Technology and national security : what’s IP got to with it?

Abstract

Technological advancements are being made in several parts of the world. Innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, gene editing, 3D printing and other emerging technologies have benefitted and continue to benefit humanity in diverse ways. In the fields of biology, medicine, physics, security, etc., researchers (and nations) have made significant progress by leveraging AI and its associated developments. The fact that these technologies are capable of being used across multiple fields increases the quest not only for their acquisition but also for their promotion as tools to confer competitive advantages on persons and organizations. Beyond uses within industry, AI and its associated technologies can also be deployed by governments in efficient public service delivery and even in military operations for the protection of citizens.