Glossary term

Dual-use

Technology that can be used for both beneficial and harmful purposes.

How it works

Dual-use technology has both beneficial and harmful applications. A model that explains chemistry or finds software bugs helps researchers and defenders but could also help attackers.

Developers weigh these risks with safeguards, access controls and staged release.

One capability, two uses

Beneficial

Find and fix software vulnerabilities
Speed up scientific research

Harmful

Help attackers exploit flaws
Assist in dangerous misuse

Why it matters

Many AI capabilities are dual-use, which is why release decisions and safeguards are contested.

Related terms

Guardrails AI governance Red teaming