Governance and Legislation
OpenAI considers antitrust action against Microsoft over AI hosting control
(DigWatch – 17 June 2025) OpenAI reportedly tries to reduce Microsoft’s exclusive control over hosting its AI models, signalling growing friction between the two companies. According to the Wall Street Journal, OpenAI leadership has considered filing an antitrust complaint against Microsoft, alleging anti-competitive behaviour in their ongoing collaboration. The move could trigger federal regulatory scrutiny. The tension comes amid ongoing talks over OpenAI’s corporate restructuring. A report by The Information suggests that OpenAI is negotiating to grant Microsoft a 33% stake in its reorganized for-profit unit. In exchange, Microsoft would give up rights to future profits. – https://dig.watch/updates/openai-considers-antitrust-action-against-microsoft-over-ai-hosting-control
EU strikes deal to streamline cross-border GDPR enforcement
(DigWatch – 17 June 2025) The EU Council and European Parliament have reached a political agreement to strengthen cross-border enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The new regulation, once adopted, will simplify and speed up how national data protection authorities cooperate on cases involving data processing across EU borders. – https://dig.watch/updates/eu-strikes-deal-to-streamline-cross-border-gdpr-enforcement
ChatGPT and generative AI have polluted the internet — and may have broken themselves
(DigWatch – 17 June 2025) The explosion of generative AI tools like ChatGPT has flooded the internet with low-quality, AI-generated content, making it harder for future models to learn from authentic human knowledge. As AI continues to train on increasingly polluted data, a loop forms in which AI imitates already machine-made content, leading to a steady drop in originality and usefulness. The worrying trend is referred to as ‘model collapse’. – https://dig.watch/updates/chatgpt-and-generative-ai-have-polluted-the-internet-and-may-have-broken-themselves
Nvidia’s sovereign AI vision gains EU support
(DigWatch – 16 June 2025) Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s call for ‘sovereign AI’ is gaining traction among European leaders who want more control over their data and digital future. He argues that nations must develop AI rooted in their own language, culture and infrastructure. During a recent European tour, Huang unveiled major partnerships and investments European cities, citing the region’s over-reliance on US tech firms. European officials echoed his concerns, with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz supporting national AI initiatives. – https://dig.watch/updates/nvidias-sovereign-ai-vision-gains-eu-support
Beijing Accelerates State-Led AI Mobilization Under Xi’s ‘New National System’
(Matthew Johnson – The Jamestown Foundation – 16 June 2025) Beijing is moving to systematically embed artificial intelligence into its national innovation system, according to a high-level leadership meeting of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in early June. This marks the beginning of a new phase in which AI development is treated as a system-wide strategic imperative. The Party now frames AI as a strategic national project, meaning quasi-private actors must align with state priorities to secure support. This is enhanced by new legislation, such as the Private Economy Promotion Law, and policy documents, such as the Intellectual Property Nation-Building Promotion Plan, which impose quasi-public obligations on firms and institutionalize state integration. MIIT outlined priorities including infrastructure upgrades, advancement of the AI technology stack, accelerated deployment of large models, establishment of technical standards and governance frameworks, and construction of integrated systems to drive AI development and innovation. These efforts blur boundaries across sectors and institutions, complicating the logic of targeted export controls as nearly any component may serve broader state-directed goals. – https://jamestown.org/program/beijing-accelerates-state-led-ai-mobilization-under-xis-new-national-system/
How Xi’s ‘New National System’ Centralizes Innovation to Counter Tech Containment
(Matthew Johnson – The Jamestown Foundation – 16 June 2025) Since 2019, the Party has promoted the construction of a “new national system”—a centrally directed, institutionalized framework for mobilizing state and market resources to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies vital to national power and security. Beijing sees this system as already delivering results by tightly integrating planning, technical expertise, and real-world application to overcome complex strategic challenges. Under this model, the central government coordinates top-level missions through Party-led ministries, directing state-owned enterprises, elite research universities, national laboratories, military-affiliated institutes, and emerging tech champions to execute targeted objectives. These efforts are reinforced by “social resources”—a category that includes private firms, local governments, policy banks, and even venture capital platforms—brought into alignment through political incentives and institutional design. The system’s performance will shape not only the PRC’s technological trajectory, but also the evolving global balance of innovation and industrial power. – https://theglobaleye.it/how-xis-new-national-system-centralizes-innovation-to-counter-tech-containment-matthew-johnson-the-jamestown-foundation/
Security, Defense, Warfare, and Intelligence
CISOs warn AI-driven cyberattacks are rising, with DNS infrastructure at risk
(DigWatch – 17 June 2025) A new report warns that chief information security officers (CISOs) are bracing for a sharp increase in cyber-attacks as AI continues to reshape the global threat landscape. According to CSC’s report, 98% of CISOs expect rising attacks over the next three years, with domain infrastructure a key concern. AI-powered domain generation algorithms (DGAs) have been flagged as a key threat by 87% of security leaders. Cyber-squatting, DNS hijacking, and DDoS attacks remain top risks, with nearly all CISOs expressing concern over bad actors’ increasing use of AI. – https://dig.watch/updates/cisos-warn-ai-driven-cyberattacks-are-rising-with-dns-infrastructure-at-risk
European defense giant unveils 310-mile-range kamikaze drone for swarm attacks
(Interesting Engineering – 17 June 2025) European multinational corporation MBDA has unveiled a low-cost, one-way attack drone for long-range missions at the ongoing Paris Air Show 2025. The defense firm intends to produce a total of 1,000 units a month of this new drone, which was under development since the end of 2024. MBDA hopes that it will be adopted by the French military to meet its growing requirements. The test demonstration of the kamikaze drone, as per the defense firm’s plans, will take place later this year. MBDA has set a target of producing its first batch by 2027, as per an official. For enhancing the scale of production, MBDA plans to collaborate with other manufacturers. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/mbda-kamikaze-drone
UK Air Force adds 5,750-mile drone that can patrol entire continents without landing
(Interesting Engineering – 17 June 2025) In a historic operational milestone for British defense aviation, the Royal Air Force (RAF) has officially brought the Protector RG Mk1 drone into service. With the induction, the drone has become the United Kingdom’s first Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS) certified to operate across all classes of domestic airspace. This entry marks the beginning of a new era in UK unmanned combat aviation, phasing out the decade-old MQ-9A Reaper platform in favor of the more capable MQ-9B derivative. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/uk-inducts-first-combat-drone
World’s first 6G electronic warfare weapon by China can jam F-35 radar in seconds
(Interesting Engineering – 17 June 2025) Scientists in China have developed a groundbreaking new electronic warfare weapon that utilizes 6G technology. The researchers behind the project claim that the advanced weapon, which utilizes a next-generation signal processing mechanism, is much more powerful than modern military radars. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/6g-electronic-warfare-weapon-revealed-by-china
Smart machines, dark intentions: UN urges global action on AI threats
(DigWatch – 16 June 2025) The United Nations has warned that terrorists could seize control of AI-powered vehicles to launch devastating attacks in public spaces. A new report outlines how extremists might exploit autonomous cars and drones to bypass traditional defences. AI is also feared to be a tool for facial recognition targeting and mass ‘swarm’ assaults using aerial devices. Experts suggest that key parts of modern infrastructure could be turned against the public if hacked. – https://dig.watch/updates/smart-machines-dark-intentions-un-urges-global-action-on-ai-threats
Frontiers
China claims to activate 1,000-qubit quantum system in direct competition with IBM
(Interesting Engineering – 17 June 2025) In a significant leap toward scalable quantum computing, China’s QuantumCTek Co has claimed to have developed a self-developed superconducting quantum measurement and control system, the ez-Q Engine 2.0, capable of supporting quantum computers with over 1,000 qubits. The development places China within striking distance of the global quantum elite, marking what may be the third-largest operational quantum system in the world, behind only IBM and Atom Computing. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-claims-to-activate-1000-qubit-quantum-system
5x faster than Starlink: Chinese satellite beams data with minimal laser power
(Interesting Engineering – 17 June 2025) Chinese scientists have reportedly achieved a 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) data transmission from a geostationary satellite to Earth using just a 2-watt laser. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that this speed is “five times faster than Starlink.”. Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, operates from 341 miles (550 kilometers) above Earth. Starlink’s top speeds typically reach only a few Mbps. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-satellite-laser-communication
Scientists convert brain signals into words using AI
(DigWatch – 17 June 2025) Australian scientists have developed an AI model that converts brainwaves into spoken words and sentences using a wearable EEG cap. The system, created at the University of Technology Sydney, marks a significant step in communication technology and cognitive care. – https://dig.watch/updates/scientists-convert-brain-signals-into-words-using-ai