Milestones — Q3-Q4 2025

After a year in Geneva attempting to build a coalition of various nations to promote a global AI treaty, we concluded last February 2025 that such a bold, timely, and well-designed treaty—capable of addressing AI’s significant risks and guiding humanity's future—can only succeed if led by the United States alongside China. Consequently, we began developing The Deal of the Century. 

Until September 2025, we selected and deeply analyzed the most likely key potential influencers of Trump’s AI policy to champion a bold US-China-led global AI treaty. We conducted a thorough philosophical, psychological, and interest analysis of them, including three week-long, in-person, in-depth analysis sprints.

These led to the development:

  • Feb-Sep 2025, drafting of a 130-page Strategic Memo of The Deal of the Century, with over 20 contributors, which was published on September 24th. Includes highly tailored open letters and ad-hoc strategic briefs for each to (privately) persuade them to join a critical mass for a pitch to Trump.

  • In October, we traveled for three weeks to Washington, DC, and the Bay Area for in-person outreach. Engaged with influencers and introducers to influencers, remotely and in-person via our first US Persuasion Tour, which took us to:

    • Oct 03-21: Bay Area (completed)

    • Oct 21-24: Washington, DC (completed)

    • Nov 1- Dec 15th: Drafting Strategic Memo v.2.5 & Fundraising (in progress)

Primary Locations of Trump’s AI Influencers

Most of our extensive network is located in the primary locations of influencers: 30% in the Bay Area, 15% in the Washington, D.C. area, 5% in South Florida, and 10% in Rome.

Oct 3-21— The Bay Area (Completed)

Aims:

  • Maximize chances that key influencers in the Bay Area receive and give attention to our proposal, including: Dario Amodei (and Jack Clark, and top policy/strategy execs) Sam Altman (and/or top policy/strategy execs), Demis Hassabis (and top policy/strategy execs, Allan Dafoe, Sundar Pichai, Sergey Brin, Larry Page). Perhaps reach out to Thiel.

Completed Activities:

  • Engaged and built rapport with mid-level technical, strategy and policy officials of OpenAI, Anthropic and DeepMind - new and already engaged ones - via warm introductions, LinkedIn exchanges, cold emails, and group meetings

  • Held one-to-one and group meetings at our Coalition’s temporary office at the Hilton Hotel, Berkeley Marina

    • Activated local members, supporters, donors, and advisors to introduce them to influencers and introducers at top AI labs.

    • Acquired new partners, volunteers, testimonials, and advisors

  • Held Field Engagements at OpenAI and Anthropic HQs (DeepMind was inaccessible)

    • Two days of on-the-ground field engagement by Coalition volunteers (morning and lunchtime) to connect and befriend AI labs’ policy and strategy staff, to share the open letters to forward internally (We used custom hats and custom placards)

  • Oct 14, Tuesday  at Sens (San Francisco)

    • 5.30 - 9.00 PM: Advocacy Aperitif among introducers, advisors, supporters, prospective donors, and volunteers.
      (Apply to join at rufo@trustlesscomputing.org)

  • Oct 16, Thursday at Sens (San Francisco)

    • 5.30 - 9.00 PM: Advocacy Aperitif among introducers, advisors, supporters, prospective donors, and volunteers.
      (Apply to join at rufo@trustlesscomputing.org)

Local network:

  • AI safety and policy researchers at major labs

  • Tech executives and investors from previous startup ventures

  • Speakers from security seminars at leading California universities

Oct 21-24 — Washington, DC (Completed)

Aims:

  • Maximize chances that key influencers in the Bay Area receive and give attention to our proposal, including highly tailored open letters addressed to JD Vance, Marco Rubio, David Sacks, Steve Bannon, and Tulsi Gabbard.

Activities:

  • Strategic gatherings with the national security establishment

  • Meetings with State Department and intelligence community contacts

  • Coordination with DC teams of major AI safety advocacy organizations

  • Oct 22, Wed at 124 11th St NE, Washington

    • 6.00 - 9.30 PM: Aperitif/Dinner among Coalition members and guests.

Local network:

  • Former officials from a major US signals intelligence agency

  • Connections to former directors of key cybersecurity directorates

  • Ties to leading defense think tanks that have studied AI governance

  • A former highest-ranking US cyber diplomat

  • Networks from CIA-linked cybersecurity incubators

Nov1-Dec15 (In Progress)

  • Drafting of version 2.5 of the Strategic Memo (including updated pitches and follow-ups)

  • Fundraising