The New Technological Arms Race

When it comes to global dominance, military technology has always been a major geopolitical driver. For decades, the West set the rules on innovation using soft power and government funding to develop its own exclusive cutting-edge defensive capabilities. But in the digital era, the breakthroughs – be it AI systems and autonomous drones, satellite internet or advanced semiconductors – are coming from private companies, not government labs.

In his new book, Bytes and Bullets, Steve Feldstein uses captivating stories and original field research to show how the West’s dominance is being undercut at every turn by a combination of commercialisation, authoritarian convergence led by China and Russia, and the emergence of new regional powers hungry for more influence.

A new tech cold war is coming into focus fast and restrictions and sanctions are no longer enough to maintain international stability. Join us at The Conduit for a conversation from the front line of this pivotal moment in history, chaired by Formation Advisory’s Alex Krook, and an urgent call for the West to act now, or risk losing its international standing forever.

Event Schedule

6:15pm: Pre-event socialising and networking
A cash bar will be available for refreshments.

6:30pm: Event begins

7:45pm: Event ends

Speakers

Steven Feldstein is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a highly regarded thinker and speaker. Previously serving as a senior official at USAID, he is considered an international expert on technology, democracy, and national security. His first book, The Rise of Digital Repression, won the 2023 Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order. Feldstein has appeared on CNBC, C-SPAN, NPR, and BBC, and his writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Foreign Affairs, and Lawfare, among others.

Alex Krook joined Formation Advisory as Senior Associate in 2025 from the UK’s national research institute for data science and AI’s Public Policy Programme. She has held a range of cross-sector roles in communications, engagement and research, working in the UK and internationally. Alex holds an MSc in Digital Anthropology from University College London, with a focus on digital society and policy, and an MA in Modern History from the University of Oxford.