# DARPA underutilizes the internet to execute on its model [[A large part of a DARPA program manager’s job is focused network building]] and the internet is one of the greatest network building tools of all time. However, DARPA doesn’t have a strong web presence and avoids hiring internet people. ([[DARPA’s aversion to people with a web presence may be how they avoid asymmetric career risk]] At the same time, [[DARPA’s aversion to people with a web presence hints at a way that the internet has eroded institutions]] and [[DARPA’s aversion to people with a web presence may be how they avoid asymmetric career risk]] suggest that there are good reasons for the low-internet utilizations. This contradiction suggests that there is a tradeoff between internet utilization and the risks associated with it. However, the [[Polyplexus]] project suggests that DARPA may realize that it may no longer be at the Pareto front of this tradeoff and that it might be able to more effectively use the internet to execute on its model. Ways DARPA could use the internet to more effectively *do things it already does* - Finding people who are working on the edge of a space. - Tools like twitter and reddit effectively gather people with obscure interests - Fostering communication between groups of people working on a common goal - [[DARPA facilitates idea sex both between PMs and Performers]] - Leaving open a “serendipity hatch” for people who weren’t explicitly solicited for projects to propose things to the program managers - Finding gaps in the state of the art ### Related - [[The ARPA model may be able to utilize the internet for awesome]] <!-- #stub --> [Web URL for this note](http://notes.benjaminreinhardt.com/DARPA+underutilizes+the+internet+to+execute+on+its+model) [Comment on this note](http://via.hypothes.is/http://notes.benjaminreinhardt.com/DARPA+underutilizes+the+internet+to+execute+on+its+model)