From the U.S. Government Accountability Office, www.gao.gov Transcript for: How Space Junk, Brain Implants, and Advanced Robots Could Reshape Society Description: Brain implants. Advanced robots. Emerging technologies designed to address space junk orbiting Earth--advancing rapidly as oversight, safety, and long-term impacts continue to evolve. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined three emerging technologies that could reshape how we live, work, and protect critical systems: • Neural (brain) implants that could enhance human capabilities • Advanced robots designed to perform a wide range of tasks • Technologies to track and remove dangerous space junk threatening systems like GPS As these technologies advance, they could transform the workforce, national security, and everyday life--raising important questions about safety, regulation, and how to ensure positive outcomes for society. In this video and the On the Horizon Trends Report, GAO researchers explain where these technologies stand today, how they could evolve over the next decade, and key policy questions Congress may need to consider. Related GAO Work:GAO-26-108079, On the Horizon: Three Science and Technology Trends that Could Affect Society Released: April 2026 [ START ] [ Narrator: ] The next technologies reshaping society may be closer than you think. And they're not just about AI. The Government Accountability Office took a deep dive for Congress, looking at brain implants that could enhance human capabilities, advanced robots that could work alongside you, and technologies designed to remove space junk that could threaten systems like GPS. In this video, we speak with the researchers behind the report and take a closer look at these technologies on the horizon. [ Sterling Thomas, Chief Scientist, GAO, speaking: ] We are specifically looking for technologies that are not showing up in the media. We think these are technologies that are far enough out that popular media isn't talking about them yet, but they will. Our business is to help inform Congress about these technologies and they're looking at "Well, what do I do? You know, if I want to encourage this technology, if I need to put in structures to make this technology safer, better, faster, cheaper.", Congress is looking for the information to come from us. [ Text On-Screen: ] 1. Neural Implants For Human Augmentation [ Sterling Thomas: ] Looking at neuro implants specifically for the purpose of augmentation actually trying to improve someone's performance either physically or mentally. That is not a current use case, but ten years? It's very possible. [ Nicole Catanzarite, Senior Biological Scientist, GAO, speaking: ] We heard from a lot of the experts that we spoke with that if there is coverage for these devices for medical reasons, then developers will be incentivized to further develop the technology. And that in turn could advance development of the technology for augmentative purposes in the future. [ Sterling Thomas: ] How do you deal with potentially a part of society who, instead of through traditional educational means, has now through a medical procedure (had an implant put in) and they can learn something faster, they can retain information better, or they can control a device without using their hands, even though their hands work just fine? [ Nicole Catanzarite: ] Neural implants that can help people with severe disabilities restore or regain some function that they've lost is a good thing. But it's very uncertain which applications for augmentative use society will be okay with. And so, there's a lot of ethical questions around that. [ Sterling Thomas: ] That's an important part of what we talk about is "what is Congress and the general public, how should they think about this?" These are things that we need to as a society understand, and the people who are going to help represent those decisions that each of us make is Congress. They're the ones who are going to say, "This is what we want to use this industry for, and this is what we think is going to be best for the American people." [ Text On-Screen: ] Generalized Robotics [ Chris Cooper, General Enigneer, GAO, speaking: ] Generalized Robotics is this progression from Tasks Specific Robots that were built for one specific purpose, and Generalized is that ability to do many different tasks and even potentially adapt to new tasks that weren't previously programed in. [ Sterling Thomas: ] It hasn't really come to fruition because the technology's complicated and the software has been difficult to develop. But now with artificial intelligence we could really have a companion in our home that's helping with things around the house, or more likely, a, construction robot that helps repair roads. There's software involved, there's machines and technology, but all of those machines and technology and software being driven by a designer or a construction worker, or, somebody else who's involved in that complex process. Now introduce a generalized robot who's augmenting one of those roles, you know. So now you have a workforce that includes non-people that don't get tired, you know, that just keep going and going and going. So how do they how do we change how the road is built to improve that performance now that we have this new type of worker? So think about that new type of worker, and now change that over to the neuro implants. Somebody who has an augmented chip that allows them to remember things better or learn things faster, or physically do things faster. Neuro Implants and, Generalized Robotics, both of those technologies have the have the potential to fundamentally change how the workforce operates. [ Chris Cooper: ] These are technologies that we thought had a potential for a huge impact. And so it behooves us to look forward and to consider, you know, how can we shape that and intentionally drive it towards a positive vision and a positive outcome. [ Text On-Screen: ] Orbital Debris [ Sterling Thomas: ] So the last area they've been talking about is actually, you know, being driven more by just need, and that's Orbital Debris Cleanup. The constellation satellites are used for communications and internet, many of those have a life cycle of five years. Can we continue to expand the use of these satellite constellations without cleaning up space? [ Jack Reid, Engineer, GAO, speaking: ] This report proposes a variety of possible options for addressing the these hurdles, and we can invest more in researching the new kinds of technologies that will be needed to address some of the other kinds of debris. We can use government or private sector levers to try to overcome some of the economic boundaries. We can also adjust our regulations to accommodate these kind of activities, and make them easier. [ Sterling Thomas: ] Many of these technologies are kind of outside of the current regulatory structure. There's not a set of rules that define how these technologies will be part of society potentially. All of those things are scary if you don't get ahead of it. This is important to Congress, to the American people, and we at GAO are saying, let's get ahead of it. [ Text On-Screen: ] GAO [ END ] For more info, check out our report GAO-26-108079 at: GAO.gov