Strategic AI Systems Competition
Deployment. Capital. Infrastructure. Alliances.
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Artificial intelligence is no longer a software race.
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It is a systems race.
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The decisive question of this decade is not who builds the most advanced model — but who can finance, power, regulate, and deploy trusted AI systems at national and allied scale.
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Mark R. Kennedy writes and speaks at the intersection of AI deployment, capital markets, energy infrastructure, sovereign strategy, and alliance coordination.
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He serves as Director of the Development Research Institute at NYU and leads the Wahba Initiative for Strategic Competition, convening senior leaders across government, finance, technology, and energy to address AI stack deployment in a fragmented world.
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His work focuses on one central challenge:
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Can democracies deploy at scale — and sustain strategic advantage — in the age of AI?
Today: Strengthening Freedom Through Coherent Strategy
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Today, I serve as Director and Senior Fellow at New York University’s Development Research Institute (DRI), where I lead the Wahba Initiative for Strategic Competition (WISC). WISC advances democratic resilience through trusted technology, secure supply chains, modern alliances, and strategic infrastructure — helping the free world compete and cooperate effectively in a divided yet interdependent age.
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We focus on ensuring that the United States and its allies are equipped to lead responsibly in a world shaped by digital transformation and rising authoritarian pressure. This work builds on decades at the intersection of policy, innovation, and education — and continues my lifelong mission of creating systems that serve people.
Leading in Higher Education
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Higher education has played a central role in my life—from being the first boy in my family to earn a degree, to leading two public university systems through transformative times.
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Along the way, my wife Debbie and I funded scholarships for rural students like us—because we know how life-changing just one opportunity can be.
A Commitment to Public Service
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Service has been a through line in my work — whether in Congress, the university presidency, or global policy strategy.
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I’ve always believed leadership means listening first, respecting others, and focusing on results that improve lives.
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That’s why I worked across the aisle in Congress, founded the Economic Club of Minnesota to foster civic dialogue, and continue to convene global thinkers through WISC and NYU to explore how we can empower individuals, strengthen nations, and build trusted alliances amid digital disruption and geopolitical competition.
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Every platform I’ve had has been used to lift others — especially those who haven’t yet had their chance.
Staying Grounded, Looking Ahead
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I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice or having all the answers. It’s about staying grounded in values, showing up in moments that matter, and keeping your compass pointed toward service.
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From local communities to global coalitions, I remain guided by one conviction: freedom endures when democracies stay aligned — in purpose, in innovation, and in trust.
Featured Media
Goldman Sachs Podcast: Future of US–China Technology Competition - December 10, 2025
"Today's Frontline of Freedom is Digital" Speech - November 19, 2025
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We’re Where We Were a Year Ago: Time to Build Allied Leverage for a Better World - Interview on NewsNation TV with Connell McShane - October 30, 2025