Emerging Technologies

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Nations Must Collaborate on AI and Biotech—or Be Left Behind

As two revolutionary technologies—machine learning and gene editing—converge, forward-looking policy is necessary to both mitigate risks and leverage opportunities.

Sana Zakaria @drsana_zak, Timothy Marler

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AUKUS as Big Science?

AUKUS—the trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—framed as a multinational quest for discovery rather than a security pact made sensible by deterrence logics, could be a political boon, both diplomatically and domestically.

Marigold Black

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Escalation in Ukraine, a Trilateral Imperialist Threat, Disaster Recovery: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the risk of escalation in Ukraine, the threat of a North-Korea-Russia-China partnership, the economics of disaster recovery, and more.

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Taking the Measure of AI and National Security

Transformative technologies should not be abandoned due to their risks. Instead, we should focus on understanding the threats, implementing necessary countermeasures, and utilizing the tools in a safer and more secure manner.

Christopher A. Mouton, Caleb Lucas

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Progress or Peril? The Brave New World of Self-Driving Science Labs

Self-driving laboratories (SDLs) promise to reshape our very understanding of research. But, as with all groundbreaking innovations, SDLs bring their own set of intriguing questions and potential challenges.

Joshua Steier, Rushil Bakhshi

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When a Quantum Computer Is Able to Break Our Encryption, It Won't Be a Secret

Policymakers and cybersecurity analysts should avoid messaging that emphasizes the risk that CRQCs developed in secret could be imminent or already operational. There is already more than enough reason to upgrade our communications systems to resist attacks from quantum computers as soon as possible.

Edward Parker

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The War in Ukraine, Income Share Agreements, the Tech 'Cold War': RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on why Ukraine isn’t like World War I, an alternative to student loans, the tech “Cold War" between the United States and China, and more.

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Winning the Tech Cold War

Emerging technologies increasingly make it possible for machines to innovate much faster and more efficiently than humans ever could. The Pentagon can draw some important lessons for technology competition with China by looking at the U.S.-Soviet race to develop nuclear weapons during the Cold War.

Caitlin Lee

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A Model for Regulating AI

While AI will bring many benefits, it is also potentially dangerous. We would do well to establish a model of oversight that focuses on the three parts of the AI supply chain: hardware, the training of each model, and rigorous review before each model is released.

Jason Matheny @JasonGMatheny

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Rethinking Who's Winning the U.S.-China Tech Competition

The competition between the U.S. and China is a multi-dimensional contest involving technological, economic, military, and political elements. To accurately assess a nation's standing, the focus should shift from measures (raw numerical data) to metrics, which offer meaningful interpretations of these numbers.

Jon Schmid

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ChatGPT Is Creating New Risks for National Security

Large language models like ChatGPT and Claude offer a wide range of beneficial applications. But there are significant risks associated with their use that demand a coordinated effort among partner nations to forge a solid, integrated defense against the threat of malign information operations.

Christopher A. Mouton

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Tackling the Existential Threats from Artificial Intelligence

Addressing potential risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) could begin with simple steps like finding appropriate risk-management approaches, conducting research to determine how AI can better meet designers' intent, and devising responses to issues related to racism, sexism, and other biases within AI systems.

Carter C. Price @CarterCPrice, Michelle Woods

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Understanding America's Technological Tit for Tat with China

China and the United States appear to be barreling towards a path that risks further ratcheting up the ongoing economic war. More-evolved strategies are needed beyond simple retaliatory spirals, to find peaceful equilibria and ensure technoeconomic competition does not spill over into military conflict.

Fabian Villalobos @doktor_wolfhaus, Morgan Bazilian

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The AI Conspiracy Theories Are Coming

Artificial intelligence is a technology ready-made for conspiratorial thinking. The time to counter conspiracy theories about AI is now—before they take hold in the minds of the public.

Douglas Yeung @DouglasCYeung

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How Should the U.S. Government Buy AI Tools?

The need for AI-readiness in federal procurement will continue to grow with the capabilities of AI tools. There are concrete steps the government could take to ensure all development and implementation of AI-related laws, regulations, and executive branch policies include appropriate considerations.

Carter C. Price @CarterCPrice, Heidi Peters