How Emerging Technologies Become Emerging Threats

Abstract:  The rapid pace of novel technological change (referred to as ‘emerging technologies’) is challenging our ability to devise policy and governance apace. This is particularly true in the life sciences and biotechnology, where the current tools used for promoting biosecurity via policy and governance, are becoming outdated. Emerging tools now afford the ability to purposefully engineer living organisms for specific intent, enhanced by the convergence of biotechnologies with machine learning and artificial intelligence. In addition to technological advancements is the adoption and use of these capabilities by commercial industry, in support of a growing ‘biotechnological revolution,’ or ‘bioeconomy. These new aspects of the biotechnology landscape necessarily come with novel biosecurity risks which go beyond the scope of traditional biosecurity. Analysis of how we define the scope of biosecurity is not merely an academic exercise; rather, it directly translates to the design of policy and governance, which in turn, can have biodefense funding and national security implications. Broadening the lens of biosecurity’s interpretation beyond the traditional context, and how risk is considered, is the focus of this policy review.

Dr. Diane DiEuliis is a Distinguished Research fellow at National Defense University, where she researches the impacts of emerging technologies on biodefense, biosecurity and national defense.  Her expertise covers biotechnology, the US bioeconomy, dual use life sciences research, neurotechnology, and behavioral, cognitive, and social issues related to emerging and converging technologies. Dr. DiEuliis teaches in biotechnology and biodefense, and lectures in foundational professional military education.