By Chuck Brooks, president of Brooks Consulting International
The future of innovation in both government and industry will not be distinguished by singular breakthroughs, but rather by the convergence and meshing of a number of different new technologies. Going forward, industries, national security, economic competitiveness, privacy and almost every aspect of everyday life will all be reshaped as a result of this integrated ecosystem, which encompasses artificial intelligence, quantum computing, improved connectivity, space systems and other areas. 
Twelve crucial technical domains will help propel the federal government toward this convergent transformation.
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1. Developments in Artificial Intelligence, Agentic & Generative Technologies
Automation, predictive analytics, multimodal integration and the development of autonomous agents are all made possible by artificial intelligence, which serves as the basic cognitive layer. There are a number of societal benefits, including increased accessibility to education and healthcare through individualized learning and diagnoses, which have the potential to reduce inequality and increase global productivity.
There is the potential for artificial intelligence to serve dual purposes: it can improve workflows in healthcare and banking while simultaneously escalating complex threats such as deepfakes. Supply chains will be optimized and services will be personalized as a result of convergence with other technologies; yet ethical oversight will continue to be required.
However, there are substantial cybersecurity risks, such as polymorphic malware fueled by artificial intelligence, adversarial assaults that manipulate models and privacy erosion caused by data-intensive training. These threats require powerful defenses, such as explainable artificial intelligence and federated learning.
The United States government has made artificial intelligence a priority through the White House’s FY27 research and development goals. These goals place an emphasis on investments in AI architecture, efficiency, interpretability and security. Additionally, executive orders have been issued with the intention of limiting restrictive state-level regulations and promoting a uniform federal framework.
Because AI systems are quickly becoming ingrained in mission-critical operations, federal agencies need to adopt NIST-aligned AI governance. Without uniform monitoring, agencies run the danger of inconsistent risk management, model drift and adversary manipulation. Since AI-enabled anomaly detection can reveal patterns that human auditors are unable to see and can automate incident response in the face of increasingly AI-driven cyberattacks, AI should be extended to fraud detection, benefits processing and cyber defense.
In order to prevent losing strategic ground to enemies that are rapidly incorporating AI into drone swarms and command and control, the Department of War must expedite the use of AI for ISR, logistics and autonomous systems. Since mission assurance, energy efficiency and resilience against model poisoning are critical to reliable deployment, interpretability, efficiency and safe architectures must be prioritized in Federal R&D funding.
2. Quantum Computing & Post-Quantum Cryptography
Quantum advancements hold the potential to revolutionize simulation, optimization and unprecedented scientific discovery. Some of the benefits to society include the acceleration of answers to major problems, such as personalized medicine and sustainable energy, as well as economic expansion.
It is essential to prepare using post-quantum cryptological algorithms in order to safeguard the integrity of data and to enable advancements in research and development. The possible decryption of legacy data by quantum attackers is one of the cybersecurity concerns that could lead to significant breaches in banking and government systems. Threats that involve “harvest now, decrypt later” could compound long-term vulnerabilities.
Policy efforts include the drafting of an executive order by the White House to reshape the United States’ quantum strategy, the updating of the National Quantum Strategy and the launch of quantum initiatives that are supported by the federal government. Additionally, as part of FY27 R&D priorities, quantum science will be placed at the forefront for both national security and economic growth.
Because attackers are already engaging in “harvest now, decrypt later” tactics that could reveal decades’ worth of sensitive data if quantum computers are developed, the federal government must require the transition to quantum-resistant cryptography. To sustain U.S. leadership and match investments with new discoveries, the National Quantum Strategy must be updated and CHIPS Act quantum projects must be accelerated.
Since quantum sensing makes it possible to detect GPS-denied navigation signals, stealth aircraft and submarines, it should be applied to more defense and intelligence missions. This will significantly alter strategic deterrence. Because quantum technology relies on delicate, specialized components that cannot be obtained from hostile countries, federal industry alliances are required to establish quantum safe supply chains.
3. Advanced Connectivity With 5G & 6G Networks
Real-time applications in smart cities, autonomous systems and edge processing will be powered by ultra-low latency networks, which will, in turn, support billions of linked devices. Benefits to society include improved remote work, telemedicine and disaster response, as well as the ability to bridge digital gaps and enable inclusive economic involvement on a global scale.
5G and 6G networks amplify Internet of Things ecosystems while also growing attack surfaces, highlighting the significance of Zero Trust architectures for resilience. The supply chain attacks on network infrastructure, the magnified DDoS threats due to greater speeds and the eavesdropping vulnerabilities in dense urban deployments are all examples of cybersecurity dangers. These vulnerabilities require encrypted protocols and continual monitoring.
In the realm of policy, the White House’s priorities for research and development for the fiscal year 27 support investments in modern communications networks such as 5G and 6G, with a particular emphasis on spectrum sharing, artificial intelligence integration and cybersecurity in order to strengthen the United States’ leading position.
All federal 5G/6G installations must incorporate Zero Trust since these networks significantly increase the attack surface and necessitate ongoing segmentation and authentication to reduce the blast radius of breaches. Since spectrum is a strategic asset, whose effective allocation dictates both military readiness and commercial innovation, it is imperative that the NTIA, FCC and DOW strengthen their spectrum sharing frameworks.
Since transportation, healthcare and energy all depend more and more on 5G-enabled IoT systems that need verified vendors and robust architectures, secure 5G must be extended throughout critical infrastructure sectors. To guarantee that next-generation networks continue to be robust, low latency and globally competitive, federal investment in AI-enhanced communications is required.
4. Space Systems
Global connection, Earth observation and defense are all being redefined as a result of the development of satellite constellations, reusable launch vehicles and orbital computing. Access to the internet on a global scale for disadvantaged regions, advanced climate monitoring to tackle environmental catastrophes and the promotion of public engagement in science through space tourism are all examples of societal advantages.
There will have a substantial impact for secure and rapid communications on both disaster response and national security as a result of initiatives such as Starlink, which increase access and position the space economy.
Orbital hacking, which might interrupt GPS navigation and lead to chaos in transportation, is one example of a cybersecurity danger. Another example is weaponized satellites, which could escalate geopolitical tensions and require international treaties and secure-by-design procedures.
Policy analysis demonstrates that the United States places a significant emphasis on space technologies, which are included on the Critical and Emerging Technologies List. The research and development priorities for FY27 stress ambitious space exploration, in-space manufacturing and durable communication systems in order to sustain dominance.
Because space assets are high-value targets susceptible to orbital hacking, GPS interference and signal manipulation, the US needs to create secure by design satellite architectures. Because satellite constellations are growing rapidly and collision danger is increasing, there is an urgent need to expand orbital debris prevention and space traffic management.
To lessen reliance on launches and maintain continuity in the event of problems on Earth, more money must be invested in space production and robust communications. Aligning investments with the Critical and Emerging Technologies List, which acknowledges space systems as essential to both economic competitiveness and national security, is necessary to maintain U.S. leadership in space.
5. Connectivity & the Internet of Things
In the coming decade, there will be many billions of gadgets that will generate massive data streams, which will then converge with artificial intelligence to form intelligent ecosystems across homes, cities and industries (Smart Cities).
There are societal benefits that include smarter urban design, which reduces traffic congestion and energy waste, as well as enhanced public safety through integrated emergency systems.
The need for firmware updates and segmentation is highlighted by the fact that cybersecurity concerns include botnet assaults such as Mirai variants that hijack devices for enormous disruptions and data breaches that expose personal habits.
Through the Critical and Emerging Technologies List, which encompasses integrated communication and networking technologies, policymakers are tackling these issues. Federal strategies are focusing on security, privacy and interoperability in order to mitigate the increased cyber dangers that are being posed.
Because consumers and businesses lack insight into device security, national IoT security labeling and transparency requirements are necessary. Labeling encourages manufacturers to use secure methods. Since IoT devices frequently lack patching procedures and might act as entry points for attackers, IoT risk needs to be incorporated into CISA’s critical infrastructure frameworks.
In order to promote safe data transmission, enhance resilience and lessen vendor lock-in, NIST interoperability standards are crucial. Because foreign-made components may contain backdoors or unsecured firmware that endanger national security, supply chain vulnerabilities in IoT hardware and firmware must be addressed.
6. Materials Science
The development of materials that are lighter, more efficient and more durable will be hastened by artificial intelligence and quantum computing. These materials will be used in the aerospace, energy and defense industries. These developments will promote environmentally friendly technology such as better batteries and provide the foundation for innovations in construction architectures, electric vehicles and space exploration.
Threats to cybersecurity include tampering with digital design files, which can result in faulty products in essential industries, or theft of intellectual property through hacked research and development networks, which necessitates the use of blockchain verification and secure collaboration platforms.
With FY27 R&D priorities boosting investments to ensure competitiveness and mitigate geopolitical risks, this is incorporated into the Critical and Emerging Technologies List under advanced engineering materials. This is part of the United States government’s policy.
Because sophisticated materials rely on rare earths that are controlled by foreign sources, strengthening domestic supply chains for important minerals is crucial and creates geopolitical vulnerabilities. To maintain American competitiveness in next-generation weaponry, DOW investment in thermal and hypersonic protective materials must increase.
Reducing environmental impact and improving economic resilience require more federal R&D spending for sustainable manufacturing. To speed up commercialization and lower development costs for new engineered materials, public-private cooperation ought to be encouraged.
7. Neuromorphic Computing
Processing that is both energy-efficient and adaptive can be provided by brain-inspired hardware for edge artificial intelligence in contexts with limited resources. It is also capable of providing real-time analytics for the Internet of Things and robots.
Threats to cybersecurity include reverse-engineering assaults on neuromorphic circuits, which expose private algorithms, or faking inputs to disrupt adaptive learning, which necessitates encryption at the hardware level.
Policy frameworks acknowledge neuromorphic as a component of advanced computing paradigms in the R&D priorities for FY27. The framework encourages investments in novel artificial intelligence architectures for the purpose of scientific discovery and national defense.
Because neuromorphic circuits provide ultra-low power computation, they are essential for battlefield robotics, sensors and drones. This calls for federal investment in neuromorphic R&D. Given that neuromorphic simulation architectures are more effective than classical computing at modeling complex phenomena, DOE should increase its research in this area.
To improve resilience and lessen reliance on centralized cloud infrastructure, neuromorphic technologies must be incorporated into federal distributed computing strategy. Because neuromorphic computers are susceptible to reverse engineering and physical manipulation, hardware level security measures are required.
8. Nanotechnologies & Wearables
In the areas of drug delivery and healthcare, hardware, electronics and artificial intelligence amplification, nanotechnology will make it possible to develop novel sensors and hardware that connect with computing and materials science. Among the societal benefits are downsized technology for wearable health monitors, which improves quality of life and targeted cancer treatments, which improve health outcomes.
Cybersecurity threats include nanoscale devices being co-opted for covert monitoring or as access points for network infiltration. Additionally, there are issues in securing nanoscale components that are power-limited and require nanoscale security standards.
In terms of policy, nanotechnology that supports wearables is included on the United States Critical and Emerging Technologies List in the category of advanced manufacturing and materials.
Establishing standards for nanoscale safety and interoperability is necessary because nanotechnology poses new environmental and health dangers that demand for precise regulatory direction. Since nanomaterials can enhance armor, sensors and medical treatments, DOW should increase the use of nanotechnology for military protection and performance.
To enhance outbreak detection and response, public health organizations should include anonymized wearable data into epidemiological analytics. Initiatives for CET-aligned nanomanufacturing must be encouraged in order to increase the resilience of the domestic supply chain.
9. Immersive Technologies (Intelligent Reality, Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality & Spatial Computing)
These technologies combine the digital and physical worlds in order to revolutionize training, visualization and human interfaces in the fields of education, healthcare and training. Additionally, the incorporation of artificial intelligence may bring to the development of metaverse economies. There are societal benefits associated with immersive education, which helps to democratize access to global experiences and virtual therapy, which helps to improve mental health and education.
Cybersecurity threats include virtual reality (VR) phishing attacks that take advantage of sensory immersion and data leaks caused by biometric tracking. These threats necessitate user authentication and encrypted sessions.
Policy issues are included in the Critical and Emerging innovations List as human-machine interactions. Federal priorities place an emphasis on innovations that enhance security and privacy in augmented and virtual reality.
Because simulations lower training costs and increase preparedness, immersive training ought to be implemented throughout the government workforce and defense operations. Because immersive systems gather sensitive data like eye tracking and gait patterns, privacy and biometric data protections must be put in place.
Enhancing education, surgical training and emergency response skills requires federal funding in AR/VR research. Promoting secure human-machine interaction standards is necessary to guarantee the safe integration of AI with immersive technologies.
10. Edge Computing
Processing at the source provides distributed systems with increased privacy, speed and resilience, while simultaneously minimizing their need on a central cloud. Edge computing combined with artificial intelligence will play a role in the protection of operational technology and the mitigation of latency-driven dangers, which will enable autonomous drones and smart grids. Real-time decision-making in rural healthcare and effective energy management, which promotes sustainability, are examples of the societal benefits that can be gained.
Cybersecurity threats include vulnerabilities in edge devices that could be exploited by physical tampering or software exploits. These vulnerabilities could possibly cascade failures in key infrastructure, which is why decentralized security approaches are necessary.
Policies in the United States integrate edge artificial intelligence into AI paradigms as part of FY27 research and development priorities. These policies place an emphasis on data privacy, security and distributed computing in order to meet geopolitical competitiveness.
Because edge AI increases anomaly detection and lowers latency in power grids, pipelines and transportation systems, it must be incorporated into OT security and critical infrastructure. Since cloud access may be interrupted in contested environments and edge AI guarantees mission continuity, edge computing should be extended for defense operations.
To improve resilience and decrease single points of failure, distributed computing research and development has to be financed under FY27 priorities. Due to the fact that local processing increases compliance and minimizes data exposure, national rules are required for privacy-preserving edge architectures.
11. Robotics & Autonomous Machine Systems
Self-navigating skills will be extended to drones, cars and factories as a result of advancements in human-robot collaboration. There are many societal benefits, such as safer workplaces through the automation of hazardous labor and mobility aids for the disabled, which enhance freedom. Also, robotics can be used for surgery, in manufacturing and in security for surveillance.
The hazards associated with cybersecurity include remote takeovers that might result in accidents or espionage through implanted sensors, necessitating over-the-air updates and intrusion detection.
The Critical and Emerging Technologies List classifies these as highly automated, autonomous systems. Additionally, regulatory improvements are being implemented to encourage research and development for the purpose of ensuring national security and ethical use.
Because autonomous platforms enhance ISR, logistics and battlefield survival, DOW has to swiftly integrate unmanned technologies. Robots should be used for disaster response and infrastructure inspection to increase assessment accuracy and lower the risk to human responders.
Establishing ethical and safety guidelines is necessary to guarantee responsible deployment and preserve public confidence. Maintaining U.S. leadership in automation and autonomy requires support for CET-aligned robotics research and development.
12. Synthetic Biology & Biotechnology
Biotechnology will help enable individualized medicine, biomaterials and computers, which have significant implications for both health and security. It also has the potential to generate robust crops as well as responses to pandemics. Among the societal benefits are the elimination of diseases through the use of gene editing and the implementation of sustainable agriculture to solve the issue of food scarcity.
Bio-hacking of laboratory networks, the release of engineered diseases, or the theft of genetic data for the development of targeted bioweapons are examples of cybersecurity dangers that require the integration of bio-digital security.
Policy frameworks in the United States put biotechnologies on the Critical and Emerging Technologies List and as R&D priorities for FY27. Initiatives such as the CHIPS and Science Act aid with research in the bioeconomy, with the goal of enhancing competitiveness and addressing global concerns.
Due to the dual-use hazards that biotechnology presents, such as genetic data theft and created diseases, biodigital security must be reinforced across DHS, HHS and DOW. The National Bioeconomy Strategy needs to be put into practice in order to safeguard domestic supply chains and spur innovation.
Due to its strategic value and susceptibility to exploitation, genetic data must be safeguarded and dual-use biotechnology regulated. It is necessary to increase domestic biomanufacturing capability in order to improve resilience and decrease reliance on foreign sources.
As I have alluded, the real revolutionary potential comes from the way in which these technologies magnify one another, so producing force multipliers for both opportunities and risks. My book, Inside Cyber: How Artificial Intelligence, 5G, Internet of Things and Quantum Computing Will Transform Privacy and Our Security, offers a thorough roadmap for navigating these intersections, with an emphasis on governance frameworks.
To maximize the advantages of these 12 convergent technologies areas while reducing their hazards, the US must take a whole-of-government, whole-of-nation strategy. Whether the United States leads—or follows—in the next phase of global innovation will depend on strategic investment, well-coordinated policies and robust security systems.
