In Financial Times, I explore why the Chinese Communist Party seems far less "AGI-pilled"—very focused on AI diffusion, less on the prospect of artificial general intelligence. Do they feel constrained by export controls? Doubt AGI hype? Conceal their interest? 1/2 ft.com/content/9f5cbe…

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It's hard to know what to make of this post, which comes seven weeks after Demetri broke the story of the AUKUS review, which was supposedly going to take 30 days. Without having any knowledge of internal Pentagon politics, it feels like this review is now on a more secure footing.

Bret Stephens argues the Trump presidency has taken a better turn: nytimes.com/2025/07/29/opi…

Unwise.

Congratulations to The Lowy Institute alumnus Senator Jessica Collins, who made her first speech to the Australian Senate last night. Jess made a significant contribution to the Institute’s work on the Pacific and we're excited to see her take that expertise to Canberra.

If Kamala Harris won’t back herself to win the California gubernatorial race, she certainly isn’t going to be the next Democratic presidential nominee. nytimes.com/2025/07/30/us/… via @NYTimes

Don't miss this The Lowy Institute debate between Jennifer Parker and Sam Roggeveen on Australia's security strategy, the US role in Asia, AUKUS and more. Join us at Bligh Street or online next Thursday 7 August 👇resources.lowyinstitute.org/events/how-to-…

Kash Patel is across the ditch.

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The Tariffs Kicked In. The Sky Didn’t Fall. Were the Economists Wrong? Clear analysis by Jason Furman. nytimes.com/2025/07/31/opi… via @NYTOpinion

Australian author Geraldine Brooks has collaborated with Kamala Harris on her campaign memoir ‘107 Days’. nytimes.com/2025/07/31/boo…

The The Lowy Institute is looking for an experienced and ambitious Director of Research to lead and oversee our globally recognised research and analysis. Details and how to apply here 👉 lowyinstitute.org/about/careers

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I’m not sure why Kamala Harris is emphasising the shortness of her presidential campaign. The longer it went on, the worse she did.

After skipping the California governor’s race, she should make the same call on the presidency, @MattBai writes. wapo.st/3HaSpgJ

This is a great job. Check it out.

Michael Fullilove, Executive Director of the The Lowy Institute, notes to UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy that it has been nearly 60 years since a British Foreign Secretary last visited Australia. You can watch full livestream of the event here: youtube.com/live/SLKFANYC7…

The ⁦The Wall Street Journal⁩ goes in hard on ⁦Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth⁩. wsj.com/politics/natio…

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