Zane Davis is a summer 2025 Halle Foundation Intern at the American-German Institute. His primary research interests include artificial intelligence policy, labor economics, and global trade.
Prior to joining AGI, Zane completed his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also earned minors in German and philosophy. He developed an interest in artificial intelligence and global trade while working for a Munich-based software startup in 2022. In 2023, he relocated to Germany, where he played American football for the Ingolstadt Dukes of the German Football League. Since then, he has worked for organizations spanning the United States, Korea, and Thailand, strengthening his background in public policy and international affairs.
In the fall of 2025, he will return to Chapel Hill to begin the Master of Public Administration program at the UNC School of Government.
Prospects for U.S.-German Collaboration in AI
The American-German relationship has entered a new era of uncertainty defined by shifting commitments on defense, a renegotiation of longstanding trade partnerships, and an uneasy alignment against strategic competitors including …
The State of AI in Germany
Germany was an early adopter of AI and among the first nations to create a national AI strategy in 2018. At the time, Europe was the global leader in artificial …
AGI Profiles: Dorothee Bär
Federal Minister for Research, Technology, and Space In May 2025, Dorothee Bär took office as Germany’s first Federal Minister for Research, Technology, and Space. As the former Parliamentary State Secretary …
Chancellor Merz and Germany’s ‘New Determination’
In a June 24 address to the German parliament, Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered a Regierungserklärung (government declaration) that highlighted a profound shift in Germany’s strategic outlook, characterized by what he …
Merz Bridges G7 Disputes, Eyes NATO
The 2025 G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, opened under the weight of low expectations and closed under the shadow of deepening transatlantic fault lines. The headlines surrounding the summit were …
