AI, China, Globalization and America’s Next Era

Is AI just another technological shift — or a full-scale transformation of how the world works?

In this episode of Coffee With Ken, Ken Biberaj sits down with three-time Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman for a sweeping conversation on artificial intelligence, geopolitics, and the future of globalization.

Recorded live in Washington, DC and hosted by Center for the Study of the Presidency And Congress , the discussion captures a moment of profound transition. As AI accelerates and global tensions rise, Friedman frames this era not as incremental change, but as a “phase change”—a shift as fundamental as the printing press or the internet. In his words, we are moving from an age of information into something entirely new, where AI is embedded in everything and reshaping how societies, economies, and governments function.

Together, Ken and Tom explore how this technological transformation intersects with U.S.-China competition, the evolving global order, and the growing gap between innovation and governance. From supply chains and trade to national security and democracy, the conversation highlights the complexity of navigating a world where everything is connected—and accelerating.

This is not just a conversation about technology. It’s a conversation about power, trust, and how we adapt to a world changing faster than our institutions can keep up.

Key Takeaways from the Conversation

We Are Living Through a “Phase Change”

AI represents a fundamental shift—not just an advancement. Like the printing press or the internet, it is transforming how information flows and how societies operate.

AI Is Becoming Infrastructure

Unlike past technologies, AI is embedding itself into everything, from healthcare to transportation, reshaping entire systems rather than individual tools.

Governance Is Lagging Behind Innovation

There is a growing disconnect between rapidly advancing technologies and institutions that are not equipped to regulate or understand them.

Global Competition Is Being Redefined

The future of power will depend not just on who builds AI, but who applies it effectively across their economy and governance systems.

Globalization Is Being Rewritten

From supply chains to trade relationships, AI is accelerating a shift toward a more complex, interconnected, and unpredictable global system.

Why This Conversation Matters

We are entering a new era where technology, geopolitics, and economics are no longer separate conversations—they are deeply intertwined.

As AI reshapes industries and nations compete to define its future, the stakes extend beyond innovation. They touch national security, economic opportunity, and the stability of global systems.

This conversation is a reminder that we are not just witnessing change—we are living through a transformation that will define the next era of human progress.

At Coffee With Ken, these are the conversations that matter—bringing together leaders and thinkers to better understand the forces shaping our world.

About the Guest

Thomas Friedman is a three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and foreign affairs columnist for The New York Times. Known for his work on globalization, technology, and geopolitics, Friedman has spent decades analyzing the forces shaping the modern world. His insights continue to influence policymakers, business leaders, and global audiences alike.