World Affairs Council of Austin

WorldNow: The Global AI Race with Sebastian Mallaby
2026-05-20 17:15 - 18:15 (America/Chicago) | ONLINE
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the global balance of power. What does the AI race mean for security, power, and the world economy?

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the global balance of power. Nations are racing for advantage, companies are competing for dominance, and the quest for superintelligence is moving faster than ever.
Join us on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we sit down with Sebastian Mallaby, author of The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, DeepMind, & the Quest for Superintelligence and Senior Fellow for International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations.
From the rise of DeepMind and Silicon Valley to the intensifying global race for AI dominance, we’ll explore what this technological competition could mean for security, power, and the future of the world economy.
The details:
When: Wednesday, May 20 | 6:15pm-7:15pm Eastern
Where: Zoom Webinar

REGISTER HERE

The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, DeepMind, and the Quest for Superintelligence by Sebastian Mallaby
From one of our leading chroniclers of the intersection of innovation and capitalism, a landmark reckoning—based on unprecedented access—with one of the world’s most brilliant and driven tech visionaries, and his game-changing company.
“A fascinating portrait of Demis Hassabis, the influential thinker heading DeepMind, Google’s AI research laboratory…Mallaby captures Hassabis’ curiosity and relentless drive, weaving a vivid tapestry of collaborators, competitors, and engineers of modern AI systems…A tantalizing glimpse inside the pursuit of machine superintelligence.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Get yourself a copy of The Infinity Machine on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore

Partners

Fireside Chat with the Honorable Susan Harper, Consul General of Canada
2026-05-26 17:30 - 19:00
Join the World Affairs Council of Austin for a discussion about Canada’s role in a shifting global landscape.

This fireside‑chat–style discussion will explore how Canada is navigating a more fragmented and competitive global environment, while deepening—not retreating from—its economic and strategic relationship with the United States and Mexico. The conversation will connect global geopolitics directly to regional realities: investment decisions, technology development, energy markets, mobility of talent, and the role of Texas as a continental economic and policy actor.

This event is by invitation-only. Please notify us of your interest to receive an invitation by providing your contact information in the form below. Priority registration is available for World Affairs Council of Austin members. Bring your invitation to the event. Invitations are non-transferable.

REQUEST YOUR INVITATION HERE

The Middle East: Where are We Now, and What are the Geopolitical Implications for the Future?
2026-06-17 17:30 - 19:00
Recent developments in the Middle East have raised important questions about regional stability, international relations, global energy markets, and the broader geopolitical landscape. How might current tensions shape the future of the region and its relationships with major global powers? What could the evolving situation mean for international trade, security, and diplomatic engagement?
This panel discussion will examine the current dynamics in the Middle East, including the strategic significance of the Strait of Hormuz and the potential long-term implications for regional and global affairs. The conversation will explore a range of perspectives on how recent events may influence geopolitical alignments and international policy in the months and years ahead.
Please join us and hear a timely and insightful discussion with our distinguished panelists.
This event is by invitation-only. Please notify us of your interest to receive an invitation by providing your contact information in the form below. Priority registration is available for World Affairs Council of Austin members. Bring your invitation to the event. Invitations are non-transferable.
REQUEST YOUR INVITATION HERE
About the panelists:
Ambassador (ret.) Larry E. André, Jr. retired from the State Department’s Senior Foreign Service in May 2023 after a 38-year career in global public affairs. During his 33 years at the U.S. State Department, he served in a mix of leadership, policy, and management positions.
Ambassador André’s leadership positions included serving as Ambassador to Somalia, Djibouti, and Mauritania. He also served as Chargé d’affaires, U.S. Embassy, South Sudan; Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Tanzania; Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Sierra Leone; Director, Office of the Presidential Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan; and Deputy Director, Office of West African Affairs. He also served in the Middle East with the Embassy in Iraq.
Ambassador André is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award, Global Reporting Award, and several other honors. In 2023, Amb. André was inducted into the American Academy of Diplomacy.

Matthew Bey is a Senior Global Analyst at RANE, where he focuses on geopolitical risk management for organizations across sectors and a wide range of international relations topics. Matthew has focused heavily on political, economic, and security issues in the Middle East and Africa. He also covers several international topics relating to global governance, technology, trade, and the oil and gas industry. Matthew has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Texas Lutheran University and a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Jeremi Suri holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a professor in the University’s Department of History and the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Professor Suri is the author and editor of eleven books on politics and foreign policy, most recently: Civil War By Other Means: America’s Long and Unfinished Fight for Democracy. His other books include: The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America’s Highest Office; Liberty’s Surest Guardian: American Nation-Building from the Founders to Obama; Henry Kissinger and the American Century; and Power and Protest: Global Revolution and the Rise of Détente. His writings appear in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, CNN.com, Atlantic, Newsweek, Time, Wired, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and other media. Professor Suri is a popular public lecturer and comments frequently on radio and television news. His writing and teaching have received numerous prizes, including the President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Texas and the Pro Bene Meritis Award for Contributions to the Liberal Arts. Professor Suri also hosts a weekly podcast, “This is Democracy.

Globalist Coffeehouse: The Middle East
2026-06-24 18:30 - 19:30 | Shoal Creek Saloon, 909 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
Please join like-minded “global thinkers” for what will be a very lively discussion with your fellow World Affairs Council members.
This month, our open social group discussion will focus on recent developments in the Middle East, and the broader geopolitical landscape. What are your thoughts on how current tensions will shape the future of the region and international relations? What do you think the evolving situation means for global trade, security, and diplomatic engagement? We look forward to hearing from you!

WorldNow: The Future of War
2026-07-15 18:00 - 19:00 | ONLINE
On this special edition of WorldNow with Jim Falk, we sit down with Elliot Ackerman, author of 2084: A Novel of the Future of War.

What will war look like in 2084 – in a world devastated by climate change?
Join us on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we sit down with Elliot Ackerman, author of 2084: A Novel of the Future of War; NYT bestselling author, and contributing writer at The Atlantic.
In 2084, decorated military officers and award-winning authors Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis write a world on the brink of war, divided between equatorial countries ravaged by climate change and the wealthier, politically fractured countries like China and the U.S. 2084 follows their two previous novels, envisioning a war between the U.S. and China in 2034 and the breakdown of American politics fueled by AI in 2054
The details:
When: Wednesday, July 15 | 6:00pm-7:00pm CDT
Where: Zoom Webinar

2084 (A Novel of Future War) by Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis
“Gripping…Ackerman and Stavridis stage a harrowing global conflict that pits military might against an appetite for justice… equal parts haunting and entertaining.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
A gripping drama and chilling prophecy about the possible path to war for a planet devastated by climate change
In their novel 2034, decorated military officers and award-winning authors Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis imagined a war between the US and China. In their follow-up novel, 2054, they envisioned a breakdown in American politics fueled by a radical advance in AI. Now they make their boldest, most astonishing, and arguably most necessary leap—imagining the consequences of a climate war.
By the year 2084, the world is divided into the equatorial countries that bear the brunt of the climate crisis—led by Nigeria, Brazil, and Indonesia—and wealthier countries like China and the US, beset by their own problems after a series of civil wars. Tensions between the two sets of countries have reached a breaking point, until finally the so-called Reparationist nations of the equator decide that only military force can bring them justice.
A fascinating and disturbingly plausible extrapolation from current realities, 2084, like other classics of the genre such as Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future and Neal Stephenson’s Termination Shock, deploys a global cast of characters, all protecting their interests as the fate of human civilization hangs in the balance. Individuals often seem small in the face of the forces that drive global change, but in the end human agency proves surprisingly decisive. Big doors can swing on small hinges. We have it within ourselves to write a different destiny, if only we can imagine it.
Get yourself a copy of 2084 on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore

Partners
WorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide:

Critical Rare Earths/Strategic Minerals: Geopolitical Competition Among Major Powers
2026-09-23 17:30 - 19:00
Join us on this special evening as we welcome back distinguished speaker, Dr. Sharyl Cross. Dr. Cross will provide details about the competition among China, Russia and the United States in the area of critical rare earths/strategic minerals.
This event is by invitation-only. Please notify us of your interest to receive an invitation by providing your contact information in the form below. Priority registration is available for World Affairs Council of Austin members. Bring your invitation to the event. Invitations are non-transferable.

REQUEST YOUR INVITATION HERE
Dr. Sharyl Cross is Distinguished Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at St. Edward’s University. She served previously in the College of International and Security Studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch Germany, U.S. Air War College at Maxwell AFB and as Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the United States Air Force Academy. Professor Cross earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles with concentrations in international relations, comparative politics (Soviet Union/Russia/ Eurasia/Eastern Europe and Latin America regional concentrations), and American foreign and security policy. She held appointments as a U.S. Fulbright Visiting Senior Research Scholar and Professor at the Institute of USA and Canada Studies and Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Visiting Professor of Transatlantic Security and International Political Studies at Science-Po Lille, Kennan Institute Woodrow Wilson Center, post-Doctoral Fellowship Scholar at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and resident fellowship scholar and consultant at the RAND Corporation. Dr. Cross published China, Russia, and Twenty First Century Global Geopolitics co-authored with Paul J. Bolt Oxford University Press and has published extensively on issues of international security, foreign policy and geopolitics in leading professional peer reviewed journals. She is offering a new course in 2026 on Applied Geopolitical Risk in support of a certificate concentration for the programs in Political Science and International Affairs at St. Edward’s University. Her students, engaged this semester in regional research initiatives exploring the relevance of rare earth minerals to global geopolitics and risk, will present their conclusions next week at a session sponsored by World Affairs Council Austin in cooperation with the Global Affairs Society at St. Edward’s University.
