Emerging Technology Trends for the Federal Government in 2023
There are many benefits that the federal government could gain from using emerging technologies. From AI to the cloud, these technologies offer boosted efficiency to those that successfully use them. The question is, which technologies does the federal government say could be useful – and which ones do experts say they’ll actually use?
Given the number of disruptive technologies that are already available, 2023 has a lot of potential for almost every industry. The federal government isn't usually very flexible in adopting new technologies, though. This means that they'll probably continue to lag behind the private sector. Even so, the government has already started using some of these technologies, and plans to keep exploring their options in the future.
Predicted technology trends for 2023
Of all the technologies that are emerging in 2023, there are several that would clearly fill needs within the federal government.
Immersive internet for enterprises
For years, the focus was on connecting end users to the digital world through their screens. Now the focus has changed to more immersive experiences, like the metaverse. These interfaces have the potential to simplify communication and training for all industries.
AI tools
AI tools have great potential, but many enterprises haven't started using them yet. Both businesses and governments will have to learn to trust AI tools before they can take advantage of their benefits.
From the cloud to the multi-cloud
Cloud platforms have become common, but how can enterprises handle multi-cloud management? With a family of tools and techniques known as the supercloud, or meta cloud. It avoids the most common issues of multi-cloud environments and makes it easier for users to control. Organizations can then synchronize their efforts across multiple cloud platforms. Benefits include improving user experiences, and prioritizing the importance of open communication throughout agencies and departments.
Redefining “attracting talent”
The federal government is usually seen as a good place to work, but they should use technology to improve this image. This includes recruiting “non-traditional talent” that will add greater creativity to their workforce. By adopting emerging technologies, they’ll attract more tech-savvy talent.
Introducing decentralized architectures and ecosystems
Participation is growing in blockchain-enabled ecosystems. This is because users can enable, reengineer, and automate transactions that can be verified and trusted by other users. The federal government could benefit from using these systems, while also regulating them. Besides exploring the potential of blockchain technologies, they could also regulate them. This would provide clarity for users, and promote the wider use of blockchain technologies.
Modernizing legacy systems
Most legacy mainframes can still handle their workload, but many businesses need them to do better than that. In other words, these systems can't keep up with the current demands of many businesses. Instead of completely replacing them, though, there are other options. These include refreshed user interfaces, advanced microservice applications, and AI-powered middleware solutions. The government has used the same legacy systems for decades in some cases, and it's time for them to be updated. This would improve efficiency for government employees, as well as the user experience in some cases.
Going beyond InfoTech
Most people use the word "technology" when they're actually talking about "IT", or info tech. This will likely change soon, though. An extended set of technologies, or xTech, promises to impact business innovation in many industries. These technologies include:
power, energy, and battery technologies
autonomous and precision robotics
climate, sustainability, and the environment
brain and nervous system applications and interfaces
cellular and biomolecular engineering
space and aeronautical engineering
Drivers of government technology spending in 2023
Federal technology spending increased in 2023 for several emerging technologies, including:
$975 million to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Technical and scientific research will focus on cybersecurity, quantum science, and artificial intelligence.
$7.8 billion to the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, up 11% compared to 2021. Quantum information sciences R&D received $293 million in funding, and artificial intelligence research received $169 million in funding.
$1.4 billion to NASA’s Space Technology R&D portfolio. The goal is to spur the United States’ leadership in space technology.
$10.5 billion to the National Science Foundation. $880 million of this goes to the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships. This second amount will drive research into new solutions for economic and societal challenges.
$83 billion to Department of Defense R&D programs. This includes boosted budgets for AI research, quantum information sciences R&D, and hypersonics R&D. $950 million of this went to defense microelectronics.
$6.6 billion to the Department of Energy’s Natural Nuclear Security Administration’s R&D programs. This includes investments in advanced computing and inertial confinement fusion.
For some of these technologies, the government already had a generous budget . They deserve to be prioritized because of the benefits they have to offer, but that isn't enough. Many of them are already being used by the government and private sectors, so of course they'll continue to be funded. There are also other technologies (such as the blockchain) that may also be worth a more prominent place in the federal budget.
On which emerging technology is the federal government most likely to increase spending?
The government is already generous with some technologies, but they could be doing better. There are also emerging technologies that have tremendous untapped potential, and would benefit from increased funding. Even so, some of these technologies already have a solid place in the government’s 2023 budget.
Cloud adoption
In 2020, the federal government spent a total of about $6.9 billion on cloud services; in 2021, they spent about $8.1 billion. Providing a flexible environment in which multiple parties can securely access the same data is often crucial. The more cloud-based systems are adopted, the more outdated legacy systems will seem. The government has already devoted plenty of time and resources to cloud migration, but there’s still a lot of work to be done in order to fully change over from legacy systems.
Attracting cyber talent by investing in the right technology
Many industries are facing a shortage of both labor and talent, and the federal government isn’t immune to this either. To be more specific, the government is feeling the lack of cybersecurity talent. Current estimates say that there are 39,000 vacant government cybersecurity jobs, and filling them should be a priority. These openings leave government agencies more vulnerable to cyberattacks, and could even result in more serious consequences in the event of a successful attack.
The key to attracting new cyber talent isn’t through simply offering the jobs. It’s by increasing accessibility and making the jobs seem more appealing, among other things. For example, federal agencies currently only hire applicants with college degrees. Instead, they could hire based on the applicants' cybersecurity certifications or other qualifications. The truth is that talented individuals are more likely to go where their skills will be properly utilized. This includes the job itself, as well as the technologies they'll be working with. When federal agencies use innovative technologies, they seem more appealing to potential candidates.
Fast-tracking tech upgrades
One barrier to change in governmental organizations is the amount of time it takes for them to buy new devices. On average it takes 22 months, which is drastically longer than private-sector industries. This reduces their access to the best that technology has to offer, and makes it harder for them to achieve their organizational goals. By the time a piece of “new” tech is in the hands of government employees, it could already be seen as an older model due to more recent product releases.
Could the federal government do better in its pursuit of technological trends?
The government does embrace key technologies (such as cloud adoption), and invests in others (like AI research). However, there are plenty of other emerging technologies that the government simply isn’t in a position to implement. Even though they could bring immediate benefits, change has been slow to happen. From immersive internet experiences to AI tools, these aren’t hypothetical technologies that need more R&D before being ready for use. They’re already being successfully used by businesses of all kinds, and hold plenty of potential for government agencies as well.
Even so, it’s important to look at their strong points as well as their weak ones. Although the government is missing out on some emerging technologies, there are many more that it’s actively using. There are also quite a few that are being developed through funding and research. The same could be said for many government agencies: they could be doing better, but they could be doing worse. Just look at the SBA All Small Mentor-Protégé Program – it may not be perfect, but it still represents an incredible opportunity for eligible businesses.
At the end of the day, it’s clear that the federal government puts a high priority on important and emerging technologies. Are they taking full advantage of what current technologies have to offer? Maybe not, but they’re certainly going in the right direction.