THIS WEEK IN AI
Candice Bryant Consulting
Strategic Intelligence & Public Affairs
Each week I synthesize the key developments in AI and public policy so you don't have to. Here's what I'm watching:
• The U.S. arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a military operation. Explanations focused only on drugs and oil are incomplete and overlook other critical issues over which the U.S. and China have sparred.
• Chinese AI Lab DeepSeek published new breakthrough research.
• China reportedly may place conditions on H200 imports.
Three stories, one through-line. For tech companies navigating this space, demonstrating commitment to national security priorities—not just market position—is increasingly essential.
How to Read This Newsletter: This Week in AI applies the same principles of concise writing used to brief busy policymakers. Each entry contains a summary and analysis—if you already know what happened, jump straight to "What I'm Watching" for insights.
1. U.S. Military Operation in Venezuela
On January 3, 2026, the U.S. conducted a military operation in Venezuela (under law enforcement authority), capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and transporting them to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Trump announced the U.S. would temporarily "run" Venezuela to ensure a stable transition. Venezuela's Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of acting president for 90 days, though the situation remains fluid. Rodríguez has called for Maduro's immediate release while also signaling willingness for dialogue with the U.S.
What I'm Watching:
Narratives that focus entirely on drugs and oil in attempting to explain this weekend's events are incomplete. The November 2025 National Security Strategy outlined the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, stating the U.S. would seek to "deny non-Hemispheric competitors the ability to … own or control strategically vital assets in our Hemisphere." Venezuela has substantial deposits of critical minerals needed for advanced tech manufacturing and is a close economic partner to China. China is the leading refiner of critical minerals globally and has attempted to use this position as leverage against the United States, imposing restrictions. In an interview following the operation, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized Venezuela’s critical minerals, saying the country had a rich history of mining that has gone “rusty” and that President Trump was going to “bring it back.”
2. DeepSeek Publishes New AI Training Method
Chinese AI lab DeepSeek published a research paper detailing a new training approach designed to scale LLMs more easily. DeepSeek is reportedly working on its next flagship model, which has faced delays due to shortages of advanced AI chips. DeepSeek made the paper available to researchers worldwide, as it has done in the past.
What I'm Watching:
Some industry analysts have framed DeepSeek's willingness to publish breakthrough research openly as a strategic advantage, arguing it could have a ripple effect across the industry. This approach is analogous to the collaborative spirit behind the U.S. Genesis Mission, which the White House launched in November 2025 calling for public-private partnership to supercharge scientific discovery through AI. Both initiatives represent a shift toward viewing AI training methods not just as corporate intellectual property, but as vital infrastructure for national security and economic competitiveness.
3. H200 Update
Following the White House's recent approval of Nvidia H200 chip sales to China, Chinese tech companies have ordered more than 2 million for 2026. However, Beijing has yet to approve any shipments and is reportedly considering requiring companies to bundle H200 purchases with domestically produced chips.
What I'm Watching:
As shared in our last newsletter, some lawmakers have been openly critical of the policy to allow H200 chip exports to China and have called on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to testify before Congress. China's potential bundling requirement is likely to embolden critics, unsatisfied with the argument that allowing the sale of the more advanced chips would increase China’s dependency.
