Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Technology has always had an outsized influence upon profits and politics. From the Gutenberg printing press that made knowledge available to the masses, to the development and deployment of nuclear weapons that reshaped the meaning of power, to the current domination of digital tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) that drive industry unicorns, emerging technologies have profoundly impacted wealth generation and nation state relations. Now with our tightly interconnected world, awareness of how emerging technologies affect international relations is critical for industry, academia, and senior policymakers.

FutureGrasp is thus excited to offer a three-day winter school program at Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Colorado on January 4-6, 2022, to enable attendees to network with and learn from senior experts in the critical area of Technology Implications on International Relations. The FutureGrasp Winter School 2022 is designed for graduate students and professionals to obtain a deep-dive with sector experts on how emerging technologies affect geopolitics and multilateralism. Participants will be prepared to engage with senior policymakers and corporate leaders in technology strategy, and policy development and implementation.

Four workshops spread over three days (with dates chosen to accommodate academic calendars) will be facilitated by senior government and corporate leaders in their respective fields. In each workshop, attendees will engage and network with top professionals in the themes of:

• Emerging technology trends – What emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, quantum computing, and biotechnology will drive near- and long-term political agendas? What trends should we monitor in this context?

• Cybersecurity/safety, ethics, privacy/legal regulations – How must we incorporate security, ethics, and regulations into the technology matrix and policy considerations? What organizations and guidelines should be followed?

• Geopolitical power dynamics in context of technology – How will technology drive geopolitical power dynamics, especially post-COVID19? What disruptive technologies might alter the playing field among States militarily and economically?

• Multilateralism in context of technology – How can multilateral agreements be a means toward accelerating technology adoption and potential solutions of the world’s problems? What agreements are crucial today, and what frameworks might we anticipate in the future?

These issues will be discussed and assessed by leading experts from industry and government, with panels moderated by experts from the FutureGrasp Foundry team. Following the four sessions, participants will be challenged to consider how to respond in a short session to a fictional scenario involving technology and geopolitics. This situation-framing will solidify lessons learned during the week.

We look forward to your participation. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions at info@futuregrasp.com.

Sincerely,

Thomas A. Campbell, Ph.D.

Founder & CEO

FutureGrasp

FutureGrasp is a global research and advisory group dedicated to capturing and comprehending emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI). Through rigorous data and trends analyses, accompanied by expert writings and briefs on emerging technologies and their implications, FutureGrasp enables its clients to lead in the fast-paced world of technology and its policy implications. Founded by the former first National Intelligence Officer for Technology (National Intelligence Council, Office of the Director of National Intelligence) – with an experienced team of other former senior US Government leaders, top university faculty, and successful serial entrepreneurs - FutureGrasp works with the private sector (Fortune 500 and startups), governments (US and foreign), and IGOs (United Nations).