Timeline of Center for Security and Emerging Technology

This is a timeline of the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET).

Sample questions

This section provides some sample questions for readers who may not have a clear goal when browsing the timeline. It serves as a guide to help readers approach the page with more purpose and understand the timeline’s significance.

Here are some interesting questions this timeline can answer:

• What are CSET's main research focuses since its inception?
• Which key reports and publications have been released by CSET that shape policy discussions on emerging technology?
• How has CSET contributed to policy recommendations related to AI and national security?
• What collaborations and partnerships has CSET formed to advance its mission?

For more information on evaluating the timeline's coverage, see Representativeness of events in timelines.

Big picture

Time period	Development summary	More details
2014 to 2019	Early Foundations of CSET	Jason Matheny’s leadership at IARPA and his focus on AI ethics, security, and research lays the groundwork for the creation of the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET). Discussions with policymakers and academic collaborations highlight the need for a dedicated U.S.-based think tank addressing AI's societal impacts. CSET is officially launched in 2019 with a $55 million grant, emphasizing bridging the gap between technical advancements and policy needs.
2019 to 2021	Establishing Credibility and Influence	CSET gains prominence with reports such as "The Global AI Talent Landscape" and analyses of China's AI developments, emphasizing the strategic importance of AI talent retention and ethical military applications. Collaborations with the NSCAI further shape U.S. AI policy and national security strategies, solidifying CSET’s role as a key player in AI policy.
2021 to 2022	International Collaboration and Responsible AI	Under new leadership, CSET broadens its research scope, producing influential reports on global AI trends, talent migration, and ethical use of AI in defense systems. Its work sparks discussions on creating international treaties to govern autonomous military technologies, positioning it as a leader in international AI policy dialogue.
2023 to 2024	AI Risk Management and Emerging Challenges	CSET’s research influences U.S. federal guidelines on AI risk management and highlights challenges such as generative AI, cybersecurity threats, and election integrity. Reports like "Securing Critical Infrastructure in the Age of AI" and analyses of AI-driven misinformation demonstrate CSET’s continued focus on mitigating risks and adapting to emerging AI applications.

Full timeline

Inclusion Criteria

Here are the inclusion criteria for various event types:

• For "Publication", the intention is to include the most notable publications. This usually means that if a publication has been featured by CSET itself or has been discussed by some outside sources, it is included. There are too many publications to include all of them.
• For "Website", the intention is to include all websites associated with CSET. There are not that many such websites, so this is doable.
• For "Staff", the intention is to include all research fellows and leadership positions. For directors, significant milestones and achievements during their tenure are recorded.
• For "Workshop" and "Conference", the intention is to include all events organized or hosted by CSET, but not events where CSET staff only attended or only helped with organizing.
• For "Internal review", the intention is to include all annual review documents.
• For "External review", the intention is to include all reviews that seem substantive (judged by intuition). For mainstream media articles, only ones that treat CSET or its leadership at length are included.
• For "Financial", the intention is to include all substantial (say, over $10,000) donations, including aggregated donations and donations of unknown amounts.
• For "Key Individuals", the intention is to include events sufficient to give a rough overview of their development prior to their leadership or key roles at CSET.
• For "Social media", the intention is to include all social media account creations (where the date is known) and Reddit AMAs.
• Events about CSET staff giving policy advice (to e.g., government bodies) are not included, as there are many such events and it is difficult to tell which ones are more important.
• For "Project Announcement" or "Initiatives", the intention is to include announcements of major initiatives and research programs launched by CSET, especially those aimed at training researchers or advancing AI safety and policy.
• For "Collaboration", the intention is to include significant collaborations with other institutions where CSET co-authored reports, conducted joint research, or played a major role in advising.

Timeline

Year	Month and date	Event type	Domain	Details
2013	000000002024-07-01-0000July	Research Initiatives	Think Tank Formation	Early discussions begin about creating a U.S.-focused think tank dedicated to AI safety and emerging technologies. Key figures such as Jason Matheny and collaborators at Open Philanthropy explore funding and organizational models.
2015	000000002024-10-01-0000October	Policy Initiative	AI R&D	Matheny co-leads the National AI R&D Strategic Plan with the White House, setting out a framework for ethical AI research in the U.S. This plan emphasizes responsible AI development, transparency, and risk management, and influences Matheny’s future policy-focused work at CSET.
2016	000000002024-04-01-0000April	Recognition	Personal Achievement	Matheny receives the National Intelligence Superior Service Medal and is named one of Foreign Policy's “Top 50 Global Thinkers” for his innovative work on AI, biosecurity, and emerging tech policy. These recognitions mark him as an influential figure in the field, highlighting his leadership in technology policy and setting the stage for his later role at CSET.
2016–2017	N/A	Background	AI Safety Research	Rising global concerns around AI ethics and safety spur discussions at institutions like the Future of Humanity Institute (FHI) at Oxford and the Center for Human-Compatible AI (CHAI) at Berkeley. These dialogues emphasize the dual-use nature of AI technologies and underscore a need for U.S.-based policy research focused on these risks. Matheny envisions the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) as a response.
2018	000000002024-07-01-0000July	Pre-founding	Think Tank Formation	Recognizing critical gaps in the understanding of AI's societal impacts, Matheny collaborates with academics, policymakers, and tech leaders to build a case for a U.S.-focused think tank. Helen Toner, then at Open Philanthropy, contributes by aligning funding priorities for AI safety and policy research, helping shape the blueprint for CSET.
2019	000000002024-01-15-0000January 15	Founding	CSET Establishment	The Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) is officially launched at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, with a $55 million grant from Open Philanthropy. Matheny, as the founding director, envisions CSET as a center that translates cutting-edge technology research into insights for U.S. national security. Founding members include Helen Toner as Director of Strategy and Dewey Murdick as Director of Data Science.
2019	000000002024-01-01-0000January	Leadership	Strategy and Data Science	Helen Toner joins as Director of Strategy, leveraging her expertise in AI policy and China’s technological landscape. Dewey Murdick, formerly Chief Analytics Officer at the Department of Homeland Security, becomes Director of Data Science. Together, they enhance CSET’s ability to conduct detailed, data-driven policy analyses and inform U.S. national security.
2019	000000002024-07-01-0000July 1	Report	AI Talent	CSET publishes its first report, "The Global AI Talent Landscape," an analysis of global AI talent distribution and its implications for U.S. national security. The report garners attention from U.S. policymakers, marking CSET as a pivotal player in AI policy and intelligence research. This report highlights the strategic importance of retaining talent to remain competitive.
2020	000000002024-03-10-0000March 10	Expansion	Research Portfolio	CSET significantly broadens its research portfolio to address emerging challenges in AI talent migration, global investment trends in AI, and applications of AI in biotechnology. Helen Toner leads research on China's AI ecosystem, helping policymakers navigate critical U.S.-China technology competition.
2020	000000002024-07-15-0000July 15	Report	China Initiative	CSET publishes "China’s AI Development: Implications for the United States," analyzing China’s rapid advancements in AI and the strategic threat it poses to U.S. dominance in AI technology. The report garners significant attention from the Department of Defense and other national security agencies.
2020	000000002024-09-15-0000September 15	Report	Pandemic Preparedness	In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, CSET releases "Artificial Intelligence and Pandemics: Using AI to Predict and Combat Disease." This report explores how AI can forecast disease outbreaks, monitor infection rates, and enhance healthcare logistics. It sparks discussions about AI’s role in healthcare resilience.
2020	000000002024-11-30-0000November 30	Policy Impact	AI Safety and Governance	CSET’s research on AI safety and national security starts influencing U.S. policy discussions, particularly around AI ethics and governance. The center's work contributes to early drafts of AI policy frameworks that emphasize the importance of transparency, accountability, and ethical considerations in AI development for government use.
2020	000000002024-12-20-0000December 20	Collaboration	U.S. AI Strategy	CSET collaborates with the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) to draft recommendations for a comprehensive U.S. AI strategy. This work includes strategic investment recommendations in AI talent, technology, and infrastructure to ensure U.S. leadership in critical AI capabilities, with a strong focus on defense and economic competitiveness.
2021	000000002024-01-20-0000January 20	Leadership Transition	Organizational Leadership	Jason Matheny steps down as Director of CSET to join the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI). Dewey Murdick, formerly CSET’s Director of Data Science, succeeds Matheny as Director. Murdick continues to expand CSET’s focus on AI in national security, working closely with policymakers to advance responsible AI development.
2021	000000002024-02-01-0000February 1	National Report	U.S. AI Strategy	Jason Matheny plays a key role in producing the NSCAI’s final report, which recommends a comprehensive U.S. AI strategy. The report emphasizes talent retention, robust funding for AI research, and the need for ethical guidelines in defense applications of AI. These recommendations influence U.S. policymakers and underscore the strategic importance of AI in national security.
2021	000000002024-08-01-0000August 1	Collaboration	Military AI	CSET collaborates with international organizations to assess global trends in AI, particularly focusing on the use of AI in military applications. Reports led by Helen Toner emphasize the importance of ethical guidelines to prevent misuse of AI in autonomous weapon systems, shaping international AI policy.
2022	000000002024-02-20-0000February 20	Report	AI Talent	CSET releases "Keeping Top Talent: AI Talent Flows to and from the U.S.," which examines global AI talent migration patterns and stresses the need for U.S. policies to retain top AI researchers. The report, highlighting competition from China and Europe, draws attention to the critical role of talent in maintaining U.S. technological leadership.
2022	000000002024-07-12-0000July 12	Report	China Initiative	CSET publishes "Harnessing AI: How China’s AI Ambitions Pose Challenges to U.S. Leadership," a report suggesting that China’s advancements in AI could threaten U.S. dominance in defense and intelligence. The report calls for increased U.S. investment in AI and advocates for proactive policy measures to safeguard U.S. interests.
2022	000000002024-10-18-0000October 18	Report	Responsible AI	Responding to growing concerns about ethical AI, CSET publishes "Responsible AI in Defense: Recommendations for U.S. Policy." The report advocates for clear ethical frameworks to ensure accountability and transparency in autonomous military systems. It receives attention from the Department of Defense and contributes to ongoing discussions on responsible AI governance.
2023	000000002024-02-15-0000February 15	Policy Impact	AI Governance	CSET’s research informs the Biden administration’s Executive Order on AI Risk Management. The order, influenced by CSET’s work, establishes federal guidelines to promote responsible AI development, emphasizing AI safety, transparency, and accountability. This policy milestone underscores CSET’s impact on shaping federal AI governance.
2023	000000002024-08-10-0000August 10	Report	Military AI	CSET releases a detailed report on AI’s role in autonomous weapons systems, emphasizing the need for international collaboration to prevent misuse. The report, "AI and Autonomous Weapons Systems," advocates for new international treaties to govern the ethical use of military AI.
2024	000000002024-02-20-0000February 20	Research	Cybersecurity	CSET releases "Securing Critical Infrastructure in the Age of AI," which addresses the growing risks of AI-driven cyber threats to essential systems like energy grids and transportation networks. This report emphasizes the role of AI in mitigating vulnerabilities.
2024	000000002024-09-26-0000September 26	Research	AI Red-Teaming	At DEF CON 2024, CSET releases findings on advancements in AI red-teaming, an approach to testing AI safety through adversarial prompts and simulations.

Numerical and visual data

Google Scholar

The following table summarizes per-year mentions on Google Scholar as of November 5, 2024.

Year	"Center for Security and Emerging Technology"
2019	28
2020	205
2021	285
2022	450
2023	610

Google Trends

The image below shows Google Trends data for Center for Security and Emerging Technology (Research institute), from January 2018 to November 2024, when the screenshot was taken. Interest is also ranked by country and displayed on world map.

Google Ngram Viewer

The chart below shows Google Ngram Viewer data for Center for Security and Emerging Technology, from 2018 to 2022.

Wikipedia pageviews for CSET page

The following plots pageviews for the Center for Security and Emerging Technolo Wikipedia page. The image generated on [1].