PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Eric Schmidt

Eric Schmidt is a technology executive whose career in AI spans Google, national security policy, and philanthropic research. He earned an electrical engineering degree at Princeton in 1976, became Novell’s chairman and CEO in 1997, then led Google as CEO and chaired Google and Alphabet. He chaired the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, co-founded Schmidt Futures with Wendy Schmidt, and launched the Special Competitive Studies Project to strengthen United States competitiveness in AI. He co-authored The Age of AI and Genesis, co-founded Schmidt Sciences, and co-chaired its AI2050 program; King Charles III awarded him an honorary knighthood in 2024 for philanthropy. Since 2025, he has served as CEO and executive chairman of Relativity Space.

Now at
Relativity Space
Photo of Eric Schmidt

Timeline

  1. 1976

    Engineering at Princeton and Berkeley

    He graduates from Princeton with an electrical engineering bachelor’s degree in 1976 and earns a master’s degree and PhD in computer science at Berkeley.

  2. 1997–2018

    Leading Novell, Google and Alphabet

    In 1997, he becomes Novell’s chairman and CEO. Google’s founders recruit him as CEO in 2001, and he leads the company through 2011. He chairs Google until 2015, then serves as Alphabet’s executive chairman through 2018.

  3. 2017–2021

    Creating Schmidt Futures and SCSP

    In 2017, he and Wendy Schmidt create Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative to find and support exceptional talent. In 2021, he launches the Special Competitive Studies Project to strengthen the United States’ long-term AI and technology competitiveness.

  4. 2018–2021

    The National Security AI Commission

    The House Armed Services Committee appoints him to the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence in November 2018. He chairs the commission for three years.

  5. 2021–2024

    The Age of AI and Genesis

    He co-authors The Age of AI with Henry Kissinger and Daniel Huttenlocher in 2021. In 2024, he co-authors Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit with Kissinger and Craig Mundie.

  6. 2024

    Schmidt Sciences and a knighthood

    He and Wendy Schmidt found Schmidt Sciences in 2024, and he co-chairs its AI2050 program. King Charles III awards him an honorary knighthood in 2024 for services to philanthropy.

  7. Since 2025

    CEO at Relativity Space

    He becomes CEO of Relativity Space in March 2025. As of October 2026, he is the company’s CEO and executive chairman.

Sources and credits

Photo: Guillaume Paumier, via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY 2.0. Source: commons.wikimedia.org. Cropped to a square and resized. Ask us to remove or replace this photo.

  1. Eric Schmidt - MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy ide.mit.edu. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. Eric Schmidt | Stanford Technology Ventures Program stvp.stanford.edu. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. About Eric - Eric Schmidt ericschmidt.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. ERIC AND WENDY SCHMIDT ANNOUNCE NEW $1 BILLION PHILANTHROPIC COMMITMENT TO IDENTIFY, DEVELOP AND SUPPORT GLOBAL TALENT WORKING IN SERVICE OF OTHERS schmidtocean.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. Leadership | Relativity Space relativityspace.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  6. Thornberry and Smith Make Appointments to Artificial Intelligence Commission | House Armed Services Committee armedservices.house.gov. Checked 14 October 2026.
  7. The Age of AI by Henry A. Kissinger & Eric Schmidt & Daniel Huttenlocher | Hachette Book Group hachettebookgroup.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  8. Genesis by Henry A. Kissinger & Eric Schmidt & Craig Mundie & Niall Ferguson | Hachette Book Group hbgacademic.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  9. Schmidt Sciences to Award $12 Million to Advance Research on Beneficial AI schmidtsciences.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  10. Eric Schmidt joins Relativity Space as CEO | TechCrunch techcrunch.com. Checked 14 October 2026.