The article also highlights the paradox of rivalry and interdependence between the US and China, particularly in the tech industry. Both the Trump and Biden administrations have tightened investment rules and imposed sanctions to curb China's technological progress, while increasing spending on AI to counter China's rise. Meanwhile, Schmidt's views on China have reportedly evolved, and he continues to warn about China's AI advancements. Despite potential conflicts of interest, sources insist that Schmidt's interactions with China were not managed by the NSCAI and that his investment choices are independently managed.
Key takeaways:
- Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who chaired the US government’s National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI), has been found to have potential personal connections to China's AI industry, according to newly disclosed emails.
- The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation, a nonprofit overseen by Schmidt and his wife, had invested almost $17 million in a fund that feeds into an investment firm that invests in Chinese tech and AI companies.
- Despite the NSCAI's warnings about China's use of AI, Schmidt has at times advocated for a more open approach to China, even defending a Google plan to reenter the country with a censored version of its search engine.
- Schmidt's potential conflicts of interest in his role as NSCAI chair have been highlighted, with some suggesting that his financial interests in AI are influencing the US government’s AI policy.