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Emerging Technologies

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RAND played a pivotal role in emerging technologies throughout the 20th century, from satellites and computers to information-sharing systems, packet switching, and artificial intelligence. RAND now explores the policy implications of emerging technologies across a broad scope of areas such as patient outcomes and health care quality; energy and environmental standards; privacy; military weapon systems; and training teachers and students in the 21st century.

Report
Technological Approaches to Human Performance Enhancement
Human performance enhancement (HPE) will have implications for military and intelligence operations. A variety of HPE could be of potential military and intelligence operational value. What are some approaches to HPE?
Nov 23, 2021
Report
Commercial and Military Applications of Quantum Technology
There are three main categories of quantum technology: quantum sensing, quantum communication, and quantum computing. How—and when—might these technologies affect national security? And which countries lead in developing them?
Oct 28, 2021

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Testimony
Challenges to U.S. National Security and Competitiveness Posed by Artificial Intelligence
Among a broad set of technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) stands out for both its rate of progress and its scope of applications. How does AI affect national security and U.S. competitiveness? And what actions could national security organizations take in response?
Mar 8, 2023
Report
Strengthening the Defense Innovation Ecosystem
The Department of Defense can more effectively harness commercially developed technologies through policies that incentivize and improve coordination and collaboration between defense innovation organizations and traditional acquisition stakeholders.
Mar 7, 2023
Research Brief
Fostering Innovation in Military Technology: Strengthening DoD's Commercial Technology Pipeline
RAND researchers examined how well the Department of Defense is identifying, developing, and transitioning innovative commercial technologies from the private sector to the military and how the defense ecosystem can better support this process.
Mar 7, 2023
Blog
RAND President and CEO Presenting to House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
RAND President and CEO Jason Matheny appeared on February 28, 2023, before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. His remarks covered advances in synthetic biology and artificial intelligence and their potential impact on national security.
Feb 28, 2023
Report
Promoting Strong International Collaboration in Quantum Technology Research and Development
The author discusses (1) the strategic importance of (and challenges of) strong research collaboration with U.S. allied and partner nations and (2) five key policy areas in this space. He also proposes a desired end state for this cooperation.
Feb 22, 2023
Commentary
Brain and Machine Confluence Requires Multi-Sectoral Regulation to Maximize Gains
As the commercialization of brain-computer interface technology expands, it would be prudent for international policymakers to consider how this technology should be regulated, in order to reap its benefits and minimize its risks.
Feb 15, 2023
Report
The Technology Promotion and Protection Decision Tool: Introduction and User Manual
The authors of this report describe a tool designed to help U.S. Department of Defense decisionmakers select from the many available approaches to promote and protect critical technologies and their associated industrial base.
Jan 31, 2023
Journal Article
Use and Impact of New Technologies for Evidence Synthesis: Literature Review and Qualitative Data Collection
This report studies the implementation and impact of new technologies to support the development of evidence syntheses.
Dec 6, 2022
Commentary
Export Controls Give ASML and the Netherlands an Opportunity to Lead by Example. Will They Take It?
Dutch tech company ASML makes the complex machines required to construct advanced microchips, and it sells many of these machines to China. Harmonization of export controls between the United States and the Netherlands could limit China's development of military technologies and its human rights abuses.
Nov 28, 2022
Blog
Dementia Rates, Deepfakes, Migrant Students: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the decline of dementia rates among Americans, the dangers of deepfakes, data privacy after the reversal of Roe v. Wade, and more.
Nov 18, 2022
Commentary
The Age of Uncrewed Surface Vessels
A new age of naval warfare has been inaugurated in the Black Sea, defined by an emerging weapon. Uncrewed surface vessels could become a centerpiece of naval warfare in the coming decades, one that navies may ignore at their peril.
Nov 15, 2022
Commentary
America May Not Be Ready for the Looming Tsunami of Deepfakes
Images and videos have been falsified since the first photographs were taken. But deepfakes are fundamentally different. Their realism, and the scale and ease with which they can be produced, make them incredibly potent disinformation tools.
Nov 10, 2022
Report
China's Role in the Global Development of Critical Resources
China's extensive foreign investments in energy infrastructure and critical minerals have raised concerns. Case studies in coal power, electricity transmission, and seabed mining examine China's behaviors and suggest ways to build capacity among host nations to minimize the potential effects of an overreliance on China.
Nov 7, 2022
News Release
Second Annual RAND-AUC Consortium Policy Hackathon to Focus on Justice Reinvestment
Undergraduate students from four Atlanta University Center (AUC) Consortium schools will collaborate with Pardee RAND doctoral students to identify potential justice reinvestment policy options during a virtual hackathon offered by the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation, Pardee RAND Graduate School, and the AUC.
Oct 26, 2022
Commentary
Biotechnology and Today's Warfighter
Biotechnology has a broad and often misunderstood scope, one with significant implications for today's warfighter, and it may be reaching a critical junction. As it continues to mature, proactive policy becomes necessary for the federal government to leverage emerging capabilities effectively and remain competitive.
Oct 25, 2022
Research Brief
Can Machine-Learning Tools Tell If You're Lying?
Four machine-learning models were tested to see how accurately they detected truthfulness and deceit during simulated security clearance background interviews. How people answered questions was just as important as what they said.
Oct 19, 2022
Report
Looking for Lies: An Exploratory Analysis for Automated Detection of Deception
The authors of this report developed and tested the use of machine-learning methods to detect speech patterns that reflect attempts at deception or truthfulness during simulated security clearance background interviews.
Oct 19, 2022
Commercial Book
Tech Wars: Transforming U.S. Technology Development
This book explores the evolution of the U.S. research and development enterprise, asks whether this organization remains appropriate for current the challenges, and proposes strategies for better preparing for the global technology race.
Oct 13, 2022
Commentary
The CHIPS Act Alone Won't Secure U.S. Semiconductor Supply Chains
The implementation of the CHIPS Act shows promise for revitalizing the U.S. semiconductor manufacturing industry via investments in research and development, workforce development, and incentive programs. But executing on these ambitions could take some time and may not resolve all semiconductor supply chain risks.
Oct 12, 2022
Commentary
Preparing for a Post-Quantum Future
Future quantum computers could create a significant national security risk by enabling attackers to break a foundational element of security in America's networked communication infrastructure. The United States is taking strides to address national security risks from quantum computing, but there is a long road ahead.
Oct 6, 2022

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RAND Topic:
Emerging Technologies

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Marie-Laure Hicks

Senior Analyst

Marie-Laure Hicks is a senior analyst working in the areas of science and emerging technology at RAND Europe. She has experience using a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods including systems approaches, workshop facilitation, literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, case…
Keytin Palmer

Ph.D. Student, Pardee RAND Graduate School, and Assistant Policy Researcher, RAND

Keytin Palmer (he/they) is an assistant policy researcher at RAND and a Ph.D. student in the Technology Applications and Implications stream at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He has an M.Sc. in political psychology from Queen’s University Belfast and a B.A. in psychology from New College of…

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