Breakthrough Technologies Offer Enormous Opportunity for Federal Leaders--If They Seize It

The world is in the midst of a technological revolution. Rapid developments in artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, edge and quantum computing, autonomous vehicles, precision medicine, nanotechnology and digital biology are transforming the way we live and work, creating new challenges and opportunities. It is essential that federal leaders understand the potential of these breakthrough technologies and capitalize on those with the greatest promise to improve government operations and services. During this time of swift change, the government is taking steps to explore and leverage these emerging technologies. In February, President Trump issued an executive order to strengthen American leadership in artificial intelligence, asserting that the U.S. should "drive technological breakthroughs in AI across the federal government, industry and academia in order to promote scientific discovery, economic competitiveness, and national security."