5 Questions with Will Hurd, Former CIA, Former Member of Congress, Former Presidential Candidate, and AI Expert
Where do I even start when it comes to Will Hurd ?? His resume reads like a Tom Clancy novel!
For those who don't know, Will has spent his career at the intersection of technology, national security, and leadership.
Graciously accepting my 5 Questions interview invitation, Will argues that for the U.S. to maintain its global AI leadership, we must embrace its use, understand its limitations, and verify its outputs—because like humans, AI is fallible.
Beyond technology, he stresses the urgent need to modernize education, ensuring that every student has access to personalized learning to stay competitive in an AI-driven world.
According to Will, leadership isn’t just about keeping up with change—it’s about anticipating and shaping it. He challenges leaders to stop thinking linearly and embrace exponential shifts, fostering creativity, risk-taking, and adaptability.
Drawing from his time in Congress, he highlights how finding common ground and building trust can drive real progress, even in divided environments.
This is a must-read for anyone looking to understand AI, prepare for the future of work, and lead with vision in uncertain times.
AI and Global Competition: With your experience addressing the "New Cold War with China," what steps should the U.S. take to ensure ethical AI leadership while staying competitive on the global stage? And how should businesses prepare for the evolving landscape?
To keep our global leadership position on AI we need to do something simple – encourage its use. If you want to harness AI’s potential, you must know its limitations. If you want to prevent AI from causing harm, you must understand its power. If you want to regulate AI, you need to understand it intimately. But when you use it more, make sure you verify its output. Just like humans, AI systems are fallible.
We also need to modernize our education policies to harness the power of AI. Every student, regardless of their background or location, should have access to high-quality, personalized education. By embracing AI in schools, we can address education inequality, which is the root cause of income inequality.
AI is causing the nature of work to change, but the need for human skills and judgment remains. Our challenge, then, is not to resist this change, but to prepare for it. We must ensure our workforce is ready and able to adapt to these evolving industries and job roles. This means investing in education, retraining programs, and fostering a culture of lifelong learning.
If we use AI, verify its output, modernize how we use it in education, and focus on lifelong learning then we won’t lose our leadership position in this global race.
Leadership at Times of Uncertainty: Whether it was stopping terrorist plots, preparing businesses for cyber threats, or adapting to the Age of AI, you've been at the forefront of leading during times of uncertainty. What are the key traits leaders need to successfully navigate uncertainty and rapid change?
The technological change we're going to see over the next 44 years is going to make the last 44 years—since the dawn of the personal computer—look like we were a bunch of monkeys playing in the dirt with sticks.
The question we need to ask ourselves is, “Are you prepared to keep up with this kind of change? Are we prepared to take advantage of technology before it takes advantage of us?”
To be prepared, we must stop thinking linearly and think hyperbolically. As individuals we need to embrace continuous adaptation. Learning and evolving are ongoing processes. As business units, we must foster creativity. Always challenge the status quo and allow for risk taking. As companies and businesses, don’t just react to change, shape the future. To use a hockey analogy, skate to where the puck is going. And our government, at a minimum, needs to ensure new technologies follow existing laws.
Most importantly, don’t be scared. We can survive in times of unprecedented transformation by thinking boldly and staying agile.
Lessons from the 'Most Interesting Man in Congress': Throughout your tenure in Congress, you were known for getting things done across party lines. What practical strategies can leaders in business and politics use to drive results despite competing interests?
Start with the things you agree on. Through all my experiences, I’ve become even more firm in my belief that way more unites us as a country than divides us. Achieving results requires focusing on shared goals rather than political differences. This is easier to do if you build personal relationships outside of formal settings, focus on specific, achievable outcomes, and be willing to give others credit for shared successes.
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Most importantly, you have to build trust.
Trust is earned and the best way to earn it is to ensure your audio and video match. Make sure you do what you say you are going to do and live your life in accordance with the values you preach.
The Future of the GOP: What do you see as the biggest opportunities for the Republican Party to modernize and connect with younger, more diverse voters?
The Republican Party, under a second term of President Trump, has a unique opportunity to drive a technological revolution within government. As someone who was often referred to as the "IT procurement guy" during my time in Congress, I’m encouraged by the growing conversations in both traditional and new media about modernizing IT systems and leveraging cutting-edge technologies.
Younger and more diverse voters want to see tangible government action that directly benefits their communities and engages with them where they are. This presents a significant opportunity for the GOP to lead boldly and demonstrate innovation in governance.
What’s Next for Will Hurd?: With your new role at CHAOS Industries and ongoing involvement in AI policy, what excites you most about the future?
At CHAOS Industries , we are helping protect our warfighter against the most dangerous threats by engineering tools based on revolutionary science. It’s exciting to be part of preparing for a world increasingly influenced by autonomy, where innovation will define the future of security and defense.
Being involved with a company at the cutting edge of technological change, I often think about something my grandmother would always tell me.
My Grandma Alice was born in 1913 and died in 1987. She lived for 74 years, and she would always say, “I went from the horse and buggy to the man on the moon.” Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908 but horses and buggies were around until the 1920s. Even though my grandma lived 18 more years after Neil Armstrong walked on the moon – she viewed that event as the seminal technological achievement in her lifetime.
If my horse and buggy is the typewriter, which I used in 7th grade, I can’t wait to see what I think my man on the moon event is in 2051 when I’m 74.
ChatGPT/Generative AI: Do you use it? Why, or why not? Yes. It's a tool like a computer, phone, or calculator.
Corporate leader you admire most? Magic Johnson
Best career advice you've ever received? Do something meaningful and hard.
Most impactful book you've read? The 4 Disciplines of Execution, by McChesney and Covey
Interested in reading more 5 Questions profiles?
Librarian
3 周I am waiting to see you interview ordinary people doing extraordinary things such as Teachers, School Principals and Administrators, Librarians and Library Directors, First Responders, etc.
Public and Government Affairs, Communications
4 周Will Hurd’s departure from Congress and public life is dispiriting for all who value intellect, thoughtfulness, problem-solving, and moderation.
Fortune 50 Corporate Officer @ FedEx (NYSE: FDX) I Chief Lobbyist I Senior Government and Corporate Affairs Executive l Public Policy l Risk Mitigation I NACD Directorship Certified l Independent Director
4 周Two of my favorite people, Tiffany M. Moore and Will Hurd!