Trending Now
We have updated our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for Eurasia Group and its affiliates, including GZERO Media, to clarify the types of data we collect, how we collect it, how we use data and with whom we share data. By using our website you consent to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, including the transfer of your personal data to the United States from your country of residence, and our use of cookies described in our Cookie Policy.
{{ subpage.title }}
What spies can teach us about persuasion
“They are the world’s best salespeople,” Hurewitz told GZERO. Spies master the hardest pitch imaginable: convincing someone to commit treason. And the skills they use—empathy, curiosity, and what he calls “the art of elicitation”—are just as valuable in boardrooms and negotiating tables today.
However, those abilities are also experiencing a societal recession as political polarization grows, and screens and devices threaten to erode the “soft skills” spies, and the rest of us, can use to get what we want.
Watch Hurewitz’s interview with GZERO’s Tony Maciulis for more on what world leaders can learn from spies, what he thinks of President Donald Trump's skills as a salesman, and how artificial intelligence is impacting the traditional world of espionage.
Rebeca Grynspan on reforming the UN for a new era
“The UN is unique ... but it’s not alone,” she says. Grynspan calls for a smarter, more collaborative multilateral system that focuses on the global challenges only the UN can solve, while empowering countries, regions, and institutions that now have the capacity to act.
This conversation was recorded at the Abu Dhabi Global AI Summit as part of GZERO Media’s Global Stage series, presented in partnership with Microsoft, which brings together global leaders to explore the intersections of geopolitics, technology, and society.
Inclusion by design: Rebeca Grynspan on AI, inequality & global reform
As AI reshapes the global economy, who gets left behind and how can developing nations catch up?
At the 2025 Abu Dhabi Global AI Summit, UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan warns that without deliberate action, the world’s poorest countries risk exclusion from the AI revolution. “There is no way that trickle down will make the trick,” she tells GZERO Media’s Tony Maciulis. “We have to think about inclusion by design.”
Grynspan stresses that financing and investment, not just aid, are critical: “3.4 billion people live in countries spending more on debt service than on health or education.” She calls for the World Bank and IMF to “assume more risk” to help scale private investment in developing economies.
Despite rising tariffs and trade tensions, she notes trade remains resilient driven by digital services, AI innovation, and the growing need for smarter global cooperation.
This conversation is part of GZERO Media’s Global Stage series, presented in partnership with Microsoft.
How AI is transforming cybersecurity
She notes that half of cyber incidents now involve ransomware or extortion and warns that attacks once considered business risks have become “a societal challenge,” targeting hospitals and critical systems with life-or-death consequences.
Monaco calls on governments, the private sector, and civil society to “pool our resources, pool our expertise” to build collective resilience against these growing threats.
She spoke with GZERO Media’s Tony Maciulis at the 2025 Paris Peace Forum panel, “Collective Resilience in the Age of AI,” part of GZERO Media’s Global Stage series with Microsoft.
Preventing conflicts before they start, with María Fernanda Espinosa
“It means building peace, having a very strong and well-equipped intellectually oversight machinery, to have a scenario-building machinery, to have early warning systems in place,” she tells GZERO Media’s Tony Maciulis on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum. Espinosa calls for a “refocus, not austerity,” to strengthen the UN’s early warning systems and invest in prevention. “One dollar in prevention saves a thousand in response,” she notes.
Turning to climate, she urges faster action ahead of COP30 in Brazil, warning that progress “is not matching the science.” Latin America, she says, must lead with resilience and unity despite political divides.
This conversation is part of GZERO Media’s Global Stage series, presented in partnership with Microsoft.
Jacinda Ardern and Lisa Monaco on cybersecurity, AI, and protecting democracy
In an era characterized by rapid technological advancement, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence present both challenges and opportunities.
At the 2025 Paris Peace Forum, GZERO’s Tony Maciulis engages in an insightful conversation with Dame Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Lisa Monaco, President of Global Affairs at Microsoft, discussing strategies for a secure digital future.
Ardern reflects on the Christchurch terrorist attacks and the subsequent global initiative she led, known as "The Christchurch Call," aimed at eliminating terrorist and violent extremist content online. She asserts, "We can't let crisis be the catalyst for future cooperation," highlighting the need for cross-sector collaboration to counter online extremism.
Monaco examines the shifting cyber landscape, observing, "AI is both a tool and a weapon," and emphasizes the importance of a coordinated international response.
The panel discussion sheds light on proactive measures and partnerships necessary for safeguarding digital spaces and ensuring democratic integrity.
This conversation is part of GZERO Media’s Global Stage series, presented in partnership with Microsoft.
Why the UN needs women in leadership
Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet says global leadership needs a different kind of leader.
“Sometimes when I see wars, I feel there’s too much testosterone over there,” she said. “Leaders put in front issues that are not the most important thing… it’s more about who wins.”
Bachelet called for “empathetic leadership,” which she described as the ability to put yourself in the shoes of the other to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation.
When asked if she would consider leading the UN herself, she confirmed: “I will run for Secretary-General.”
Bachelet spoke with GZERO Media’s Tony Maciulis at the 2025 Paris Peace Forum panel "Updating the UN at 80: From Mandates to Impact," part of GZERO Media’s Global Stage series with Microsoft.
Updating the UN at 80: A panel conversation from the 2025 Paris Peace Forum
As the UN reaches its 80th anniversary, pivotal questions arise: How can it evolve to address contemporary global challenges? What reforms are essential for maintaining its relevance?
At the 2025 Paris Peace Forum, GZERO Media's Tony Maciulis led a lively panel discussion on the urgent need for organizational reform. The conversation featured top UN officials and global partners reflecting on both the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasizes the need for efficiency and transparency to rebuild trust in the UN, stating, "UN needs to be relevant so people can trust them."
Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Executive Director of GWL Voices and former UN General Assembly President, calls for action on a "new financial compact," urging collaboration between public, private, and civil sectors to govern global commons effectively.
Marjeta Jager from the European Commission called for bold reforms: "We need to merge, sometimes cut, we need to do the system consolidation."
Dr. Henry Huiyao Wang, Founder and President of the Center for China and Globalization, highlights China’s commitment to supporting multilateralism and stressed the role of peacekeeping.
With discussions of reform, the panel echoes the need for collective action to address global complexities, envisioning a future with a possible female Secretary-General for effective empathetic leadership.