By Jason Roys
In the late 1990s, the U.S. government invested $3.5 billion in the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory with the goal of achieving nuclear fusion — a cherished cause for energy researchers because it promises a carbon-free, emissions-free future.
In December 2022, nearly 30 years later and after many starts and stops, researchers announced a fusion breakthrough. Barring any radical applications in AI simulation, which I surmise will soon be possible, it will take a few decades to make the technology useful, though, so you might call this “bleeding-edge” technology because it is so new its risks and potential are unknown.
Unlike “bleeding-edge” technology, cutting-edge technology refers to current and fully developed electronic technology. While commonly used to refer to computer technology, the term can apply to technology of any type, including automotive, medical, engineering, and countless other industries.
In this article, we’ll look at federal agencies that are trying to make the most of cutting-edge technology.
HOW DOES CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY BENEFIT GOVERNMENT?
When we talk about the benefits of cutting-edge technology to government, we’re really talking about benefits for the citizens it serves in all its aspects, like the economy, healthcare, cybersecurity and national security. One example: nanotechnology.
The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) is an official government organization comprising more than 30 federal departments, independent agencies and commissions. Its core mission is “working together toward the shared vision of a future in which the ability to understand and control matter at the nanoscale leads to ongoing revolutions in technology and industry that benefit society.”
Those groups have invested more than $38 billion over the past 20 years in nanoscale R&D, according to NNI. Nanotechnology-related businesses returned that investment over the course of just one year, according to data from the 2017 Economic Census, to the tune of $42 billion from 3,700 companies with over 170,000 employees.
That’s an economic benefit, but there’s more. According to NNI, nanotechnology research is leading to better treatments for osteoporosis, ectopic pregnancy, obesity, and other conditions; more effective protection from concussion; and improved delivery of chemoimmunotherapy in cancer treatment.
Another notable advance is public-sector use of virtual and augmented reality, which is reshaping the way agencies engage, train and retain talent. From workforce development to tourism to emergency response, it has been found to improve retention and reduce training costs.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is investing billions to develop and integrate artificial intelligence into defense systems. The AI applications that DOD uses include:
Automating simple business tasks.
Predicting mechanical failures in weapons platforms.
Performing complex analysis to support its warfighting mission and maintain a competitive footing with China and Russia.
We were proud to announce recently that SDV INTERNATIONAL was awarded a $249 million contract to provide state-of-the-art AI solutions to bolster the Defense Department’s capabilities and advance its strategic goals.
Meanwhile, the dot-gov websites of other agencies feature AI systems like chatbots to improve customer service. At the U.S. Department of Education, the Federal Student Aid’s virtual assistant, called Aidan, provides instant responses to questions about financial aid, loan balances, repayment plans and more.
ON THE CUTTING EDGE
Let’s look at some cutting-edge technologies, many of which fall into the category of dual-use, meaning they have compelling applications in both private sector and public sector innovation.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
AI has become so common in government agencies that the latest innovations have a lot to do with making it accessible to more users. The laborious nature of AI modeling is giving way to low-code AI, a more intuitive drag-and-drop interface that speeds development of models and can quickly upskill more technologists.
AI’s role in cybersecurity is continuing to grow. In addition to routine storage and securing of sensitive data, the next step is automating cyber threat prevention and protection. Conversational AI — think Siri — is becoming ever more sophisticated and is being rapidly adopted by many enterprises. Conversational AI platforms — chatbots, virtual assistants and messaging-based applications — are opening new government service delivery channels.
The National Artificial Intelligence Initiative coordinates R&D among dozens of agencies to make sure AI systems are developed, piloted and deployed in a secure and responsible way. In October 2022, it released a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights aimed at protecting sensitive information like health data; preventing law enforcement abuse; and allowing citizens to opt out of AI-driven services. Transparency and explainability of AI are coming to the fore.
MACHINE LEARNING
Machine learning (ML), a subfield of AI, is broadly defined as the capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior by adapting its approach to problem-solving without additional programming. SDV INTERNATIONAL incorporated ML into its solution for the U.S. Defense Health Agency TRICARE Information Warehouse when it required a breakthrough approach to drive scientific research in military medicine programs.
One leading edge of ML is RL — reinforcement learning. RL systems learn by doing. They explore their world by making decisions that get positive or negative feedback for the outcomes they achieve. If the world or the outcomes change, the model learns and adapts to changing circumstances.
ChatGPT, or Generative Pre-trained Transformer, is a neural network machine learning model trained to use internet data to generate any type of text. First developed by OpenAI in 2019, it requires a small amount of input text to generate large volumes of relevant and sophisticated text. In fact, Ammaar Reshi, a product design manager in the Bay area, turned heads in December when he used Chat GPT to create a children’s book. The jury is out on how ChatGPT will impact the government. Some fear it could, for example, let a tech savvy political operative (anywhere in the world) pretend to have a huge grassroots group or groups and then exploit that influence. This is why SDV INTERNATIONAL supports social media narrative sentiment programs.
DEVSECOPS
Developer-focused application security on the cutting edge means automated workflows, a fully integrated platform from idea to productions, and freedom from needing to spend days installing code to get started. Integrated software is delivered more quickly to customers, reducing their technical debt.
For customers, the following benefits were identified at the Black Hat Europe 2022 that I attended in December in London:
Integrated software delivered more quickly to customers.
Dev teams work autonomously and quickly.
Dev teams bridge organizational boundaries.
100x faster set up of DevOps environments.
200x more frequent code shipments.
7x fewer code failures.
Organizations are 8 times more likely to have integrated security and greater revenue growth.
With support from a company like SDV INTERNATIONAL, organizations can deliver highly secure software and services by building security into development and operations and making security principles and practices an integral part of the DevOps processes - i.e. DevSecOps. And this can be done even if there are existing processes, legacy software and multiple teams.
PROGRAMMABLE LANGUAGE COMPUTERS (PLCS)
PLCs are often used in industry organizations that run critical infrastructure and are frequent targets of cyberattacks, such as the energy, water, power, oil, and gas industries. I first studied hacks on PLCs (ethically) in graduate school more than a decade ago. While the specific applications vary widely, all PLCs monitor inputs and other variable values, make decisions based on a stored program, and control outputs to automate a process or machine.
Here are the main advantages of the PLCs:
Smaller physical size than the hard-wire solutions.
Easier and faster to make changes.
PLCs have integrated diagnostics and override functions.
Diagnostics are centrally available.
Applications can be immediately documented.
Applications can be duplicated faster and less expensively.
The challenge is that, as I learned closer to 15 years ago, PLCs are becoming more interconnected with administrative systems, which may be great for real-time reporting, but this simultaneously opens up a much larger attack surface. Air gaps are very important in many cases.
MODELING AND SIMULATION
Modeling and simulation (M&S) has been around for a couple of decades. Its uses, however, are on the cutting edge of computer and electronic technology in healthcare, financial systems, education, cybersecurity, defense and myriad other enterprises.
For DOD, M&S enhances warfighting capabilities while saving lives and taxpayer dollars and improving operational readiness. Microsoft has formed partnerships with BAE Systems and other firms in recent months to help enhance DOD’s goals for gaming, exercising, modeling, and simulation (GEMS). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a report in 2022 highlighting how it might use M&S to more effectively review new medical technology devices and treatments.
M&S requires significant cloud capabilities and specialized programming. SDV INTERNATIONAL uses M&S to enable customers to develop, lead, and implement effective enterprise-level and national-level cybersecurity programs.
EDGE COMPUTING, IOT AND 5G
“Edge” in this sense refers to actual geographical location. Edge computing means data is processed closer to where it’s generated, increasing the speed of processing and results. Combined with “IoT” (internet of things) devices, it represents a powerful way to analyze data in real time. An IoT device is a physical object that is connected to the internet and is the source of data. Think of smart refrigerators, TVs, and HVAC systems, for example.
IoT benefits from the proximity of computing power because devices can react faster. They can troubleshoot and analyze without the data having to go all the way back to a central server.
5G, the fifth generation of wireless cellular technology, promises new capabilities for IoT devices, making them viable for an increasing number of use cases in government, including sensitive missions in public safety and military operations.
AUGMENTED REALITY (AR)
Augmented or virtual reality (VR) is one cutting-edge technology that is well established in the consumer market, though inflation is expected to slow sales in 2023.
Governments are using it in a variety of applications, such as training first-responders and social services caseworkers. The DOD is at the leading edge of applications that improve warfighting capabilities. A few examples:
The Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) uses AR to project data into a soldier's field of view, including maps, enemy positions, and key friendly positions.
With VR, medic trainees get the chance to experience realistic environments and scenarios and work through the most effective response.
Some military bases are using Virtual Squad Training System (VSTS) for virtual combat training. Motion trackers, a full-body tracking system, and wireless weapon controllers match the size, weight and shape of real military weapons.
QUANTUM COMPUTING
Quantum computing harnesses the phenomena of quantum mechanics, such as superposition, interference and entanglement. (If you paid attention in physics class, you know what those are!) As recently as December 2021, McKinsey & Company stated that, while "investment dollars are pouring in, and quantum-computing start-ups are proliferating … use cases are largely experimental and hypothetical at this early stage.”
Fast-forward to November 2022, and EPB of Chattanooga and Qubitekk have launched America’s first industry-led, commercially available quantum network designed for private companies, government and university researchers. The network is set up to run quantum equipment and applications in an established fiber optic environment. “This holds the promise for revolutionary benefits in protecting people from cyberthreats, launching a next generation internet and developing new advancements in healthcare, finance and other industries,” EPB says in a news release.
CUTTING EDGE, NOT BLEEDING EDGE
At SDV INTERNATIONAL, we help our public-sector and private-sector clients achieve higher levels of performance by using cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, such as custom software development, secure data lakes, AI LLMs, safely connected secure apps and websites, network design, quality management systems, health IT, and much more.
Interested in learning more about how your AI initiatives can meet the standards of responsible AI? Contact SDV INTERNATIONAL today at our website, by calling 800-738-0669 or by emailing info@SDVInternational.com.