PanamaTimes

Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Technology and science move to the heart of UK security

Technology and science move to the heart of UK security

National power will be defined not by the number of tanks and ships a country possesses but by its science and technology, and the quality of its algorithms.

That is the message of the UK's Integrated Review, which says the government's aim is for the country to become an innovation "superpower" by 2030.

"This will be essential in gaining economic, political and security advantages in the coming decade," it says.

It marks a major strategic shift in thinking. But delivery will not be straightforward.

US v China


A global tech race is heating up.

China this month announced its latest five-year plan, including significant increases in research and development spending.

It highlighted seven areas including:

*  artificial intelligence (AI)

*  quantum information

*  brain science

*  semiconductors

*  biotechnology

*  neuroscience

*  aerospace

The Biden administration, meanwhile, is focusing on maintaining America's edge.

The ability to make the latest computer chips is one of both the US and China's key tech strategies


A report this month led by former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt focused on the security risks of falling behind China in AI.

Strategic advantage


Wars of the future may involve AI algorithms battling each other.

The first nation to master this and other technologies may not just have a significant military advantage on the battlefield, but also in protecting its people at home and in spurring economic growth.

That is why the UK's review says its "first goal" is growing the UK's science and technology power "in pursuit of strategic advantage".

"We need to generate strength through technological innovation," former MI6 Chief Alex Younger told the BBC.

More cyber-attacks


Some of this focuses on traditional areas. At least £6.6bn of defence funding over the next four years will go on research and development.

Some of this will support industries in particular regions of the UK - a sign of the fusing of security and economic priorities.

In addition, a national space strategy will be launched, as well as a new cyber-strategy that could see more frequent use of offensive capabilities by the new National Cyber Force.

UK investment will be dwarfed by China and the US. But the ambition is that a more activist, industrial policy can create "thriving ecosystems" in crucial areas.

Gene-edited troops


Three fields are picked out for case studies.

One is quantum computing, where the review argues the UK is "well placed to emerge as a global leader".

The much-heralded quantum breakthrough will offer major advantages to those who get there first.

This includes one field governments do not talk about: breaking the encryption which keeps messages secret.

A quantum computer could theoretically unscramble many of today's encrypted communications

Another is engineering biology - the design and redesign of biological systems through techniques like gene editing.

This has potential for health and environmental benefits but also, as the report notes, defence and security.

US intelligence officials have suggested China was exploring gene-editing its soldiers to improve their performance.

The third is AI. The UK is home to cutting-edge research. But critics also say it highlights some of the historic problems in commercialising domestic innovation.

London-based DeepMind is world-class, but sold itself to Google. The US may be a close ally, but there are still officials who believe the shift of ownership represented a strategic loss.

Revolving door


The failure to take UK research and grow tech giants from it is not a new problem.

The UK built the first semi-programmable computer in World War Two to break codes at Bletchley Park.

But it did so in secret and the computing industry it led to has been limited in terms of scale.

By contrast the US, with a revolving door between government and the private sector, massive investment from the Pentagon and spy agencies, and a larger domestic market, created Silicon Valley.

There is also a question about where it will be practical to try to convince what is a highly international workforce at UK companies and universities, to work on defence and security-related projects.

In the US, a staff revolt led Google to pull out of Project Maven which wanted to use AI to tag objects in drone-collected video.

Other US companies have been more willing to work with the Pentagon.

Microsoft and Amazon both bid for the Pentagon's AI-focused Jedi contract

But copying the military-civil fusion that China talks about may not be either desirable or possible.

Lessons from Huawei


One criticism of the review is that it tries to have it both ways with China - stressing the need to be open to Beijing for trade and investment, while also engaging in systemic competition.

This is not always easy. Last year's decision to effectively kick out Huawei from 5G telecoms showed hard choices are sometimes involved.

In areas like 5G, the focus today is not just on developing cutting-edge technology, but also in setting global standards and rules for the future.

And here China has invested heavily.

The UK will need to work hard with allies to catch up and convince other countries to share its vision.

That is just one of the areas where becoming a science and tech superpower may be a tough promise to deliver on.

Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
Global Law Enforcement Dismantles Lockbit Ransomware Operation
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
The President of Argentina Javier Mile does not fly private, he flies commercial, with the citizens he represents. And they LOVE him for it.
Bitcoin Reaches $50,000 for First Time in Over Two Years
Belo Horizonte: Brazil's Rising Carnival Hotspot for 2024
In El Salvador, the 'Trump of Latin America' stuns the world with a speech slamming woke policing after winning a landslide election
Tucker’s interview with Putin is over 50M views on X within the first 5 hours.
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
President Nayib Bukele has proudly announced El Salvador's remarkable achievement of becoming the safest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
Former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera Dies in Helicopter Crash
This farmer seems to understand science a bit more than the event organizer, Klaus Schwab.
Facebook turns 20: From Mark Zuckerberg's dormitory to a $1trn company
The Coolest Dictator in the World" on the Path to Victory in El Salvador
Macron, France and fake news
Indian-Origin Man 'King' Arrested For Smuggling $16 Million Drugs Into US
Can someone teach Americans that not every person with slanted eyes is Chinese?
Europe's Farmers Feeding the People, Protesting Against Politicians Who Do Nothing for Their Country and Serve Only Themselves at Taxpayers' Expense
Paris Restaurant That Inspired 'Ratatouille' Loses $1.6 Million Worth Of Wine
Brazilian Police Investigate Bolsonaro's Son for Alleged Illegal Spying
Police in Brazil Raid Residence of Bolsonaro Associate Over Allegations of Illegal Spying
Border Dispute Escalates as Texas Governor Vows Increased Razor Wire
OpenAI Enhances ChatGPT-4 Model, Potentially Addressing AI "Laziness" Issue
The NSA finally acknowledges spying on Americans by acquiring sensitive data
Report Reveals Toxic Telegram Group Generating X-Rated AI-Generated Fake Images of Taylor Swift
US Border Patrol States 'No Plans' to Remove Razor Wire Installed in Texas
Bitcoin Experiences Approximately 20% Decline in Value
Klaus Schwab recently appointed himself as the Earth's "trustee of the future."
DeSantis Drops Out, Endorses Trump.
Nikki Haley said former President Trump is "just not at the same level" of mental fitness as he was while president in 2016.
Residents of a southern Mexican town set the government palace on fire in response to the police killing of a young man
Samsung Launches AI-Driven Galaxy S24, Ushering in New Smartphone Era
Judge Questions SEC's Regulatory Overreach in Coinbase Lawsuit
The Ecuador prosecutor who was investigating the television studio attack, has been assassinated.
Is artificial intelligence the solution to cyber security threats?
Vivek Ramaswamy suspends his US election campaign and endorses Trump.
Viral Satire: A Staged Satirical Clip Mistaken as Real Footage from the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos
The AI Revolution in the Workforce: CEOs at Davos Predict Major Job Cuts in 2024
Ecuador Reports 178 Hostages in Prison Gang Standoff
The Startling Cuban Espionage Case That Has Rattled the US Government
Two Armed Men in Ecuador, Dressed as Batman and The Joker Storm the Streets.
Armed Gang Raids Ecuadorian TV Station Following State of Emergency Declaration
Anti-Democratic Canada: Journalist Arrested for Questioning Canadian Finance Minister on Support of Terrorist Group
Ecuador's 'Most-Wanted' Criminal Vanishes from Prison
Mexican Cartel Supplied Wi-Fi to Locals Under Threat of Fatal Consequences for Non-Compliance
Border Surge Leads to Over 11,000 Migrants Waiting in Northern Mexico
Outsider Candidates Triumph in Latin American Elections
As Argentina Goes to the Polls, Will the Proposal to Replace the Peso with the Dollar Secure Votes?
Fatal Shark Attack Claims Life of Boston Woman Paddleboarding Near Bahamas Resort, According to Police
×