As the global balance of power shifts, Southeast Asia finds itself at the crossroads of economic transformation, technological advancement, and strategic realignments. One key element in this evolving landscape is China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR), a crucial component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aimed at positioning China as the global technological superpower. This initiative promises to reshape the global digital order and could trigger a technological and normative rift with far-reaching geopolitical consequences.

In this episode, recorded live at PRIO, a panel of regional experts and researchers unpack the findings of a three-year project examining China’s digital technology exports to Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. How are these countries managing the promises and perils of digital infrastructure tied to Beijing’s ambitions? And what does it mean for sovereignty, governance, and global power?

From infrastructure and internet governance to normative influence and political risk, the conversation offers a comparative look at how Southeast Asia is responding to China’s rising digital influence.

Speakers:

• Dr. Ilaria Carrozza, PRIO
• Dr. Cheng-Chwee Kuik, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
• Julio Amador III, Ateneo de Manila University
• Habib Abiyan Dzakwan, CSIS Indonesia
• Chair: Nic Marsh, PRIO

🎙️ Tune in for a sharp, regionally grounded discussion on China’s Digital Silk Road and the digital futures of Southeast Asia.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There has been a steep increase in the reliance on AI tools for warfighting. This is unsurprising as AI allows for increased speed on the battlefield, better surveillance, tracking, target identification and validation, as well as more data-driven decision support both for identifying capabilities and for target selection. The increased reliance on AI has fueled a push for more weapons’ autonomy on the battlefield.

These changes to the way wars are fought have led to a range of ethical concerns around the use of AI for life-or-death decisions on the battlefield. In this episode, recorded live at PRIO, a panel of experts explores the implications of AI-driven warfare. What does it mean to delegate life-or-death decisions to algorithms? How should states and societies respond to this accelerating trend?

Panelists:

• Eivind Vad Petersson, State Secretary, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Jovana Davidovic, Senior Researcher, PRIO
• Mitt Regan, Professor of Law, Georgetown University

Moderator: Greg Reichberg, PRIO

🎙️ Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of AI, ethics, and modern conflict - and what’s at stake as the line between human and machine decision-making continues to blur.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025 marks a turning point for the global aid sector. While many donors are pulling back, Norway is charting a different course - reaffirming its commitment to flexible, principled funding and the strategic use of aid as soft power.

In this episode, recorded live at PRIO, a panel of leading scholars and practitioners explore how the current crisis in global aid might serve as an opportunity for transformation. Are we witnessing a reformist recalibration or a call to radically rethink the entire system?

From debates around localization and institutional memory to the role of evidence-based approaches and equitable participation, the conversation tackles the big questions shaping the future of aid.

Speakers:

• Erik Abild, NORAD
• Øyvind Eggen, Artikulert
• Gry Ballestad, Norwegian People’s Aid
• Ole Jacob Sending, NUPI & Centre for Geopolitics
• Simon Reid-Henry, PRIO
• Kristin Bergtora Sandvik, University of Oslo and PRIO

Chair: Maria Gabrielsen Jumbert, PRIO

🎙️ Listen now for an unflinching discussion on the ideas, tensions, and actors shaping the future of global aid - and Norway’s place within it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.