NewsBrief April 19, 2019

Can government fund emerging tech for the long haul?

(FCW) Quantum computing promises to upend current cybersecurity configurations, as well as any number of IT applications. But as government stakes out its early research and development commitments in the emerging tech, focusing too much on the hypothetical could ultimately hinder quantum’s development, said Joan Hoffman, a program manager at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab.Read More

White House Taking its Artificial Intelligence Messaging International

(Nextgov) The White House is deliberately engaging with “like-minded international allies” to assist in the stewardship of artificial intelligence and help the world recognize its full potential, Assistant Director for AI in the Office of Science and Technology Policy Lynne Parker said Thursday. “There are a lot of conversations internationally right now on AI,” Parker said at the National Academy of Public Administration’s Forum on Artificial Intelligence, held in Washington. “And we are leading many of those conversations.”Read More

NASA accepts challenge of sending American astronauts to Moon in 2024

(Moon Daily) The president directed NASA to land American astronauts on the Moon by 2024, and the agency is working to accelerate humanity’s return to the lunar surface by all means necessary. “We’ve been given an ambitious and exciting goal. History has proven when we’re given a task by the president, along with the resources and the tools, we can deliver,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “We are committed to making this happen. We have the people to achieve it. Now, we just need bipartisan support and the resources to get this done.” Read More

Navy to unplug decades-old personnel IT systems, clear way for app-based self service

(Federal News Network) The Navy says it’s just about ready to pull the plug on its antique collection of dozens of disparate IT systems that handle manpower and personnel matters. Some are five decades old, and officials believe the commercial architecture that’s about to replace them will open the door to a modern, app-based personnel system.Read More

US Army postpones demo plans for next-gen unmanned aircraft

(DefenseNews) NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The U.S. Army’s plans to design, build and fly technology demonstrators for a next-generation unmanned aircraft system is not moving forward. The decision was made so the service can concentrate on future vertical lift efforts for two future manned helicopter procurement programs, according to the Army’s aviation development director at Combat Capabilities Development Command.Read More

New chief technology officer in at DHS

(fedscoop) Brian Teeple has taken over as chief technology officer at the Department of Homeland Security. He was previously acting deputy CIO for command, control, communications and computers and information infrastructure capabilities under the Department of Defense CIO. In that role, he advised on the integration of DOD communications and infrastructure programs and managed policy and strategy efforts around communications for nuclear and non-nuclear strategic strike and integrated missile defense.Read More

The Black Hornet became indispensable. Now the UK is ordering more.

(C4ISRNET) Haphazardly stored, the 30 sparrow-sized robots could easily fit into a bucket. Seen inert, the minuscule drone looks like a sophisticated toy, a novelty item from a forgotten sci-fi romp. It is one of the most persistently fascinating little machines of war. And with a new purchase order, the newly FLIR-owned Black Hornet will be back in service with the armed forces of the United Kingdom.Read More

OPIOID EPIDEMIC MAY HAVE COST U.S. $37B IN TAX REVENUE

(Futurity) The opioid epidemic may have cost state and federal governments in the United States up to $37.8 billion in lost tax revenue due to opioid-related employment loss, according to a new study. Additionally, the researchers found that Pennsylvania was one of the states with the most lost revenue, with approximately $638.2 million lost to income and sales tax. The study looked at data between 2000 and 2016. The results, which appear in the journal Medical Care, could help governments hoping to make up for lost revenue, says Joel Segel, assistant professor of health policy and administration at Penn State.Read More

Scientists build a machine to see all possible futures

(ScienceDaily) In the 2018 movie Infinity War, a scene featured Dr. Strange looking into 14 million possible futures to search for a single timeline where the heroes would be victorious. Perhaps he would have had an easier time with help from a quantum computer. A team of researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Griffith University in Australia has constructed a prototype quantum device that can generate all possible futures in a simultaneous quantum superposition. Read More