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Seraphim Space & Generation Space (USA) Accelerator Announces Mission 14 Cohort. The Accelerator reaches milestone figure with companies raising over $500m in funding as investor appetite grows.

Seraphim Accelerator Mission 14 at KPMG London Offices

London and San Francisco, October 7, 2024: Seraphim Space, known as Generation Space in the U.S., which runs the leading, dedicated accelerator for startups in the global SpaceTech industry, announces the companies participating in Mission 14.

Since 2018 the accelerator has been working with early-stage SpaceTech companies on a global scale. To date, supporting 109 companies across 30 countries, helping them raise over $540 million in funding for the first time. Seraphim remains dedicated to finding and supporting early-stage companies through every stage of their journey. There have been many success stories from the alumni over the years, recently Xona Space Systems, from Mission 3, who earlier this year raised a $19m Series A from new and current investors including Seraphim.

This year the space sector has continued to demonstrate robust growth and resilience evidenced by consecutive quarters of investment recovery. Q2 2024 saw $2.41bn invested, bringing the total investment over the past twelve months to $8.5bn. The growth in investment this quarter was primarily driven by a large volume of deals across from series A to series C, indicating stronger investor confidence in early-stage SpaceTech ventures.  The Accelerator’s track record and unique position at the epicentre of the ‘New Space’ ecosystem continues to attract early-stage startups from all over the world – with this year’s cohort being scouted from 7 countries. For the first time, companies from Saudi Arabia, Chile, and Turkey are joining the cohort, demonstrating SpaceTech’s global significance and growth. Mission 14 participants focus on key areas like data analytics, earth observation, and advanced manufacturing. By leveraging insights from space, these startups are driving advancements that will positively impact life on Earth.

Seraphim Space continues to strengthen its collaboration with leading corporate partners and industry bodies, including Dentons, ESA, JSAT, NEC, NSIFF, Telespazio, Thales, UK Space Agency and KPMG., who have been instrumental in supporting this cohort. Acquora earned a place on the programme as a ‘#TeC Fellow’ after winning the Telespazio’s Technology Contest.

  • Acquora (#T-TeC Fellow) – (Chile)Acquora addresses the $1 trillion water management market while prioritizing sustainable access to this essential resource for all. By leveraging innovative technology, it optimizes distribution systems, allowing water utilities to reinvest increased revenues into infrastructure and conservation efforts.
  • Artemis Earth Ltd – (UK) Artemis Earth delivers scalable biodiversity monitoring via satellite technology, enabling organizations to meet ESG goals, adhere to regulatory frameworks, and make informed, sustainable decisions.
  • Constellation Technologies & Operations – (France) Constellation Technologies & Operations empowers telecom operators to deliver high-performance, affordable, sustainable internet services to their clients through a disruptive broadband constellation of telecommunications satellites.
  • Flypix AI GmbH – (Germany) Flypix AI GmbH is a SaaS AI platform to understand the Earth from satellite and drone imagery.
  • Forg3D – (UK) Forg3D is bringing metal manufacturing into the digital age with 3D printed forgings, changing industry on Earth, and beyond.
  • ManufactureAI – (US) ManufactureAI develops generative AI tools to reduce the time and cost of scaling hardware production. Its platform integrates real-time data from factory floors, optimizing manufacturing processes, with its flagship product Launchflow leading the way.
  • Planetary Systems Corporation (dba Planetary Systems AI) – (US)  PSAI builds AI, machine-learning applications, and digital twin technology to accelerate data flow, interoperability, and insight intelligence for decision-making in the space sector, optimizing planetary support operations.
  • ROVIAL SAS – (France) ROVIAL is pioneering AI-enabled robotics for orbital assembly, repair and service of space infrastructure. Their vision is to create hyper-powerful satellites & autonomous Orbital Outposts that produce sustainable space power for diverse applications.
  • SARsatX – (Saudi Arabia) SARsatX develops a vertically integrated constellation of SAR and optical satellites, powering a customizable Earth observation platform that delivers near-real-time insights tailored to diverse use cases.
  • Spacelis – (Turkey) SPACELIS is developing cutting-edge, ultra-lightweight flexible solar cell technologies to lead sustainable energy solutions for space exploration. With an innovative design and focus on specific power efficiency, SPACELIS is set to transform power systems for satellites, space missions, and terrestrial applications, driving environmental sustainability and deep-tech innovation.
  • Tiami Networks – (US)   Tiami Networks designs robust, 5G software-defined ground and space systems with Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) capabilities, delivering secure, real-time data and communications for critical applications and high-security environments.

 

Alexander Holt, Managing Director, Seraphim Space Enterprise: “The Mission 14 cohort comes at an exciting time for global space innovation. Space investment has remained strong despite a challenging funding environment for the broader tech sector. In the last 12 months, over $8.5 billion has been invested into space-related startups, compared with $5.1 billion over the same period a year ago. Over the last six years, our accelerator alumni have secured investments of more than $540 million, and this new cohort will bring world-changing ideas to inception, helping shape the future of the space economy.”

Joe Cassidy, Seraphim Client Lead Partner, and Jonathon Gill, Global & UK Head of Industrial Manufacturing & Defence at KPMG: “The Seraphim Accelerator programme invests in pioneering entrepreneurial SpaceTech businesses to drive pace and focus in a sector that is a key strategic industrial and technological asset for the UK.  We at KPMG are extremely proud of our deepening relationship with Seraphim and look forward to supporting pioneering businesses to scale up and shoot for the stars.  Digital infrastructure in space supports human life on earth, from communication on smartphones, the transition to cashless societies, autonomous mobility, and smart cities. Space-led technology is disrupting every industry on the planet including defence, insurance, agriculture, financial services, pharmaceuticals, education, healthcare, and manufacturing to name a few.  As well as presenting opportunities for advancement for humanity, space is also a highly congested and contested environment with nations competing with one another.“

ENDS 

Media enquiries

For further information, or to arrange to speak to Seraphim Space Accelerator (UK) or Generation Space Accelerator (U.S) for other enquiries please contact:

Seraphim Space
E: ellie@seraphim.vc

Planetary Systems AI Press Contact:
Mack Reed
E: pr@planetarysystems.ai

About Seraphim Space Accelerator and Generation Space Accelerator:
The Seraphim Space Accelerator (UK) and Generation Space Accelerator (USA) are the world’s leading accelerators focused on space technology, providing support, networks, and resources to scale up and become investment-ready. Working with 230 corporates, government agencies and over 500 investors worldwide. Since the conclusion of the previous 13 Missions, 109 alumni have raised $540 in investment.

About Seraphim Space Investment Trust plc
Seraphim Space Investment Trust plc (“SSIT” or the “Company”) is the world’s first listed fund focused on SpaceTech. The Company seeks exposure predominantly to growth stage private financed SpaceTech businesses that have the potential to dominate globally and that are sector leaders with first-mover advantages in areas such as climate, communications, mobility and cyber security. The Company is listed on the Premium Segment of the London Stock Exchange. Further information is available at: https://investors.seraphim.vc.

About Seraphim Space Manager LLP
Seraphim Space Manager LLP (“Seraphim Space” or the “Manager”) is based in the UK and manages Seraphim Space Investment Trust plc. Further information is available at www.seraphim.vc.

About Generation Space
Generation Space LLC is the U.S. subsidiary of Seraphim Space Manager, LLP, and is responsible for its U.S. activities. Further information is available at: www.generation.space.

About Planetary Systems AI (www.planetarysystems.ai): Planetary Systems AI (PSAI) is a planetary support company addressing the challenges of building software applications with space and satellite data building artificial intelligence and machine learning tools and solutions, the foundations for neural networks in the space industry, digital twin technology, data models, digital and reliability engineering to empower planetary interoperability and computationally accessible data for space and satellite operations decision support.

 

 

 

October 1, 2024 – New York, NY 

Planetary Systems AI (PSAI), a planetary support company providing cyber-first artificial intelligence and machine-learning solutions for space and satellite operations, announced today that Eileen M. Vidrine joins the company’s Advisory Board. 

Ms. Vidrine is a national security executive, U.S. Army veteran and the former Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence officer for the Department of the Air Force (Ret) at the Pentagon in Arlington, VA. She possesses more than 35 years of experience leading transformative change initiatives in defense, intelligence, air and space. 

CEO & Chief Space Officer Cindy Chin said, “It is an incredible honor to welcome Eileen to PSAI’s Board Advisors. Her groundbreaking leadership in public and military service combined with her extensive wealth of knowledge in the data and artificial intelligence domains between the commercial space and defense industries makes her a powerhouse in disrupting outdated processes and DoD space value chain improving our ability to provide world-class enhanced and dual-use capabilities at enterprise data management levels that is necessary to bring the global space industry into its next phase of growth with the United States leading the charge with its allied partners.

She is an exceptional leader and visionary which aligns with the PSAI standards of excellence. We are extremely grateful that she has come on board and continues her professional leadership and service beyond her military career.”

A visionary leader within the Federal Senior Executive Service, Ms. Vidrine was handpicked to serve as the Senior Strategic Advisor for Data to the Federal Chief Information Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President, Washington, D.C., where she spearheaded data and emerging technology strategies.

In her leadership roles, Ms. Vidrine has consistently driven innovation by establishing new programs that enhance workforce capabilities and promote best practices in data management and AI. Known for her ability to disrupt outdated processes, she has built high-performance teams and cultivated collaborative work cultures that value individual skills, inspire confidence and foster professional growth. She continues to mentor and develop the next generation of data and AI leaders. 

She was recently named to the Blackhat AI Security Council and is an advisory board member to the Mark Cuban AI Foundation. Ms. Vidrine’s contributions to the AI and data community have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the AIM AI 100 Visionary Leader, CDO Magazine Executive of the Year 2023 and the DataIQ 2024 Life,me Achievement Award. Ms. Vidrine received her M.S. in Systems Management from the University of Southern California and attended executive leadership programs at the Harvard Kennedy School. 

About Planetary Systems AI (www.planetarysystems.ai): Planetary Systems AI (PSAI) is a planetary support company addressing the challenges of building software applications with space and satellite data building artificial intelligence and machine learning tools and solutions, the foundations for neural networks in the space industry, digital twin technology, data models, digital and reliability engineering to empower planetary interoperability and computationally accessible data for space and satellite operations decision support.

 

Planetary Systems AI Press Contact:
Mack Reed
Head of Product
E: pr@planetarysystems.ai

Download a PDF of this Press Release

PSAI officially joins NVIDIA Inception, a program dedicated to accelerating startups working on cutting-edge technology. 

New York, NY, September 10, 2024 – Planetary Systems AI (PSAI), a planetary support company providing cyber-first artificial intelligence and machine-learning solutions for space and satellite operations, announced today that it has has officially joined NVIDIA Inception, a program dedicated to accelerating startups working on cutting-edge technology and providing access to the latest technical resources from NVIDIA.

“Being part of NVIDIA Inception is a strategic move that will boost our development efforts and bring cutting-edge research, resources, and techniques to accelerate the delivery and improve the accuracy of our models,” said Cindy Chin, CEO & Chief Space Officer of PSAI. “Joining NVIDIA Inception opens doors for us to continue pioneering new techniques in making data computationally accessible and interoperable that will allow applications to be built off of our models, delivering better and faster outcomes for our customers in decision support in the space and satellite industries.”

“Joining NVIDIA’s Inception program allows us to harness cutting-edge AI capabilities to enhance our solutions cyber posture, driving more innovative defenses and strengthening the security landscape for our applications, clients and partners,” said Aquarious Workman, PSAI’s Head of Cybersecurity.

 

About NVIDIA Inception

(https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/startups/): NVIDIA Inception is a free program designed to help startups evolve faster through cutting-edge technology, opportunities to connect with venture capitalists, and access to the latest technical resources from NVIDIA.

About Planetary Systems AI (www.planetarysystems.ai): Planetary Systems AI (PSAI) is a planetary support company developing decision support systems for operational efficiency, situational awareness, and logistical planning to serve companies, government agencies, and small businesses that will increasingly rely on clarity and speed in multiple- context data sources that they must consult to make decisions around space and satellite operations. 

Planetary Systems AI Press Contact:

Mack Reed
Head of Product
E: pr@planetarysystems.ai

Download a PDF of this press release

 

Second in a series of notes from our residency at SDA TAP Lab:

We are working to solve a core problem in business:  Everyone is drowning in data and starved for insight. 

No-one feels this pain more deeply than people in the booming domain of space operations.

Rockets blast off from U.S. spaceports that still operate on antiquated, stovepiped 20th-century hardware and software not designed for the digital age – 232 launches are scheduled this year (given no mission delays).

Satellites orbit the earth with data packets crossing space in myriad formats, languages, and even purposes among their users, operators and stakeholders.

So rather than flowing, data drips sluggishly through channels gated by piecemeal infrastructure and security and intellectual-property protocols – or choked by the need to translate it from one use case to the next on a case-by-case basis.

Here in Colorado Springs, we are collaborating with other companies to answer a uniquely complicated data-flow question: Is that space debris or a satellite threat? 

The challenge here is that intelligence data flows in many forms from many sources towards the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command, which is responsible for safety and national security. There, human operators must filter the real threats out of more than 44,000 other satellites and rocket bodies, and hundreds of thousands of particles of debris orbiting Earth.

So our SDA TAP Lab teams are collaborating on methods of sorting through all that data to help SSC operators decide whether to flag an object: Threat? Non-Threat? Or simply Unknown?

At PSAI, we are seeking to understand how the operators make those decisions today so they can use data from new “events” more effectively.

We believe that by making these data sources interoperable – and understanding the meaning that those decisions give to the data, we can help them take action in the future with with greater clarity, confidence, and speed.

Watch this space.

#spacedata, #sdataplab, #decisionsupport, #ai, #artificialintelligence, #ussf, #satellites, #satellitedefense

Planetary Systems AI Announces That Dr. Steve Crews, Ph.D. (U.S. Army & U.S. Space Force, Ret.) Joins Advisory Board

August 12, 2024 – New York, NY 

Planetary Systems AI (PSAI), a planetary support company providing cyber-first artificial intelligence and machine-learning solutions for space and satellite operations, announced today that Dr. Steve Crews, Ph.D. joins the company’s Advisory Board. He is an executive leader of technical teams for 21 years in the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Army solving problems that result in organizational growth and innovation. Dr. Crews is a published engineer, researcher and educator with extensive robotics, astrodynamics, spacecraft and AI experience with a proven track record of delivering complex aerospace projects with significant value at scale. He has 5 engineering degrees from West Point, Naval Postgraduate School, and Carnegie Mellon University.

CEO & Chief Space Officer Cindy Chin said, “Steve’s extensive experience and knowledge across coordinated space operations, space domain awareness, automation, capabilities and systems integration combined with experience working with small companies is extremely valuable and a tremendous asset. His service to the United States continues in his capacity in leading teams with not just the SDA TAP Lab, but the entire DoD commercial space value chain. We are extremely grateful that he has come on board and continues to expand his leadership and service beyond his military career. That’s how exceptional he is as a person and an officer.” 

About Planetary Systems AI (www.planetarysystems.ai): Planetary Systems AI (PSAI) is a planetary support company developing decision support systems for operational efficiency, situational awareness, and logistical planning to serve companies, government agencies, and small businesses that will increasingly rely on clarity and speed in multiple- context data sources that they must consult to make decisions around space and satellite operations. 

Planetary Systems AI Press Contact:

Mack Reed, Head of Product

E: pr@planetarysystems.ai



A smiling woman, smiling uniformed military officer, and smiling man standing before a series of banners that each say "INNOVATION HUB."
From L: PSAI CEO Cindy Chin, SDA TAP Lab director Maj. Sean Allen, PSAI Head of Product Mack Reed

This is the first in a series of notes from our 3-month residency in Cohort 4 of the SDA TAP Lab’s Project Apollo accelerator:

It’s Day 2 here in Colorado Springs, and we’re already brainstorming at an extraordinary level.

The U.S. Space Force has pulled in PSAI, along with experts in sensor technology, threat assessment, and space-domain awareness, to collaborate on methods of sorting out hostile satellite activity from the myriad commercial satellites, rocket bodies, and chunks of debris cluttering earth orbit.

Landscape near Colorado Springs.

The TAP Lab mission’s 512-day deadline is as short and ambitious as its list of goals is long and challenging. The learning curve feels like a tight, nearly-vertical straight line.

And we could not be in a better place right now to absorb information, forge meaningful partnerships, and make great friends and opportunities as we define where we are best-positioned to pitch in on delivery.

We’ll share more as the project develops; Watch this space.

We are stoked for what we can accomplish tomorrow and beyond. 
#space #orbit #datascience #ussf #sdataplab #accelerator 

“During the three-month TAP Lab cycle, PSAI will further test and refine its solutions for space domain awareness by responding with a team in a given scenario related to threat warning and assessment. “

Via satellite

SatelliteToday.com

 

New York, NY, August 5, 2024 – Planetary Systems AI (PSAI) announced that Ian Douglas joins the company as of August 1, 2024.

We are pleased to announce that Ian Douglas, former CTO of Genea, has joined the Planetary Systems AI team as Senior Architect and a core member of PSAI’s Engineering and Dev team.

“With Ian’s comprehensive experience and proven capability in leading and scaling up the Production and Operations for high tech products, Ian will steer Planetary Systems AI technical architecture and focus on establishing the company’s scalable AI and groundbreaking machine learning solutions,” says CEO & Chief Space Officer Cindy Chin. “He is a respected leader in delivery and operational excellence; ensuring effective and controlled management of all program deliverables. Ian’s experience building out ioT and enterprise systems at scale for Fortune 100 companies is highly valuable and needed in the commercial space and satellite industry. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Ian come on board as our lead architect. Congratulations Ian in the new role and welcome!”

We’re sharing proud kudos to Aquarious Workman, CISM, our Head of Cybersecurity, who is busy preparing Planetary Systems AI for compliance with the DoD’s CMMC 2.0 standards and industry best practices:

Via Satellite today named Aquarious to their Rising Stars of 2024 , a cohort of young professionals making their mark in the space industry.

 “We are proud of Aquarious and his tremendous contributions already to the U.S. Department of Defense as well as the space and defense industries with his service to this nation. He is a leader in the field of cybersecurity and dual-use technologies,” said CEO & Chief Space Officer Cindy Chin, FRSA. “This award exemplifies those contributions and his portfolio of work with prime contractors and here with us at PSAI leading our cyber-first efforts.” 

#cybersecurity #cmmc2.0 #dod #bestpractices #aquarious

New York, NY, July 30, 2024 – Planetary Systems AI (PSAI), a planetary support company providing cyber-first artificial intelligence and machine-learning solutions for space and satellite operations, announced today that it has been selected to participate in the U.S. Space Systems Command’s Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Tools Applications and Processing (TAP) Lab Apollo Accelerator Cohort 4. This program enables PSAI to demonstrate its machine learning models and AI product solutions for decision support in satellite operations and space domain awareness. 

“With the amount of orbital traffic and payloads being deployed into space in the expansion of the space economy, it is imperative that a continuous monitoring and coverage of space assets traffic and anomaly management occurs 24/7/365.” said CEO & Chief Space Officer Cindy Chin. “PSAI is leveraging our AI and machine learning roots and capabilities to work with our government and commercial customers and partners to ensure that their decision support is accelerated and enhanced through our AI solutions, even through multi-classification systems. Our team is excited to showcase these tools and capabilities during the SDA TAP Lab with U.S. Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force and other government and industry partners.” 

During the three-month TAP Lab cycle, PSAI will further test and refine its solutions for SDA by responding with a team in a given scenario related to threat warning and assessment. This includes the company’s solutions for ontology SDK, multi-classification architecture, data normalization and processing of semi-structured, unstructured, and synthetic test data, as well as its management dashboards.

About SDA TAP Lab (https://sdataplab.org/): The Space Domain Awareness TAP Lab accelerates the delivery of space battle management software to operational units. We decompose kill chains, prioritize needs with operators, map needs to technologies, and onboard tech to existing platforms quickly. We partner with industry, academia, and across the government to succeed. 

About Planetary Systems AI (www.planetarysystems.ai): Planetary Systems AI (PSAI) is a planetary support company developing decision support systems for operational efficiency, situational awareness, and logistical planning to serve companies, government agencies, and small businesses that will increasingly rely on clarity and speed in multiple- context data sources that they must consult to make decisions around space and satellite operations. 

Planetary Systems AI Press Contact:

Mack Reed, Head of Product

E: pr@planetarysystems.ai


Download a PDF of this press release

#ssa #ssc #sdataplab #dod #psai #planetarysystemsai #ai #spaceai #machinelearning

Recently, I had the privilege to attend the inaugural AI Expo for National Competitiveness in Washington DC representing Planetary Systems AI. The AI Expo is the place to convene and build relationships around AI, technology, and U.S. and allied competitiveness. The AI Expo is meant to serve as a forum for industry, government, and academic research entities to exhibit some of the latest technological breakthroughs — in AI, biotech, energy, networks, compute, microelectronics, manufacturing, augmented reality, and beyond — and discuss their implications for U.S. and allied competitiveness.

Jake Sullivan from The White House on stage at the AI Expo for National Competitiveness 2024. Photo: Cindy Chin / Planetary Systems AI

One of the many sessions I attended over the span of two days included Chairman Eric Schmidt’s fireside chat with Foreign Affairs’ Dan Kurtz-Phelan. Here are some key takeaways from that conversation about innovation, AI, technology, allied partnerships and more.

The capacity for Innovation, the speed of domination has long been central in global power. At the national level, however, would be a public competition. Suppose you argue that this time, is it? It’s not just the ingredients of economic or military or cultural power that there’s something distinctly on point in non-military non-asset security areas.

AI Expo for National Competitiveness Chair Eric Schmidt with Foreign Affairs Daniel Kurtz-Phelan. Photo: Cindy Chin / Planetary Systems AI

Soft power vs hard power:

The most valuable companies in the world are all now tech companies. That should be an indication that what is happening is much bigger than a single company or your project or your whatever you’re doing. Schmidt’s argument in the current debate on innovation, which came out of conversations at AI Expo, was that the traditional framing and our policy and political science, is car power as an example in the ban of Chinese EVs (electric vehicles) in the United States. Hard power is weapons and soft power is essentially culture and influence. However, the way you’re going to win is by the speed with which you can innovate, whether it’s in the hard power business of weapons or the soft power machine through innovation and competition in AI. The reason this is happening is that tech industry is building platforms that are very different and global in nature when it comes to United States and China. Other examples of soft power include Hollywood, YouTube, and TikTok, which Schmidt refers to as being similar to television media and resources controlled by China. Whether you debate this is good or bad, this is innovation power.

“Innovation and scale around innovation at scale”:

Another example of innovation power is found through the courage and resistance of what is happening in hard conflict zones. In Ukraine in contrast with a much larger adversary and area, innovation is used to hold on and for a while to buy time now, illustrating varied amazing hard power (weapons) combined with innovation power against defense. So we’re going to see whether they are going to make and at least and really hold its scale. Speed of innovation is critical in advanced technologies.

China and AI Development:

China is becoming a dominant player in the electrical field, through solar power and manufacturing. It is not something Schmidt would have predicted, but it’s obviously a part of their industrial policy which differs from America’s.

China will lead in surveillance and will be very good at that, he said: They will ultimately have to regulate their AI systems heavily to keep to their rules about speech and freedom. The Chinese government will likely shut down the speech and activity that would constrain innovation on AI development front. This is an advantage that democracies have, minimal constraints on innovation.

AI is the platform for everything and, according to Schmidt, China is well behind for a number of reasons including:

  1. English is the most common training model language: The current generation of schools of models are trained using programming language. There is a lot more English language than the various Chinese languages on the web, including data to train models, but China is working on closing the gap.
  2. Enter chain thought reasoning:  when a model has been trained enough where you can say what you want and the computer can write Python code or another command to make it happen. When AI can mimic human behavior or thought reasoning, then it begins to appear like general intelligence.
  3. Access to compute chips: Trump and Biden Administrations limited access to chips essentially above NVIDIA A100 relationships and with other chip manufacturers, so the latest upgrades in compute chips are not available in China, which makes it much harder for the Chinese tech companies to reconfigure and stay competitive.

  4. Different AI industrial models. China is trying to make money with AI apps and monetizing on application revenue models, which can result in a higher probability of success given how well apps have performed globally. For platforms out there where AI applications are being subscribed to in America, the business models have been done with huge venture investment of millions of dollars. That is an amount of money that is not available in the Chinese system. So the Chinese ecosystem is a “field hamstrung by all of these obstacles” and the government is trying to figure how to fix that.

 

AI supply chain China 

There was a decoupling in semiconductor products, but trade with China went up. U.S. and China are like Siamese twins – one body, two heads, depending on each other, but don’t always get along. Co-dependence is for global safety, but the CHIPS Act is a good thing.

EU and global AI innovation dynamic:

Schmidt says that Europe has an EU AI Act, which makes it almost impossible to innovate at large scale, guaranteeing that the approach Europe is taking limits people and they are not going to compete in the strategic power game when it comes to AI. The development of non-human intelligence that makes our world better is the game for the rest of our lives along with the China question. He suspects that China will have trouble with this. The UK government started, and the U.S government followed. He predicts that Korea and France will follow in the next four months.

AI Talent & Pipeline

Africa

When asked about Africa and the rate of entrepreneurship and innovation happening on the continent, Schmidt points out one thing that is restraining innovation – the lack of access to technical universities is inhibiting progress. When he was CEO of Alphabet, he had a rule of placing at least 10 people into a country in Africa. People love Google in Africa. Why? There is a lack of available textbooks, so Google was used to teach science students, where technical learning occurs, and help graduate students. There are many natural resources in Africa for AI manufacturing, but Schmidt does not think Africa will likely invent AI.

America (doesn’t) want you:

With regards to researchers and technologists, America’s strength is immigration. Schmidt and many business leaders agree that Washington’s stupidest policy is take the smartest people in the world, educate top minds at the best schools and then kick them out and create a competitor to America. It is not a good strategy – stopping STEM talent or math and science people who want to work on competitiveness. (i.e., TSMC)

China’s Quantum Program is open to people/immigrants who have been kicked out of America and that talent drain and innovation potential and top STEM skills are transferred.

Other suggestions from Eric Schmidt in multi-lateral diplomacy discussions include:

No Surprises Rule when it comes to AI, communicate ahead of time any risks or issues. This will take a long time to negotiate.

Shared Society Risks

U.S., China, EU, etc have shared risks in nuclear weapons, which is to be avoided at all costs.

The late Henry Kissinger, who was a strong proponent of starting conversations with China now; The strategic power competition between U.S. and China is present, so you have to when diplomacy and soft power can be leveraged and avoid hard power and war as much as possible. What war does to young men and women is so brutal. War is to be avoided at all costs.

Other speakers included Palantir’s Alex Karp and CTO Shyam Sankar as well as representatives from big tech (NVIDIA, Cerebras, Microsoft, Meta, etc.), U.S. government agencies and government representatives along with small businesses in the commercial/private industry sectors.

Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar, Photo: Cindy Chin / Planetary Systems AI