Special Competitive Studies Project

Inspired by the Rockefeller Special Studies Project launched in the 1950s and led by Henry Kissinger,{{Cite web |title=In Depth: The Special Studies Project |url=https://www.rbf.org/about/our-history/timeline/special-studies-project/in-depth |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=Rockefeller Brothers Fund |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=What We Do |url=https://www.scsp.ai/about/what-we-do/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=SCSP |language=en-US}} The NSCAI was dissolved on 1 October 2021,{{Cite web |last=Leishman |first=Angeline |date=2021-09-27 |title=National Security Commission on AI to Disband in October; Robert Work Quoted |url=https://executivegov.com/2021/09/ai-commission-to-disband-in-october/ |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=executivegov.com |language=en-US}} and Eric Schmidt announced the SCSP initiative four days later. Much of the NSCAI staff became members of the SCSP.{{Cite web |last=Javers |first=Eamon |date=2022-10-24 |title=How Google's former CEO Eric Schmidt helped write A.I. laws in Washington without publicly disclosing investments in A.I. startups |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/24/how-googles-former-ceo-eric-schmidt-helped-write-ai-laws-in-washington-without-publicly-disclosing-investments-in-ai-start-ups.html |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=CNBC |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Who We Are |url=https://www.scsp.ai/about/who-we-are/ |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=SCSP |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Abonyi |first=Michael |date=2023-08-23 |title=Confronting Beijing’s Weaponized Economy |url=https://www.fdd.org/events/2023/09/08/confronting-beijings-weaponized-economy/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=FDD |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Caruso-Cabrera |first=Michelle |date=2023-09-20 |title=Xi's economic policies are leaving many China watchers perplexed and confused |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/20/xis-economic-policies-are-leaving-many-china-watchers-bewildered.html |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=CNBC |language=en}}

SCSP's core work is divided into six panels, including: foreign policy, intelligence, defense, economy, society, and future tech platforms.{{Cite web |title=The Panels |url=https://www.scsp.ai/about/the-panels/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=SCSP |language=en-US}}

Recent notable events include the 2022 Global Emerging Technology Summit,{{Cite web |date=2022-09-16 |title=Global Emerging Technology Summit |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist/?list=PL9k1tZRbdMbXhTRfGXH3HW_GmL1kE5ANA |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=SCSP |language=en-US}} at which Jake Sullivan,{{Cite web |last=House |first=The White |date=2022-09-16 |title=Remarks by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at the Special Competitive Studies Project Global Emerging Technologies Summit |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/09/16/remarks-by-national-security-advisor-jake-sullivan-at-the-special-competitive-studies-project-global-emerging-technologies-summit/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=The White House |language=en-US}} Kathleen H. Hicks,{{Cite web |title=Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks Remarks in a Fireside Chat at the Special C |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3161841/deputy-secretary-of-defense-dr-kathleen-hicks-remarks-in-a-fireside-chat-at-the/https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3161841/deputy-secretary-of-defense-dr-kathleen-hicks-remarks-in-a-fireside-chat-at-the/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Wendy Sherman,{{Cite web |title=Global Emerging Technology Summit, REMARKS, WENDY R. SHERMAN, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE |url=https://www.state.gov/global-emerging-technology-summit/ |access-date=June 13, 2023}} Nancy Pelosi,{{Citation |title=SCSP Global Emerging Technology Summit: Nancy Pelosi |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGvZNXNzilM |access-date=2023-06-13 |language=en}} among other former senior U.S. and foreign government officials, delivered remarks.

In 2023, SCSP hosted NatSecTech workshops at several universities that examined the global competition between the U.S. and China and how it will affect future society, economy, and defense.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-16 |title=SCSP to lead NatSecTech event at Dakota State |url=https://dsu.edu/news/2023/03/scsp-to-lead-natsectech-event.html |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=Dakota State University |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=NatSecTech Programs |url=https://www.scsp.ai/natsectechprograms/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=SCSP |language=en-US}} SCSP and the RAND Corporation collaborated on a series of wargames in 2023 that simulated a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan to explore new technological options for Taiwan's defense, focusing on the integration of commercial technologies into military strategies.{{Cite web |last=Bajraktari |first=Ylber |last2=Mitre |first2=Jim |date=2023-08-22 |title=These technologies could defeat China’s missile barrage and defend Taiwan: Analysis |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2023/08/these-technologies-could-defeat-chinas-missile-barrage-and-defend-taiwan-analysis/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}} In May 2023, SCSP hosted the Ash Carter Exchange on Innovation and National Security attended by senior U.S. defense officials.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-09 |title=The Ash Carter Exchange on Innovation and National Security |url=https://www.scsp.ai/event/carter-exchange/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=SCSP |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks Keynote Address at the Ash Carter Exchange on I |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3390220/deputy-secretary-of-defense-kathleen-hicks-keynote-address-at-the-ash-carter-ex/https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3390220/deputy-secretary-of-defense-kathleen-hicks-keynote-address-at-the-ash-carter-ex/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In September 2023, SCSP hosted the 2023 Global Emerging Technology Summit, for which US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered video remarks.{{Cite web |last=Orne |first=Ariana |date=2023-08-30 |title=Media Advisory: SCSP's Global Emerging Technology Summit, September 21 |url=https://www.scsp.ai/2023/08/media-advisory-special-competitive-studies-projects-global-emerging-technology-summit-september-21-2023/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=SCSP |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Secretary Antony J. Blinken Video Remarks at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP)’s Global Emerging Tech Summit |url=https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-video-remarks-at-the-special-competitive-studies-project-scsps-global-emerging-tech-summit/ |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=United States Department of State |language=en}}

SCSP awarded a grant to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) to help with its Critical Technology Tracker project (published in March 2023).{{Cite web |title=ASPI’s Critical Technology Tracker - AUKUS updates |url=https://www.aspi.org.au/report/critical-technology-tracker |access-date=June 13, 2023}} It also supports the Kissinger Center Papers project at Johns Hopkins University SAIS.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-18 |title=The Kissinger Center Papers |url=https://sais.jhu.edu/kissinger/programs-and-projects/kissinger-center-papers |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=Johns Hopkins SAIS |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Orne |first=Ariana |date=2023-12-04 |title=SCSP and ASPI Launch a New Project on Artificial Intelligence, Human-Machine Teaming, and the Future of Intelligence Analysis |url=https://www.scsp.ai/2023/12/scsp-and-aspi-launch-a-new-project-on-artificial-intelligence-human-machine-teaming-and-the-future-of-intelligence-analysis/ |access-date=2023-12-09 |website=SCSP |language=en-US}}

In 2024, SCSP launched a series of "AI+" events focusing on AI's convergence with other technologies or systems. In 2024, SCSP hosted an AI+Robotics Summit.{{Cite web |last=Demaitre |first=Eugene |date=2025-03-10 |title=SCSP recommends national robotics strategy to new administration |url=https://www.therobotreport.com/scsp-recommends-national-robotics-strategy-to-new-administration/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=The Robot Report |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-10-23 |title=AI+ Robotics |url=https://www.scsp.ai/event/ai-robotics/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=SCSP |language=en-US}} In April 2025, SCSP co-hosted the AI+Biotechnology Summit with the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology.{{Cite web |last=SCSP |date=2025-02-28 |title=What’s Happening at SCSP? Can't Miss Announcements. |url=https://scsp222.substack.com/p/whats-happening-at-scsp-cant-miss-a9d?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Special Competitive Studies Project}}{{Cite web |title=Padilla Delivers Keynote Address at AI Biotechnology Summit |url=https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-delivers-keynote-address-at-ai-biotechnology-summit/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Senator Alex Padilla |language=en-US}}

As of December 2024, SCSP's board of advisors includes Michèle Flournoy, Nadia Schadlow, Robert O. Work, and William “Mac” Thornberry III.{{Cite web |title=Who We Are |url=https://www.scsp.ai/about/who-we-are/ |access-date=25 December 2024 |website=SCSP |language=en-US}}

• Framework for Identifying Highly Consequential AI Use Cases, November 2023 (in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory){{Cite web |date=November 7, 2023 |title=Framework for Identifying Highly Consequential AI Use Cases |url=https://www.scsp.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SCSP_JHU-HCAI-Framework-Nov-6.pdf |access-date=December 9, 2023 |website=Special Competitive Studies Project}}
• Generative AI: The Future of Innovation Power, September 2023{{Cite web |title=Generative AI: The Future of Innovation Power - by SCSP |url=https://www.scsp.ai/reports/gen-ai/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=SCSP |language=en-US}}
• AI Governance Authority Options Memo, June 2023{{Cite web |title=AI Governance Authority Options Memo |url=https://www.scsp.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/AI-Regulatory-Options-Memo.pdf |access-date=October 23, 2023 |website=Special Competitive Studies Project}}
• DEFENSE Interim Panel Report, October 2022{{Cite web |date=October 2022 |title=DEFENSE Interim Panel Report |url=https://www.scsp.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Defense-Panel-IPR.pdf |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Special Competitive Studies Project}}

• Mid-Decade Challenges to National Competitiveness, September 2022{{Cite web |title=Mid-Decade Challenges to National Competitiveness |url=https://www.scsp.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/SCSP-Mid-Decade-Challenges-to-National-Competitiveness.pdf |access-date=October 23, 2023 |website=Special Competitive Studies Project}}{{Cite news |last=Fried |first=Ina |date=September 12, 2022 |title=Report: Losing tech race with China could cost U.S. trillions |work=Axios |url=https://www.axios.com/2022/09/12/china-tech-us-race-cost}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-17 |title=Experts Warn US Is Falling Behind China in Key Technologies |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/experts-warn-us-is-falling-behind-china-in-key-technologies/6751392.html |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=VOA |language=en}} In its coverage of the report, Axios wrote: "From SCSP's perspective, the geopolitical, technological, and ideological futures are all deeply interrelated: "By the end of this decade, we will know if we will live in a world shaped by free expression, tolerance, and self-determination or dictated by censorship and coercion."{{Cite news |last=Fried |first=Ina |date=September 12, 2022 |title=Report: Losing tech race with China could cost U.S. trillions |work=Axios |url=https://www.axios.com/2022/09/12/china-tech-us-race-cost |access-date=October 27, 2023}}

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