18) Technical Surprise - Biological Defense Improvement Program
Abstract
Technical Surprise assesses technological advancements for potential implications to the threat space, including agent use and release. Technical Surprise includes horizon scanning to identify potential areas of concern as well as conducts technical assessments of emerging technological advancements (e.g. biotechnology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing). This program develops capabilities to evaluate and assess technical enhancements that may alter the nature or magnitude of a threat agent. The technical surprise program evaluates technologies and convergence of technologies that improve the ease of threat use and make threats more likely to survive being released. The program identifies the limitations and barriers associated with synthetic biology and assesses the implications. Finally, these efforts identify and assess former technology hurdles that have been lowered or overcome and assesses the implications to the magnitude of the potential threat.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- f286136e017278a4606d57d1ebb42483