Publications

CSET produces evidence-driven analysis in a variety of forms, from informative graphics and translations to expert testimony and published reports. Our key areas of inquiry are the foundations of artificial intelligence — such as talent, data and computational power — as well as how AI can be used in cybersecurity and other national security settings. We also do research on the policy tools that can be used to shape AI’s development and use, and on biotechnology.

Report

CSET’s 2024 Annual Report

Center for Security and Emerging Technology
| March 2025

In 2024, CSET continued to deliver impactful, data-driven analysis at the intersection of emerging technology and security policy. Explore our annual report to discover key research highlights, expert testimony, and new analytical tools — all aimed at shaping informed, strategic decisions around AI and emerging tech.

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In the second installation of our blog series analyzing 147 AI-related laws enacted by Congress between January 2020 and March 2025 from AGORA, we explore the governance strategies, risk-related concepts, and harms addressed in the legislation. In the first blog, we showed that the majority of these AI-related legislative documents were drawn from National Defense Authorization Acts and apply to national security contexts.

Reports

Biotech Manufacturing Apprenticeships

Luke Koslosky, Steph Batalis, and Ronnie Kinoshita
| August 2025

This report examines lessons from the North Carolina Life Sciences Apprenticeship Consortium for pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing workforce development, and analyzes how apprenticeship programs help address workforce shortages in emerging tech fields. It offers a practical framework with important considerations for designing and launching programs, and serves as a resource for employers, regional leaders, and policymakers seeking to build a more resilient and technically skilled workforce.

Data Snapshot

The NIH’s Impact on Research and Innovation

Katherine Quinn, Steph Batalis, and Rebecca Gelles
| August 7, 2025

Data Snapshots are informative descriptions and quick analyses that dig into CSET’s unique data resources. This three-part series introduces CSET’s patent clusters, which connect related patents through citations and text similarity.

Data Visualization

Exploring AI legislation in Congress with AGORA: Origin and Application Domains

Mina Narayanan and Sonali Subbu Rathinam
| July 23, 2025

In this two-part analysis, we use data from the Emerging Technology Observatory's AGORA to explore AI-related legislation that was enacted by Congress between January 2020 and March 2025. This first blog explores the origin and application domains of the AI-related legislation we reviewed. The second blog examines the governance strategies, risk-related concepts, and harms covered by this legislation.

Reports

Opportunities in Open Science, Metascience, and Artificial Intelligence

Catherine Aiken, Greg Tananbaum, James Dunham, Ronnie Kinoshita, and Erin McKiernan
| June 2025

This new report summarizes a March 2025 workshop hosted by CSET and ORCA, with support from NSF. The workshop brought together more than 30 experts to discuss advancing open science and metascience, and brainstorm how artificial intelligence can be a tool in those efforts. Informed by workshop panels and discussions, the report outlines an agenda for near-term, high-priority next steps to benefit researchers, funders, and policymakers.

Helen Toner testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet on recommendations to bolster security and transparency around U.S.-developed frontier AI.

Reports

Defending Against Intelligent Attackers at Large Scales

Andrew Lohn
| April 22, 2025

We investigate the scale of attack and defense mathematically in the context of AI's possible effect on cybersecurity. For a given target today, highly scaled cyber attacks such as from worms or botnets typically all fail or all succeed.

Formal Response

CSET’s Recommendations for an AI Action Plan

March 14, 2025

In response to the Office of Science and Technology Policy's request for input on an AI Action Plan, CSET provides key recommendations for advancing AI research, ensuring U.S. competitiveness, and maximizing benefits while mitigating risks. Our response highlights policies to strengthen the AI workforce, secure technology from illicit transfers, and foster an open and competitive AI ecosystem.

Data Brief

Identifying Emerging Technologies in Research

Catherine Aiken, James Dunham, Jennifer Melot, and Zachary Arnold
| December 2024

This paper presents two new methods for identifying research relevant to emerging technology. The authors developed and deployed technology topic classification and targeted research field scoring over a corpus of scientific literature to identify research relevant to cybersecurity, LLM development, and chips fabrication and design—expanding CSET’s existing set of topic classifications for AI, computer vision, NLP, robotics, and AI safety. The paper summarizes motivation, methods, and results.

Formal Response

RFI Response: Safety Considerations for Chemical and/or Biological AI Models

Steph Batalis and Vikram Venkatram
| December 3, 2024

Dr. Steph Batalis and Vikram Venkatram offered the following comment in response to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's request for information on safety considerations for chemical and biological AI models.