The AI+ Expo is 10 Days Away!
Don't miss this week's exciting announcements.
Hello, I’m Ylli Bajraktari, President of the Special Competitive Studies Project. This week, we announced exciting updates for the upcoming AI+ Expo, and released new episodes of NatSec Tech and Strait Forward.
SCSP has taken over the DMV on WMATA buses and Metro cars! If you see an AI+ Expo ad, take a photo and post it on social media and tag SCSP and use #SCSPSpotted. Those who do will receive a giveaway at the event!
There's something for everyone below. Read on to learn more and spread the word.
Don't Miss the AI+ Expo: Your Key to 2025's Premier AI Event!
Mark your calendars for June 2-4, 2025, because the AI+ Expo at the Washington Convention Center is poised to be the most impactful event of your year! This premier gathering offers an unparalleled opportunity to forge vital connections and drive innovation forward.
The can't-miss event of the year brings together the brightest minds across artificial intelligence, policy, and industry, creating a dynamic environment for collaboration and progress. In exciting news, our exhibit hall is officially SOLD OUT, featuring newly announced sponsors like Palantir, Accenture Federal Services, American Security Fund, Windsurf, and Arm!
Visit our website to see our incredible lineup of speakers and get a sneak peek at the exciting things planned for the AI+ Expo!
The Exchange: Advancing the Legacy of Innovation and National Security
In addition to the AI+ Expo, we are also hosting - same time, same venue - the 4th Exchange on innovation and national security. This premier gathering of national security leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers aims to bridge innovation with national security. You do not want to miss discussions about the Army Transformation Initiative with Secretary Dan Driscoll and General Randy George, America’s maritime dominance with Secretary John Phelan, the U.S. military’s mission of peace through overwhelming strength with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, the Air Force of the future with General David Allvin, space superiority with General Chance Saltzman, future of AI with Dr. Eric Schmidt, cutting edge research being undertaken by MIT and Princeton University, delivering AI advantage for national security with representatives from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, and many, many more. Check out the list of incredible speakers and the history that inspired the series here.
Experience the first U.S. Military Drone Competition in our Nation’s Capital!
Get ready for an unparalleled experience at the AI+ Expo's Drone Arena! This is your chance to dive into the world of drones, with something for everyone. You can test your building prowess at our drone assembly workshop or hone your piloting skills on first-person view (FPV) drone simulators. Prepare to be amazed by skilled pilots performing breathtaking stunts, and witness intense competition as drone enthusiasts and U.S. service members go head-to-head.
We're incredibly excited to host the first-ever inter-military services drone competition in our nation's capital, presented in partnership with the U.S. National Drone Association (USNDA).
This is a fantastic opportunity for military service members, cadets, midshipmen from military academies, and high school and college students interested in competing to showcase their talents. The USNDA Leaderboard Time Trials Track is live now – apply today to secure your spot!
The AI+ Expo Hackathon: Build the Future with AI!
Calling all innovators! Do you want to tackle real-world challenges using the transformative power of AI? SCSP is thrilled to host our biggest Hackathon yet, co-hosted with AGI House!
Join up to 300 hackers to collaborate on impactful problems, make professional connections with fellow participants and supporting tech partners, and maybe even build the next big thing.
We've just revealed an incredible $135,000 in total prize value! This includes:
Tracks (and Prizes) from -
OpenAI ($25k in API credits)
Anthropic ($10k in API credits)
Meta
SCSP ($50,000 for the best projects across OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta tracks)
U.S. National Drone Association (USNDA) ($50,000)
This is an unparalleled opportunity to showcase your skills and solve worthwhile problems. Don't miss out – apply today!
Envision Your Future at the AI+Careers Stage!
Chart your future in the AI era at the AI+ Careers Stage during the AI+ Expo! Drop in for practical insights at the crossroads of artificial intelligence, talent, and opportunity. Featured speakers include:
The Honorable Keith Sonderling, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor
Juan Pablo Segura, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade
Paul Alivisatos, President, University of Chicago
Lauren Buitta, CEO, Girl Security
…and many more.
Come by the Talent Marketplace—powered by ClearanceJobs—to connect with leaders from industry, academia, and government. Set up your CVENT Event app profile beforehand to unlock:
On-site interviews
Résumé reviews
Career coaching
High-value networking
Whether you’re ready to level-up your career or just curious about the future of the workforce, AI+ Careers has the tools and connections to help you thrive. Don’t miss out!
Explore the AI+ Expo Bookstore!
We are excited to announce that this year's bookstore partner is Kramers! The Expo bookstore is the perfect opportunity to meet your favorite authors, and even get your copies signed.
You'll find a wide selection of books covering AI, geopolitics, history, semiconductors, and technology. Our impressive lineup of authors so far includes Stanley McChrystal, Edward Luce, Shadi Hamid, Emily Feng, Victoria Coates, Dhruva Jaishankar, and Stephen Witt.
Catch Live Tapings at the AI+ Expo Media Stages!
Don't miss the chance to be part of the live audience at the AI+ Expo's media stages! You can watch real-time tapings of popular shows like Memos to the President, Strait Forward, and NatSec Tech.
Join experts and innovators as they dive into the most pressing issues at the intersection of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, national security, and global competition. It's an incredible opportunity to hear directly from thought leaders and be part of the conversation. Make sure to stop by!
Don't Miss the AI+ Expo's Special Events!
Get ready to experience the unique special events happening throughout the AI+ Expo! These exclusive gatherings will delve into critical topics like networks, compute, authenticity, deep tech, and biotechnology, just to name a few.
Want a sneak peek at who's shaping these discussions? Check out some of our 2025 Special Event Partners to see who's involved!
Stay Up to Date on Memos to the President!
Last week on Memos to the President, Ylli was joined by Thomas Mason, the Director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory for a conversation on the role of national labs, the current state of the geopolitical tech competition, AI adoption, and what a Manhattan Project for AI would look like.
Make sure to check out a recent episode, featuring India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar!
Catch up on the episodes on YouTube, where you can find the latest and stay tuned for upcoming episodes where we highlight experts who help underscore the urgency for this new administration to prioritize key technologies in the tech competition.
Catch up on Strait Forward!
How is the U.S.-Taiwan relationship evolving in the face of major geopolitical shifts? Chieh-Ting Yeh, Director of US Taiwan Watch, joins hosts Channing Lee and Libby Lange to explore the current dynamics and future of U.S.-Taiwan relations, examining cultural perceptions, economic ties, and the crucial role of people-to-people connections.
Stay tuned for next Tuesday as we have a new episode of Strait Forward, featuring Michelle Yun from United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), coming your way!
Also join us at the AI+ Expo for live recordings of Strait Forward, featuring guests Chiayo Kuo, Founder of the Taiwan Digital Diplomacy Association Chiayo Kuo, Author & NPR Correspondent Emily Feng, and more!
This week on NatSec Tech…
Nadia Schadlow, National Security Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution and Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, and John Maslin, CEO and co-founder of Vulcan Elements, join host Jeanne Meserve to discuss the critical role of rare earth magnets, in everything from consumer electronics to advanced military systems like F-35s and submarines. The conversation covers how China's near-monopoly on rare earth processing and magnet manufacturing poses a significant national security and economic vulnerability for the United States, along with the urgent efforts to build a resilient, independent U.S. rare earth magnet supply chain.
Join us at the AI+ Expo for live recordings of NatSec Tech, featuring guests Jaap van Etten, CEO of Datenna, Margaret Busse, Executive Director of the Utah Commerce Department, and more!
You can listen to the full episode below or wherever you get your podcasts:
AI+AGI in National Security Microcredential Launching at AI+Expo
Our free, asynchronous Coursera course—AI in National Security: Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Public Sector Missions— is designed to give all learners, particularly current and aspiring public sector professionals at all levels, flexible, expert-led training and hands-on experience to help them harness AI in government missions.Stay tuned for our three-course microcredential AI+AGI in National Security, which includes the original course plus two additional courses diving into AI’s economic and societal impacts and exploring the future of Agentic AI, AGI, and ASI - and it will be available in 25 different languages! Whether you’re shaping policy, guiding strategic planning, or simply eager to understand where AI is headed, this microcredential equips you with the deep insights needed to lead in tomorrow’s security landscape.
Catch up on SCSP’s Newsletter!
This week, we introduce a new series—ISF Voices 2025—featuring writing and ideas from SCSP’s International Strategy Forum (ISF) Fellows. Valeriya Ionan, who serves as Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for European Integration shared a powerful perspective on how innovation is becoming a national idea for her nation.
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