Irregular Warfare and Economics, Fundings: Global Thermostat, SafeAI, Phalanx
31 May 2023 - A Weekly Publication by New North Ventures
In the latest Securing Our Future podcast, host Jeremy Hitchcock talks with Dr. Doug Livermore about the role irregular warfare and economics play in conflicts in the 21st Century.
Doug Livermore is the Director of Special Operations, Irregular Warfare, Special Programs, and Sensitive Activities for the Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy. Additionally, he is a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard, currently serving as the Deputy Commander of Special Operations Detachment - NATO.
Previously, Doug served as a sensitive activities advisor to both the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict and the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. Multiple international affairs and security studies journals have distributed Doug’s works, including many publications in War on the Rocks, Small Wars Journal, and the Military Times. Doug is the National Director for External Communications for the Special Forces Association and is also a Non-Resident Fellow with West Point’s Irregular Warfare Initiative.
Additionally, he is on the Board of Directors for both No One Left Behind and the Special Operations Association of America, where he has been instrumental in the ongoing evacuation and resettlement of Afghan interpreters and their families. Doug earned his undergraduate degree in Military History at West Point and his graduate degree in International Security Affairs from Georgetown University, and excelled in the Army Command and General Staff Officer Course.
In this episode, Doug shares his various experiences and expertise related to the government, the military, and general lessons we should learn from our recent history. He leaves us with a lot of wisdom and insight about strategies for the United States to continue to be both economically and militarily competitive on the world stage in the future.
Listen wherever you stream your podcasts or below on Spotify:
Founded: 2010
Key People: Co-founded by Nicholas Eisenberger JD, Peter Eisenberger Ph.D, and Graciela Chichilnisky Ph.D
Elevator Pitch: An energy disruptive technology designed to transform carbon dioxide from a global liability into a profit center.
Funding: The company raised an undisclosed amount of venture funding from Sumitomo Corporation on May 30, 2023.
Founded: 2017
Key People: CEO Bibhrajit Halder
Elevator Pitch: An autonomous heavy equipment technology designed to accelerate the transition to autonomous mining and construction.
Funding: The company raised $68 million of Series B venture funding from undisclosed investors on May 29, 2023.
Founded: 2021
Key People: Co-founded by Ian Garrett Ph.D, Austin Garrett, and Carl Kenney
Elevator Pitch: A software application designed to provide security and visibility to data that resides outside databases (unstructured data) with Zero Trust Data Access (ZTDA).
Funding: The company is in the process of raising $590,000 of an undisclosed targeted amount of pre-seed funding from AIN Ventures, C2 Ventures and WellFound on May 26, 2023.
Biden's Former Tech Adviser on What Washington is Missing About AI
Tim Wu, former Biden tech adviser and architect of President Biden's antitrust policy, is advocating for a focused and balanced approach to regulating AI.
He opposes the creation of an AI licensing system, as it could stifle competition and hinder market entry for smaller companies.
Wu suggests requiring AI tools to proactively identify themselves, enhancing transparency and consumer protection, such as cracking down on misleading AI-generated reviews.
Instead of creating a new AI-focused federal agency, Wu recommends enforcing existing laws against deceptive practices and developing a robot penal code to address AI-specific harm. He also warns against subsidizing AI for tech giants.
Wu calls for ensuring fair compensation to content creators whose work is used to train AI models and encourages the promotion of open-source, publicly funded AI to foster innovation and address concentration concerns.
Crypto Suddenly Braced For A Huge China Earthquake
Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies have struggled to regain momentum this year despite preparations by major companies for the next crypto price bull run.
Fears of a US crackdown on cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have contributed to the stalled rally.
Changpeng Zhao, CEO of Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, predicts that China's involvement in crypto, highlighted by recent coverage on Chinese TV, could trigger the next bull run.
China has had a turbulent relationship with cryptocurrencies, but a recent white paper by the Beijing government tech committee discussing Web 3.0 technology and mentioning NFTs, VR, AI, and the metaverse has generated interest. Hong Kong has also adopted new licensing rules for crypto trading platforms starting June 1.
Ukraine Puts Number on F-16s After German Leopard Tank Success
Ukraine's Defense Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, stated that Ukraine needs approximately 100 Western fighter jets, with a preference for F-16s, to replace its aging Soviet-era air force.
Ukraine has received 60 Leopard tanks from its Western allies, but acquiring advanced aircraft is seen as a deeper commitment to long-term support for Ukraine's armed forces.
While no nation has yet pledged to supply the fighter jets, several countries, including the US, have agreed to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s.
The move to provide F-16s has faced condemnation from Russia, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calling it an "unacceptable escalation."
Providing fighter jets entails significant considerations, such as infrastructure, training, and the risk of the bases becoming targets, but it would give Ukraine important new capabilities for long-term defense.
Look for a new episode of Securing the Future Podcasts wherever you listen. In our latest episode, we have guest Doug Livermore sit down with General Partner Jeremy Hitchcock for an engaging conversation where Doug discusses his varied experiences and expertise and shares critical insight into strategies for continued future military and economic success.