AI Is Moving Faster Than Governments Can Think | Anna Makanju (OpenAI's VP of Global Affairs)

Oct 30, 2025

In a captivating conversation, Anna Makanju, Vice President of Global Affairs at OpenAI, discusses the global race to understand AI's implications and the urgent need for equitable access. She highlights the potential of AI to benefit humanity but warns it won’t happen by default. Makanju shares insights on the geopolitical dynamics between nations and tech companies, the unexpected viral success of ChatGPT, and the importance of reskilling for future jobs. She addresses the challenges of integrating AI into governance and the necessity for proactive policy frameworks.

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ANECDOTE

The Unexpected ChatGPT Moment

OpenAI underestimated ChatGPT's viral reach and expected only niche research usage.
Anna says she couldn't have anticipated the chatbot capturing global imagination so fast.

ADVICE

Policymakers Must Use AI

Policymakers should use AI themselves to understand its limits and opportunities.
Anna urges leaders to try free consumer tools so they can give practical, informed guidance.

ADVICE

Pilot Before Scaling In Government

Run government pilots to discover where AI helps and where human judgment must remain.
Anna cites Pennsylvania's pilot that saved staff an hour or two per day and produced practical lessons.

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In this episode of I’ve Got Questions, I sit down with Anna Makanju, Vice President of Global Affairs at OpenAI, to explore how governments around the world are racing to understand AI’s implications, the geopolitical tensions shaping its regulation, and what it will take to ensure this technology benefits every nation. We discuss how AI could be immensely beneficial to humanity, but why Anna believes it won’t happen by default; the urgent challenge of unequal AI access and the risk of leaving communities and entire countries behind. 00:00 – Introduction 01:10 – Will AI Be a Benefit to Humanity? 02:00 – Can the World Cooperate on AI? 03:30 – AI as a Tool of Global Power 05:00 – When Companies Rival Nations 07:30 – How Do We Keep Half the World from Being Left Behind? 09:20 – The ChatGPT Moment That No One Expected 11:00 – Inside OpenAI’s Global Tour 13:00 – How World Leaders Reacted to AI Demos 15:00 – Why Governments Focus Only on Deepfakes 17:30 – The Private vs. Public Conversation on AGI 19:00 – “It Could Be Immensely Beneficial — But It Won’t Happen by Default” 21:00 – The Problem with Policymakers Who Don’t Use AI 23:00 – Fear, Misuse, and the Lawyer Who Used ChatGPT in Court 25:30 – When AI Actually Saves Lives 27:00 – What Happens When AI Enters Government 29:00 – Balancing Risk, Access, and Innovation 31:00 – Why Emerging Economies Are More Optimistic About AI 33:30 – The Future of Jobs and the Need for Reskilling 36:00 – How Fast Can Humanity Adapt? 38:30 – The Case for a New Social Safety Net 40:00 – Preparing for the Next Decade of Change 42:30 – Why Governments Must Act Before a Crisis 44:00 – Smarter Models, Safer Systems 45:30 – What Comes After Regulation 47:00 – Building a Future That Works for Everyone Listen to the show on other platforms: Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ive-got-questions-with-sinead-bovell/id1841491246 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2fwK9NSJGXlFdVkYZ14a8O Follow my work here: Website: ⁠https://www.sineadbovell.com⁠ Substack: ⁠https://sineadbovell.substack.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sineadbovell⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sineadbovell⁠ Twitter / X: ⁠https://twitter.com/SineadBovell⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/Sineadbovell⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@sineadbovell