The Techtonic Shift: How Technology Turned from a Tool of Progress into an Instrument of Power

For a long time, the tech world operated on three simple assumptions: no enemies, no borders, and no reason to slow down. Tech companies built global networks pretending that political rivalries didn't matter. Information and trade moved freely across the globe, and openness was seen as progress.

Now, that world is breaking apart.

In this talk, Paul Verhagen shows how technology shifted from a tool that connected us to the main tool that divides us. We used to view technology as simple products we could buy and sell on an open market. 

Today, nations view technology as a primary instrument of power.

We have entered a brand-new reality:

 * Information is a security asset: Data is no longer just harmless content or social media posts - it is valuable intelligence that countries guard like military secrets.

 * Technology is about power and independence: Owning key technology like microchips or AI means you can control other nations and avoid being pushed around yourself.

 * Being open to the world is seen as a risk: Sharing your technology or relying on foreign trade used to be seen as smart business. Today, it’s seen as leaving your front door unlocked.

Through real-world examples - like why a single microchip company (ASML) is now at the center of world politics, how computer algorithms are taking over political decisions, and how past technology like trains reshaped society - this talk uncovers one big truth: technology has always been about power, but we forgot that.

You will leave with a clear "Aha!" moment: understanding panic-free exactly how and why technology shifted from a force that unites us to a wedge that divides us.

About the speaker

Paul Verhagen is an AI and technology policy expert, data scientist, and author specializing in the intersection of advanced technologies, global geopolitics, and national security. He serves as a Senior Fellow at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies and a Lecturer and Strategic Liaison at the University of Amsterdam, working directly at the interface between technical AI specialists, academics, and international policymakers.  

Core Credentials & Expertise

• Geopolitics of Advanced Tech: A leading commentator and analyst on US–China technology competition, global semiconductor supply chains, export controls, and European strategic autonomy.  

  
  

• AI & Public Policy: As Strategic Liaison at the University of Amsterdam’s Civic AI Lab, he advises government ministries, municipal leaders, and institutional stakeholders on the societal impacts and governance of artificial intelligence and algorithmic systems.  

  
  

• Data-Driven & Academic Rigor: Holds a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Amsterdam and a Master of Science in Environment and Resource Management (Cum Laude) from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His quantitative background spans machine learning, natural language processing, and data science research for defense and security sectors.  

  
  

Forthcoming Book

• The Techtonic Shift (Das Mag Uitgevers, Sept 2026): Paul's upcoming book explores how radical breakthroughs in microchips, artificial intelligence, and computing infrastructure are fundamentally reordering global power dynamics, state sovereignty, and international relations.  

We are thrilled to bring this event to an amazing new venue partner, Zoku Amsterdam! Please note that Zoku's bar, restaurant, and event spaces are all located on their stunning 6th-floor rooftop. Simply enter via Zoku Amsterdam, take the elevator straight up to the 6th floor to check in, grab your included drink, and settle in.

Schedule

4:30 pm - 5:00 pm Sip & Settle

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Paul's talk and Q&A

6:30 pm and on Wrap up. You're welcome to stick around & mingle