About Gary Shiffman
Understanding Power and Humanity
in the Age of AI
Gary Shiffman is one of the few people on earth who has operated at the intersection of economic theory, national security, and AI development.
He is a war veteran and economist who has spent his career examining why people, firms, and governments think about power the make decisions related to violence and coercion. His work bridges behavioral science, national security, and innovation. Gary helps others to see the non-randomness in human behavior so that it can be can be understood, measured, and perhaps contribute some goodness to the world.
Gary’s Story and Mission
Gary believes that the actions of any one person can impact many, so we must choose our path carefully and with intention. He learned that he could accomplish with others what he could not do alone. He began his career in the military, seeking to serve his country for four years prior to going graduate school. He stayed on active duty in the U.S. Navy for eight years, including two Gulf War tours and three positions in the Pentagon. He continued his service in the U.S. Senate and the Department of Homeland Security. With these rich life experiences and a MA from Georgetown University in Security Studies, he concluded that the violence we witness often emerges not from ideology, but from broken incentives and failed institutions. He found economics was the academic discipline which provided the best tools to describe human behavior, so he earned a Ph.D. in Economics. He is well known today for his approach to national security economics. His core belief: if we can understand markets, we can understand power and violence. And we have rich understanding of markets.
Along his career journey, society changed via what we now call the eras of the internet, big data, machine learning, and AI. To Gary, these innovations provide enhanced observations of human behavior, and therefore improve the science of economics. He began is decade of DARPA-funded research studying the many dimensions of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. To bring innovations to those out of government working to combat the illicit businesses of coercion and trafficking, he co-founded two software companies.
Today, Gary teaches economics at Clemson University’s Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business, and delivers talks to governments and corporations about power, AI, and the human condition.
Achievements and Recognition
Much of Gary’s research cannot be published, but many of his ideas have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, TechCrunch, and other major outlets. He has advised leaders across finance, defense, and technology on AI governance and economic power in the era of AI.
Gary’s love of teaching and deep expertise make him a captivating keynote speaker. His most popular talks address what artificial intelligence teaches us about humanity while addressing topics such as national security and fraud, and the impact of AI on the economy.
Through his writing, teaching, and companies, Gary continues to help institutions understand how power operates in a world increasingly shaped by intelligent machines.
American Bankers Association
Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council
The Clearing House
