World Changing Technology in 2026

An expert panel of scholars from the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) offers an examination of the technology shaping the world. 00:00 Welcome from Colin Kahl 4:59 The future of biotechnology 15:13 The AI race is a decathlon 26:35 When AI meets social media 41:00 AI in the hands of Chinese citizens Featuring: Colin Kahl — Director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Steven C. Házy Senior Fellow at the Center for International Security and Cooperation; former under secretary of defense for policy at the U.S. Department of Defense. Drew Endy — Bioengineering associate professor and senior fellow (by courtesy) at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the Hoover Institution, speaking on the topic of biotechnology and security. Andrew Grotto — Research scholar at FSI's Center for International Security and Cooperation, and director of its Program on Geopolitics, Technology, and Governance, speaking about technology innovation and national security. Jeff Hancock — Professor of communication, senior fellow at FSI, and director of FSI's Tech Impact and Policy Center, on the psychological aspects of social media and AI. Jennifer Pan — Professor of communication, senior fellow at FSI, discussing China's use of technology to pursue its political interests.