Helen Toner Takes the Reins at CSET

, the new interim Executive Director of CSET who substacks at , makes her ChinaTalk debut. Present since the founding of CSET, Helen has had a front-row seat to the drama shaping today’s AI world — including a stint on OpenAI’s board.

Today our conversation covers…

• What it means to run CSET in 2025, and how to keep think tank work rigorous and relevant in the age of AI,

• The “good-faith” vs “dark arts” actors shaping Washington’s AI policy debate,

• What her recent trip to China revealed about how Beijing is thinking (and not thinking) about AI,

• Why AI progress might stay “jagged,” and what that means for AI policy,

• Plus: why Jordan can’t fall in love with AI.

Listen now on your favorite podcast app.

The 2026 Tarbell Fellowship is now open. You could come work with us at ChinaTalk! Apply here.

Don’t just take it from me. Take it from our current Tarbell Fellow, , on his experience so far:

“Tarbell placed me at ChinaTalk for a year, fully funded! It’s been a dream setup to report seriously on China, tech, and AI. The fellowship’s training covers both journalism and the fundamentals of AI, which makes it one of the best on-ramps for people who didn’t come up through traditional reporting or AI pathways.

I always thought about tech journalism but assumed I missed my chance after college. Tarbell gave me another shot. ChinaTalk gives me the freedom to chase questions I’m genuinely curious about in the China–AI space, paired with a team that constantly reads each other’s work, shares articles, and brainstorms ideas. You’ll be producing impactful work for a large audience, but you’ll also be learning every day.

At ChinaTalk, I spend my time digging into the semiconductor supply chain, Chinese AI models, U.S.–China relations, and whatever else I get excited by. If that sounds like your idea of fun, apply!”

Think Tanks in the Age of AI

Jordan Schneider: As the new interim Executive Director of CSET, are you excited to rip up everything they’ve created and remake it in the image of Helen Toner? What is your vision for the future of CSET?

Helen Toner: If there’s one thing that I have learned from the many friends and colleagues who’ve rotated in and out of government, it’s that your day-one mission should be reorganization. Step in, tear everything up, and change ...