Benedict Macon-Cooney, Chief AI & Innovation Officer at the Tony Blair Institute | Reimagining the State in the Age of AI

“No government in the world is anywhere near AI-native.” In this episode of Searching for Mana, Lloyd Wahed sits down with Benedict Macon-Cooney, Chief AI & Innovation Officer at the Tony Blair Institute. They discuss how artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape government, public services, and the structure of the modern state. Benedict shares insights from working with leaders and governments around the world, explaining why institutions must adapt quickly to the pace of technological change. The conversation explores the widening gap between innovation in the private sector and the slower evolution of public institutions, the transformative potential of AI in education and healthcare, and how countries that master new technological waves position themselves to lead the future. Benedict also reflects on leadership, institutional reform, and the challenge of modernising government systems in an era defined by rapid technological progress. Please like & subscribe! Benedict Macon-Cooney: https://x.com/benedictcooney Tony Blair Institute for Global Change: https://x.com/InstituteGC Lloyd Wahed: https://x.com/LloydWahed Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/searching-for-mana-with-lloyd-wahed/id1491460738 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3HmB7fS60zRSvWq3sQgj3X?si=424419d0a6b749f4