LIVE PREMIERE: Global Stage: Live From the Munich Security Conference

Why It Matters

If NATO and its partners fail to modernize governance and operational structures around emerging technologies, allied deterrence and crisis response will be undermined just as cyber and AI-enabled attacks grow more frequent and sophisticated—raising geopolitical and economic risks. Rapid public-private cooperation is therefore essential to protect critical infrastructure and preserve alliance credibility.

Summary

Speakers at a live Munich Security Conference discussion warned that the world has become disorderly and multipolar, with NATO still relevant but at risk if it cannot rapidly integrate new technologies into its posture. Panelists highlighted accelerating cyber and hybrid threats—destructive attacks linked to Russia, pervasive Chinese intrusion into telecoms, and AI-augmented ransomware ecosystems—that are outpacing current defensive architectures. They said AI is amplifying both offensive capabilities and defensive responses, prompting closer collaboration between governments, industry and law enforcement. Fractures in transatlantic trust and debates over burden-sharing complicate efforts to reform and coordinate responses.

Original Description

LIVE PREMIERE: National defense is no longer a question of just geographic borders or physical artillery. In a world of VPNs, advanced AI, and sophisticated cybercrime, governments must protect themselves against the ever-evolving threat of digital sabotage. Online criminal groups can imperil domestic institutions like businesses or bureaus, but nation-states also engage in cyber-warfare against their enemies to gain valuable resources or subvert democracy, inventing new ways to breach both firewalls and city walls.

This form of "hybrid conflict," as seen in the war in Ukraine, poses a significant risk to Europe and its allies abroad. Worse yet, the widespread adoption of AI has opened a Pandora’s Box of unanticipated dangers. How can European institutions stay secure?

Don't miss our Global Stage live premiere Saturday, February 14th at 12pm ET / 6pm CET from the sidelines of the 2026 Munich Security Conference, featuring a panel of experts in policy, technology, and geopolitics.

The distinguished panel includes:

- Benedetta Berti, Secretary General, NATO Parliamentary Assembly

- Ian Bremmer, President & Co-founder, Eurasia Group & GZERO Media

- Dr. Wolfgang Dierker, Global Head of Government Affairs, SAP

- Brad Smith, Vice Chair & President, Microsoft

- David Sanger (Moderator), National Security Correspondent, New York Times

This livestream is the latest in the Webby-nominated Global Stage series, a partnership between GZERO and Microsoft that examines critical issues at the intersection of technology, politics, and society.

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