AI is reshaping our world as profoundly as past technological revolutions: the printing press, the Industrial Age, and the Digital Revolution. Its rapid advancement presents both extraordinary opportunities and significant risks. How will AI affect industries, national economies, and global governance? How can businesses and policymakers ensure AI remains a tool for human progress rather than unchecked disruption or vice?

Join Shane Tews and Father Paolo Benanti, a theologian and ethicist for the Vatican on AI, for a thought-provoking interactive discussion that transcends traditional debates on values and policy to examine AI's broader psychological, philosophical, and even theological implications. This discussion will offer a unique perspective on balancing innovation and opportunities with ethical responsibility, ensuring AI remains human-centered.

Space-based satellite networks are transforming global connectivity, extending access to even the most remote corners of the planet. The rules that govern these networks have never been more critical. How does satellite spectrum actually function? Why is there an increasing need to revise the regulations that oversee it? And what are the key components of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) proposed reforms?

In this episode, Shane Tews is joined by Jay Schwarz, chief of the Federal Communications Commission’s space bureau. Together, they unpack the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and solicit comments regarding updates to satellite spectrum–sharing rules. The FCC will assess how these changes could affect competition between geostationary and nongeostationary satellite providers and examine the technical and policy challenges of implementing potential new regulations.

As social media platforms integrate personalization technology, questions around privacy, transparency, and user choice are becoming increasingly pronounced. What does personalization really mean for users? How do platforms like Facebook and Instagram decide what content or ads you see? And how can companies ensure that personalization enhances user experience without compromising data privacy?

In this episode, Shane Tews sits down with Rob Sherman, Vice President and Deputy Chief Privacy Officer for Policy at Meta. They take a look behind the curtain and discuss the mechanics behind personalization on Meta’s platforms, as well as how users can benefit from this technology. Rob shares insights from over a decade at Meta, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at how personalization works and how platforms aim to make it more transparent and responsible.

Amid debates over spectrum allocation, critical questions about national security, communication infrastructure, and connectivity continue to take center stage. What does spectrum sharing involve? How does spectrum sharing enhance the efficiency of limited spectrum resources? And what impact does it have on deploying emerging technologies like 5G and AI-driven networks?

In this episode, Shane Tews and Peter Rysavy explore spectrum management challenges, sharing opportunities, and technological impacts on 5G networks, emphasizing regulatory frameworks and innovation for optimal spectrum usage. Peter is a wireless technology expert and the President of Rysavy Research, a technology consulting firm. He is also the executive director of the Wireless Technology Association, an organization that evaluates wireless technologies.

Web browsers are built for convenience—prioritizing speed, compatibility, and ease of use. But what happens when a browser isn’t for just an individual user but for an entire enterprise? In today’s cybersecurity landscape, where threats are constant and data breaches can be catastrophic, organizations need more than just a traditional browser. They need a secure enterprise browser designed to protect corporate data, enforce security policies, and seamlessly integrate with existing IT frameworks without compromising user experience.

In this episode, Shane Tews sits down with Scott “Monty” Montgomery, vice president at Island.io, to explore how enterprise browsers redefine security in the digital workspace. They discuss the critical differences between consumer and enterprise browsers, why identity-aware security is essential, and how businesses can fortify their operations against evolving cyber threats.

Digital solutions for vehicle titling and registration are transforming how DMVs operate, replacing slow bureaucratic processes with efficient blockchain-based systems. Through successful partnerships with state governments, companies offering these digital services have demonstrated significant time and cost savings in vehicle-related transactions. This proven track record in modernizing DMV operations creates opportunities to expand similar technological solutions across other government functions, streamlining services beyond the transportation sector.

In today’s episode of Explain to Shane, Shane interviews Shane Bigelow, CEO of Champ Titles, a company that specializes in digitizing government and business processes. Under Bigelow‘s leadership, Champ Titles has focused on transforming traditional vehicle titling systems with blockchain technology, aiming to reduce costs and improve efficiency in government operations. Before founding Champ Titles, Bigelow gained valuable insights into blockchain’s potential for societal impact while serving as senior vice president and managing director at AllianceBernstein.

The United States faces a critical drug shortage crisis every day that jeopardizes patient care across medical specialties. The problem is staggering: 83 percent of oncologists cannot prescribe their preferred chemotherapy treatments, and a shocking 96 percent of these drug shortages stem from human manufacturing issues. In 2023, drug shortages reached a 10-year high, with 309 critical medications in short supply.

These shortages have profound real-world consequences, affecting thousands of patients annually. For Laura Bray, the issue became intensely personal when her nine-year-old daughter was unable to receive her doctor’s recommended medicine after being diagnosed with leukemia. Drawing on her personal experience and business management background, Laura was motivated to take action. She founded and is the chief changemaker at Angels for Change, a nonprofit organization committed to ensuring access to lifesaving medications by ending drug shortages. Laura is also an adjunct business professor at Hillsborough Community College. Before academia, Laura worked in marketing strategy and small-business management and consulting.

As India's economic landscape evolves amid population growth, crafting regulations that foster progress is critical. But how can India leverage its advanced digital infrastructure and young workforce to drive innovation and create sustainable job opportunities? What regulatory reforms could help create an environment that encourages start-up growth and technological entrepreneurship? And how do proposed reforms like the draft Digital Competition Bill shape up?

In this conversation, Shane Tews is joined by Shruti Rajagopalan and Shreyas Narla. Shruti is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center and a fellow at the Classical Liberal Institute at the New York University School of Law. She leads the India Political Economy program and Emergent Ventures India at Mercatus. Shreyas is a research scholar with the India Political Economy program at Mercatus.

Join us as they explore the challenges regulatory frameworks pose, the importance of digital infrastructure, and the need for reforms to foster innovation and growth in India's economy.