Rewiring the American Edge
Rewiring the American Edge
Podcast Description
Global conversations on innovation, automation, and the future of competitive cities.
Rewiring the American Edge is a podcast that explores building economies that are sustainable and inclusive in the era of automation and innovation. While rooted in the challenges and opportunities of the U.S. economy, the podcast invites voices from around the world—policymakers, technologists, labor leaders, and entrepreneurs—to share bold ideas and real-world strategies that transcend borders. Each episode explores trends such as: technologies reshaping work and urban life; global trends opportunities and challenges; specific investments, ideas, partnerships and policies to build a future-ready economy and workforce. This is a podcast for anyone committed to building smarter systems and stronger communities. Big ideas. Bold policies. Real impact. Rewired.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into themes such as innovation, automation, and urban economic strategies, with episodes discussing topics like labor market shifts driven by technology, global economic trends, and policies for inclusive growth. For example, the episode titled The Great Rewiring looks at the need for urban innovation and competitive strategies in response to rapid global changes.
Global conversations on innovation, automation, and the future of competitive cities.
Rewiring the American Edge is a podcast that explores building economies that are sustainable and inclusive in the era of automation and innovation. While rooted in the challenges and opportunities of the U.S. economy, the podcast invites voices from around the world—policymakers, technologists, labor leaders, and entrepreneurs—to share bold ideas and real-world strategies that transcend borders. Each episode explores trends such as: technologies reshaping work and urban life; global trends opportunities and challenges; specific investments, ideas, partnerships and policies to build a future-ready economy and workforce. This is a podcast for anyone committed to building smarter systems and stronger communities. Big ideas. Bold policies. Real impact. Rewired.
Summary
In this episode, hosts Billy Riggs and Vipul Vyas discuss the urgent need for the U.S. to keep pace with advancements in robotics and AI, particularly in light of China’s rapid progress. They explore the implications of cultural distrust and political paralysis in the U.S. that hinder innovation, while also emphasizing the importance of building trust in technology. The dialogue highlights the need for a strategic approach to AI and robotics in the U.S. to ensure competitiveness and ethical standards in the face of global challenges.
Takeaways
- The U.S. is experiencing a cultural distrust towards technology.
- China is accelerating its AI and robotics capabilities with state support.
- The U.S. needs a strategic government approach to AI and robotics.
- Cultural fear and political paralysis are hindering U.S. innovation.
- Building trust in technology is essential for future advancements.
- AI can improve accessibility and engagement in local governance.
- The U.S. must recognize its position relative to global competitors.
- Historical analogs can inform current technological challenges.
- The importance of ethical standards in AI development is growing.
- A collaborative approach is necessary to address technological disparities.
Sound Bites
- “The American edge isn’t American — it’s glocal. Our competitiveness depends on how we engage with the rest of the world, not how we isolate from it.” — Billy Riggs
- “Ninety percent of China’s economy is on track to integrate AI. That’s not experimentation — that’s commitment.” — Vipul Vyas
- “Distrust is America’s biggest barrier to innovation. We don’t have a technology problem — we have a confidence problem.”— Billy Riggs
- “Trust isn’t conferred — it’s earned. We’ll believe in AI the same way we came to believe in credit cards: when it works every time.”— Vipul Vyas
- “We need a U.S. strategy for AI and robotics — not just policies to regulate them, but a vision to lead with them.” — Billy Riggs
- “China builds factories of the future; we debate factories of the past.” — Vipul Vyas
Additional Resources
- Carnegie Endowment: https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2025/09/ai-china-90-percent-economy-why-wont-work?lang=en
- Washington Post: China best on AI Dominance https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/07/31/china-ai-united-states-control/
- NY Times: More Robots in Chine that Rest of the World https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/business/china-factory-robots.html
- San Jose Launches AI Language Access: https://sanjosestandard.com/san-jose-city-clerk-launches-artificial-intelligence-initiative-to-increase-language-access-at-city-council-meetings/
Chapters
00:00 – The Urgency of AI and Robotics
03:50 – The Global Entry Example: Do We Trust Technology?
05:49 – China’s Acceleration in AI and Robotics
06:21 – Are we hesitating while China is accelerating?
09:46 – The U.S. Response to AI and Robotics
15:15 – Local Innovations in AI for Accessibility
17:04 – Addressing Cultural Distrust and Political Challenges
21:25 – The Need for a Strategic U.S. Approach
21:47 – A need for a Sputnik moment
25:37 – Values and Ethics in AI Development
26:51 – Back to Billy’s Global Entry Experience: Building Trust in Technology
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