This November, historian Arthur Herman will be addressing the use of artificial intelligence in military preparedness at COSM 2021, an exclusive national summit exploring the myriad ways in which technology is shaping the world around us.
Herman received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota and his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in history and classics.
Since then, he has written nine books, including New York Times bestseller How the Scots Invented the Modern World, Pulitzer Prize finalist Gandhi and Churchill: The Epic Rivalry that Destroyed an Empire and Forged Our Age, and Freedom’s Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II, which was named one of the Economist’s Best Books of 2012.
Herman is now a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute where he analyzes defense, energy, and technology issues as the director of the Quantum Alliance Initiative.
“In the 21st century,” Herman writes in a report for the Hudson Institute, “global supremacy will belong to the nation that controls the future of information technology (IT) – at the heart of which will be quantum technology.”
“Quantum computers,” he continues, “will use the principles of quantum mechanics to operate on data exponentially faster than traditional computers – in ways that will far surpass the capabilities of even today’s fastest supercomputers.”
Most recently, Herman has been writing about his new book The Viking Heart: How Scandinavians Conquered the World, in which he argues that the Viking mindset can help guide us through the turbulent waters of a very divided world upended by COVID-19.
How can a polarized culture become unified again? he recently asked at Fox News. “The answer lies in the cultural skill set the Vikings forged in a harsh and unforgiving homeland and passed on to their descendants – and then to the immigrants coming to America.”
At the Wall Street Journal, Herman draws a comparison between modern-day space exploration to the pioneering spirit of the Vikings:
It may be hard to envision Messrs. Bezos and Branson as Viking chieftains. But their goals translate those of the first great Norse adventurers into a modern context—not only seeking dangerous thrills or plunder for its own sake, but seeing space as a new source of wealth and opportunity for the world.
The vision of these men and women venturing into space symbolizes the bravery and perseverance we all need to overcome danger and adversity, and to find our unique path in this world. And as we emerge from the pandemic, this is a message we need now more than ever.
Arthur Herman, “Bezos, Branson and the Vikings” at the Wall Street Journal
Herman’s talk at COSM 2021 will be one you won’t want to miss. Register now to reserve your spot and catch his talk “Bots on the Battlefield.”