Advances in science and technology can quickly become indispensable in our daily lives and to the nation as a whole. Policymakers need reliable, timely information on science and technology topics as rapid developments increase complexity and affect the economy, national security, and more.
To meet the growing demand for this kind of information, GAO’s Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics team focuses on helping Congress understand and address some of the most sophisticated, dynamic, and interconnected challenges of our time. The team assesses emerging and evolving technologies, evaluates their application in government, and examines their impact on society.
Trends Topics in Science and Technology
We assess science and technology breakthroughs, along with the opportunities and risks they present to the nation. Our goal is to conduct in-depth analyses on emerging issues and provide policymakers with insight into key technologies, including context, status, benefits and challenges, and policy options. We communicate accurate, balanced, and timely information through two primary product types: two-page Spotlights and in-depth technology assessments. The trends we’ve studied include:
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Artificial intelligence, automation, and machine learning. Technology is increasingly capable of carrying out tasks that previously required human intelligence. Our devices—even refrigerators and light bulbs—are becoming more intelligent and interconnected using technology such as 5G networks. The growing applications of machine learning are already enhancing our daily lives. These changes create opportunities for new efficiencies, such as routine task automation. However, these tools also pose risks when, for example, an algorithm based on demographically-specific data is incorrectly applied to a broader group. Check out our collection of work on artificial intelligence, including our framework for artificial intelligence accountability, our report on 5G networks, and our report on machine learning technologies in medical diagnostics.
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Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies. These tools allow users to carry out digital transactions without the need for a centralized authority like a bank. They could fundamentally change the way government and industry conduct business, but questions remain about how to mitigate fraud, money laundering, and excessive energy use. Our report on blockchain provides more information, and our Spotlight on Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) discusses a developing application of blockchain technology.
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Brain-computer interfaces, gene editing, and augmented reality. These technologies are blurring the division between human and machine. They raise opportunities for new cures, better training, and help for people with disabilities. There are also safety, ethical, and regulatory concerns. Check out our Spotlight on brain-computer interfaces.
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Climate technologies. Changes in Earth’s climate, including higher temperatures, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events. These changes are expected to increase over time, wreaking havoc on natural resources, infrastructure, national security, and more. Our work includes reports on irrigated agriculture in water-scarce areas and the status of carbon capture technologies, as well as Spotlights on biorecycling and renewable ocean energy.
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Health technologies. Outbreaks of infectious diseases, like COVID-19, have underlined the critical role of new diagnostic technologies, as well as other technologies that can affect public health, disease prevention, and health care delivery. We explored infectious disease modeling, vaccine development, vaccine safety, and AI in health care.
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Weapons technologies. Advances in weapons technologies have significant applications for national security, and diverse implications for transportation, communications, space systems, and more. Our Spotlights on hypersonic weapons and counter-drone technologies discuss some technological advances in more detail.
Innovation and Research Oversight
We evaluate science and technology to improve government performance, ensure transparency, and save money. Our oversight work helps to ensure that federal agencies effectively, efficiently, and equitably manage and fund their programs. This work covers the full lifecycle of discovery and innovation, from basic research to manufacturing and commercialization. We also address issues such as intellectual property protections and increasing global competitiveness. Through regular scanning and outreach, we are able to focus on the oversight areas of greatest interest to Congress and that best support the effectiveness of the federal government’s role in science and technology, including areas such as:
Managing research and development. Scientific research and development are critical to keeping the government and the nation moving forward. This work is often costly and complex, and frequently involves large, multidisciplinary teams that need to manage federal money efficiently and effectively while accomplishing their work. Learn more about our work on federal research oversight.
Supporting the innovation economy. We assess programs that promote innovation, such as advanced manufacturing, as well as federal policies and funding for the protection of intellectual property. We reported on intellectual property rights in biomedical research and small business assistance.
Better Government Through Science and Technology
We help federal agencies improve management of their programs in order to achieve their goals, and we bolster the analytic capabilities of the federal accountability community. This work is especially geared toward government-wide research and development programs for complex, technically advanced systems.
Best practices in government oversight. Our work provides agencies across the government with best practice guides to better understand whether government programs are as effective and efficient as possible. We have issued best practices guides on cost, schedule, agile software development, and technology readiness.
Innovation Lab. We also continue to bring new digital capabilities and evidence-based policymaking techniques to GAO and Congress through our Innovation Lab. Our Innovation Labfosters sophisticated technical work to address key oversight challenges and bolsters the advanced analytic capabilities of GAO. As the only entity of its kind within the legislative branch, the Lab has state-of-the-art capabilities to perform cloud-based experiments, allowing it to explore emerging technologies in areas such as AI, digital ledger technology (blockchain), cloud services, zero trust architectures, and extended reality. The Lab enhances evidence-based policy-making by combining data science and digital delivery, and has launched web-based resources such as GAO’s Antifraud Resource, and the ID Verification Controls Simulator.
Networking & Collaboration
We actively share information and create opportunities for diverse analysis of science and technology issues. This includes external collaborations on a wide range of joint products and other initiatives, such as policy-related trainings on complex topics, e.g., artificial intelligence and blockchain. To stay abreast of emerging issues and build awareness of our work with policymakers and the public, our scientists and technologists speak regularly at external events and we continue to expand our network of experts. STAA hosts annual meetings of the Polaris Council, an interdisciplinary group of leaders and key experts established to advise us on emerging science and technology issues facing Congress.
