Special Competitive Studies Project Explained

Special Competitive Studies Project
Formation:October 2021
Abbreviation:SCSP
Founder:Eric Schmidt
Purpose:AI & national security
Headquarters:1550 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202
Location City:Arlington, VA
Location Country:US
Leader Title:Chairman
Leader Name:Eric Schmidt
Board Of Directors:Michèle Flournoy, Nadia Schadlow, Robert O. Work, Mac Thornberry
Staff:49
Website:https://www.scsp.ai

The Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) is a non-partisan U.S. think tank and private foundation focused on technology and security. Founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt in October 2021,[1] [2] SCSP's stated mission is to "make recommendations to strengthen America’s long-term competitiveness as artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies are reshaping our national security, economy, and society." It seeks to ensure that "America is positioned and organized to win the techno-economic competition between now and 2030."[3]

SCSP is also a subsidiary of The Eric & Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation, the Schmidt family's private foundation.[4] [5] [6]

History

Inspired by the Rockefeller Special Studies Project launched in the 1950s and led by Henry Kissinger,[7] SCSP seeks to expand on the work of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) by including other emerging technologies and issues of concern in its analyses.[8] The NSCAI was dissolved on 1 October 2021,[9] and Eric Schmidt announced the SCSP initiative four days later. Much of the NSCAI staff became members of the SCSP.[10]

Leadership

As of December 2023, SCSP's president and CEO is Ylli Bajraktari, former executive director of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI). Former NSCAI Chief of Staff Michael Gable serves as executive vice president, and former NSCAI Director of Operations and Designated Federal Officer Angela Ponmakha serves as vice president and Chief of Staff. There are 30 full-time staff members, including senior director for economy Liza Tobin, who formerly served as director for China at the White House National Security Council from 2019 to 2021.[11] [12] [13]

Activities

SCSP's core work is divided into six panels, including: foreign policy, intelligence, defense, economy, society, and future tech platforms.[14]

Recent notable events include the 2022 Global Emerging Technology Summit,[15] at which Jake Sullivan,[16] Kathleen H. Hicks,[17] Wendy Sherman,[18] Nancy Pelosi, among other former senior U.S. and foreign government officials, delivered remarks. In May 2023, SCSP hosted the Ash Carter Exchange on Innovation and National Security attended by senior U.S. defense officials.[19] [20] In September 2023, SCSP hosted the 2023 Global Emerging Technology Summit, for which US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered video remarks.[21] [22]

SCSP awarded a grant to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) to help with its Critical Technology Tracker project (published in March 2023).[23] It also supports the Kissinger Center Papers project at Johns Hopkins University SAIS.[24]

In late-November 2023, SCSP launched a joint project on "Artificial Intelligence, Human-Machine Teaming, and the Future of Intelligence Analysis” with ASPI in Canberra.[25]

Board of advisors

As of December 2023, SCSP's board of advisors includes Michèle Flournoy, Nadia Schadlow, Robert O. Work, and William “Mac” Thornberry III.[26]

Publications

Reports and Briefs

See also

References

  1. Web site: Wolfe . Frank . 2021-10-05 . Eric Schmidt to Helm National Artificial Intelligence/Emerging Technologies Project . 2023-06-13 . Defense Daily . en-US.
  2. Web site: Javers . Eamon . 2022-10-24 . How Google's former CEO Eric Schmidt helped write A.I. laws in Washington without publicly disclosing investments in A.I. startups . 2023-06-13 . CNBC . en.
  3. Web site: What We Do . 2023-06-13 . SCSP . en-US.
  4. Web site: About . 2023-06-13 . SCSP . en-US.
  5. Web site: Roberts . Andrea Suozzo, Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Alec Glassford, Brandon . 2013-05-09 . The Eric And Wendy Schmidt Fund For Strategic Innovation - Nonprofit Explorer . 2023-06-13 . ProPublica . en.
  6. Web site: About – The Schmidt Family Foundation . 2023-06-13 . en-US.
  7. Web site: In Depth: The Special Studies Project . 2023-06-14 . Rockefeller Brothers Fund . en.
  8. Web site: What We Do . 2023-06-14 . SCSP . en-US.
  9. Web site: Leishman . Angeline . 2021-09-27 . National Security Commission on AI to Disband in October; Robert Work Quoted . 2024-12-01 . executivegov.com . en-US.
  10. Web site: Javers . Eamon . 2022-10-24 . How Google's former CEO Eric Schmidt helped write A.I. laws in Washington without publicly disclosing investments in A.I. startups . 2024-12-01 . CNBC . en.
  11. Web site: Who We Are . 2023-10-24 . SCSP . en-US.
  12. Web site: Abonyi . Michael . 2023-08-23 . Confronting Beijing’s Weaponized Economy . 2023-11-06 . FDD . en.
  13. Web site: Caruso-Cabrera . Michelle . 2023-09-20 . Xi's economic policies are leaving many China watchers perplexed and confused . 2023-11-06 . CNBC . en.
  14. Web site: The Panels . 2023-06-13 . SCSP . en-US.
  15. Web site: 2022-09-16 . Global Emerging Technology Summit . 2023-06-13 . SCSP . en-US.
  16. Web site: House . The White . 2022-09-16 . Remarks by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at the Special Competitive Studies Project Global Emerging Technologies Summit . 2023-06-13 . The White House . en-US.
  17. Web site: Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks Remarks in a Fireside Chat at the Special C . 2023-06-13 . U.S. Department of Defense . en-US.
  18. Web site: Global Emerging Technology Summit, REMARKS, WENDY R. SHERMAN, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE . June 13, 2023.
  19. Web site: 2023-05-09 . The Ash Carter Exchange on Innovation and National Security . 2023-06-13 . SCSP . en-US.
  20. Web site: Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks Keynote Address at the Ash Carter Exchange on I . 2023-06-13 . U.S. Department of Defense . en-US.
  21. Web site: Orne . Ariana . 2023-08-30 . Media Advisory: SCSP's Global Emerging Technology Summit, September 21 . 2023-10-19 . SCSP . en-US.
  22. Web site: Secretary Antony J. Blinken Video Remarks at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP)’s Global Emerging Tech Summit . 2023-10-24 . United States Department of State . en.
  23. Web site: ASPI’s Critical Technology Tracker - AUKUS updates . June 13, 2023.
  24. Web site: 2023-04-18 . The Kissinger Center Papers . 2023-06-14 . Johns Hopkins SAIS . en.
  25. Web site: Orne . Ariana . 2023-12-04 . SCSP and ASPI Launch a New Project on Artificial Intelligence, Human-Machine Teaming, and the Future of Intelligence Analysis . 2023-12-09 . SCSP . en-US.
  26. Web site: Who We Are . 2023-06-13 . SCSP . en-US.
  27. Web site: November 7, 2023 . Framework for Identifying Highly Consequential AI Use Cases . December 9, 2023 . Special Competitive Studies Project.
  28. Web site: Generative AI: The Future of Innovation Power - by SCSP . 2023-10-19 . SCSP . en-US.
  29. Web site: AI Governance Authority Options Memo . October 23, 2023 . Special Competitive Studies Project.
  30. Web site: October 2022 . DEFENSE Interim Panel Report . 2024-11-30 . Special Competitive Studies Project.
  31. Web site: Mid-Decade Challenges to National Competitiveness . October 23, 2023 . Special Competitive Studies Project.
  32. News: Fried . Ina . September 12, 2022 . Report: Losing tech race with China could cost U.S. trillions . Axios .
  33. Web site: 2022-09-17 . Experts Warn US Is Falling Behind China in Key Technologies . 2023-10-24 . VOA . en.
  34. News: Fried . Ina . September 12, 2022 . Report: Losing tech race with China could cost U.S. trillions . . October 27, 2023.

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