During a discussion on the future of AI hosted by Graham Allison at the Harvard Institute of Politics, former Google chairman Eric Schmidt extrapolated the future of geopolitics, stating that “future national security issues will be determined by how quickly you can innovate against the solution.” Schmidt articulated his belief in the ultimate substitution of soft power with “innovative power” in geopolitics and candidly described the benefits of AI while admitting that the threats are “quite profound.” Schmidt spoke on six areas of significant relevance for the future of AI.

October 31 update: Ongoing stalemate. Ukraine held another peace conference attended by over 60 countries, but not Russia or China. Net territorial change in the past month: Ukraine +16 square miles.

After weeks of stalemate, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson was elected as the new Speaker of the House on Oct. 25, 2023. Johnson, who was elected to Congress in 2016, initially expressed support for Ukraine in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war, stating that the United States “should impose debilitating sanctions on Russia’s economic interests.” However, Johnson has since shown resistance to the provision of aid for Ukraine. For instance, he stated that the U.S. should not provide additional aid “when our own border is in chaos, American mothers are struggling to find baby formula, gas prices are at record highs and American families are struggling to make ends meet, without sufficient oversight over where the money will go.” This stance has earned him an “F” on the GOP Congressional Report Card, both in terms of his voting patterns as well as his anti-Ukraine statements.

October 24 update: No significant territorial change. Biden gave a speech on US aid for Ukraine, arguing that if not stopped, Putin “won’t limit himself just to Ukraine.” Net territorial change in the past month: Ukraine +16 square miles.

October 17 update: Continued stalemate. Zelensky confirmed Ukraine’s first use of ATACMS missiles from US, against airfields in Russian-occupied Ukraine. Net territorial change in the past month: Ukraine +3 square miles.

October 10 update: No significant territorial change. Putin said Russia may withdraw from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Net territorial change in the past month: Ukraine +8 square miles.

October 3 update: Persistent stalemate. US short-term spending bill passed without Ukraine funding, but several months of short-term aid remains available. Net territorial change in the past month: Ukraine +7 square miles.

Speaking to BBC on Sept. 10, 2023, America’s outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Mark Milley predicted that the weather will continue to favor fighting in Ukraine until about Oct. 10-25. “There's still a reasonable amount of time, probably about 30 to 45 days' worth of fighting weather left, so the Ukrainians aren't done,” the general said. Milley, whose JCS role ends Oct. 1, could have a plausible weather forecast we do not have access to. Or he could be speaking from the experience of watching (and advising on one side) the Russian and Ukrainian forces as they battled each other last fall and winter. If so, does this very recent history (October 2022-February 2023) support the proposition that “Generals Mud and Frost” may force the Ukrainian and Russian forces to scale down combat and enter a seasonal stalemate? Here is what we have learned.

September 26 update: No significant territorial change. Zelensky said Ukraine's counteroffensive will not stop during winter and claimed Ukraine will liberate 3 more cities. Net territorial change in the past month: Russia +15 square miles.

September 19 update: Continued stalemate. Zelensky and Biden appealed for support at the UN before Zelensky’s planned trip to Washington DC. Net territorial change in the past month: Russia +19 square miles.