World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS)

UN leaders chart inclusive digital future at WSIS+20

(DigWatch – 10 July 2025) At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, UN leaders gathered for a pivotal dialogue on shaping an inclusive digital transformation, marking two decades since the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Speakers across the UN system emphasised that technology must serve people, not vice versa. They highlighted that bridging the digital divide is critical to ensuring that innovations like AI uplift all of humanity, not just those in advanced economies. Without equitable access, the benefits of digital transformation risk reinforcing existing inequalities and leaving millions behind. – https://dig.watch/updates/un-leaders-chart-inclusive-digital-future-at-wsis20

UNESCO panel calls for ethics to be core of emerging tech, not an afterthought

(DigWatch – 10 July 2025) At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, UNESCO hosted a session titled ‘Ethics in AI: Shaping a Human-Centred Future in the Digital Age,’ where global experts warned that ethics must be built into the foundation of emerging technologies such as AI, neurotechnology, and quantum computing—not added later as damage control. UNESCO’s Chief of Bioethics and Ethics of Science and Technology, Dafna Feinholz, stressed that ethical considerations should shape technology development from the start, echoing the organisation’s mission to safeguard human rights and freedoms alongside scientific innovation. – https://dig.watch/updates/unesco-panel-calls-for-ethics-to-be-core-of-emerging-tech-not-an-afterthought

AI that serves communities, not the other way round

(DigWatch – 10 July 2025) At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, a vivid discussion unfolded around how countries in the Global South can build AI capacity from the ground up, rooted in local realities rather than externally imposed models. Organised by the Diplo and partners, including Kenya’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Microsoft, and IT for Change, the session used the fictional agricultural nation of ‘Landia’ to spotlight the challenges and opportunities of community-centred AI development. With weak infrastructure, unreliable electricity, and fragmented data ecosystems, Landia embodies the typical constraints many developing nations face as they navigate the AI revolution. – https://dig.watch/updates/ai-that-serves-communities-not-the-other-way-round

Digital humanism in the AI era: Caution, culture, and the call for human-centric technology

(DigWatch – 10 July 2025) At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, the session ‘Digital Humanism: People First!’ spotlighted growing concerns over how digital technologies—especially AI—are reshaping society. Moderated by Alfredo M. Ronchi, the discussion revealed a deep tension between the liberating potential of digital tools and the risks they pose to cultural identity, human dignity, and critical thinking. Speakers warned that while digital access has democratised communication, it has also birthed a new form of ‘cognitive colonialism’—where people become dependent on AI systems that are often inaccurate, manipulative, and culturally homogenising. – https://dig.watch/updates/digital-humanism-in-the-ai-era-caution-culture-and-the-call-for-human-centric-technology

Governance and Legislation

EU Rules for General Purpose AI Model Developers Are Ready, Despite What Industry Says

(Laura Caroli, Risto Uuk – Tech Policy Press – 10 July 2025) The European Union’s AI Act is nearing a major milestone: rules for general-purpose AI (GPAI) models take effect on August 2. The Code of Practice, a voluntary compliance tool that is intended to provide a pathway for companies to meet the requirements of the Act, was expected by May, but was delayed, partly due to mounting criticism from US tech companies and the Trump administration. The latest manifestation of this pressure to “stop the clock” comes from a group of companies that refer to themselves as European “AI Champions.” In their letter from July 3, 46 CEOs of some of the leading European tech companies ask for a pause of two years for both the obligations for high-risk AI systems and for general-purpose AI models. Just a few days before, on June 30, another letter by 33 European startup founders and investors singled out the Code of Practice as “incomplete” and “still being debated,” warning that “companies cannot comply with rules that don’t yet exist in workable form.” – https://www.techpolicy.press/eu-rules-for-general-purpose-ai-model-developers-are-ready-despite-what-industry-says/

UN reports surge in intangible investment driven by AI and data

(DigWatch – 10 July 2025) Global investment is increasingly flowing into intangible assets such as software, data, and AI, marking what the UN has described as a ‘fundamental shift’ in how economies develop and compete. According to a new report from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), co-authored with the Luiss Business School based in Italy, investment in intellectual property-related assets grew three times faster in 2024 than spending on physical assets like buildings and machinery. WIPO reported that total intangible investment reached $7.6 trillion across 27 high- and middle-income economies last year, up from $7.4 trillion in 2023—a real-term growth rate of 3 percent. In contrast, growth in physical asset investment has been more sluggish, hindered by high interest rates and a slow economic recovery. – https://dig.watch/updates/un-reports-surge-in-intangible-investment-driven-by-ai-and-data – https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/investments-rise-in-data-ai-outpacing-physical-assets-un/articleshow/122335365.cms

Google partners with UK government on AI training

(DigWatch – 10 July 2025) The UK government has struck a major partnership with Google Cloud aimed at modernising public services by eliminating agreing IT systems and equipping 100,000 civil servants with digital and AI skills by 2030. Backed by DSIT, the initiative targets sectors like the NHS and local councils, seeking both operational efficiency and workforce transformation. – https://dig.watch/updates/google-partners-with-uk-government-on-ai-training

AI and big data to streamline South Korea’s drug evaluation processes

(DigWatch – 10 July 2025) The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of South Korea is modernising its drug review and evaluation processes by incorporating AI, big data, and other emerging technologies. The efforts are being spearheaded by the ministry’s National Institute for Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS). Starting next year, NIFDS plans to apply AI to assist with routine tasks such as preparing review data. The initial focus will be synthetic chemical drugs, gradually expanding to other product categories. – https://dig.watch/updates/ai-and-big-data-to-streamline-south-koreas-drug-evaluation-processes

Learning from Past Successes and Failures to Guide AI Interoperability

(Benjamin Faveri, Craig Shank, Richard Whitt, Philip Dawson – Tech Policy Press – 10 July 2025) As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly evolves and proliferates across sectors and jurisdictions, the challenge of achieving effective regulatory and technical interoperability has become increasingly salient. The current AI governance landscape is characterized by fragmentation and convolution, with proliferating standards, principles, and regulations creating compliance burdens and potential lock-in effects as different initiatives compete for market dominance. Rather than adding to this already complex governance landscape, there is considerable value in examining how other established sectors have navigated similar interoperability challenges, and what lessons can be learned from these efforts. An examination of regulatory and technical interoperability efforts across four distinct domains – emerging technologies through the NanoDefine project; environmental sustainability via the EU’s INSPIRE Directive; telecommunications from the 19th-century telegraphs to post-Snowden architectures; and internet/web architecture development – reveals patterns that transcend individual technological contexts. These case studies collectively demonstrate that interoperability is not merely a technical endpoint but an ongoing negotiation between competing interests, involving complex dynamics of technological evolution, regulatory frameworks, and institutional coordination. – https://www.techpolicy.press/learning-from-past-successes-and-failures-to-guide-ai-interoperability/

Time To Deliver: Stakeholder Roles in the EU’s Delegated Act on Data Access

(LK Seiling, Jakob Ohme, Ulrike Klinger, Claes H. de Vreese – Tech Policy Press – 10 July 2025) The European Commission has adopted the Delegated Act (DA) on data access under Article 40 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) on July 2. The DA specifies a number of important processes, details, and rules for researcher access to non-publicly available platform data. The DA is the last piece in the puzzle that is missing for researchers to be able to request data access from Very Large Online Platforms or Search Engines (VLOPSEs), many of which, such as Meta, X, or Google, reside in the US. It is thereby noteworthy that the DA was published right before the deadline in the US-EU trade negotiations on August 1. It thereby heralds the beginning of a completely new paradigm in research data access. Gone are the days when access was dependent on platforms’ goodwill or personal relationships. With the DA in force, researchers have the right to access platform data, whether publicly available or not, as long as they meet the relevant criteria set out in the DSA. While not answering all open questions, the adoption of the Delegated Act puts an end to much speculation and clarifies the Commission’s envisioned process (…). It also marks the end of the period in which researchers, regulators, and platforms could avoid commitments or definitive answers by Delegated Act. Given the DA adoption in June, it will likely come into force in Q4 of 2025, which means it’s time to deliver on all sides. The DA is a unique blueprint that outlines rights and duties to all parties involved: The Digital Service Coordinators (DSCs), who will sit in the driver’s seat; the researchers, who have to meet strict requirements; and the platforms, which have to follow the regulations and show that they are acting in good faith. – https://www.techpolicy.press/time-to-deliver-stakeholder-roles-in-the-eus-delegated-act-on-data-access/

Inside efforts to capture federal data after ‘the big takedown’

(Natalie Alms – NextGov – 8 July 2025) Days after President Donald Trump took office again in January, thousands of government pages with critical data were taken down as agencies rushed to comply with executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, as well as what the administration calls “gender ideology.”. That day activated a community, said Denice Ross, the government’s former chief data scientist during the Biden administration. She called it “the big takedown,” and since then, she’s been trying to track changes to government data moving forward. Ross, who’s now a senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists, is one of the people behind America’s Data Index, an attempt to get a better view of changes across the government data ecosystem. – https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2025/07/inside-efforts-capture-federal-data-after-big-takedown/406580/?oref=ng-home-top-story

Geostrategies

Scientists to Beam Quantum Data From Europe to Canada to Outsmart Tomorrow’s Hackers

(Quantum Insider – 10 July 2025) HYPERSPACE is an international research project developing satellite-based quantum communication technology to create an unhackable transatlantic quantum internet. The initiative explores high-dimensional quantum entanglement to increase data capacity and security, overcoming the distance limitations of fiber-based systems. Backed by the EU and Canada, the project unites eight top research institutions to demonstrate secure quantum links via atmospheric free-space optical tests. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/07/10/scientists-to-beam-quantum-data-from-europe-to-canada-to-outsmart-tomorrows-hackers/

Big Tech in Taiwan. Beyond Semiconductors

(Sam Bresnick – Center for Security and Emerging Technology – July 2025) This report examines how 17 leading U.S. technology companies are economically and operationally entangled with Taiwan. By mapping investments, R&D efforts, data centers, and supply chains, it sheds light on how these ties could influence corporate behavior in a future conflict with China, and what risks and incentives may shape tech companies’ decisions in a Taiwan contingency – https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/big-tech-in-taiwan/

Asia emerges as global hub for telco‑powered AI infrastructure

(DigWatch – 10 July 2025) Asia‑Pacific telecom operators are rapidly building sovereign AI factories and high‑performance data centres optimised for AI workloads by retrofitting existing facilities with NVIDIA GPUs and leveraging their fibre networks and system‑management skillsets. Major Southeast‑Asian telcos, including Singtel (RE: AI), Indonesia’s Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Vietnam’s FPT, Malaysia’s YTL, and India’s Tata Communications, are pioneering cloud‑based AI platforms tailored to local enterprise needs. These investments often mirror national AI strategies focused on data sovereignty and regional self‑sufficiency. – https://dig.watch/updates/asia-emerges-as-global-hub-for-telco%e2%80%91powered-ai-infrastructure

KISTI Secures Funding for National Quantum Center of Excellence; Names IonQ as Primary Quantum Partner

(Quantum Insider – 10 July 2025) IonQ has been selected as the primary quantum technology provider for South Korea’s new National Quantum Computing Center of Excellence, led by KISTI and backed by a multi-million dollar government award. KISTI will develop a quantum computing service and research platform with IonQ supplying a 100-qubit system and collaborating on a hybrid quantum-classical cloud environment. The announcement expands IonQ’s presence in South Korea and builds on its existing partnerships with KISTI, Hyundai, SKT, and major universities. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/07/10/kisti-secures-funding-for-national-quantum-center-of-excellence-names-ionq-as-primary-quantum-partner/

Google brings its AI-powered marketing tools to India after ‘Google tax’ repeal

(TechCrunch – 9 July 2025) Google has launched a suite of its AI-powered advertising tools in India, which debuted in the U.S. in May, as the repeal of the so-called “Google tax” has made the South Asian market more attractive to global tech firms selling online ads. In March, the Indian government scrapped its 6% levy on digital advertisements, effective in April, as a move to address some of the trade concerns raised by the Trump administration. The United States Trade Representative had criticized the levy by calling it “discriminatory and unreasonable,” as domestic companies were exempt. Its repeal would ease costs for tech giants, including Google, Meta, and Amazon. – https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/09/google-brings-its-ai-powered-marketing-tools-to-india-after-google-tax-repeal/

Security

DoNot APT is expanding scope targeting European foreign ministries

(Security Affairs – 10 July 2025) The DoNot APT group, likely linked to India, has expanded its operations and is targeting European foreign ministries with a new malware, called LoptikMod. The Donot Team (also known as APT-C-35 and Origami Elephant) has been active since 2016, focusing on government entities, foreign ministries, defense organizations, and NGOs in South Asia and Europe. DoNot APT uses custom Windows malware via phishing for espionage, enabling long-term access and data theft. In a recent campaign, analyzed by cybersecurity firm Trellix, the cyber spies used LoptikMod malware to steal sensitive data from infected systems. – https://securityaffairs.com/179774/apt/donot-apt-is-expanding-scope-targeting-european-foreign-ministries.html

At last, a use case for AI agents with sky-high ROI: Stealing crypto

(The Register – 10 July 2025) Using AI models to generate exploits for cryptocurrency contract flaws appears to be a promising business model, though not necessarily a legal one. Researchers with University College London (UCL) and the University of Sydney (USYD) in Australia have devised an AI agent that can autonomously discover and exploit vulnerabilities in so-called smart contracts. – https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/10/ai_agents_automatically_steal_cryptocurrency/

FBI’s CJIS demystified: Best practices for passwords, MFA & access control

(Bleeping Computer – 10 July 2025) Imagine your organization has just won a contract to handle sensitive law-enforcement data – you might be a cloud provider, a software vendor, or an analytics firm. It won’t be long before CJIS is top of mind. You know the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Security Policy governs how criminal histories, fingerprints, and investigation files must be protected, but beyond that, it all feels a bit opaque. Whether you’re a veteran security pro or new to the world of criminal-justice data, understanding CJIS compliance is critical. We’ll start by exploring the origin and purpose of CJIS: why it exists, and why it matters to every organization that comes anywhere near criminal-justice information. Then we’ll pay special attention to the pillars of identity (passwords, multifactor authentication, and strict access controls) and how to embed those controls seamlessly into your environment. – https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/fbis-cjis-demystified-best-practices-for-passwords-mfa-and-access-control/

Australia’s largest airline Qantas has confirmed that the recent data breach impacted 5.7 million individuals

(Security Affairs – 10 July 2025) Early this month, Australian airline Qantas disclosed a cyberattack after hackers accessed a third-party platform used by a call centre, stealing significant customer data. The breach, linked to ongoing Scattered Spider activity, was detected and contained on Monday. Qantas confirmed that while the system is now secure, a substantial amount of data was likely compromised during the incident. “Qantas can confirm that a cyber incident has occurred in one of its contact centres impacting customer data. The system is now contained.” reads the statement published by the company. “We understand this will be concerning for customers. We are currently contacting customers to make them aware of the incident, apologise and provide details on the support available. The incident occurred when a cyber criminal targeted a call centre and gained access to a third party customer servicing platform.” – https://securityaffairs.com/179782/data-breach/qantas-data-breach-impacted-5-7-million-individuals.html

Fake Gaming and AI Firms Push Malware on Cryptocurrency Users via Telegram and Discord

(The Hacker News – 10 July 2025) Cryptocurrency users are the target of an ongoing social engineering campaign that employs fake startup companies to trick users into downloading malware that can drain digital assets from both Windows and macOS systems. “These malicious operations impersonate AI, gaming, and Web3 firms using spoofed social media accounts and project documentation hosted on legitimate platforms like Notion and GitHub,” Darktrace researcher Tara Gould said in a report shared with The Hacker News. – https://thehackernews.com/2025/07/fake-gaming-and-ai-firms-push-malware.html

Russia, hotbed of cybercrime, says nyet to ethical hacking bill

(The Register – 10 July 2025) Russia, home to some of the world’s most lucrative and damaging cybercrime operations, has rejected a bill to legalize ethical hacking. The State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s general assembly, blocked the bill’s passage into law on various grounds, including concerns over how state secrets held on government and critical infrastructure systems could be made less secure as a result. Politicians said that if vulnerabilities were found in software made by companies headquartered in hostile countries, those security holes would invariably have to be shared with them, which in turn could lead to hostile nations abusing those weak spots for strategic gain. Other objections focused on how the bill failed to comprehensively explain the ways in which existing laws would have to be adjusted to allow provisions for ethical or “white-hat” hacking/cybersecurity research. – https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/10/russia_ethical_hacking_bill/

M&S urges UK firms to report cyberattacks

(DigWatch – 10 July 2025) Marks & Spencer has called for a legal obligation requiring UK companies to report major cyberattacks to national authorities. Chairman Archie Norman told parliament that two serious cyberattacks on prominent firms in recent months had gone unreported. He argued that underreporting leaves a significant gap in cybersecurity knowledge. It would not be excessive regulation to require companies to report material incidents to the National Cyber Security Centre. – https://dig.watch/updates/ms-urges-uk-firms-to-report-cyberattacks

Canadian media giant Rogers named as victim of Chinese telecom hackers

(David DiMolfetta – NextGov – 9 July 2025) Canadian telecom and mass media provider Rogers Communications was identified as a firm ensnared by a major Chinese hacking group that has targeted dozens of communications firms worldwide, according to two people familiar with the matter. The group, known as Salt Typhoon, was discovered inside a batch of American telecom operators last year and first brought to light by the Wall Street Journal in late September. The campaign likely began around two to three years ago and has expanded rapidly since. – https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2025/07/canadian-media-giant-rogers-named-victim-chinese-telecom-hackers/406593/?oref=ng-homepage-river

Defence, Intelligence, and Warfare

Humanoid robot soldiers could lead to ‘indiscriminate killings,’ China military warns

(Interesting Engineerig – 10 July 2025) China’s official military newspaper has called for urgent ethical and legal research to regulate the future use of humanoid robots in warfare, warning of potential moral and legal consequences. The People’s Liberation Army Daily, also known as the PLA Daily, published an analysis on Thursday, July 10, stating that the military should carry out “ethical and legal research” on humanoid robots to “avoid moral pitfalls.” – https://interestingengineering.com/military/humanoid-robot-soldiers-cause-indiscriminate-killings

US scientists build metallic ‘muscle’ that could transform fighter jets, robots

(Interesting Engineering – 10 July 2025) Scientists in the United States are studying shape memory alloys with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) to enable fighter jets to become more efficient and perform better. The technology could enable the wings of the fighter jets to be folded using electrical heating and cooling, which allows for more efficient movement. The fighter jets (like the US F/A-18) need to be able to fit their wings to be carried on crowded aircraft carriers. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-fighter-jets-shape-memory-alloys

For True Peace, Ceasefires Must Address Digital Warfare, Too

(Tech Policy Press – 9 July 2025) President Donald Trump’s announcement of the Israel-Iran ceasefire declared that each side will “remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL,” marking a precarious cessation to a short but furious war shaped largely by conventional military combat. During the conflict, Israeli and Iranian forces exchanged large-scale, state-on-state physical strikes targeting military installations, nuclear facilities, and each other’s critical infrastructure. But while such battles have historically been fought with ballistic missiles, defense systems, and occasional bunker bombs, today’s conflicts are increasingly digitalized, defined by cyber attacks on critical infrastructure, autonomous drones launched inside enemy lines, and transnational spyware breaching sovereignty. As war goes digital, peace deals must urgently catch up. – https://www.techpolicy.press/for-true-peace-ceasefires-must-address-digital-warfare-too/

DARPA picks Bell Textron to build runway-independent X-Plane

(Michael Marrow – Breaking Defense – 9 July 2025) The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected Bell Textron to manufacture a high-speed, runway-independent experimental aircraft, axing competitor Aurora Flight Sciences. In a press release today, Bell said it has been selected for Phase 2 of DARPA’s Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) program, greenlighting the company to proceed with the “design, construction, ground testing and certification” of the firm’s X-plane candidate, according to the release. A third phase is planned for flight testing. A spokesperson for DARPA confirmed to Breaking Defense today that Bell was the sole company picked for SPRINT’s second phase, which the agency expects will culminate in a completed demonstrator in 2027 that would then enter flight testing in 2028. DARPA is requesting $55.2 million for the program for fiscal 2026, according to budget documents. – https://breakingdefense.com/2025/07/darpa-picks-bell-textron-to-build-runway-independent-x-plane/

Pentagon seeks sensors to aid regenerative medicine

(Lauren C. Williams – Defense One – 9 July 2025) The Pentagon is looking for tiny sensors that track the health of biological tissue, part of an effort to help soldiers recover from wounds—and give the U.S. biotech industry a leg up. “The BIO INSPECT, government-directed project through AIM Photonics is seeking to develop an in situ, real-time analysis capability for applications in regenerative medicine,” Nicholas Usechak, director of ultrafast photonics devices and research laboratory in the Air Force Research Laboratory’s sensors directorate, told Defense One during a Pentagon research and engineering event on Tuesday. – https://www.defenseone.com/defense-systems/2025/07/pentagon-seeks-sensors-aid- regenerative-medicine/406622/?oref=d1-featured-river-top

Frontiers

USC Study Looks at How ChatGPT “Sees” Colors in Language

(AI Insider – 10 July 2025) A USC-led study, partially funded by Google, found that humans with hands-on color experience—particularly painters—outperform large language models like ChatGPT in interpreting novel color metaphors, revealing the importance of sensory grounding in language comprehension. The research compared how sighted adults, colorblind adults, painters, and ChatGPT associated colors with abstract terms and explained metaphorical phrases; painters demonstrated a deeper understanding due to embodied experience, while ChatGPT relied solely on cultural and emotional associations. The study underscores a core limitation in current AI: without direct sensory input, models like ChatGPT struggle with unfamiliar or inverted metaphors, highlighting challenges in replicating human-like understanding through language data alone. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/07/10/usc-study-looks-at-how-chatgpt-sees-colors-in-language/

MIT Study Could Lead to Better Complex Reasoning with LLMs

(AI Insider – 10 July 2025) MIT researchers have developed a “test-time training” method that significantly boosts large language models’ (LLMs) accuracy on unfamiliar, complex reasoning tasks by temporarily adjusting internal model parameters during prediction. In trials involving IQ-style benchmarks, the method led to performance improvements of up to sixfold compared to conventional in-context learning, without the need to retrain the entire model. The approach, to be presented at the International Conference on Machine Learning, could enable LLMs to better support real-world applications in fields such as healthcare, finance, and logistics, especially where high accuracy and adaptability are essential. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/07/10/mit-study-could-lead-to-better-complex-reasoning-with-llms/

Musk says Tesla to add Grok AI next week; robotaxis to hit San Francisco soon

(Interesting Engineering – 10 July 2025) Less than 24 hours after Grok sparked outrage for antisemitic posts on X, Elon Musk announced Tesla vehicles will begin integrating the AI chatbot “next week at the latest.”. The timeline, shared by Musk on X Thursday, marks the first confirmed rollout window for Grok inside Tesla cars as the EV maker races to catch up with rivals offering AI-powered in-car assistants. The rollout comes amid mounting global backlash. Earlier this week, users flagged Grok posts referring to itself as “MechaHitler” and making antisemitic remarks. – https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/tesla-grok-chatbot-backlash-robotaxi-launch

Hyundai Motor and Kia’s Robotics LAB Delivers First ‘X-ble Shoulder’ Wearable Robot to Korean Air

(AI Insider – 10 July 2025) Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation have officially launched their industrial wearable robot, the X-ble Shoulder, in Korea, with Korean Air receiving the first unit for use in aerospace manufacturing and maintenance operations. Designed to reduce shoulder strain during repetitive overhead tasks, the X-ble Shoulder features a battery-free torque compensation mechanism that lowers muscle activity and joint load, enhancing worker safety and productivity across aircraft and industrial sectors. Hyundai and Kia plan to expand distribution to pre-order customers and industries such as construction and agriculture, with global sales targeted for 2026, following safety and design accolades including ISO 13482 certification and multiple international design awards. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/07/10/hyundai-motor-and-kias-robotics-lab-delivers-first-x-ble-shoulder-wearable-robot-to-korean-air/

Cobionix Secures $3 Million in Strategic Funding Led by TitletownTech to Advance Autonomous Medical Robotics

(AI Insider – 10 July 2025) Cobionix has raised $3 million in a funding round led by TitletownTech, with participation from Lions Investment and medical robotics expert Dr. Paul McBeth, to commercialize its autonomous healthcare robot CODI®. CODI® is a configurable medical robotics platform that enables remote and automated patient-facing tasks such as diagnostic ultrasounds, with rapid tool changes and software updates replacing traditional hardware modifications. The new funding will support clinical pilot projects in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., expand commercialization efforts, and accelerate deployment in the U.S. healthcare market, especially in underserved and rural areas. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/07/10/cobionix-secures-3-million-in-strategic-funding-led-by-titletowntech-to-advance-autonomous-medical-robotics/

LGND wants to make ChatGPT for the Earth

(TechCrunch – 10 July 2025) The Earth is awash in data about itself. Every day, satellites capture around 100 terabytes of imagery. But making sense of it isn’t always easy. Seemingly simple questions can be fiendishly complex to answer. Take this question that is of vital economic importance to California: How many fire breaks does the state have that might stop a wildfire in its tracks, and how have they changed since the last fire season? “Originally, you’d have a person look at pictures. And that only scales so far,” Nathaniel Manning, co-founder and CEO of LGND, told TechCrunch. In recent years, neural networks have made it a bit easier, allowing machine learning experts and data scientists to train algorithms how to see fire breaks in satellite imagery. – https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/10/lgnd-wants-to-make-chatgpt-for-the-earth/

Humanoid surgical robots could ease doctor burnout, slash hospital wait times

(Interesting Engineering – 10 July 2025) Humanoid surgical robots could provide a solution as hospitals face overcrowded waiting rooms, physician burnout, and rising surgery delays. University of California (UC) San Diego researchers argue that surgical robots are overly specialized, costly, and dependent on expert operators, making them difficult to scale for broader clinical use. A new study done by the team developed a bimanual teleoperation system for the Unitree G1 humanoid robot and tested its capabilities across seven varied medical procedures. These included physical examinations, emergency interventions, and precision needle insertions. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/humanoid-robots-could-ease-hospital-burnout

LG’s Exaone Path 2.0 uses AI to transform genetic testing

(DigWatch – 10 July 2025) LG AI Research has introduced Exaone Path 2.0, an upgraded AI model designed to analyse pathology images for disease diagnosis, significantly reducing the time required for genetic testing. The new model, unveiled Wednesday, can reportedly process pathology images in under a minute—a significant shift from conventional genetic testing methods that often take more than two weeks. According to LG, the AI system offers enhanced accuracy in detecting genetic mutations and gene expression patterns by learning from detailed image patches and full-slide pathology data. – https://dig.watch/updates/lgs-exaone-path-2-0-uses-ai-to-transform-genetic-testing

Anthropic’s Claude for Enterprise expands deployment at Lawrence Livermore

(Alexandra Kelley – NextGov – 9 July 2025) Anthropic’s leading enterprise-focused large language model will now be available for the entirety of Livermore Lawrence National

Laboratory, where it will be deployed to focus on scientific research in disciplines like nuclear deterrence, energy, materials science, high-performance computing, climate science and more. Announced on Wednesday, the expanded partnership between LLNL and Anthropic hinges on the usage of Claude for Enterprise –– a variation of Anthropic’s chatbot Claude tailored to organizations aiming to bring automation to their workflows –– that will now be handling complex research by scientists at LLNL. –  https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2025/07/anthropics-claude-enterprise-expands-deployment-lawrence-livermore/406599/?oref=ng-homepage-river