Candice’s Current Thinking
Weekly analysis and perspectives on the AI and policy landscape.
THIS WEEK IN AI
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.
THIS WEEK IN AI
Each week I synthesize the key developments in AI and public policy so you don't have to. Here's what I'm watching:
• President Trump announced Nvidia will be allowed to sell H200 chips to China with a 25% cut for the U.S. government
• The administration signed an executive order challenging state AI regulations, prompting pushback from state lawmakers
• The federal government launched U.S. Tech Force to hire more engineers and DOD launched GenAI.mil
Taken together, this week's developments underscore critical priorities for tech companies: addressing national security concerns from Congress, navigating competing federal and state regulatory priorities, and deepening government partnerships.
THIS WEEK IN AI
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 White House is preparing an executive order to override state AI laws
• The administration released its National Security Strategy reaffirming AI as a vital national interest
• Local pushback is delaying data center projects across dozens of states
Taken together, this week’s news underscores the ongoing battle over AI regulation and the competing interests of federal and state authorities, the tech industry, and local communities.
THIS WEEK IN AI
Each week I synthesize key developments in AI and public policy so you don’t have to. Here’s what I’m watching:
• The White House launched the Genesis Mission for AI-enabled scientific discovery
• AWS announced a $50B expansion of federal AI infrastructure
• Bipartisan legislation from SSCI members aims to protect U.S. AI from foreign adversaries
Together, these developments show rare bipartisan alignment around a strategic reality: U.S. AI leadership depends on deep public-private sector partnerships that both accelerate innovation and defend against threats.
THIS WEEK IN AI
Each week I synthesize the key developments in AI and public policy so you don’t have to. Here’s what I’m watching:
• AI companies increasingly relying on debt to finance compute
• A draft White House order targeting state-level AI laws paused
• Europe delaying enforcement of high-risk AI rules
Together these stories show how AI is reshaping the global regulatory landscape.
Owning the Future of Quantum Computing
On October 23, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration was exploring equity stakes in U.S. quantum computing companies like IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum. The story surfaced just days before President Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which took place on the sidelines of the APEC Summit amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade and tech restrictions.
The Commerce Department denied they were “currently” in talks with quantum companies, careful phrasing that neither addressed prior discussions nor ruled out future ones. Quantum stocks rose and remained up, even after the denial.
Candice Bryant Consulting provides strategic intelligence, public affairs advisory, and communications strategy for organizations operating at the intersection of AI and emerging tech policy, national security and public-private partnerships.
“This is a 1996 moment for AI — the companies that show up in Washington will shape the next decade.”
— Candice Bryant