Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** April 11, 2024
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What Happens When Machine Learning and Gene Editing Meet?
The convergence of two fast-moving technologies--machine learning and gene editing--could transform the way humanity treats disease, fights wars, grows food, and much more. But a recent RAND study warns that more work is needed to prepare for this potential revolution.
How can policymakers push open the door for new crops and cancer treatments, without leaving it open for a computer-generated catastrophe?
To start, decisionmakers need a deeper understanding of what's possible with machine learning and gene editing--now and in the future. Then, they need to develop policies that are "anticipatory, participatory, and nimble," the authors write. The participatory part is especially important, as public perceptions can make or break a new technology.
Overall, the study concludes that it will take years of hard work to minimize the risks and maximize the opportunities that come from the confluence of gene editing and machine learning. This shouldn't be surprising: With world-changing technologies, that's always the case.
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Elevating the U.S. Alliance with Japan
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived at the White House yesterday for a state visit with President Joe Biden--the first such visit by a Japanese leader since 2015. This historic moment reflects deepening ties between Washington and Tokyo. Writing in Foreign Affairs just before Kishida's visit, RAND's Jeffrey Hornung discussed the recent history of the U.S.-Japan alliance, why it's so vital to U.S. interests, and how Washington can position this relationship as the "hub" of its diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific. "It is time to make the U.S.-Japanese alliance far more central to American grand strategy," Hornung says.
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Working Conditions for Veterans in Civilian Jobs
Veterans, who have put their lives and health on the line for their country, should have access to safe and healthy working conditions after leaving military service. But evidence suggests that veterans are uniquely vulnerable to poor working conditions and may be more likely to work in unhealthy jobs. A new RAND paper explores these issues and identifies potential opportunities to address them. The researchers emphasize that future policy changes should be informed by robust data on veterans' employment outcomes, including job quality, earnings, and workplace conditions.
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** RAND Recommends
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- Samuel Charap will serve as RAND's inaugural Distinguished Chair in Russia and Eurasia Policy, which aims to further enhance analysis of the region and of the impact Moscow's actions may have on the larger geopolitical landscape.
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- RAND's Ryan Brown and Todd Helmus spoke to Military Times about their latest study on veterans and extremist beliefs.
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- RAND is offering a one-day training for early- to mid-career professionals in Washington, D.C., focused on how research and analysis inform national security decisionmaking. Apply by April 14.
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** Events
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How Gendered Perspectives Shape National Security
Thursday, April 18, 2024 (Santa Monica, CA, and Online)
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Policy Lab: How Can New Technologies Help Mitigate the Effects of Climate Change?
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 (Online)
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Long War in Europe: Options for the United States, Poland, and Allies for 2024 and Beyond
Thursday, April 25, 2024 (Washington, D.C., and Online)
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** Analyzing the Rise of AI: Insights from RAND
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AI tools are evolving quickly, and decisionmakers are grappling with how to maximize the potential benefits and minimize the risks. Insights from RAND can help. Our researchers have been studying how AI will affect national security, the economy, health care, and much more.
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