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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.

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
Commentary
ChatGPT's Work Lacks Transparency and That Is a Problem
In a world with Large Language Models such as ChatGPT, there is a growing need for modernized data literacy. Developers need to be more transparent about their algorithms and data sources so that people can assess the inherent sources of bias or problems with the approach.
May 8, 2023

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Commentary
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.
Jun 22, 2023
Testimony
Ensuring that Government Use of Technology Serves the Public
Ensuring that technologies deployed by the government serve the public interest requires an accurate assessment of their benefits and risks as well as the public's trust that these rapidly advancing technologies are used responsibly. Public perception is important, including the perspectives of different demographic groups.
Jun 22, 2023
Commentary
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.
Jun 20, 2023
Report
Chinese Next-Generation Psychological Warfare
China is interested in both advanced computing and brain science to expand and improve its psychological warfare capabilities. How might this affect U.S.-China dynamics in peacetime competition, crisis, and conflict?
Jun 1, 2023
Report
The Metaverse and Homeland Security: Opportunities and Risks of Persistent Virtual Environments
This Perspective provides an initial review of the metaverse concept and its relevance to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The authors map department objectives to key metaverse characteristics and identify areas for proactive efforts.
May 22, 2023
Q&A
AI, ChatGPT, and Language as Technology: Q&A with William Marcellino
William Marcellino, a senior behavioral and social scientist at RAND and professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, discusses the rapidly expanding reach of artificial intelligence, the challenges it could pose for both society and policymakers, and how the research community is poised to help.
May 12, 2023
Blog
RAND Turns 75: A Look Through the Decades At World-Changing Research
From anticipating the Space Age in the 1940s to studying gun policy and COVID-19 responses in the 2020s, RAND is celebrating 75 years of research that has made a difference.
May 8, 2023
Commentary
Militaries, Metals, and Mining
Securing access to supply, increasing global and domestic capacity, and diversifying supply chains for critical minerals should be at the top of the agenda for both nations and private industry. Failure could jeopardize climate mitigation strategies and U.S. military readiness.
Apr 18, 2023
Report
How Will Technology Shape, and Be Shaped By, Policy Choices in the Coming Decades? A Research Agenda from the Technology Futures Policy Summit
The summit gathered 15 top thinkers from industry, academia, and government to evaluate how emerging technologies could change the balance of policymaking and decisionmaking between governments and other actors.
Apr 12, 2023
Commentary
Can China's Green Energy Acceleration Put at Risk the West's Hydrogen Plans?
Hydrogen (H2) plays a key role in the decarbonization plans of the European Union and the United States. Both have launched aggressive hydrogen strategies to increase the generation of H2 and deployment of related technologies. But these bold ambitions may face headwinds due to the acceleration of China's energy transition.
Apr 3, 2023
Multimedia
Challenges to U.S. National Security and Competitiveness Posed by AI
An overview of testimony by Jason Matheny presented before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on March 8, 2023.
Mar 8, 2023
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
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

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RAND Topic:
Emerging Technologies

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Lucia Retter

Research Leader

Lucia Retter is a research leader at RAND Europe and codirects RAND Europe's Centre for Defence Economics and Acquisition. Her research focuses on understanding the factors driving government strategy, policy and decisionmaking at the nexus between security, influence and prosperity, including…
Randall Steeb

Senior Engineer

Randall Steeb is a senior engineer at the RAND Corporation. He has directed research on distributed simulation (both constructive and virtual), artificial intelligence, advanced fire support systems, future air traffic control systems, decision support systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, military…

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