About Gary Shiffman
Understanding Power, Violence, and Human Behavior in the Age of AI
Gary Shiffman is one of the few people on earth who has operated at the intersection of economic theory, frontline violence prevention, and AI development—giving him unparalleled insight into how artificial intelligence is reshaping conflict.
He is a war veteran, economist, and systems thinker who has spent his career examining why people, organizations, and governments turn to violence—and how the right incentives can prevent it. His work bridges behavioral economics, national security, and AI innovation, helping leaders see human behavior not as chaos but as a system that can be understood, measured, and improved.
Gary’s Story and Mission
Gary’s career began in national security. A U.S. Navy veteran, he went on to serve in senior positions at the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security, and on Capitol Hill. These experiences taught him that violence often emerges not from ideology, but from broken incentives and failed institutions.
He earned a Ph.D. in Economics and built a career applying market logic to human conflict. His core belief: if we can model markets, we can model violence. If we can predict consumer behavior, we can predict threat behavior.
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When AI began transforming data analysis, Gary saw an opportunity to combine economic reasoning with machine learning. He co-founded Giant Oak and Consilient, two AI companies that use behavioral science and artificial intelligence to help organizations identify and prevent coercion, fraud, and violence at scale.
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Today, he teaches economics at Clemson University’s Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business, advises governments and corporations, and speaks internationally about power, violence, and technology.
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His mission is simple: ensure that artificial intelligence becomes a tool for preventing violence rather than amplifying it.
Professional Focus
Founder and CEO of Giant Oak; Co-founder of Consilient
Director of DARPA-funded research combining AI and behavioral science to model risk and human behavior in conflict zones
Professor of Economics at Clemson University; former professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Security Studies
Author of The Economics of Violence (Cambridge University Press, 2020)
Keynote speaker at global forums including TEDxGreenville and the Global AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park
Gary's Values
Rigor
Economic models must be testable and grounded in data.
Prevention
The goal is to stop violence before it occurs.
Ethics
AI-powered prediction carries immense responsibility.
Transparency
Complex systems should be made clear to the public and policymakers.
Achievements and Recognition
Gary’s research and 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 ethics, violence prevention, and organizational integrity.
Gary’s love of teaching and deep expertise—earned from his experiences in the military, a decade of DARPA research, his time in the U.S. Senate and the Department of Homeland Security, at Georgetown University, and in the corporate world—make him a captivating keynote speaker. His most popular talks combine artificial intelligence with topics such as national security, financial crime, cyber crime and cryptocurrency, and the impact of AI on creative workers.
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
