Meet the Leaders Networking Round Tables: Policy & Investment

Each round table discussion will be led by one industry figurehead who will initiate the conversation. Attendees can sign up in advance and will have confirmed seats at the table. We will also have some open tables to allow for free-flow networking conversations. Come with your questions and ideas.  

• International AI Infrastructure: Opportunities and Constraints of the ICT Stack

This roundtable explores how the strength — or weakness — of a country’s ICT infrastructure directly shapes what AI can realistically deliver, scale, and secure in practice. Key discussion areas and participant takeaways:

• Understand the real enablers of AI adoption by examining how data centres, networks, cloud platforms, and terrestrial and subsea cables underpin AI development and deployment.
• Identify where infrastructure gaps create friction, limiting performance, resilience, security, or speed to market for AI systems.
• Compare national readiness to see how different ICT environments shape what countries can absorb, operate, and govern across the AI stack.
• Clarify cross‑stack dependencies between ICT and AI systems, and how those dependencies affect operational resilience and national security.
• Separate ambition from reality, highlighting which layers of the AI technology stack are realistically scalable today — and which remain constrained by foundational infrastructure.

Confirmed discussion leader: Darci Pauser, Economic Officer, Cyberspace & Digital Policy Bureau and Emerging & Critical Technology Policy Office, US Department of State

Suggested topics:

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