Alternative Futures for Digital Infrastructure Insights and Considerations for the Department of Defense
Abstract
Previous RAND Corporation research defined digital infrastructure (DI) - a network of networks consisting of hardware and software elements that digitally process, store, and transmit data - and identified a competition underway between the United States and China for its ownership, access, and control (OAC). This research highlighted the strategic importance of DI and how the degree to which a country has OAC over the DI can confer power and influence at scale, particularly in the increasingly hyperconnected world. As recently argued by two former senior U.S. leaders, "Data is the oil of the 21st century, the indispensable resource that will fuel artificial-intelligence algorithms, economic strength and national power." To be sure, DI is at the heart of this competition for data and the power and influence it can yield. Additionally, this research identified important linkages between DI and military advantage. However, DI and the ongoing competition for DI remain relatively understudied in a comprehensive way. This report builds on previous research to further explore how DI might evolve and understand what impact that future DI landscape will have on military competition and conflict.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 31, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1214092
Entities
People
- Brandon Corbin
- Daniel L Gonzales
- Julia Brackup
- Sarah Harting
Organizations
- RAND Corporation