Google and Microsoft Advise Obama on Technology

On Monday President Obama announced the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) membership. PCAST is not new to the Obama administration. It was originally established in 1990. However, Obama has emphasized a renewed interest in science, so the council is likely to play a larger role under Obama.

The council includes many science and technology experts, most of whom are professors at elite universities. Among the technology experts are Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google and Craig Mundie, Chief Research and Strategy Officer at Microsoft.

It's not surprising that Obama would tap Schmidt for a role on the council. Schmidt was a supporter of the Obama campaign, and Obama had his eye on Google as a technology innovator before his presidential run. Obama wrote about one of his visits to the Googleplex in Audacity of Hope.