Governance and Legislation
G7 Leaders Issue Outline for AI with Emphasis on Energy, Small Businesses, and Government Services
(AI Insider – 18 June 2025) G7 leaders issued a joint statement at the 2025 Summit in Kananaskis pledging to accelerate AI adoption in government services and small businesses while addressing risks to energy systems and economic inequality. The plan includes a Canada-led GovAI Grand Challenge, a G7 AI Network for public-sector collaboration, and an AI Adoption Roadmap aimed at helping SMEs access tools, infrastructure, and talent. Recognizing global disparities, the G7 committed to sharing AI capabilities with developing countries and advancing responsible AI standards through voluntary partnerships and regulatory coordination under the Hiroshima AI Process. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/06/18/g7-leaders-issue-outline-for-ai-with-emphasis-on-energy-small-businesses-and-government-services/
Developing Countries’ Business Participation in the AI Economy
(Douglas Lippoldt – CIGI – 18 June 2025) How are start-up businesses in middle-income developing countries participating in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence (AI) economy? Are some developing country AI start-ups able to tap into the AI ecosystems of leading economies in Group of Seven (G7) countries? What is the domestic policy context, and how can conditions be improved? Are there signs of South-South AI ecosystem development? This case study takes stock of the development of AI start-ups engaged with G7 investors and investors from across 10 middle-income developing countries. It considers the emerging investment AI ecosystems in these countries, which are located across Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America. – https://www.cigionline.org/publications/developing-countries-business-participation-in-the-ai-economy/
Breaking down the OEWG’s legacy: Hits, misses, and unfinished business
(DigWatch – 18 June 2025) As the OEWG 2019–2025 process nears its conclusion, we spoke with cybersecurity experts to reflect on its impact and look ahead. Their insights address four key questions: (1) the OEWG’s most substantive contributions and shortcomings in global ICT security; (2) priorities for future dialogues on responsible state behavior in cyberspace; (3) the feasibility of consensus on a permanent multilateral mechanism; and (4) the potential relevance of such a mechanism in today’s divisive geopolitical climate. Their perspectives shed light on what the OEWG has achieved—and the challenges still facing international cyber governance. – https://dig.watch/updates/breaking-down-the-oewgs-legacy-hits-misses-and-unfinished-business
Trust in digital identity is under attack — here’s how to protect it
(DigWatch – 18 June 2025) In the digital age, trust has become the foundation of how people access services, verify identity and interact with society. Yet rising cyber threats are putting that trust at risk. France’s data watchdog recently reported a 20 percent rise in personal data breaches in 2024, affecting over a million citizens—evidence that cyber resilience must come first when shaping our digital identity systems. Rather than relying on reactive fixes, digital identity must be secure by design, from biometric authentication to data storage. Identity is now the key to everything from payments to healthcare, making it both a gateway and a target for cyberattacks. – https://dig.watch/updates/trust-in-digital-identity-is-under-attack-heres-how-to-protect-it
Deepfake technology fuels new harassment risks
(DigWatch – 18 June 2025) A growing threat of AI-generated media is reshaping workplace harassment, with deepfakes used to impersonate colleagues and circulate fabricated explicit content in the US. Recent studies found that almost all deepfakes were sexually explicit by 2023, often targeting women. Organisations risk liability under existing laws if deepfake incidents create hostile work environments. New legislation like the TAKE IT DOWN Act and Florida’s Brooke’s Law now mandates rapid removal of non-consensual intimate imagery. – https://dig.watch/updates/deepfake-technology-fuels-new-harassment-risks
Plumbing still safe as AI replaces office jobs, says AI pioneer
(DigWatch – 18 June 2025) Nobel Prize-winning scientist Geoffrey Hinton, often called the ‘Godfather of AI,’ has warned that many intellectual jobs are at risk of being replaced by AI—while manual trades like plumbing may remain safe for years to come. Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Hinton predicted that AI will eventually surpass human capabilities across most fields, but said it will take far longer to master physical skills. ‘A good bet would be to be a plumber,’ he noted, citing the complexity of physical manipulation as a barrier for AI. – https://dig.watch/updates/plumbing-still-safe-as-ai-replaces-office-jobs-says-ai-pioneer
Security, Defense, Intelligence, and Warfare
Honchoing AI in the Air Force. If AI Is Important, the People Are Indispensable
(Nolan Sweeney – CSET – June 2025) The U.S. Air Force is attempting to adopt artificial intelligence, but efforts have struggled to gain institutional traction. This report draws on lessons from past military innovations and current AI challenges to offer practical, people-centric recommendations. By embedding engineers, empowering leaders, and retaining talent, the Air Force can take charge of (honcho) AI adoption to achieve a military advantage. – https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/honchoing-ai-in-the-air-force/
UK cyber agency warns AI will accelerate cyber threats by 2027
(DigWatch – 18 June 2025) The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has warned that integrating AI into national infrastructure creates a broader attack surface, raising concerns about an increased risk of cyber threats. Its latest report outlines how AI may amplify the capabilities of threat actors, especially when it comes to exploiting known vulnerabilities more rapidly than ever before. By 2027, AI-enabled tools are expected to shorten the time between vulnerability disclosure and exploitation significantly. The evolution could pose a serious challenge for defenders, particularly within critical systems. – https://dig.watch/updates/uk-cyber-agency-warns-ai-will-accelerate-cyber-threats-by-2027
OpenAI secures first US military deal to deploy generative AI
(DigWatch – 18 June 2025) The US Department of Defense has awarded OpenAI a $200 million contract to develop prototype generative AI tools for military use. According to a statement from the Pentagon, the goal is to create ‘frontier AI capabilities’ for both combat and enterprise applications. However, this marks OpenAI’s first government collaboration under a new initiative to deploy AI in the public sector. The company said its tools could improve internal processes like healthcare access for service members and enhance cybersecurity. – https://dig.watch/updates/openai-secures-first-us-military-deal-to-deploy-generative-ai
Frontiers
World’s first flying humanoid robot uses AI and jet thrust to hover in test flight
(Interesting Engineering – 18 June 2025) In a groundbreaking advance in robotics, researchers in Italy have successfully launched the world’s first jet-powered humanoid robot. The machine, called iRonCub3, lifted off the ground by around 50 centimeters and maintained balance during flight. Developed by the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), the robot is designed to operate in real-world environments using aerial mobility and a human-like structure. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/flying-humanoid-robot-uses-jet-thrust
US surgeons perform first full robotic heart transplant without chest incision
(Interesting Engineering – 18 June 2025) In a first for the United States, surgeons have successfully performed a fully robotic heart transplant, swapping out a failing human heart without even cracking open the chest or breaking the breastbone. The historic procedure was carried out at Houston-based Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in early March on a 45-year-old man suffering from advanced heart failure. The patient had been hospitalized since November 2024 and required multiple mechanical devices to support his heart function. – https://interestingengineering.com/health/us-first-robotic-heart-transplant
NVIDIA-backed AI firm drops 5M drug maps to fast-track breakthrough therapies
(Interesting Engineering – 18 June 2025) SandboxAQ, an AI startup spun out of Google and backed by NVIDIA, has released a massive new dataset it hopes will revolutionize early-stage drug discovery. On Wednesday, the company unveiled the Structurally Augmented IC50 Repository (SAIR), a trove of over 5.2 million computationally generated protein-drug molecule co-structures, each tagged with real-world potency data. The aim is to make it easier and faster for researchers to determine whether a potential drug will bind effectively to its target protein. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/5-million-ai-drug-structures-sandboxaq
Next-gen robots get brain-like navigation to run for days using 90% less power
(Interesting Engineering – 18 June 2025) QUT Centre for Robotics researchers have developed a new robot navigation system. Locational Encoding with Neuromorphic Systems (LENS) is set to transform how autonomous robots operate. At its core, LENS is inspired by the most efficient navigation system we know: the human brain. Interestingly, this brain-inspired system operates on less than 10% of the energy of conventional systems. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/new-brain-inspired-robot-navigation-system
Hexagon unveils AEON humanoid robot powered by NVIDIA to build industrial digital twins
(DigWatch – 18 June 2025) As industries struggle to fill 50 million job vacancies globally, Hexagon has unveiled AEON — a humanoid robot developed in collaboration with NVIDIA — to tackle labour shortages in manufacturing, logistics and beyond. AEON can perform complex tasks like reality capture, asset inspection and machine operation, thanks to its integration with NVIDIA’s full-stack robotics platform. – https://dig.watch/updates/hexagon-unveils-aeon-humanoid-robot-powered-by-nvidia-to-build-industrial-digital-twins
Is AI distorting our view of the Milky Way’s black hole?
(DigWatch – 19 June 2025) A new AI model has created a fresh image of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy, suggesting it is spinning close to its maximum speed. The model was trained on noisy data from the Event Horizon Telescope, a globe-spanning network of radio telescopes, using information once dismissed due to atmospheric interference. – https://dig.watch/updates/is-ai-distorting-our-view-of-the-milky-ways-black-hole
Fujitsu to design Japan’s zetta-class supercomputer that’s 1000 times more powerful
(Interesting Engineering – 18 June 2025) Japanese tech giant Fujitsu Limited announced that they have been selected by the Japanese research and development institute RIKEN to design FugakuNext, the country’s next-gen flagship supercomputer. As per the contract, Fujitsu will be responsible for designing the overall system, computer nodes, and CPU components; the basic design phase will be ongoing until February 27, 2026 – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/fujitsu-design-japan-zetta-class-supercomputer
China’s robotics industry set to double by 2028, led by drones and humanoid robots
(DigWatch – 18 June 2025) China’s robotics industry is on course to double in size by 2028, with Morgan Stanley projecting market growth from US$47 billion in 2024 to US$108 billion. With an annual expansion rate of 23 percent, the country is expected to strengthen its leadership in this fast-evolving field. Analysts credit China’s drive for innovation and cost efficiency as key to advancing next-generation robotics. – https://dig.watch/updates/chinas-robotics-industry-set-to-double-by-2028-led-by-drones-and-humanoid-robots