Episode 43 - Anthony Vinci, PhD - Author of “The Fourth Intelligence Revolution: The Future ofEspionage and the Battle to Save America”
Anthony Vinci, PhD - Author of “The Fourth Intelligence Revolution: The Future of Espionage and the Battle to Save America”
In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, Anthony Vinci - one of the leading voices at the intersection of intelligence and technology. He is the author of “The Fourth Intelligence Revolution: The Future of Espionage and the Battle to Save America”, a timely examination of how AI, data dominance, and strategic competition - particularly with China - are reshaping espionage, influence operations, and national security.
A former intelligence officer with operational experience across Iraq, Africa, and Asia, Anthony went on to serve as the first Chief Technology Officer and Associate Director for Capabilities at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, where he worked at the forefront of early AI integration into intelligence operations. His career spans senior leadership roles in government, finance, and technology, including Managing Director at Cerberus Capital Management and a core leadership role at Bridgewater Associates. Today, he is the Co-Founder and CEO of Vico, an AI company focused on enhancing human judgment and decision-making for national security and financial leaders. He also serves as a Senior Advisor at Squire Patton Boggs, an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
In this episode, we explore Anthony’s journey into intelligence service, what it’s really like to operate in the shadows, and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. We discuss how AI is transforming intelligence collection and analysis, how adversaries are leveraging technology to influence and “hack” human cognition, and what individuals can do to protect themselves in an era of pervasive digital surveillance. Finally, Anthony shares what it truly means to “democratize intelligence” and offers candid advice for the next generation of intelligence professionals navigating an increasingly complex and contested world.
Guest Bio
Anthony Vinci is the author of “The Fourth Intelligence Revolution: The Future of Espionage and the Battle to Save America” (Henry Holt, 2025), which examines how China and AI are redefining the future of intelligence. He previously served as the first Chief Technology Officer and Associate Director for Capabilities at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), and earlier in his career as an intelligence officer with postings in Iraq, Africa, and Asia.
Anthony is the Co-Founder and CEO of Vico, a venture backed AI company that superempowers judgment and analysis for decision-makers in finance and national security. He was formerly a Managing Director at Cerberus Capital Management and a member of the Core Management Team at Bridgewater Associates.
He also serves as a Senior Advisor at Squire Patton Boggs, an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), and is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Anthony holds a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics.
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