Governance, Legislation, and Geostrategies

Why Do AI Initiatives Stall? Report Says Watch For Siloed Thinking

(AI Insider – 6 May 2025) AI Insider has introduced a seven-layer market mapping framework to help organizations address fragmentation and misalignment in the rapidly expanding AI ecosystem. The framework maps over 450 technologies by how AI systems are actually built and deployed, covering layers from infrastructure to governance. Without a system-wide view, companies risk making siloed decisions—such as investing in model training without scalable inference—leading to stalled deployments and wasted resources. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/05/06/why-do-ai-initiatives-stall-report-says-watch-for-siloed-thinking/

Google faces DOJ’s request to sell key ad platforms

(Digital Watch Observatory – 6 May 2025) The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has moved to break up Google’s advertising technology business after a federal judge ruled that the company holds illegal monopolies across two markets. The DOJ is seeking the sale of Google’s AdX digital advertising marketplace and its DFP platform, which helps publishers manage their ad inventory. – https://dig.watch/updates/google-faces-dojs-request-to-sell-key-ad-platforms

MoJ explores AI for criminal court transcripts

(Digital Watch Observatory – 6 May 2025) The UK government is actively examining the use of AI to produce official transcripts of criminal court proceedings, but ministers have stressed that any technology must meet the high standards currently achieved by human professionals. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is considering introducing AI-driven transcription services in the Crown Court to help reduce costs, according to Sarah Sackman, the minister responsible for court reform, AI, and digitisation. – https://dig.watch/updates/moj-explores-ai-for-criminal-court-transcripts

South Korea’s presidential race embraces crypto as a key issue

(Digital Watch Observatory – 6 May 2025) South Korea’s presidential race is turning towards cryptocurrency, with former labour minister Kim Moon-soo as the People Power Party’s candidate for the 3 June election. Reports say 16.3 million South Koreans own crypto assets, based on linked wallets and bank accounts as of February 2025. Crypto is expected to be a major issue in the election, with both leading parties pledging policies to boost the sector. – https://dig.watch/updates/south-koreas-presidential-race-embraces-crypto-as-a-key-issue

AI adoption soars in the UK but skills gap looms

(Digital Watch Observatory – 6 May 2025) AI adoption in the UK has grown rapidly, rising by 33% over the past year. According to a new report from AWS, 52% of UK businesses are now using AI technologies, up from 39% in the previous year. Adoption has become so widespread that a business implements new AI tools or strategies every 60 seconds. The benefits are becoming more obvious too, with 92% of AI adopters reporting revenue increases, compared with 64% in 2024. – https://dig.watch/updates/ai-adoption-soars-in-the-uk-but-skills-gap-looms

Ghana plans to regulate digital assets with new legislation

(Digital Watch Observatory – 6 May 2025) Ghana’s central bank is set to regulate the digital asset space later this year, pending the passage of key legislation. Governor Johnson Asiama announced at the African Leaders and Partners Forum during the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington. He stated that the Bank of Ghana (BoG) is committed to fostering digital asset adoption while ensuring consumer protection through appropriate regulation. – https://dig.watch/updates/ghana-plans-to-regulate-digital-assets-with-new-legislation

China boosts tourism with AI innovations

(Digital Watch Observatory – 6 May 2025) China’s tourism industry is undergoing rapid transformation as AI technologies become increasingly integrated into both national platforms and regional services. Instead of relying solely on traditional travel planning, tourists can now receive personalised itinerary suggestions in seconds. Major platforms such as Trip.com use large AI models to assist users before, during and after their journeys—cutting decision-making time from 9 to 6.6 hours, according to Chairman Liang Jianzhang. – https://dig.watch/updates/china-boosts-tourism-with-ai-innovations

Realigning US-Saudi relations for the AI era

(Mohammed Soliman – Middle East Institute – 5 May 2025) As Saudi Arabia accelerates its transformation into a global technology powerhouse, the United States has a pivotal opportunity to redefine its partnership with the kingdom. Moving beyond the traditional oil-for-security framework, a new partnership centered on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure can anchor US-Saudi relations in the 21st century.​ Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to diversify the kingdom’s economy and establish it as a leader in technological innovation. Significant investments have been made to develop domestic capabilities in AI and semiconductors, including the launch of the National Semiconductor Hub and partnerships with global tech firms such as Google. Events like LEAP 2025, an annual tech conference held in Riyadh, have showcased the kingdom’s commitment, attracting billions in investments and positioning Saudi Arabia as a regional tech hub.​ Saudi Arabia’s vast financial resources, strategic investments in AI, and surplus energy reserves position the kingdom as a formidable contender in the global race for computational dominance — and a pivotal node in the emerging AI ecosystem. For the United States, this presents a strategic opportunity to deepen ties with a key ally. The US can support Saudi Arabia’s modernization efforts by collaborating on technology initiatives while securing its own interests in a region increasingly influenced by global tech competition. A partnership focused on innovation and shared technological advancement can redefine US-Saudi relations for the digital age. – https://mei.edu/publications/realigning-us-saudi-relations-ai-era

Defense, Intelligence, and Warfare

US awards $244M to Northrop for most advanced global missile tracking stations yet

(Interesting Engineering – 6 May 2025) The US Space Force (USSF) has awarded Northrop Grumman a $244 million contract to develop advanced relay ground stations in the United States and the United Kingdom. These installations will support the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) program, a key element of America’s evolving missile warning and tracking infrastructure. The new stations are expected to improve global coverage and resilience for satellites designed to detect missile launches and potential threats, while ensuring compatibility with legacy systems and newer constellations. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-awards-244m-to-northrop-for-global-missile-tracking-stations

Latvia’s Blaze drone tracks and explodes to stop enemy aerial threats autonomously

(Interesting Engineering – 6 May 2025) It fits in a briefcase, takes off in seconds, and blows itself up to take enemy drones down. Meet BLAZE — Latvia’s new battlefield interceptor built to take drone wars to the next level. Developed by Origin Robotics, a Latvia-based defense startup, the low-cost autonomous drone can spot, track, and smash enemy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) mid-flight. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/latvian-low-cost-drone-can-kill-enemy-uavs

DISA turns to AI, automation to bridge workforce gaps, attempts to stay on track with JWCC 2.0

(Carley Welch – Breaking Defense – 6 May 2025) The Defense Information System Agency is exploring using automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning to find and fill capabilities gaps brought on by workforce vacancies, the director of DISA’s J9 Hosting and Compute hub, said today. Jeff Marshall told reporters (…) that the deferred resignation program coupled with the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIP) programs have left the agency with fewer people, causing his team to have to get creative with how it fulfills its mission needs. He said the J9 is working across other parts of DISA to determine where the biggest gaps lie and the best ways to fill them. – https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/disa-turns-to-ai-automation-to-bridge-workforce-gaps-attempts-to-stay-on-track-with-jwcc-2-0/

Wanted: counter-drone defenses that don’t hurt surrounding neighborhoods

(Patrick Tucker – Defense One – May 5, 2025) The Pentagon’s Replicator project is asking industry for ways to detect and down enemy drones that can be used without harming surrounding areas—like American territory. “As drones rapidly evolve from slow, easily identifiable commercial systems operating on known frequencies-to faster, custom-built systems, the call for [low-collateral defeat] capabilities is a key effort,” the Defense Innovation Unit and the Joint Counter-small UAS Office said in a Monday announcement. “These systems help to minimize risk to friendly forces, civilians, and infrastructure in the homeland and abroad.” – https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2025/05/military-wants-stealthier-smarter-tech-take-down-drones/405058/?oref=d1-homepage-river

Is America ready for an era of space warfare?

(Timothy Lea – Brookings – 5 March 2025) For technological, political, and practical reasons, space has yet to be weaponized like the other domains of warfare. Now, however, the United States Space Force’s chief of space operations, General B. Chance Saltzman, has said that the Space Force will do whatever it takes to militarily dominate space. Russia and China are likewise building combat capabilities that could be used to attack U.S. satellites. Regardless of one’s beliefs on the wisdom and outcomes of fighting a war in space, it is clear that a new era, in which the United States organizes, trains, and equips for space combat, has arrived. – https://www.brookings.edu/articles/is-america-ready-for-an-era-of-space-warfare/

Security

Cyberattacks against US soar in early 2025

(Digital Watch Observatory – 6 May 2025) Cyberattacks targeting the US surged dramatically in early 2025, according to a new report from cybersecurity firm Trellix. Between October 2024 and March 2025, advanced persistent threats (APTs) increased by 136% compared to the previous quarter. – https://dig.watch/updates/cyberattacks-against-us-soar-in-early-2025

Frontiers

US researchers achieve 11-mile quantum data link using photon transmission

(Interesting Engineering – 6 May 2025) Scientists from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and the University of Rochester have successfully established an experimental quantum communications network connecting their campuses using two optical fibers. Using the Rochester Quantum Network (RoQNET), the scientists transmitted information using single photons over roughly 11 miles of fiber-optic cable at room temperature, aided by optical wavelengths, marking a step toward secure, scalable quantum communications. Quantum communication networks promise to significantly enhance data security by making it virtually impossible to clone or intercept messages without detection. – https://interestingengineering.com/science/experimental-quantum-network-built

Nvidia opens new quantum research centre in Boston

(Digital Watch Observatory – 6 May 2025) Nvidia has unveiled plans to open the Nvidia Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC) in Boston, a facility set to bridge quantum computing and AI supercomputing. Expected to begin operations later this year, the centre aims to accelerate the shift from experimental to practical quantum computing. – https://dig.watch/updates/nvidia-opens-new-quantum-research-centre-in-boston

Relativity Space Could Launch the Next Frontier of AI Infrastructure

(AI Insider – 5 May 2025) Eric Schmidt’s acquisition of Relativity Space signals plans to deploy AI data centers in orbit, addressing the growing energy and cooling demands of artificial intelligence workloads. Space-based data centers could leverage solar power and the vacuum of space for heat dissipation, offering a sustainable alternative to terrestrial infrastructure. With Relativity’s heavy-lift Terran R rocket in development, Schmidt is positioning for launch control in a market with few viable options for large-scale orbital deployment. –  https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/05/05/relativity-space-could-launch-the-next-frontier-of-ai-infrastructure/