The World of Intelligence

Recorded live at DSEI 2025, this episode features host Kate Cox and a panel of Janes experts, Sean Corbett, Leendert Van Bochoven, and Phil Smith. They discuss the evolution of open-source intelligence (OSINT) and its vital role in global security. The panel examines the challenges posed by an overwhelming volume of data in the digital age and explores how artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation are transforming the collection, processing, and verification of open-source information and why the human analyst is more important than ever.Watch the video of the recording on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8qE-hKSG5g

Recorded live from DSEI 2025. Join host Kate Cox and a panel of Janes experts including Sean Corbett, Dylan Lehrke, and Tom Barton, as they unpack the essentials of intelligence, from foundational data to cutting-edge military insights. Discover what goes on behind the scenes in crafting the intelligence that informs global defence strategies and decision making.Watch the video of the recording on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZk66z7y4Og

In the second part of this podcast, Lt Gen (retd) Mike Groen, Harry Kemsley, and Sean Corbett continue to explore how decision making is evolving in the age of data overload. They discuss the concept of data tribalism within military and intelligence communities and the hurdles and potential of integrating diverse data types for enhanced decision making. Discover how artificial intelligence (AI) and human collaboration could revolutionise intelligence analysis and operational efficiency, challenging traditional practices and requiring a new understanding of technology’s role.

In this two-part episode, Lieutenant General Mike Groen (retd) joins Harry Kemsley and Sean Corbett to share his experience in the US intelligence and operational communities and how decision making is evolving in the age of data overload. They explore the transition from drowning in data to achieving clear thinking and decisive action in military and security operations. Discover how AI and technology can amplify human judgment without replacing it, and why putting the human brain on a pedestal is crucial in today's information-rich environment. Listen to how unlocking the potential of AI as a force multiplier can support strategic decision making.

China’s expanding influence in the Pacific has strategic implications for international security. In this episode Kate Cox and Sean Corbett are joined by experts Dr Greg Brown, senior fellow and director of Regional Cooperation and Coordination at Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) USA and adjunct professor at Georgetown University, and Claire Chu, principal analyst at Janes, to explore the role of open-source intelligence (OSINT) in understanding these power plays. They also consider the nuanced responses of Pacific nations and global powers to provide a deeper understanding of why China is so invested in the region.

Dr. Philip Ritcheson, Vice President for Strategy and Growth, National Security Sector, Leidos returns to Janes podcast to join Harry Kemsley and Sean Corbett to unpack the complexities of modern deterrence, the acceleration of technological change impacting warfare, and the critical role of open-source intelligence. They take a deep dive into how these elements are reshaping global security dynamics and explore the implications for intelligence and defence strategies.For comments and suggestions for future podcasts email: [email protected] views expressed in this podcast are those of the author alone.

Security challenges at the US-Mexico border are an ongoing threat not only locally but also internationally. In this podcast, Janes analysts Matt Henman and Estefania Dominguez join Sean Corbett and Kate Cox to unravel the intricacies of organised crime's impact on both local economies and international relations, and the advanced use of technology by criminal groups. They discuss how open-source intelligence is leveraged to predict and understand these nontraditional threats, further emphasising the importance of verification in an era of misinformation.

Uncover the truth behind NATO’s recent defence spending plans and the strategic implications of the organisation’s ambitious 5% GDP target. Janes experts Andrew MacDonald and Guy Anderson join hosts Harry Kemsley and Sean Corbett to discover how open-source intelligence uncovers the reality behind political declarations and spending plans. Can countries meet these targets, and what does this mean for the future of defence and deterrence?

Myanmar is an often overlooked conflict. In this revealing episode of Janes World of Intelligence hosts Sean Corbett and Kate Cox are joined by guest Tony Davis, a senior Asian security analyst and Janes contributor, to provide expert analysis of the geopolitical and humanitarian crises unfolding in Myanmar. They explore the roles of China and other regional powers, the burgeoning issue of transnational organised crime, and the future of this tumultuous region.

In part two of this podcast, Jim Clover OBE, Varadius Ltd, continues to uncover the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) in the intelligence community with Harry Kemsley and Sean Corbett. They discuss the fine line between the innovative applications of AI and the critical importance of human oversight in intelligence analysis. Explore how AI is reshaping intelligence gathering, the risks of over reliance on technology, and the vital role of ‘prompt engineering’ for accurate and ethical outcomes.

While Artificial Intelligence AI is not a new phenomenon, its use in the gathering of intelligence and the amount of AI tools available are growing at pace. In part one of this podcast Harry Kemsley and Sean Corbett are joined by Jim Clover OBE, Varadius Ltd, to take a deeper look into the practical uses and implications of AI for the defence intelligence community. They explore its real-world effectiveness in gathering and analysing intelligence and also why human oversight is still critical to ensure the intelligence it is producing is both ethical and valuable.

Janes analysts James Trigg and Aparna Iyer join Sean Corbett and Kate Cox to discuss the strategic depths of Yemen’s role in global security. They unpack the complex military, political, and regional dynamics shaping this pivotal Middle Eastern country and how Yemen’s conflict influences international shipping lanes, serves as a battleground for proxy wars, and impacts the delicate balance of power in the region. James and Aparna also discuss the challenges and techniques they use to monitor such a fluid situation.

Five years after their first episode of the World of Intelligence podcast, Kate Cox, director of Janes RD&A Strategic Programmes, turns the table on Harry Kemsley and Sean Corbett to uncover the origins of the podcast and how it has evolved alongside the prominence of OSINT for intelligence analysis, and to offer a glimpse into the future of intelligence.

Faced with the starkest security environment for in decades, and against the backdrop of competing security priorities by the US as its strongest ally, the European Union (EU) has embarked on a plan to reverse its under-investment in defence and rebuild military capability through the Readiness 2030 initiative. Andrew MacDonald, head of Janes Defence Budgets, and Guy Anderson, head of defence markets and economics at Janes, join Sean Corbett to discuss the costs ahead and the outlook for success.