About this episode
In this episode of The Bridgecast, host Scott Kinka welcomes Paul Lekas, Executive Vice President of Global Public Policy and Government Affairs at the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA), to explore the intersection of tech policy, national security, and operational strategy. With a career spanning three presidential administrations and senior roles at the Department of Defense, Paul offers a rare, high-level view of the legislative forces currently shaping the AI landscape.The conversation dives into the growing tension between federal and state governments, where over 1,500 AI-related bills were introduced last year alone. Paul explains why the SIIA is advocating for federal oversight of AI models to prevent a "confusing field" of 50 different sets of rules that could hinder economic growth and innovation. For mid-market leaders, he provides a pragmatic framework for AI governance: map your data, categorize your systems by risk, and ensure your engineers are in constant dialogue with your legal team.What you will learn:The distinction between AI "developers" and "deployers" and why it matters for your liabilityWhy the federal government should have sole authority for AI model oversightHow to identify "high-risk" AI scenarios in healthcare, finance, and employmentPractical steps for data mapping and conducting AI impact assessmentsWhy the court system—not new legislation—is currently the best place to settle AI copyright disputesThe emerging policy focus on AI infrastructure and data center licensing Paul Lekas is the Executive Vice President of Global Public Policy and Government Affairs at the SIIA, representing nearly 400 companies across the technology and information sectors. A graduate of Harvard Law, Paul has a distinguished background in public service, having co-authored recommendations for the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence and served as senior counsel at the Department of Defense. His work now focuses on bridging the gap between fast-moving innovation and the educational needs of government enforcers and lawmakers. To find out how Bridgepointe Technologies helps businesses make IT decisions faster with world-class engineering support and ongoing guidance, head to https://bridgepointetechnologies.com/Episode Highlights:[14:38] Build Your AI Governance Stack—Before Regulators Build It for YouPaul’s advice for CIOs is the clearest playbook you’ll hear: any company using AI needs a governance mechanism where engineers, lawyers, and business stakeholders are in active conversation with each other—not in silos. That means mapping y
