs that outcome. Because we are going to train millions of Americans in what I’ll describe as trade craft, because we need technicians who can do closed-loop HVAC systems and cooling systems. We need electricians, we need robot technicians, we need manufacturing. We need to build and operate the greatest automation build in the history of modern mankind. And that is coming to America. And that is part of what is going to drive, it’s going to drive America.”