From smartphones and internet-connected home devices to life-sustaining bioengineered vaccines, our daily lives are greatly impacted by technological advances.
Here at GAO, we explore the opportunities and challenges of emerging science and technology developments for Congress. From quantum computing and blockchain to global semiconductor shortages, our work can inform national policy decisions.
Today’s WatchBlog post provides an update on our efforts in these areas.
focus on science and technology
Our STEM expertise allows us to support the various needs of Congress.
For example, in July 2022, we reported on options for addressing semiconductor supply chain risks. Our nation faces supply chain shortages for these microchips, which are critical to nearly every industry and national defense in the United States. This supply shortage cut his car production in North America by 3 million last year and pushed new car prices up 12% from his. Our report has outlined various policies that can help de-risk the semiconductor supply chain and mitigate future semiconductor shortages.
Similarly, in March we completed an evaluation of our blockchain technology. Blockchain can be used for various financial and non-financial applications such as cryptocurrencies and supply chain management. Blockchain is useful for some applications, but limited or even problematic for others. For example, tamper resistance may be useful for applications involving many participants who do not necessarily trust each other. But for a small number of trusted users, traditional spreadsheets and databases may be more useful and can become very complex. Blockchains can also present security and privacy challenges and can be energy intensive.
These are just two examples. Over the next year, we plan to explore a range of other issues, including brain-computer interfaces, gene editing, energy innovation, and federal investment in research infrastructure.
Exploring new tools for tomorrow
Strategic steps are needed to help Congress move from today’s problems to tomorrow’s policy solutions.
We continue to provide innovative ways to communicate with Congress and the federal science and technology community through technical consultations for Congress and its staff and expanded product options such as new data science products and training. increase. for example:
data science productsOver the next year, the Innovation Lab will prototype new technologies such as blockchain, robotic process automation, and augmented reality to learn more about their potential benefits in federal audits. Lab findings are used to improve auditing techniques and inform the accountability community.
training. To increase Congressional awareness of our science and technology topics, our experts have led multi-part training courses on complex issues such as artificial intelligence and blockchain. These trainings, based on our findings and agency recommendations, reached out to hundreds of Congressional staff in a format that encouraged real-time questioning and discussion.
Given the exponential growth in scientific progress, it is critical that policymakers and the general public have access to timely and non-partisan analysis of complex scientific and technological issues. While the future cannot be predicted, STEM experts and policy analysts will continue to support Congress in tackling the opportunities and challenges presented by new technologies.
For more information, see the new report on science, technology assessment, and analysis at GAO.
Comment on GAO’s WatchBlog Please contact blog@gao.gov.
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