Governance, Legislation, and Geostrategies
United Nations’ ITU Launches ‘Quantum for Good’ to Align Innovation with Global Impact
(Quantum Insider – 21 May 2025) The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will launch Quantum for Good this July as a new track at the AI for Good Global Summit, designed to align quantum innovation with global development priorities. The initiative focuses on equity, access, and impact, working to scale real-world quantum use cases and build inclusive standards, education pipelines, and international partnerships. Speakers from IBM, Algorithmiq, QuIC, and the UN will lead sessions on industry innovation, diplomacy, ethics, and standards, framing quantum’s role in shaping inclusive global futures. Quantum for Good marks the beginning of a long-term global effort, and ITU invites stakeholders across sectors to participate, collaborate, and help ensure quantum benefits all. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/05/21/united-nations-itu-launches-quantum-for-good-to-align-innovation-with-global-impact/
Revitalizing Corporate Governance for the Quantum Age
(Michael Siebecker – Just Security – 21 May 2025) As quantum computing and AI advance, the legal framework governing corporate fiduciary duties requires significant recalibration. The prevailing fiduciary standards of care and oversight — rooted in doctrines developed for a radically different informational and technological context — largely permit corporate directors to escape liability for errors in judgment (even when significant damage or harm results) absent “gross negligence” in the decision-making process or an “utter failure” to monitor corporate operations. Today, company directors now have access to highly sophisticated analytical tools. AI systems, such as IBM’s Financial Crimes Insight for Alert Triage or Oracle’s newly announced Automated Scenario Calibration Cloud Service, can detect financial anomalies and flag regulatory risks across an enterprise in real time. Quantum computing, as it becomes commercially viable, will allow boards to simulate high-dimensional strategic scenarios that would overwhelm traditional models. These technologies materially alter the scope of what information is reasonably available to boards. When boards fail to engage with widely accessible tools capable of identifying and modeling operational risks and strategies in real time, the resulting failure is no longer one of ignorance, but of blind neglect. Fiduciary corporate governance principles must evolve accordingly to keep pace with the coming quantum age. – https://www.justsecurity.org/113334/revitalizing-corporate-governance-quantum-age/
ENISA unveils cyber stress testing handbook to strengthen critical infrastructure resilience under NIS2
(Digital Watch Observatory – 21 May 2025) The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) has released a Handbook for Cyber Stress Testing to support national and sectoral authorities in assessing the cybersecurity and resilience of critical infrastructure, in line with the NIS2 Directive. The guidance is intended for use at the national, regional, and EU levels and complements regulatory frameworks such as the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and the Critical Entities Resilience (CER) directive. – https://dig.watch/updates/enisa-unveils-cyber-stress-testing-handbook-to-strengthen-critical-infrastructure-resilience-under-nis2
Business Software Group Urges Congress to Reauthorize Quantum Initiative
(Quantum Insider – 21 May 2025) The Business Software Alliance is urging Congress to reauthorize and expand the National Quantum Initiative Act to keep the U.S. competitive in the global race to deploy quantum technologies. In a letter to lawmakers, BSA warned that other countries are moving beyond research toward commercialization and national security uses, calling for a federal Special Coordinator for Quantum Leadership. The group emphasized a “whole-of-nation” strategy to integrate quantum tech into the economy, train a skilled workforce, and build resilient supply chains to support industry adoption. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/05/21/business-software-group-urges-congress-to-reauthorize-quantum-initiative/
Supreme Court pushes India to regulate crypto
(Digital Watch Observatory – 21 May 2025) India’s Supreme Court has urged the government to regulate cryptocurrencies, citing a gap between taxing digital assets and failing to govern them properly. The court raised concerns about the economic risks posed by unregulated crypto activity, particularly Bitcoin. – https://dig.watch/updates/supreme-court-pushes-india-to-regulate-crypto
Invest Qatar Partners With Quantinuum to Advance Region’s Quantum Computing Ecosystem
(Quantum Insider – 21 May 2025) Invest Qatar has signed a strategic agreement with Quantinuum to expand Qatar’s quantum computing ecosystem and accelerate local adoption of advanced quantum technologies. The partnership will provide Quantinuum with access to key stakeholders, research institutions, and national initiatives, while promoting education, training, and R&D collaboration in Qatar. Quantinuum will support Qatar’s tech development through seminars, workshops, joint research, and internships, as part of broader U.S.–Qatar ties and regional innovation goals. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/05/21/invest-qatar-partners-with-quantinuum-to-advance-regions-quantum-computing-ecosystem/
Half of young people would prefer life without the internet
(Digital Watch Observatory – 21 May 2025) Nearly half of UK youths aged 16 to 21 say they would prefer to grow up without the internet, a new survey reveals. The British Standards Institution found that 68% feel worse after using social media and half would support a digital curfew past 10 p.m. These findings come as the government considers app usage limits for platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The study also showed that many UK young people feel compelled to hide their online behaviour: 42% admitted lying to parents, and a similar number have fake or burner accounts. – https://dig.watch/updates/half-of-young-people-would-prefer-life-without-the-internet
AI threatens one in four jobs – but transformation, not replacement, is the real risk
(UN News – 20 May 2025) One in four jobs worldwide is potentially exposed to what’s known as generative artificial intelligence – or Generative AI – according to a new joint study from the UN labour agency (ILO) and Poland’s National Research Institute. The study finds that transforming job descriptions, not widespread job loss, is the more likely result. Generative AI (GenAI) refers to systems that can create content such as text, images, code or data summaries in response to user prompts. As such tools become more widely used, they are expected to reshape the tasks employees perform each day. The new ILO-NASK index draws from nearly 30,000 real-world job descriptions using worker surveys, expert reviews and AI models to identify occupations most susceptible to AI driven change. “Few jobs consist of tasks that are fully automatable with current AI technology,” the authors write. “Transformation of jobs is the most likely impact of GenAI.” – https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/05/1163486
Dutch government passes law to criminalize cyber-espionage
(Daryna Antoniuk – The Record – 20 May 2025) The Dutch government has approved a law criminalizing a broader range of espionage activities, including digital espionage, in an effort to protect national security, critical infrastructure and sensitive technologies. The new legislation, passed over the weekend, extends existing espionage laws that already make it a criminal offense to share state secrets. Under the updated law, leaking sensitive information that is not classified as a state secret or engaging in activities on behalf of a foreign government that harm Dutch interests can also result in criminal charges. – https://therecord.media/netherlands-law-criminalizes-cyber-espionage
Security
Europol and Microsoft disrupt world’s largest infostealer Lumma
(Europol – 21 May 2025) Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre has worked with Microsoft to disrupt Lumma Stealer (“Lumma”), the world’s most significant infostealer threat. This joint operation targeted the sophisticated ecosystem that allowed criminals to exploit stolen information on a massive scale. Europol coordinated with law enforcement in Europe to ensure action was taken, leveraging intelligence provided by Microsoft. Between 16 March and 16 May 2025, Microsoft identified over 394 000 Windows computers globally infected by the Lumma malware. In a coordinated follow-up operation this week, Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU), Europol, and international partners have disrupted Lumma’s technical infrastructure, cutting off communications between the malicious tool and victims. In addition, over 1 300 domains seized by or transferred to Microsoft, including 300 domains actioned by law enforcement with the support of Europol, will be redirected to Microsoft sinkholes. The Head of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, Edvardas Šileris, said: “This operation is a clear example of how public-private partnerships are transforming the fight against cybercrime. By combining Europol’s coordination capabilities with Microsoft’s technical insights, a vast criminal infrastructure has been disrupted. Cybercriminals thrive on fragmentation – but together, we are stronger.” – https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/europol-and-microsoft-disrupt-world%E2%80%99s-largest-infostealer-lumma
Anticipating AI’s Impact on the Cyber Offense-Defense Balance
(Andrew Lohn – Center for Security and Emerging Technology – May 2025) Artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to change cybersecurity. This report takes a comprehensive look across cybersecurity to anticipate whether those changes will help cyber defense or offense. Rather than a single answer, there are many ways that AI will help both cyber attackers and defenders. The report finds that there are also several actions that defenders can take to tilt the odds to their favor. – https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/anticipating-ais-impact-on-the-cyber-offense-defense-balance/
How extremists are manipulating AI chatbots
(James Paterson – The Interpreter – 21 May 2025) In an environment where people are feeling increasingly dislocated and disconnected, Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots have proven themselves a compelling form of social connection. Chatbots can identify our needs and our biases and, in turn, feed our desires. The more an algorithm tells us what we want to hear, as it is designed to do, the more we return to it. As younger individuals turn towards chatbots for any number of needs, including as a therapist or lover, it is entirely possible for users to develop an addiction to their AI companions, a potentially harmful addiction. Of significant concern is that this desire for companionship can be exploited by extremist actors. The open-source large language models that underpin AI chatbots can increasingly be manipulated and fine-tuned with ideological datasets to create chatbots that conform to specific worldviews, as has been demonstrated by certain far-right actors. – https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/how-extremists-are-manipulating-ai-chatbots
AI Risks Surge as Quantum Threats Lurk, Warns 2025 Thales Data Threat Report
(AI Insider – 21 May 2025) The 2025 Thales Data Threat Report finds that rapid generative AI adoption is outpacing security safeguards, with data integrity and trust emerging as top concerns. Nearly 70% of respondents cited the fast-moving AI ecosystem as their greatest security risk, but only 14% rated AI-specific tools as effective. While not yet imminent, quantum computing threats are advancing, with a 5,000-qubit system used to decrypt a 50-bit RSA key and post-quantum cryptography preparations now underway. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/05/21/ai-risks-surge-as-quantum-threats-lurk-warns-2025-thales-data-threat-report/
UK research body hit by 5 million cyber attacks
(Digital Watch Observatory – 21 May 2025) UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the country’s national funding body for science and research, has reported a staggering 5.4 million cyber attacks this year — a sixfold increase compared to the previous year. According to data obtained through freedom of information requests, the majority of these threats were phishing attempts, with 236,400 designed to trick employees into revealing sensitive data. A further 11,200 were malware-based attacks, while the rest were identified as spam or malicious emails. – https://dig.watch/updates/uk-research-body-git-by-5-million-cyber-attacks
Legal aid data breach affects UK applicants
(Digital Watch Observatory – 21 May 2025) The UK Ministry of Justice has confirmed a serious cyber-attack on its Legal Aid Agency, first detected on 23 April and revealed to be more extensive on 16 May. Investigators found that a wide range of personal details belonging to applicants dating back to 2010 were accessed. – https://dig.watch/updates/legal-aid-data-breach-affects-uk-applicants
Criminals exploit weak mail security in new fraud surge
(Digital Watch Observatory – 21 May 2025) Check washing fraud is making a worrying comeback in the US, fuelled by both AI-powered identity theft and lax mail security. Criminals are intercepting posted cheques, erasing original details using chemicals, and rewriting them for higher amounts or different recipients. – https://dig.watch/updates/criminals-exploit-weak-mail-security-in-new-fraud-surge
Defense, Intelligence, and Warfare
US’ tech could track submarines in hostile, GPS-denied environments, boost war dominance
(Interesting Engineering – 21 May 2025) The United States could soon get advanced technology in unmanned airborne detection and tracking of enemy submarines as two American firms have joined hands. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, and Ultra Maritime are combining the world’s most advanced and prolific unmanned aerial system GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian with the world’s only miniaturized, low power sonobuoys and receivers. The companies revealed that the strategic partnership will make it possible for the U.S. and its allies to use sophisticated techniques to track submarines in hostile, GPS-denied environments. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-tech-could-detect-submarines
Trump: Golden Dome to cost $175B, be ready in three years
(Patrick Tucker – Defense One – 20 May 2025) An architecture, a price tag, and a development leader have been set for the ambitious Golden Dome anti-missile defense system, President Trump said Tuesday. “We have officially selected an architecture for this state-of-the-art system that will deploy next-generation technologies across the land, sea, and space, including space-based sensors and interceptors,” Trump said from the White House. “This design for the Golden Dome will integrate with our existing defense capabilities and should be fully operational before the end of my term. So we’ll have it done in about three years.” – https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2025/05/trump-golden-dome-cost-175b-be-ready-three-years/405474/?oref=d1-homepage-top-story
Frontiers
OpenAI’s biggest bet yet: $6.5B for ex-Apple team building next-gen devices
(Interesting Engineering – 21 May 2025) OpenAI has acquired the AI hardware startup io, founded by renowned designer Jony Ive, in a deal valued at $6.5 billion. The transaction marks OpenAI’s largest acquisition to date and brings Ive’s expertise in product design directly into the company’s core operations. “This is an extraordinary moment. Computers are now seeing, thinking and understanding,” OpenAI and Ive said in a joint statement. “Despite this unprecedented capability, our experience remains shaped by traditional products and interfaces.” – https://interestingengineering.com/culture/former-apple-designers-build-ai-devices-with-openai
Microsoft Brings Post-Quantum Cryptography to Windows and Linux in Early Access Rollout
(Quantum Insider – 21 May 2025) Microsoft has released early-access post-quantum cryptography (PQC) tools for Windows and Linux, allowing organizations to test quantum-resistant security ahead of emerging threats. The update introduces NIST-standardized algorithms ML-KEM and ML-DSA for key exchanges and digital signatures, with support integrated into Windows Insider builds and SymCrypt-OpenSSL 1.9.0 for Linux. Microsoft encourages a hybrid implementation combining classical and quantum-safe encryption methods, citing potential performance trade-offs, compatibility concerns, and the need for crypto-agile systems as PQC standards evolve. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/05/21/microsoft-brings-post-quantum-cryptography-to-windows-and-linux-in-early-access-rollout/
US’ first fully digital twin nuclear reactor hits 99% accuracy in energy breakthrough
(Digital Watch Observatory – 21 May 2025) Purdue University Reactor Number One (PUR-1) is at the forefront of a nuclear energy revolution with its unique digital capabilities. This could lead to the development of a new generation of safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective nuclear reactors, ultimately accelerating the transition to carbon-free electricity. PUR-1 stands alone as the US’s first fully digitally controlled and operated reactor. This means its entire “nervous system,” the instrumentation and control system, relies on computer screens, keyboards, and ethernet cables. – https://interestingengineering.com/energy/digital-twin-nuclear-reactor-hits-99-accuracy
US startup unveils rugged Titan robot with 1mm precision for tough industrial work
(Interesting Engineering – 21 May 2025) US robotics startup RoboForce has introduced its first AI-powered robot designed for rugged industrial environments. Named Titan, the robot is built to handle real-world outdoor operations with advanced domain intelligence, a tightly integrated AI-hardware system, and a modular design. Titan is currently available in wheeled and tracked base models, with additional configurations expected. Along with the debut of Titan, the California-based firm revealed it has secured an additional $5 million in funding from a mix of new and existing investors, raising its total capital to $15 million. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/us-titan-robot-for-tough-industrial-work
Microsoft brings Grok AI to Azure
(Digital Watch Observatory – 21 May 2025) Microsoft has become one of the first major cloud providers to offer managed access to Grok, the controversial AI model from Elon Musk’s xAI startup. Now available through the Azure AI Foundry platform, both Grok 3 and Grok 3 mini will be billed by Microsoft and include the same service-level agreements as other Azure-hosted models. – https://dig.watch/updates/microsoft-brings-grok-ai-to-azure
AI robots are changing the way we buy cars
(Digital Watch Observatory – 21 May 2025) Humanoid robots are beginning to transform car dealerships, with Chinese manufacturer Chery showcasing its advanced sales assistant, Mornine, at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show. With 220 units planned for rollout worldwide, Chery aims to lead the shift toward robotic retail experiences. – https://dig.watch/updates/ai-robots-are-changing-the-way-we-buy-cars