FFB 2026 Week 5: Monopoly in the Machine? AI, Chips & the Battle for Network Innovation

As AI adoption accelerates, tech leaders like Nvidia and OpenAI are tightening control over the full technology stack—from specialized chips and cloud infrastructure to the AI models driving innovation. Our guest this week is Asad Ramzanali, Director of Artificial Intelligence & Technology Policy at the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator, warns that this consolidation threatens competition, innovation, and the very infrastructure supporting communications. For network operators, maintaining openness and interoperability across networks, data centers, and cloud platforms is critical to enabling 5G, edge computing and AI-driven services. When a small number of firms dictate access to chips, models and compute, they risk creating bottlenecks and limiting agility. Join Gary Bolton, President & CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association as he and Asad unpack “the monopoly in the machine” and what telecom leaders can do to stay ahead. 

With Special Guest