The TPA’s Tech Futures Lab hosted its inaugural retreat on June 23–24, asking participants to consider how they can better prepare for strategic technological surprises across sectors. Featuring speakers including Distinguished Visiting Fellow Maria Langan Riekhof, Hoover Director Condoleezza Rice, Alphabet Chairman John Hennessy, and former DARPA Director Aarti Prabhakar, the conference explored what technological advancements are likely in the next 10 years and which remain elusive long shots.
| Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time | Content | Presenters |
|
12:00 - 1:00 PM |
Registration Lunch provided at registration. |
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|
1:00 - 1:10 PM |
Welcome |
Amy Zegart Amber Miller |
| 1:10 - 2:00 PM |
Introduction to the Tech Futures Lab
|
Maria Langan Riekhof |
| 2:00 - 3:00 PM |
Expecting the Unexpected A discussion on how emerging and |
Sec Condoleezza Rice John Hennessy Arati Prabhakar |
| 3:00 - 3:15 PM |
Break |
-- |
| 3:15 - 4:00 PM |
Icebreaker |
Lisa Einstein Jay Okey |
| 4:00 - 5:30 PM |
What’s on the Horizon In Key In ten years, what technological |
Jay Okey |
| 5:30 - 6:00 PM |
Reception |
-- |
| 6:00 - 7:30 PM |
Dinner |
-- |
| Wednesday, June 24, 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time | Content | Presenters |
|
7:30 - 8:00 AM |
Breakfast |
-- |
|
8:00 - 9:45 AM |
Battle of the Assumptions Participants will debate controversial and consequential assumptions about emerging technologies in a point/counterpoint format. |
Lisa Einstein |
| 9:45 - 10:00 AM |
Break |
-- |
| 10:00 - 11:30 AM |
Beyond the Obvious: Imagining Critical Transformations Develop scenarios to illustrate how emerging technologies could potentially disrupt and transform different sectors, such as the |
Jay Okey |
| 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM |
Lunch & Presentations |
Maria Langan Riekhof |
| 12:45 - 2:00 PM |
Problem Solved: Now What? Explore the consequences/knock-on effects of solving major challenges in the world. |
Jay Okey |
| 2:00 - 2:15 PM |
Voting Participants will vote on topics and key questions for future research, analytic exercises, and follow-on engagement. |
-- |
| 2:15 - 2:45 PM |
Break |
-- |
| 2:45 - 4:00 PM |
Charting the Year Ahead for the Review of key outputs from the inaugural retreat and identify areas for further research, scenario development, and wargames. |
Maria Langan Riekhof |
| 4:00 - 5:00 PM |
Closing Reception |
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