White House Correspondents Insider

The Washington Speakers Bureau (WSB) hosted a reception on October 24 at the St. Regis in Washington, DC, celebrating the release of On Leadership, the new book by the Right Honourable Tony Blair, former prime minister of the United Kingdom. The event coincided with the World Bank and IMF meetings, gathering dignitaries and thought leaders to discuss leadership and global change.

Ryan Heil, president of WSB, opened the evening, welcoming Prime Minister Blair and other distinguished guests, including former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and World Bank President Ajay Banga. Sanna Marin spoke about her work with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, highlighting the organization’s expansion with a new regional office in Washington, DC, and its commitment to supporting global leaders with strategic guidance on governance, security, and technology.

Ajay Banga commended Blair’s contributions to global leadership, emphasizing that On Leadership provides a roadmap for effective governance in a rapidly changing world. The main event of the evening featured New York Times columnist Tom Friedman in a conversation with Blair, delving into the complexities of modern leadership, the role of technology like AI, and the challenges facing democracies today.

In a wide-ranging discussion, Blair and Friedman explored pressing issues from the role of AI in governance to the evolving geopolitical landscape. Blair’s insights underscored the importance of clarity, resilience, and adaptability in leadership—a theme echoed throughout the evening, making the reception both a celebration of Blair’s new book and a thought-provoking gathering on the future of global governance.

Guests included UK Ambassador Karen Pierce, Jose Andres, Bob Barnett, David Miliband, David Milstone, Harry Rhoads, Barbara Humpton, Michael Chertoff, Stewart McLaurin, Arun Gupta, Luxembourg Ambassador Nicole Bintner, Didem Nisanci, Melanne Verveer, Macedonian Ambassador Zoran Popov, Slovenian Ambassador Iztok Mirosic, Jason Furman, Anita McBride, Mark Ein, Teresa Carlson, Bruce Andrews, Pete Selfridge, Nick Jordan, John Rizzo, Steven Anderson, Lane Dilg, Ed Luce, Niamh King, Virginia Boney, Amy Ricchetti, John McCarthy, Chris Russo, Anthony Polcari (Tony P), Justin Cooper, Sumi Somaskanda, and Jon Cardinal.

On the latest episode of the Washington AI Network podcast, host Tammy Haddad is joined by Ted Leonsis, founding partner at Revolution Growth 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.

In a wide-ranging discussion at The House at 1229, the group explored how AI is transforming patient care and outcomes by analyzing data, identifying patterns, and personalizing treatment plans. When asked about what he was wearing for the occasion, Leonsis said: “I went to ChatGPT today, and I said, ‘I’m giving a speech in downtown D.C., with Grant in AI. There’ll be people from Meta. How should I dress?’” The result was an outfit much like Verstandig’s. 

Both guests discussed AI capabilities for maximizing pharmaceutical R&D and revolutionizing the future of healthcare. 

Verstandig explained how companies are using AI to identify overlooked potential in existing drugs: “We might be using a drug that is wonderfully safe but wasn’t stunningly efficacious until we added that ingredient. And that’s where really we together are trying to shift the promise … into practice for precision medicine.” 

“The drug business is not an easy to manage business,” said Leonsis. “And the regulatory environment on top of it is really, really difficult…We both think there’s a lot of drugs that didn’t make it through FDA or are lying dormant, they never reached their potential. Now, with AI, you can go through, comb through a lot of different iterations and if you…added this ingredient you worked with this treatment, it could pass FDA or solve this other problem’.”

“A big part of what we’re doing …  is using our AI to go and seek out, think of it as the key signal that then the … AI will seek in this sea of data. And so now you have all this data plus the … data of all these patients in the wild, plus this next generation DNA sequencing in the blood,” explained Verstandig. “And so if you take those three sort of tectonic plates together, those massive shifts, the innovation that creates out of that is you have new drugs that could literally be incredible novel cures… We might be using a drug that is wonderfully safe but wasn’t stunningly efficacious until we added that ingredient. And that’s where really we together are trying to shift the promise and it’s been a promise because it hasn’t been delivered yet into practice for precision medicine.”

Verstandig on the future of pharmaceuticals: “The reason why the pharmaceutical companies are most interested, they have a lot of data.…You could take a blood test and Tempus could see if there’s DNA from your tumor that has been shed and is existing somewhere in your blood. And what Tempus is able to do is with their tests say this is the amount of circulating tumor DNA and what they’re doing, which is incredible, which is why all these companies in the pharmaceutical space are so interested in Tempus.”

Leonsis spoke further on ethics and healthcare: “My grandchildren are going to live to be 110 years old…Well, there are treatments and medicines and new medicines that we’ll find that will be able to extend your life even further. But the quality of life will then come into play. And so these are really, really big important issues that we will have to wrestle with as a society. ”

When asked about Global competitiveness and the AI race with China, Leonsis said “We might be the most powerful country right now, but when we’re talking about AI and scale, why do you think China has embraced this?…China’s thrilled that AI is on the horizon because they think, oh, this is something we can get bigger, faster, and better. And they’re not shy about control…”

“We need younger Washington,” said Leonsis. “We need people that become evangelists, if you will, for AI, but with the warnings…DC really has a lot of power to make this blossom in the right way or to stop it.”

Verstandig added: “We all have to remember that China is a fundamental economic competitor and great power competitor to us. We never were worried about the economic model of the Soviet Union breaking capitalism. But there’s a model where China’s model with AI is fundamentally different in its ability to compete than what the open capitalist model is. And with BRICS and a number of things they’re doing to Ted’s point, we have the opportunity for AI to blossom. Or if we stifle it, it’s not going to go away like nuclear did. Somebody else will have that power and wield it, and we have to make sure the next hundred years continue as the next great American century, and that’ll come back to AI.”

Leonsis also linked the hesitancy for AI innovation with a history of fear around nuclear innovation. “Nuclear power was demonized…But now nuclear power, everyone goes, it’s clean, it’s safe, it gets rid of oil, all the things that we’re talking about, but we lost 30 years of development,” he explained. “GE was the largest manufacturer of nuclear power plants, and 30 years ago, they shut down that operation. It became a below the line endeavor. They said, ‘This is poison to our business and Wall Street.’ Why? Because the media said, ‘This is a really bad thing.’ Now, in hindsight, that was a really bad call. And we need nuclear power as a part of the tapestry of all of the ways that we’re going to generate energy for the 8 billion people.”

Listen to the full episode on Audioboom, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Washington AI Network, in collaboration with SeedAI, hosted an AI-themed HAippy hour on the evening of September 24, 2024 at the House at 1229 in Washington, DC. The event took place amidst the backdrop of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) AI Symposium which drew a distinguished crowd of experts, policymakers, and industry leaders in artificial intelligence to the Nation’s Capital from all around the country.

The HAippy Hour event brought together industry experts, government officials, AI enthusiasts and media professionals for an evening of insightful discussions on the latest advancements in artificial intelligence. The evening was filled with meaningful conversations surrounding AI ethics, innovation, and policy, all aligning with the broader themes of the NIST AI Symposium happening that week in the city.

Attendees enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the valuable opportunity to connect with their peers and counterparts in a collaborative environment, reinforcing Washington, D.C.’s growing role as a hub for AI policy and innovation.

Other notable attendees included: Helen Toner, Durga Malladi, Nate Tibbits, Andres Castrillon, Nkechi Nneji, Jidenna, Jesse Dunietz, Joel Gardner, Courtney Rozen, Oliver Stephenson, Chris Russo, Tim Ryder, Daniella Cheslow, Jason Liang, Lee Tiedrich, Rebecca Weiss, Dera Eneh-Ortiz, A.J. Bhadelia, Jordan Klavans, Josh Hone, Bethany Abbate, Andre Barbe, Tizzy Brown, Courtney Lang, Andres Castrillon, Frank Justice, Luca Consalvi, Lilia Stone, Hamza Tariq Chaudhry, Connie Hsueh, Kimberly Adams, Michael Clauser, Melissa Hopkins, Martin Stanley, Miranda Bogen, Tom Giancola, Abhishek Balakrishnan, Eric Masanet, Michael Hauck, Tim O’Brien, Rohit Israni, Anastassia Kornilova and Charles Yates.

On the latest episode of the Washington AI Network podcast, host Tammy Haddad is joined by General Catalyst CEO Hemant Taneja and General Catalyst Institute President Teresa Carlson at the House at 1229 as the venture capital firm launches the General Catalyst Institute to shape global AI policy and drive transformative innovation. Taneja and Carlson shared how General Catalyst and the GCI will help governments create capability around AI, create training and education tools for founders, engage policymakers to inform a thoughtful regulatory approach, and invest in American innovation for U.S. defense and national security.

Taneja on how AI is changing business around the world: “As founders, we do tell them to think about the fact that there are these consequences to what they’re building … And that’s part of why we created the General Catalyst Institute. Let’s go work with those governments to help them create their own capabilities around AI so they can uplift their people…”

Carlson on the importance of policy: “You can deploy capital in a really amazing way. You can invest in the very best technological innovation that’s out there… but guess what? If you don’t have public policies that help shape that in the right way, it doesn’t become a true reality.”

Carlson on the importance of partnerships: “I believe in partnerships. GC believes in partnerships…We want to listen, we want to learn, we want to advocate, we want to educate … We want to bring in lots of startup tech so they can see these founders. We want to show them, we want to tell them, we want to bring solutions to the table. And for us, it’s not about what’s going wrong and what can’t be done, it’s about what can be done.” 

Carlson on pushing for thoughtful regulation: “We’ll work proactively with [government], and we’ll push on areas that we believe will drive transformative innovation but not hurt these companies… If you overregulate, then a lot of these startups, they can’t afford that. And if every state starts regulating and every country has a totally different approach, you are gradually stomping out the innovation… And GC’s one of the best companies in the world to deploy the capital.” 

“If you don’t regulate, you actually then go back. Because that history tells us, and I know a lot of you all saw this in cloud with facial recognition…. The tech companies were coming out and all of a sudden government was like, ‘Whoa, slow down.’ So then I was at Amazon at the time, we had to stop a lot and go back to government and say, ‘Will you help us please create the right models and standards for this?’ So I actually think sometimes going a little bit slower to go faster is a good thing because if you don’t engage government, and that’s I think part of our philosophy with the Institute, let’s engage government early and actually educate them on, ‘look, light touch regulation is good, over-regulation stomps out innovation.’”

Taneja on what General Catalyst tells its founders about the future of AI regulation: “This is peak ambiguity. If you think about it, the geopolitics, how the global trade is changing, the re-globalization going on, and then you’ve got this massive tectonic shift in terms of technology and AI. None of us really know what the world’s going to look like in the future. In that setting, I think you sort of go back to your core values when you think about navigating that ambiguity with a true north. And for us it is, we often call it inclusive capitalism. How do you think about sustainability? How do you think about bringing everybody along? And hence the word global resilience.” 

Taneja on engaging with policymakers: “Our goal is make them more effective, because the technology industry has not been that sophisticated about engaging with policy. The conventional wisdom is if policymakers are paying attention to it, it’s a good thing, meaning you made it and then you’ll deal with the problems rather than being proactive and intentional about how to work together. So I think we want to bring that cultural mindset to the industry.” 

Carlson on new innovations to support U.S. national security: “It’s going to be important for us to get in front of those committee members that are driving and thinking about this both at the House and the Senate sides … because I don’t know that we’re going to see anytime soon the war go away. We might see an expansion, and we need technology to be ready and prepared and we need the right policies in place to drive the innovation. And what we hear from our defense and intelligence partners is they want to go faster. They want access to this innovation and they want to be able to see that innovation. So that’s really part of our strategy to make sure they see what’s available and then work with the lawmakers to make sure we can get it out in front of them.” 

Taneja on AI’s workforce implications: “So I think we’re going from unipolarity to a multipolar world as you think about what’s happening today, and a lot of market competitiveness ultimately is going to come down to the race for AI. And the reason is whatever the winning AI technologies are going to have significant impact on our culture, significant impact on what the market leading businesses are. Because to my earlier point, the workforce transformation that it enables and therefore the ability to innovate these future businesses is a stunning capability.”

Listen to the full episode on Audioboom, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Amalfi, Italy – Franco Nuschese, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and owner of the iconic Georgetown restaurant Cafe Milano, has been named the new Magister di Civiltà Amalfitana. The honor is awarded annually to an individual of Amalfitan heritage, or with deep ties to the region, who has demonstrated outstanding merit and contributions to society.

This recognition was part of the 24th edition of the Byzantine New Year celebration, held in Amalfi and Atrani from August 31 to September 2, 2024. The event highlights the importance of diplomacy and international relationships, drawing inspiration from the medieval history of the Duchy of Amalfi, an ancient and prosperous maritime republic.

The Magister di Civiltà Amalfitan award is bestowed upon individuals who embody entrepreneurial spirit and diplomatic acumen, echoing the legacy of Pantaleone de Comite, a medieval Amalfitan merchant known for his strategic alliances with the East.

The selection committee, comprising the mayors of Amalfi and Atrani—Daniele Milano and Michele Siravo—along with the cultural delegates of both municipalities, Enza Cobalto and Lucia Ferrigno, Ermelinda Di Lieto from the Amalfi Culture and History Center, and event creators, historians Giovanni Camelia and Giuseppe Gargano, unanimously selected Nuschese, citing his ability to forge meaningful relationships across borders.

Nuschese was born in Minori, Italy in 1961 and now lives in Washington, DC. In 1992, he founded Cafe Milano in Georgetown, less than two miles from the White House, and has since hosted American presidents, Hollywood stars, and global dignitaries, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The New York Times has described the restaurant as “where some of the world’s most powerful people go.”

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

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.