A new report from the Potential Project—discussed this week in the Harvard Business Review—highlights how business leaders can leverage AI to improve their focus and help them better engage with employees. Essentially, AI can streamline how leaders work with data, freeing them up to improve their soft skills and have deeper conversations with their team members. AI can even serve as an effective coach, preparing leaders for difficult but compassionate discussions on issues in the workplace.
Thank you for reading. Below, we’ve shared tech policy news highlights from this week, along with a featured podcast on cyberattack trends and the future of digital safety.
This Week in Washington
- The Hill: After China imposed export restrictions on rare earth minerals used in semiconductors and other key pieces of technology infrastructure, the Trump administration announced plans to take a more active role in ensuring access to the minerals.
- Axios: An unidentified foreign nation-state breached major cybersecurity provider F5, exposing more than 80% of Fortune 500 companies and several government agencies. The government shutdown and layoffs at the Stakeholder Engagement Division of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have slowed response.
- CyberScoop: The Cyberspace Solarium Commission, a bipartisan federal commission on cybersecurity strategy, released its fifth annual report. The report found lost progress on key cybersecurity goals, due to stalled nominations for key cyber leadership positions and federal budget cuts.
- Nextgov: A bipartisan pair of midwestern representatives introduced a new bill to support small businesses across the country as they adopt AI. The AI for Mainstreet Act, led by Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) and Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), would require the Small Business Administration to conduct education, outreach, and guidance on AI opportunities and skill-building.
Article Summary
- Fierce Network: Slightly more than 20% of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grants will go towards satellite connections, with 3.36 million of the 4.2 million locations reporting access plans. This is the first year satellites are eligible for these grants.
- Vermont Public: Vermont allocated $8 million dollars to their supplemental state level broadband program. Funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, and will be used to help 2,000 low-income households with long driveways.
- StateScoop: Nevada approved $300,000 to improve the state’s cyberthreat analysis and advance a project to create a statewide security operations center. In August, the state’s legislative system was hacked, and attempted attacks on the state have increased 300% in the two months since.
- Fast Company: Pilot programs are using AI to produce faster and more accurate storm surge forecasts. If implemented widely, the stronger risk maps and warning systems can save lives, as storm surges are the top cause of damage and death from hurricanes.
Featured Podcast
- Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
Microsoft’s 2025 Digital Defense report provided a comprehensive overview of the state of cybersecurity. Now, cybersecurity specialists Chloé Messdaghi and Crane Hassold join the Microsoft Threat Intelligence podcast to discuss the report’s findings and its implications for the future of digital safety. (The New Frontlines of Cybersecurity: Lessons from the 2025 Digital Defense Report – October 22, 2025) – 46 minute and 51 second listen.
Note: Voices for Innovation regularly shares a range of opinion articles and press releases from organizations in and publications covering tech policy. These pieces are meant to educate our audience, not to endorse specific platforms or bills.