Differential technology development: An innovation governance consideration for navigating technology risks

Abstract

The advancement of low-emission technologies to curb climate change highlights how the relative timing of technological developments can be used to curb a negative societal outcome. We propose that a similar approach can be used to generate mitigation strategies for technology-associated risks. This “differential technology development” approach involves considering opportunities to affect the relative timing of new innovations to reduce a specific risk across a technology portfolio. For instance, it may be beneficial to delay or halt risk-increasing technologies and preferentially advance risk-reducing defensive, safety, or substitute technologies. This approach is not a substitute for broader responsible innovation governance, but rather one lens which may help generate governance options that can then undergo more holistic consideration. To be of practical use, differential technology development requires the ability to anticipate or identify impacts and intervene in the relative timing of technologies. We find that both are sometimes viable. Consideration of differential technology development may inform government research funding priorities and technology regulation, as well as philanthropic research and development funders and corporate social responsibility measures. Differential technology development may be particularly promising to mitigate potential risks from emerging technologies like synthetic biology and artificial intelligence.

Keywords: Responsible innovation, technology policy, technology governance, dual-use research, biosecurity, artificial intelligence