Pax Silica: Inside the Trump Administration’s Tech Strategy with US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg

Securing AI dominance requires more than just semiconductors; it demands a complete overhaul of how the West manages everything that goes into them, from rare earth minerals to actuators. Enter: Pax Silica. Sarah Guo and Elad Gil sit down with US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg to discuss the launch and expansion of Pax Silica, a 14-country economic security coalition designed to secure the entire AI supply chain. Jacob talks about the creation of a forward-deployed industrial base in the Philippines, where 4,000 acres will be developed into an “economic security zone.” He also compares and contrasts Pax Silica with China’s Belt and Road initiative, explains how the US plans to reindustrialize through automation and robotics, and explores how the Trump administration envisions making these policies durable across future presidencies. Plus, we hear why Jacob believes America to be a “global underdog.”

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Chapters:

00:00 – Cold Open

00:41 – Jacob Helberg Introduction

01:02 – Pax Silica’s Mission

03:51 – Investing in AI Chip Supply Chains

05:43 – Comparing Pax Silica to China’s Belt and Road Initiative

12:38 – Pax Silica’s Value Proposition

14:38 – US vs. Partnered Manufacturing

19:10 – Rare Earth Mineral Pricing

22:16 – Role of Venture Capital in Pax Silica

24:50 – Near vs. Long-Term Priorities

27:09 – Making AI Policy Durable

28:09 – How Policies Impact Entrepreneurs

31:00 – Trump’s Entrepreneurial Administration

33:00 – Why America is a Global Underdog

38:00 – Conclusion