Governance, Legislation, Tech & Democracy

Netherlands regulator presses tech firms over election disinformation

(DigWatch – 14 August 2025) The Netherlands’ competition authority will meet with 12 major online platforms, including TikTok, Facebook and X, on 15 September to address the spread before the 29 October elections. The session will also involve the European Commission, national regulators and civil society groups. – https://dig.watch/updates/netherlands-regulator-presses-tech-firms-over-election-disinformation – https://www.pymnts.com/cpi-posts/big-tech-faces-dutch-scrutiny-under-eu-digital-services-act-before-vote/

New digital headquarters aims to embed AI across Kazakhstan’s public services

(DigWatch – 14 August 2025) Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov established a digital transformation group, or digital headquarters, to advance AI integration across Kazakhstan, following President Tokayev’s directives on 11 August 2025. The group includes senior officials, such as the deputy prime minister, the head of strategic planning, the minister of digital development, innovation, and aerospace industry, and the presidential digitalisation advisor. The group is tasked with implementing nine priority areas outlined by the president. – https://dig.watch/updates/new-digital-headquarters-aims-to-embed-ai-across-kazakhstans-public-services  – https://astanatimes.com/2025/08/kazakhstan-creates-digital-headquarters-to-facilitate-ai-integration/

Norway’s sovereign fund gains indirect access to Bitcoin

(DigWatch – 14 August 2025) Norway’s sovereign wealth fund has significantly increased its indirect Bitcoin exposure. The world’s largest fund’s holdings in Bitcoin proxies have surged by 192% over the past year. Unable to hold cryptocurrencies directly due to investment restrictions, the fund gains exposure through shares in companies like Coinbase and Strategy. – https://dig.watch/updates/norways-sovereign-fund-gains-indirect-access-to-bitcoin – https://cointelegraph.com/news/norway-sovereign-wealth-fund-bitcoin-exposure

The TAKE IT DOWN Act Is US Law. Platforms Must Do More Than The Bare Minimum

(Becca Branum – Tech Policy Press – 13 August 2025) Nonconsensual distribution of intimate imagery (NDII), whether real or AI-generated, is one of the most insidious forms of abuse on the internet today. Ubiquitous access to powerful generative AI tools has exacerbated longstanding and under-appreciated risks of image-based sexual abuse, and people from K-12 students to Members of Congress are suffering the harms. Congress responded by passing the TAKE IT DOWN Act, both criminalizing NDII and requiring platforms to remove NDII within 48 hours of a valid complaint. The law’s ambiguous requirements, though, leave open questions that allow tech companies wide latitude as to what counts as compliance. Companies could choose either to do the minimum required to avoid Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforcement, or to actually invest the time and effort necessary to protect users and meaningfully respond to image-based sexual abuse. – https://www.techpolicy.press/the-take-it-down-act-is-us-law-platforms-must-do-more-than-the-bare-minimum/

Brazil’s Digital Sovereignty Is Under Attack: How Courts, Platforms, and Constitutional Law Are Redefining Democracy Online

(Sahasranshu Dash and Ana Tereza Duarte Lima de Barros – Just Security – 13 August 2025) On July 30, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing additional tariffs on Brazilian goods, raising the total rate to 50 percent, with the measure taking effect on August 6. While officially framed as a response to currency manipulation and unfair trade, the deeper message was clear. The tariff signals not just economic retaliation, but a transnational backlash against Brazil’s emerging digital constitutionalism. At the heart of Brazil’s approach is a legal framework that treats platform governance as essential to democracy. The Supreme Federal Court (STF) has taken a leading role in countering disinformation, political extremism, and digital abuse. In doing so, it is redefining the boundaries of platform responsibility and free expression — not as private matters, but as constitutional questions vital to the health of democracy itself. – https://www.justsecurity.org/118915/brazil-digital-sovereignty-courts-democracy/

UK-based ODI outlines vision for EU AI Act and data policy

(DigWatch – 13 August 2025) The Open Data Institute (ODI) has published a manifesto setting out six principles for shaping European Union policy on AI and data. Aimed at supporting policymakers, it aligns with the EU’s upcoming digital reforms, including the AI Act and the review of the bloc’s digital framework. Although based in the UK, the ODI has previously contributed to EU policymaking, including work on the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice and consultations on the use of health data. The organisation also launched a similar manifesto for UK data and AI policy in 2024. – https://dig.watch/updates/uk-based-odi-outlines-vision-for-eu-ai-act-and-data-policy– https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366629254/ODI-tells-EU-to-balance-AI-safeguards-with-innovation-promotion

Eight Countries Face EU Action Over NIS2 Deadline Failings

(DigWatch – 13 August 2025) Eight EU countries, including Ireland, Spain, France, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden, have been warned by the European Commission for failing to meet the deadline on the implementation of the NIS2 Directive. – https://dig.watch/updates/eu-targets-eight-members-states-over-cybersecurity-directive-implementation-delay – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/eight-countries-eu-action-nis2/

Ministers urged to forge a secure path for UK government’s digital future

(DigWatch – 13 August 2025) TechUK has issued a comprehensive framework to guide the UK government’s digital transformation, emphasising the importance of secure technological progress as a national imperative. The proposal outlines three foundational pillars: shaping digital regulation, strengthening countries and regions through digital investment, and advancing international digital trade. – https://dig.watch/updates/ministers-urged-to-forge-a-secure-path-for-uk-governments-digital-future – https://www.techuk.org/resource/digital-transformation-a-secure-path-forward-for-uk-government.html

YouTube Rolls Out AI Age-Verification Protections to US-Based Teens

(AI Insider – 13 August 2025) YouTube will roll out an AI-powered age-estimation model in the U.S. on Aug. 13 to identify users under 18, regardless of self-reported birthdate, expanding existing teen protections. The system, already used in other markets, will trigger safeguards such as non-personalized ads, digital wellbeing tools, privacy prompts, and limits on repetitive or age-restricted content for identified teen users. Creators may see shifts in audience makeup and slight ad revenue declines, as uploads from under-18 creators will default to private and monetization options will be restricted; YouTube expects limited financial impact overall. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/13/youtube-rolls-out-ai-age-verification-protections-to-us-based-teens/

LinkedIn Joins Meta and YouTube in Abandoning Policies Designed to Counter Anti-Trans Hate

(Jenni Olson – Tech Policy Press – 13 August 2025) In light of LinkedIn’s recent surreptitious removal of its targeted misgendering and deadnaming policy (the longstanding best-practice policy language maintained by nearly every major platform), it’s an important moment to remind ourselves that public-facing hate speech policies, versus behind-the-scenes moderator enforcement guidelines, exist for a reason. Since most major platforms say they aspire to maintain civil and safe spaces for their users, having clearly stated public policies is a fundamental baseline practice — so that users understand the actual rules of the platform, and also so that trust and safety teams can moderate in alignment with those publicly-stated guidelines. Needless to say, it’s deeply concerning to see LinkedIn remove a policy protecting transgender and nonbinary people from one of the most prevalent and extreme types of online anti-trans hate at a cultural and political moment in which trans people and our fundamental civil and human rights are under attack in such unprecedented ways. The company’s decision is all the more concerning coming on the heels of Meta and YouTube’s similar decisions this past January. – https://www.techpolicy.press/linkedin-joins-meta-and-youtube-in-abandoning-policies-designed-to-counter-antitrans-hate/

‘Big Cloud’ is Building Power via Pervasive Investments

(Nathan Kim, David Gray Widder  – Tech Policy Press – 12 August 2025) Criticism of Big Tech monopoly power from journalists, regulators, and scholars often focuses on the largest mergers and the highest-profile anticompetitive practices. The remedies trial in the Google Search antitrust case is a good example, as is Microsoft’s much-criticized acquisition of Activision Blizzard, or the monopoly case Meta is embroiled in. Critiques are particularly pointed against the monopoly power held by the subset of Big Tech firms which are the large cloud infrastructure providers. Just three companies comprise which “Big Cloud” — Microsoft, Amazon, and Google — control two thirds of the cloud computing market, thereby controlling services that millions of businesses and governments across the globe rely on. Big Cloud has come under fire for anticompetitive practices across the globe, and most relevant to our focus here, Microsoft faced particular scrutiny for its eye popping $14 billion investment in OpenAI. But while $14 billion investments grab headlines, our new report shines light on a distributed, far less visible, and cumulative form of dependence garnered via investment. We analyze investment database Crunchbase, which collates records of investment from a variety of sources, and find that Big Cloud invests in over a hundred times more deals than other Big Tech companies in the “Magnificent Seven” (Apple, Meta, Tesla, and Nvidia). Moreover, Big Cloud has participated in a staggering $250 billion in total funding dispersed throughout the startup ecosystem. Our research suggests these investments comprise a massive, strategic effort to bend the technology ecosystem towards Big Cloud’s interests. – https://www.techpolicy.press/big-cloud-is-building-power-via-pervasive-investments/

AI Hallucinations in the Legal Field: Present Experiences, Future Considerations

(Debajyoti Chakravarty – Observer Research Foundation – 12 August 2025) Artificial Intelligence (AI) hallucinations refer to instances where AI systems generate outputs that are factually incorrect, misleading, or fabricated, often with a convincing degree of plausibility. In the legal sector, this phenomenon poses serious implications. Legal professionals are increasingly using AI tools to streamline research, draft pleadings, and synthesise legal arguments. However, these systems operate on probabilistic prediction rather than grounded legal reasoning. Consequently, they may generate references to non-existent case laws, statutes, or judicial opinions, presenting them with stylistic accuracy that creates an illusion of authority. This could lead to grave implications, such as courts relying on fictitious precedents, erroneous filings, and professional misconduct among advocates. – https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/ai-hallucinations-in-the-legal-field-present-experiences-future-considerations

How AI-Driven Search May Reshape Democracy, Economics, and Human Agency

(Cameron Pattison, Vance Ricks, John Wihbey – Tech Policy Press – 11 August 2025) In May 2024, Google unveiled a new way to search the web: the AI Overview, which sits just above the classic PageRank cascade in Google Search. It presents you with direct answers to queries, summaries of the content found in the links below, and a carousel of sources. According to Google, AI Overviews (and AI Mode) promise speed, accuracy, directness of answers, effortless convenience, and an ability to “do more than you ever imagined.”. The rollout sparked both excitement and unease, prompting researchers, publishers, and policymakers to ask how this shift might reshape the economics, governance, and epistemic norms of online search. Last week, Google issued a blog post to reassure the public about these changes. While offering few details, the company reported that overall click volume from Search has remained stable year-over-year, that the proportion of “high-quality clicks” has grown, and that AI results are designed to “highlight the web” rather than replace it. If accurate, these are encouraging numbers for some publishers and creators. And yet, traffic metrics — whether stable, declining, or improving — capture only part of the story. Preliminary studies voice concerns over the degree to which this innovation cedes ever-greater algorithmic control over information curation to Google, its effects on the web-link–based economy, and the ways in which it might undermine users’ ability to verify, diversify, and weigh the merits of search results. Acknowledging these issues doesn’t mean harkening back to an imagined past in which similar issues were absent from web search in general, or from Google’s search engine in particular. But there are many who see differences in kind, as well as in degree, from the pre-generative model-based online search environment. Indeed, we see a variety of specific concerns spanning the economic, political, social, and cognitive domains. – https://www.techpolicy.press/how-ai-driven-search-may-reshape-democracy-economics-and-human-agency/

Liberal Democracies Are Retreating From AI Safety

(Jakub Kraus – Lawfare – 11 August 2025) The word “safety” appears exactly zero times in the Group of Seven’s (G7’s) recent Statement on AI for Prosperity, which focuses heavily on the benefits and opportunities of artificial intelligence. Issued at the recent G7 Summit in Alberta, Canada, the statement begins with recognition of AI’s potential to “grow prosperity, benefit societies and address global challenges.” It then describes commitments whereby member countries promise to “promote economic prosperity,” meet AI’s energy needs, and increase access to and adoption of the technology. In an annex, an AI adoption road map outlines plans to help small and medium-sized businesses “move from uncertainty to opportunity.” The statement mostly neglects the possibility that AI could malfunction or be used harmfully. The G7’s emphasis on AI opportunity contrasts with its more cautious tone in years past. Shortly after ChatGPT was released, G7 leaders established the Hiroshima AI Process to study generative AI, recognizing both the “opportunities and challenges” posed by the technology. Later that year, the process produced a code of conduct that outlined voluntary guidance for organizations developing advanced AI systems, such as testing for biological threats, investing in cybersecurity, and respecting intellectual property rights. The G7 continued acknowledging AI’s risks in 2024, even inviting Pope Francis to speak at the leaders’ summit in Apulia, where he called for a ban on lethal autonomous weapons. – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/liberal-democracies-are-retreating-from-ai-safety

Investors adapt as AI reshapes US market

(DigWatch – 11 August 2025) Firms such as Wix.com, Shutterstock, and Adobe have been labelled high risk by Bank of America, with stock declines far outpacing the broader market. The shift stems from fears that AI will replace services like graphic design and data analysis, delivering them faster and cheaper. Some analysts say the impact, once expected over five years, may unfold in just two. – https://dig.watch/updates/investors-adapt-as-ai-reshapes-us-market – https://www.cryptopolitan.com/ai-disruption-hits-markets-sooner-than-expected/

AI tools risk gender bias in women’s health care

(DigWatch – 11 August 2025) AI tools used by over half of England’s local councils may be downplaying women’s physical and mental health issues. Research from LSE found Google’s AI model, Gemma, used harsher terms like ‘disabled’ and ‘complex’ more often for men than women with similar care needs. The LSE study analysed thousands of AI-generated summaries from adult social care case notes. Researchers swapped only the patient’s gender to reveal disparities. – https://dig.watch/updates/ai-tools-risk-gender-bias-in-womens-health-care – https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/aug/11/ai-tools-used-by-english-councils-downplay-womens-health-issues-study-finds

Verify, Verify, Verify: How Technological Disruption is Redefining Nuclear Risk

(Cindy Vestergaard – Stimson Center – 5 August 2025) Eighty years after Hiroshima, the systems built to monitor and contain nuclear threats are confronting a new kind of disruption. Technologies like artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, and quantum computing are transforming not only how nuclear weapons could be developed or hidden, but also how they can be detected, verified, and controlled. The tools of verification must evolve to meet a world where threats are more decentralized, faster moving, and harder to trace. – https://www.stimson.org/2025/verify-verify-verify-how-technological-disruption-is-redefining-nuclear-risk/

Cyber Diplomacy 2.0: From Process to Impact

(Allison Pytlak – Stimson Center – 4 August 2025) After five years, the UN’s working group on cybersecurity has completed its mandate and established a new permanent mechanism to take forward UN work in this area. Many involved are hailing the outcome of the final session as a success for multilateralism and diplomacy. In 2025’s charged geopolitical environment, gaining consensus agreement is indeed a win – but with consensus always comes compromise. What does the final report of the working group contain, and omit, and how can the new mechanism be more action-oriented than its predecessor? – https://www.stimson.org/2025/cyber-diplomacy-2-0-from-process-to-impact/

Geostrategies

South Korea unveils megagrowth plan with AI expressway and energy reform

(DigWatch – 14 August 2025) President Lee Jae-myung has announced a sweeping national megagrowth plan that positions South Korea at the forefront of AI and energy transformation. The initiative includes the creation of an ‘AI expressway’, starting with the Ulsan AI data centre, underpinned by bold tax incentives and regulatory reforms to attract private sector investment. Complementing this is a proposed investment of 100 trillion won to accelerate AI innovation, next-generation semiconductors, and the development of AI infrastructure and innovation zones. – https://dig.watch/updates/south-korea-unveils-megagrowth-plan-with-ai-expressway-and-energy-reform – https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10553315

India must ramp up AI and chip production to meet global competition

(DigWatch – 14 August 2025) At the Emkay Confluence in Mumbai, Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran emphasised that while trade-related concerns remain significant, they must not obscure the urgent need for India to boost its AI and semiconductor sectors. – https://dig.watch/updates/india-must-ramp-up-ai-and-chip-production-to-meet-global-competition – https://www.business-standard.com/economy/news/india-ai-semiconductors-growth-nageswaran-us-china-competition-125081300522_1.html

India as a Blueprint for Africa’s Digital Public Infrastructure

(Ananyaa Mehta – Observer Research Foundation – 13 August 2025) In recent years, Africa has shown a growing interest in the development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) through continental-level efforts, such as the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030), as well as numerous national-level initiatives. However, Africa faces a wide range of challenges that must be tackled efficiently and upfront. With India making substantial progress in DPI, this piece discusses how India can serve as a model for African countries for the successful large-scale implementation of such systems. Effective DPI implementation begins with a clear grasp of its three core pillars – digital identity, digital payments and data exchange systems – which act as a backbone for digital societies. The development of such infrastructure is important to Africa as it can facilitate sustainable development, economic growth, and job creation. Moreover, research suggests that the proper implementation of DPI can lead to a GDP growth of 20-33 percent by 2030 in low- and middle-income countries, making it an attractive investment. – https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/india-as-a-blueprint-for-africa-s-digital-public-infrastructure

AI for India: Identifying Future Directions

(Observer Research Foundation – 13 August 2025) Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds transformative potential for the Indian economy, boosting productivity and efficiency across sectors. However, realising effective value from AI-driven transformations is determined by the moving parts of the country’s AI ecosystem. This report synthesises current trends across AI adoption, investment, and innovation to provide insights for informed policy action and business strategy. – https://www.orfonline.org/research/ai-for-india-identifying-future-directions

Vietnam Secures MoU for 5,000 Unmanned Cargo Drones to South Korea

(AI Insider – 13 August 2025) CT Group of Vietnam signed an MoU with a South Korean drone technology company to export 5,000 heavy-duty unmanned cargo aircraft, marking Vietnam’s large-scale entry into the global UAV market. The domestically developed drones, capable of carrying 60–300 kg payloads and using 85% locally sourced components, feature in-house–designed semiconductor chips, giving CT Group a competitive edge in a field dominated by advanced economies. Alongside the UAV deal, CT Group secured an agreement to export 100 million ATP semiconductor chips to South Korea, reinforcing Vietnam’s ambitions in both aerospace and semiconductor industries. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/13/vietnam-secures-mou-for-5000-unmanned-cargo-drones-to-south-korea/

Trump’s AI chip deal with Nvidia and AMD sets a dangerous precedent

(Katja Bego – Chatham House – 11 August 2025) The news that the Trump administration has struck a deal with US chipmakers Nvidia and AMD, allowing exports of some of the companies’ chips to China in return for a 15 per cent cut of revenue (to be paid to the US federal government), has been met with disbelief from national security, economics and legal experts alike. US President Donald Trump said he brokered what he called a ‘little deal’ last week during a meeting with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in the White House. The significance of this decision is not primarily in China’s ability to access the chips themselves. The chips in question (Nvidia’s H20 and AMD’s MI308) are not cutting-edge and are unlikely to be gamechangers for China’s AI fortunes. More significant is the precedent this sets for the Trump administration to potentially weaponize national security arguments and export control licenses as leverage in deals with private companies. This is in many ways an unprecedented move. It not only risks significantly undermining Washington’s global credibility and leverage when it comes to its economic statecraft agenda, but also reflects a more structural weakness in the US approach to its technological competition with China. – https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/08/trumps-ai-chip-deal-nvidia-and-amd-sets-dangerous-precedent

Trump’s Chip Policy Disrupts Alliances

(Vivek Mishra, Yogesh Mohapatra – Observer Research Foundation – 11 August 2025) The semiconductor industry, the world’s second most profitable sector, has made further inroads in the bilateral competitive dynamic to become a focal point in the US-China strategic rivalry. Over the past decade, the US has both ramped up domestic production and expanded export restrictions on advanced chips, signalling a bipartisan consensus that semiconductors are critical to national security. However, the Trump administration may have taken a few steps which could reshuffle the fundamental metrics of the chip war between the US and China. Trump’s decision to allow the H20 chips to China after an initial clampdown could reduce the US’s AI lead over China. Washington’s warming up to China, while doubling down on tariffs with US’ allies and partners, could very well initiate a new scramble among other countries to reduce dependence on the US, including on semiconductors. And Taiwan, a leading US ally and arguably the most important node in the semiconductor supply and value chains, is facing new heat from Washington. This reshoring push by Trump marks a shift from Biden’s multilateral strategy. Trump has passed the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), a budget package that has extended the CHIPS Act’s advanced manufacturing tax credit from 25 percent to 35 percent and removed per-project caps for semiconductor ventures, incentivising companies such as Intel, Nvidia, Micron, and Taiwan’s PSMC to produce fabs domestically. Trump’s OBBB is framed to augment domestic semiconductor production and enhance trade protection, even at the expense of certain social programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, and student loans, as well as a projected ballooning federal deficit from US$2.8 to 3.3 trillion. – https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/trump-s-chip-policy-disrupts-alliances

Without AI guardrails, Indonesia risks dependence on Huawei’s AI

(Jascha Ramba Santoso – ASPI The Strategist – 11 August 2025) As President Prabowo Subianto’s administration prioritises national self-reliance, maintaining autonomy on technology that matters for Indonesia’s future—including AI—is essential. AI embedded in critical infrastructure affects how data is collected, processed and secured, shaping decision-making processes. Indonesia needs robust guardrails to ensure AI adoption in critical infrastructure does not constrain strategic autonomy, in line with its ‘free and active’ foreign policy, amid competition between China and the United States. Huawei has already established itself as the dominant player in Indonesia’s telecommunication infrastructure. Now, it is expanding its presence into Indonesia’s artificial-intelligence ecosystem, offering extensive capabilities. This includes hardware, 5G-advanced infrastructure, AI-driven network solutions that enhance consumer experience through Huawei-made AI agents, and AI operations centres focused on AI-cloud infrastructure development. – https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/without-ai-guardrails-indonesia-risks-dependence-on-huaweis-ai/

What is Germany’s High-Tech Agenda — And What Does it Mean For Quantum?

(Quantum Insider – 11 April 2025) Germany’s High-Tech Agenda Germany identifies six key technology sectors to strengthen economic competitiveness, create jobs, and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. The plan prioritizes artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, microelectronics, biotechnology, fusion and climate-neutral energy, and climate-neutral mobility. Implementation will begin in autumn 2025 with coordinated efforts between researchers, industry, start-ups, and policymakers to accelerate commercialization of new technologies. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/08/11/what-is-germanys-high-tech-agenda-and-what-does-it-mean-for-quantum/

How will asset tokenization transform the future of finance?

(Sandra Waliczek – World Economic Forum – 8 August 2025) The financial markets are undergoing a quiet revolution powered by asset tokenization. Asset tokenization could make investing more accessible, faster, cheaper and more transparent. When institutions, regulators and tech providers come together to build trusted, interoperable frameworks, we are likely to see asset tokenization fulfil its potential. – https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/08/tokenization-assets-transform-future-of-finance/

Indigenous Peoples Day highlights AI’s risks and opportunities

(UN News – 8 August 2025) In honour of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 9 August, the UN hosted a virtual commemoration on Friday on the theme AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures.  An estimated 476 million Indigenous Peoples live across 90 countries, representing 5,000 different cultures. Without proper safeguards, AI risks harming Indigenous rights through inequitable distribution of the groundbreaking technology, environmental damage and the reinforcement of damaging colonial legacies. The growing amount of electricity generation needed for AI data centres and other infrastructure is also intensifying climate change pressures, according to the UN. – https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/08/1165613

Reading between the lines of the dueling US and Chinese AI action plans

(Atlantic Council – 7 August 2025) Action speaks louder than words—but words are a good place to start. On July 23, the Trump administration released ”Winning the AI Race: America’s AI Action Plan.” Three days later, China unveiled its “Global AI Governance Action Plan.” Both superpowers are in a contest to acquire the best technology and establish the rules of the road for artificial intelligence (AI), and their decisions will have a major impact on the global AI ecosystem. To figure out what these dueling plans mean for both countries and the wider world, we reached out to our top tech minds for their take on six burning questions. – https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/reading-between-the-lines-of-the-dueling-us-and-chinese-ai-action-plans/

Defence, Intelligence, Warfare

AUKUS Pillar Two can deliver fast—after we fix it

(Jason Van der Schyff, Courtney Stewart – ASPI The Strategist – 13 August 2025) Pillar Two of the AUKUS technology-sharing agreement offers more immediate benefits than the parallel, decades-long nuclear-submarine effort—but not until we fix serious shortcomings in its execution. It has six capability workstreams—undersea robotics, quantum, AI and autonomy, advanced cyber, hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, and electromagnetic warfare—plus widely applicable efforts on innovation and information sharing. Unlike AUKUS’s submarine-focused Pillar One, these offer near-term opportunities for Australian companies to design, test and integrate technologies directly into allied systems. Done well, Pillar Two will lift alliance capability, strengthen sovereign industry and position Australia as a trusted developer of high-value technologies. – https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/aukus-pillar-two-can-deliver-fast-after-we-fix-it/

Ground robots are transforming battle-casualty evacuation in Ukraine

(David Kirichenko – ASPI The Strategist – 12 August 2025) The Russia-Ukraine war has evolved into a technological arms race, with uncrewed machines playing a central role across every domain of combat. The skies are now filled with aerial drones, and their kill zone continues to expand in all directions. Drones have revolutionised warfare on land and at sea, too. The latest development is the use of ground robots and their incipient transformation of frontline medicine. For Ukraine, unmanned systems have become a necessity in fighting a larger and better‑resourced enemy. With no sign of the war ending anytime soon, and with Russia willing to expend seemingly endless numbers of people, Kyiv is turning to technology to help ease the pressure on its mobilisation effort and to preserve the lives of its soldiers. – https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/ground-robots-are-transforming-battle-casualty-evacuation-in-ukraine/

Harnessing the Transformative Potential of AI in Intelligence Analysis

(Rachel Bombach – Just Security – 12 August 2025) In an era of extraordinary geopolitical volatility, the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) is confronting increasingly complex challenges that demand innovative technological solutions. Unprecedented amounts of data collection, the threats posed by great power competition, and the rapid transformation of regional security landscapes have heightened the need for advanced intelligence capabilities that go beyond traditional analytic methodologies. At the same time, structural changes within the federal workforce under the Trump administration, including voluntary buyout programs and early retirements, have reduced the pool of experienced intelligence analysts, operators, and leaders. This evolving workforce dynamic increases the need for innovative solutions to maintain operational continuity and effectiveness, and to ensure the IC can fulfill its role of providing timely and relevant intelligence about the plans, intentions, and capabilities of our adversaries. –  https://www.justsecurity.org/118824/ukraine-gaza-ihl-compliance-moral-injury/

Security

Cyber-crime group BlackSuit crippled by $1 million crypto seizure

(DigWatch – 14 August 2025) Law enforcement agencies in the United States and abroad have coordinated a raid to dismantle the BlackSuit ransomware operation, seizing servers and domains and approximately $1 million in cryptocurrency linked to ransom demands. The action, led by the Department of Justice, Homeland Security Investigations, the Secret Service, the IRS and the FBI, involved cooperation with agencies across the UK, Germany, France, Canada, Ukraine, Ireland and Lithuania. – https://dig.watch/updates/cyber-crime-group-blacksuit-crippled-by-1-million-crypto-seizure – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/us-seize-1m-blacksuit-ransomware

The UN’s Permanent Process on Cybersecurity Faces an Uphill Battle

(Pavlina Pavlova, Christopher Painter – Lawfare – 13 August 2025) In July, the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) reached consensus on a permanent mechanism to address responsible state behavior in cyberspace. Following six rounds of time-bound groups of governmental experts (GGEs) and two open-ended working groups (OEWGs), this new process under the First Committee—addressing disarmament and international security—will commence in March 2026 with an organizational session at the UN headquarters in New York. The single-track “Global Mechanism” was agreed upon with relative ease after no delegation broke consensus on the third draft presented by the chair as a compromise package. The swift decision reached in the morning of July 11 stood in sharp contrast to several years of last-minute suspense preceding each interim report, created by Iran and Russia’s insistence that their views be featured more prominently. – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-un-s-permanent-process-on-cybersecurity-faces-an-uphill-battle

The Rules of the Road in Cyberspace, 10 Years Later

(Allison Pytlak, Christina Rupp, Eugene EG Tan, Louise Marie Hurel, Talita Dias and Valentin Weber – RUSI – 13 August 2025) Cyber operations have become an enduring feature of geopolitical competition, increasingly targeting critical infrastructure and testing the boundaries of international stability. In the past few weeks, Microsoft reported that Chinese state-linked and non-state actors had exploited a zero-day vulnerability affecting on-premises SharePoint servers – including at the US National Nuclear Security Administration, which is responsible for overseeing nuclear weapons. The vulnerabilities were reportedly ‘exploited en masse to intrude hundreds of organizations globally’, spanning governments and critical sectors. Incidents like this are not exceptional – they are emblematic of a broader pattern: persistent, state-linked cyber operations that exploit systemic vulnerabilities, erode trust and undermine international stability. Against this backdrop, efforts to define how states should behave in cyberspace – what is acceptable and what crosses the line – have become more urgent, but also more contested. And yet, amidst these tensions – and perhaps paradoxically – 193 states gathered at the United Nations from 7 to 11 July to negotiate precisely that: the rules of the road for state behaviour in cyberspace. This final session of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on cybersecurity marked the conclusion of a five-year diplomatic process under the UN First Committee on Disarmament and International Security.The session resulted in the establishment of a Global Mechanism, the approval of a final report that had been significantly watered down, and – somewhat unexpectedly – the early conclusion of negotiations on the final day, avoiding what many anticipated would be a long Friday of talks. This piece brings together experts who have followed these negotiations from up close. Their reflections trace both the progress and sticking points of the past five years in each of the six thematic areas covered by the OEWG (existing and potential threats, norms, international law, confidence building measures, cyber capacity building and regular institutional dialogue) – and offer insights into what lies ahead. – https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/rules-road-cyberspace-10-years-later

A ‘Window Sticker’ for Software

(Adam Isles – Lawfare – 13 August 2025) In June 2017, a cyberattack known as notPetya corrupted the Ukrainian tax accounting software Medoc and used it to infect victim machines with destructive malware, which spread rapidly and incapacitated numerous global companies, including Maersk—causing billions of dollars in damage. Cybersecurity professionals believed the attack would serve as a wake-up call about the risks of vulnerable software. And yet more than a half-decade later, the global community continues to see security weaknesses in software being exploited by threat actors to gain access to customers’ networks and data. In July 2025, a previously unknown (“zero day”) software flaw in Microsoft SharePoint was reportedly exploited to compromise a number of U.S. federal and state agencies, universities, and energy companies. Multiple forms of best-practice guidance have been released in recent years in an effort to combat these attacks. The issue is whether they have been applied effectively. A lack of threat-informed design can skew prioritization and lead to a false sense of security. Likewise, best-practice adoption in name only (i.e., pro forma), legacy code complexity, and product-by-product variance can complicate the mapping of theory to practice. – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/a–window-sticker–for-software

AI agents face prompt injection and persistence risks, researchers warn

(DigWatch – 13 August 2025) Zenity Labs warned at Black Hat USA that widely used AI agents can be hijacked without interaction. Attacks could exfiltrate data, manipulate workflows, impersonate users, and persist via agent memory. Researchers said knowledge sources and instructions could be poisoned. Demos showed risks across major platforms. ChatGPT was tricked into accessing a linked Google Drive via email prompt injection. Microsoft Copilot Studio agents leaked CRM data. Salesforce Einstein rerouted customer emails. Gemini and Microsoft 365 Copilot were steered into insider-style attacks. – https://dig.watch/updates/ai-agents-face-prompt-injection-and-persistence-risks-researchers-warn – https://www.techcentral.ie/research-shows-ai-agents-highly-vulnerable-to-hijacking-attacks/

Crypto crime unit expands with Binance

(DigWatch – 13 August 2025) Tron, Tether, and TRM Labs have announced the expansion of their T3 Financial Crime Unit (T3 FCU) with Binance as the first T3+ partner. The unit has frozen over $250 million in illicit crypto assets since its launch in September 2024. The T3 FCU works with global law enforcement to tackle money laundering, investment fraud, terrorism financing, and other financial crimes. The new T3+ programme unites exchanges and institutions to share intelligence and tackle threats in real time. – https://dig.watch/updates/crypto-crime-unit-expands-with-binance – https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-crime-unit-250m-seizures-binance

Data breach hits cervical cancer screening programme

(DigWatch – 13 August 2025) Hackers have stolen personal and medical information from nearly 500,000 participants in the Netherlands’ cervical cancer screening programme. The attack targeted the NMDL laboratory in Rijswijk between 3 and 6 July, but authorities were only informed on 6 August. Data includes names, addresses, birth dates, citizen service numbers, possible test results and healthcare provider details. For some victims, phone numbers and email addresses were also stolen. The lab, owned by Eurofins Scientific, has suspended operations while a security review occurs. – https://dig.watch/updates/data-breach-hits-cervical-cancer-screening-programme – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/hackers-raid-dutch-lab-steal-data

Digital siege puts Taiwan’s resilience to the test

(Nathan Attrill – ASPI The Strategist – 13 August 2025) The most sustained conflict unfolding between China and Taiwan is not taking place on the water or in the air; it is happening in cyberspace. Over the past two years, China has escalated a comprehensive cyber warfare campaign against Taiwan. The campaign is persistent, technically sophisticated and politically calibrated. It combines state-backed espionage, psychological operations, critical infrastructure intrusions and disinformation, and it is deeply integrated into Beijing’s broader effort to destabilise Taiwan with action below the threshold of war. China’s cyber activities against Taiwan are extensive and strategically coordinated. Prominent Chinese intruder groups capable of lurking in networks have conducted long-term cyber operations against Taiwanese government agencies, critical infrastructure and private sector entities. These campaigns are not solely intelligence-gathering exercises; many implant malware and establish persistent access that could be exploited in the event of a military contingency. – https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/digital-siege-puts-taiwans-resilience-to-the-test/

Australia’s digital infrastructure is doing the work of deterrence

(Jason Van der Schyff – ASPI The Strategist – 13 August 2025) When asked on Insiders about the United States’ review of AUKUS contributions, Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy made a subtle but important point: Australia’s aid and diplomatic spending, particularly in the Pacific, should count as part of its broader security effort. He’s right, and we should take that one step further. Australia’s investment in international digital infrastructure closes development gaps, helping us deliver on the core promise of the Pacific family: that alignment with Australia will bring real, tangible improvements to people’s lives. Digital infrastructure influences every sector of modern economies, including health, education, e-commerce and public administration. Connectivity helps governments govern, enables trade and services, and strengthens national resilience. At the same time, it reinforces Australia’s role as the partner of choice in a region where strategic competition is sharpening. – https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australias-digital-infrastructure-is-doing-the-work-of-deterrence/

US Judiciary confirms cyberattack, moves to reinforce systems

(DigWatch – 12 August 2025) The US Judiciary has confirmed suffering a cyberattack and says it is reinforcing systems to prevent further breaches. In a press release, it described ‘escalated cyberattacks of a sophisticated and persistent nature’ targeting its case management system and sensitive files. Most documents in the judiciary’s electronic system are public; however, some contain confidential or proprietary information that is sealed from public view. The documents, it warned, are of interest to threat actors, prompting courts to introduce stricter controls on access under monitored conditions. – https://dig.watch/updates/us-judiciary-confirms-cyberattack-moves-to-reinforce-systems – https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/us-judiciary-system-says-it-was-hacked-is-taking-steps-to-strengthen-cybersecurity

The 12-Day War: Cyber Frontlines between Israel and Iran

(Rohit Kumar Sharma – Manohar Parrikar Institute – 11 August 2025) Cyber offensive operations have become an integral part of contemporary military conflicts. States also increasingly rely on these operations to project power, shape narratives and undermine the adversaries’ infrastructure. States’ tendency to leverage the cyber realm for tactical and strategic objectives further underscores its significance in modern conflicts. The synchronisation of cyber campaigns with kinetic operations also indicates cyberwarfare’s evolving nature, which is not merely perceived as a set of ‘grey-zone’ tactics operating between peace and war but as an integral part of armed conflict. The trend of conducting cyber offensive operations simultaneously with military hostilities was very evident in the ‘12-day war’ between Israel and Iran. Following Israel’s ‘pre-emptive’ strikes against Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme, an Iranian retaliation through cyberattacks was widely anticipated. Cyber operations were a more viable alternative for Iran, given the vast schism between Israeli and Iranian military capabilities, with Tel-Aviv leading in advanced conventional military strength. For Israel, cyber operations essentially served its intelligence gathering and reconnaissance missions over the Iranian nuclear and ballistic programme. – https://www.idsa.in/publisher/issuebrief/the-12-day-war-cyber-frontlines-between-israel-and-iran

UAE Ministry of Interior uses AI and modern laws to fight crime

(DigWatch – 11 August 2025) The UAE Ministry of Interior states that AI, surveillance, and modern laws are key to fighting crime. Offences are economic, traditional, or cyber, with data tools and legal updates improving investigations. Cybercrime is on the rise as digital technology expands. Current measures include AI monitoring, intelligent surveillance, and new laws. Economic crimes like fraud and tax evasion are addressed through analytics and banking cooperation. Cross-border cases and digital evidence tampering continue to be significant challenges. – https://dig.watch/updates/uae-ministry-of-interior-uses-ai-and-modern-laws-to-fight-crime – https://gulfnews.com/technology/uae-ministry-of-interior-leverages-artificial-intelligence-to-fight-cyber-and-economic-crimes-1.500226766

Chinese cyberattack on US nuclear agency highlights importance of cyber hygiene

(Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan – ASPI The Strategist – 8 August 2025) Cyberattacks on any critical infrastructure should be alarming, but attacks on nuclear infrastructure are all the more so due to the potential consequences, including radiation leaks. A China-sponsored hacker attacked the US National Nuclear Security Administration in July. The organisation is responsible for building and managing the US nuclear stockpile as well as the nuclear power plants on US warships and submarines. Like other critical infrastructure, nuclear facilities and installations rely heavily on digital systems for a variety of functions.  These include nuclear-reactor controls, safety and security systems within a nuclear facility, transportation of nuclear material, and emergency response protocols. Effective cybersecurity protocols and cyber-hygiene measures are important to prevent intentional attacks and accidents in a nuclear establishment. – https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinese-cyberattack-on-us-nuclear-agency-highlights-importance-of-cyber-hygiene/

A Crossroads for UK Cyber Strategy

(Joseph Jarnecki and Jamie MacColl – RUSI – 7 August 2025) The UK’s cyber strategy has lost momentum. While in many ways the UK continues to invest in and operate as a ‘cyber power’, successive governments’ approach to national cyber resilience has struggled to keep pace with technological and political shifts and the threat posed by state and criminal actors. Many officials in the UK system recognise the nature of the challenges the country faces and the need for change. However, they have found it difficult to translate their own understanding of the problem into the kind of actions that could raise the bar for cyber security and resilience at sufficient scale. The result is that the UK’s approach continues to largely rely on market forces to fix systemic technological and cyber security challenges. This is no longer sustainable when ransomware gangs repeatedly hold our essential services and flagship businesses to ransom. – https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/crossroads-uk-cyber-strategy

Opportunities to Strengthen U.S. Biosecurity from AI-Enabled Bioterrorism: What Policymakers Should Know

(Georgia Adamson and Gregory C. Allen – Center for Strategic & International Studies – 6 August 2025) The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology presents incredible opportunities to accelerate scientific discovery and improve global health—opportunities that the United States must seize. At the same time, the dual-use nature of AI-enabled biotechnology poses new security challenges for policymakers worldwide. The cost and technical expertise required to develop bioweapons have been sharply declining for nearly a century. Now, rapid advancements in AI capabilities present two emerging biosecurity threats in which AI could assist actors in developing bioweapons. – https://www.csis.org/analysis/opportunities-strengthen-us-biosecurity-ai-enabled-bioterrorism-what-policymakers-should

Frontiers

Ethereum’s future to be dominated by AI agents

(DigWatch – 14 August 2025) Coinbase development staff realise that autonomous AI agents will become Ethereum’s most significant user base, leveraging a long-dormant web standard to make real-world payments in cryptocurrency. The programme is powered by the HTTP 402 ‘Payment Required’ status, a web standard that was defined thirty years ago. It has now been combined with Ethereum Improvement Proposal 3009 to enable automated stablecoin transfers. – https://dig.watch/updates/ethereums-future-to-be-dominated-by-ai-agents – https://cointelegraph.com/news/ai-agents-ethereums-biggest-power-user

China debuts quantum-embedded GNN for drug discovery

(DigWatch – 14 August 2025) According to Science and Technology Daily, Chinese researchers have reported a breakthrough in quantum drug discovery using edge encoding. Origin Quantum, USTC, and the Hefei AI Institute built a quantum-embedded graph neural network (GNN) to predict drug-molecule properties. In drug development, graph neural networks model molecules as atoms and bonds. Classical and some quantum approaches handle atoms well but struggle with bonds. The gap limits accuracy and screening speed. – https://dig.watch/updates/china-debuts-quantum-embedded-gnn-for-drug-discovery– https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-08-12/China-makes-breakthrough-in-quantum-computing-for-drug-discovery-1FM3q3NLCPm/p.html

August Health Announces $29M in Funding to Advance Its Vision for AI-Enabled Caregiving

(AI Insider – 13 August 2025) August Health raised $29M in Series B funding led by Base10 Partners to expand its senior living EHR platform and launch August Intelligence, an AI-enabled care partner designed to enhance clinical, operational, and financial outcomes. The platform is used by thousands of communities across the U.S. and Canada, delivering results such as a 23% reduction in incidents, a 20% increase in revenue, and improved job satisfaction for 80% of staff. Funding will accelerate product development, AI integration, and market growth, helping senior living operators modernize operations and meet rising demand from an aging population. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/13/august-health-announces-29m-in-funding-to-advance-its-vision-for-ai-enabled-caregiving/

Xanadu And DISCO Announce Collaboration on Advanced Wafer Processing For Photonic Quantum Computing

(Quantum Insider – 13 August 2025) Xanadu and DISCO Corporation are collaborating to develop advanced wafer processing techniques that enable ultra-low loss photonic integrated chips for quantum and other high-performance photonic applications. The partnership focuses on high-quality wafer dicing, specialized preparation for heterogeneous integration, and optimized polishing to achieve ultra-smooth surfaces that reduce optical losses and streamline manufacturing. By leveraging DISCO’s cutting, grinding, and polishing technologies, the collaboration aims to scale photonic chip packaging and support Xanadu’s goal of building a utility-scale photonic quantum computer. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/08/13/xanadu-and-disco-announce-collaboration-on-advanced-wafer-processing-for-photonic-quantum-computing/

Oxford Ionics Delivers Quantum Computer to UK’s Quantum Computing Centre

(Quantum Insider – 13 August 2025) Oxford Ionics has delivered and installed its full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer, QUARTET, at the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre to support commercial use case development. QUARTET uses Oxford Ionics’ Electronic Qubit Control technology, integrating all qubit control onto standard semiconductor chips for high performance, scalability, and easy field upgrades via swappable Quantum Processor Units. The system will be used in the NQCC’s testbed programme and the UK’s Quantum Missions initiative, including the Q-Surge project to enable 2D qubit connectivity with partners Riverlane and Bay Photonics. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/08/13/oxford-ionics-delivers-quantum-computer-to-uks-quantum-computing-centre/

Quantum-enabling Startup Founded at UChicago Joins The Chicago Quantum Exchange

(Quantum Insider – 13 August 2025) K1 Semiconductor has joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange as a corporate partner to advance its wafer-splitting technology for quantum and deep tech applications. The startup’s process enables up to 20x reuse of diamond, silicon carbide, and other high-performance semiconductor wafers, supporting a more cost-efficient and scalable manufacturing supply chain. K1 will leverage CQE’s Founder Platform to access lab facilities, hire talent and collaborate with partners such as Great Lakes Crystal Technologies on materials fabrication and quantum sensing. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/08/13/quantum-enabling-startup-founded-at-uchicago-joins-the-chicago-quantum-exchange/

KP Labs And Simera Sense Deliver Integrated AI-Powered Optical Payloads For Future Space Missions

(AI Insider – 13 August 2025) KP Labs and Simera Sense signed an MoU at the 39th Annual Small Satellite Conference to formalize collaboration on integrating optical payloads with onboard AI data processing for space missions. The partnership’s first joint deployment will be on the OPS-SAT VOLT mission in 2026, combining Simera Sense’s multispectral camera with KP Labs’ AI-enabled data processing unit for autonomous in-orbit operations. The companies aim to accelerate small satellite mission development through modular, interoperable components that reduce integration time and support real-time data delivery for applications such as environmental monitoring and planetary science. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/13/kp-labs-and-simera-sense-deliver-integrated-ai-powered-optical-payloads-for-future-space-missions/

Quantum Circuits Could Speed Up Robotic Arm Calculations, Especially For Complex Movements

(AI Insider – 13 August 2025) A Japanese research team from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Waseda University, and Fujitsu developed a hybrid quantum–classical method using entangled qubits to accelerate inverse kinematics calculations for robotic arms. In simulations, the entangled quantum circuit reached target positions with fewer iterations and higher accuracy than non-entangled quantum circuits and classical methods; testing on a 64-qubit superconducting quantum computer showed a 43% positional error reduction despite hardware noise. Published in Scientific Reports, the approach could enable faster, more adaptive robot movements, though current limitations include applicability only to rotational joints, one-way joint influence modeling, and performance impacts from quantum hardware noise. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/13/quantum-circuits-could-speed-up-robotic-arm-calculations-especially-for-complex-movements/

Study: Tiny Robots Use Sound to Self-Organize into Intelligent Groups

(AI Insider – 13 August 2025) Penn State and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich researchers, funded by the John Templeton Foundation, modeled microrobots using sound waves to coordinate and act with collective intelligence, as detailed in Physical Review X. Simulations showed simple robots equipped with a motor, speaker, microphone, and oscillator could use acoustic cues to group, adapt shape, and reorganize after disruption, offering advantages over chemical communication in speed, range, and energy efficiency. While the study was based solely on computer models, researchers say the principles could inform real-world swarms for applications like environmental cleanup, disaster navigation, and targeted drug delivery. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/13/study-tiny-robots-use-sound-to-self-organize-into-intelligent-groups/ – https://journals.aps.org/prx/abstract/10.1103/m1hl-d18s

Santander expands AI-first strategy with OpenAI

(DigWatch – 13 August 2025) Santander is accelerating its AI-first transformation through a new partnership with OpenAI, aiming to embed intelligent technology into every part of the bank. Over the past two months, ChatGPT Enterprise has been rolled out to nearly 15,000 employees across Europe and the Americas, with plans to double that number by year-end. The move forms part of a broader ambition to become an AI-native institution where all decisions and processes are data-driven. – https://dig.watch/updates/santander-expands-ai-first-strategy-with-openai – https://www.fstech.co.uk/fst/Santander_Boosts_AI_First_Strategy_With_OpenAI_Partnership.php

eBay uses AI to attract more marketplace sellers

(DigWatch -13 August 2025) eBay is introducing a new AI-powered feature to help sellers respond to buyer questions, continuing its AI strategy to streamline selling. Over 10 million sellers have used these tools to create over 200 million listings, with about 500,000 AI-assisted listings generated daily. The company has launched several AI tools over the past two years, including generative video, listing assistants, bulk upload features and photo background enhancements. – https://dig.watch/updates/ebay-uses-ai-to-attract-more-marketplace-sellers – https://www.modernretail.co/technology/hoping-to-sway-sellers-ebay-steps-up-ai-tools/

Tevogen Receives $1M to Accelerate AI-Driven Drug Discovery; Remains Well Capitalized to Execute Growth Strategy

(AI Insider – 12 August 2025) Tevogen Bio received $1M in funding from KRHP LLC to advance Tevogen.AI, its AI-powered drug discovery program, with the potential for up to $10M total in nondilutive funding. The investment will accelerate development of Tevogen’s proprietary machine learning technology for predicting immunologically active peptides, aiming to improve targeted therapies for cancer and infectious diseases. Combined with access to a $36M credit line, the funding supports Tevogen’s growth strategy, enhancing target discovery, shortening development timelines, and expanding treatment accessibility. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/12/tevogen-receives-1m-to-accelerate-ai-driven-drug-discovery-remains-well-capitalized-to-execute-growth-strategy/

Tavily Secures $25M to Power the Internet of Agents

(AI Insider – 12 August 2025) Tavily raised $25M, including a $20M Series A led by Insight Partners and Alpha Wave Global, to scale its AI-focused search platform that enables agents to access and navigate real-time web and organizational data. Purpose-built for AI agents, Tavily’s system reduces hallucinations and outdated responses by delivering structured, real-time data directly into LLMs, gaining rapid adoption among Fortune 500 companies, tech firms, and the open-source community. Funding will be used to expand headcount, deepen ecosystem partnerships, and enhance precision retrieval capabilities for mission-critical enterprise and developer applications worldwide. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/12/tavily-secures-25m-to-power-the-internet-of-agents/

Chai Discovery Announces $70M Series A To Transform Molecular Design

(AI Insider – 12 August 2025) Chai Discovery raised $70M in Series A funding led by Menlo Ventures, with participation from top AI and biotech investors, to advance its AI platform for predicting and reprogramming biochemical molecule interactions. The company’s Chai-2 model achieves a near-20% hit rate in fully de novo antibody design — dramatically outperforming traditional lab methods and previous computational approaches — enabling rapid, precise drug discovery. Funding will accelerate platform development, target previously inaccessible diseases, and expand partnerships, with industry leaders like former Pfizer CSO Mikael Dolsten joining the board. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/12/chai-discovery-announces-70m-series-a-to-transform-molecular-design/

Kustomer Raises $30M to Lead the AI-Native Future of Customer Experience

(AI Insider – 12 August 2025) Kustomer raised $30M in Series B funding led by Norwest to accelerate its AI product roadmap, scale its AI-native customer service platform, and meet growing global demand. The platform integrates real-time data, deep context, and AI-powered automation to boost agent productivity by over 30% and autonomously resolve up to 40% of customer inquiries across multiple channels. Funds will support product innovation, international expansion, and leadership growth, including the appointment of Anna Fisher as CMO to drive global marketing and brand strategy. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/12/kustomer-raises-30m-to-lead-the-ai-native-future-of-customer-experience/

Quantum Leaders Tell FT: Quantum Computing Race Enters Final Stretch, But Scaling Challenges Still Loom

(Quantum Insider – 12 August 2025) IBM and Google both claim they can build industrial-scale quantum computers by the end of the decade, shifting the race from theoretical advances to large-scale engineering, according to the Financial Times. Scaling quantum systems from fewer than 200 qubits to millions faces major challenges, including qubit instability, interference, manufacturing complexity, and the need for cost-effective error correction. Competing designs and qubit technologies — from superconducting to trapped ions, neutral atoms, and photons — are vying for viability, with government funding and new component innovations likely to narrow the field. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/08/12/quantum-leaders-tell-ft-quantum-computing-race-enters-final-stretch-but-scaling-challenges-still-loom/

OPTIA And Patero Launch Post-Quantum-Enabled GPU Compute Platform For Defense And Edge Applications

(Quantum Insider – 12 August 2025) OPTIA and Patero have launched a post-quantum cryptography-enabled NVIDIA GPU server, combining ruggedized high-performance computing with quantum-safe encryption for defense and commercial use. The integrated platform protects AI/ML, ISR, and tactical edge workloads against current cyber threats and future quantum attacks, aligning with U.S. federal mandates for zero-trust architecture and quantum-resistant cryptography. The companies plan to expand the offering into multiple secure form factors targeting defense programs, critical infrastructure, and industrial AI applications. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/08/12/optia-and-patero-launch-post-quantum-enabled-gpu-compute-platform-for-defense-and-edge-applications/

Wave Photonics Launches PDK Management Platform With CORNERSTONE as Its First User

(Quantum Insider – 12 August 2025) Wave Photonics has launched its PDK Management Platform to integrate foundry process design kits with leading electronic design automation tools, automate S-parameter generation, and streamline access for photonic integrated circuit designers. The platform’s first adopter, CORNERSTONE, is using it to distribute PDKs across major EDA tools without manual setup, with built-in IP protection, NDA tracking, version control, and automated documentation. Compatibility includes Luceda Photonics, Cadence, Siemens, and GDSFactory, with Synopsys and Latitude Design Systems integration coming soon, aiming to simplify PDK management and accelerate photonic device development. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/08/12/wave-photonics-launches-pdk-management-platform-with-cornerstone-as-its-first-user/

Quantinuum Powers Serendipity Capital’s Strong First-Half Gains

(Quantum Insider – 12 August 2025) Serendipity Capital reported a 31.6% rise in net asset value per share in the first half of 2025, driven by strong performances from portfolio companies, especially quantum computing leader Quantinuum. Quantinuum was selected for DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, announced a $1 billion joint venture with Al Rabban Capital, and achieved key milestones in computational power and error correction. Serendipity Capital focuses on critical technologies, including quantum computing, in Five Eyes and allied nations, and has expanded its leadership team to support growth. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/08/12/quantinuum-powers-serendipity-capitals-strong-first-half-gains/

GreyOrange Teams With Google Cloud on Warehouse AI

(AI Insider – 12 August 2025) GreyOrange has partnered with Google Cloud to launch GreyMatter DeepNav, an AI-powered warehouse orchestration solution aimed at optimizing autonomous mobile robot (AMR) operations at scale. Built on Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform, GreyMatter DeepNav uses reinforcement learning to enable faster AMR training, scalable path planning, and dynamic task management across heterogeneous robot fleets. The solution promises to cut deployment ramp-up time from months to weeks, scale operations beyond thousands of robots, and improve efficiency for retail, logistics, and supply chain warehouses worldwide. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/12/greyorange-teams-with-google-cloud-on-warehouse-ai/

KAIST Develops ‘Real-Time Programmable Robotic Sheet’ That Can Grasp and Walk on Its Own​

(AI Insider – 12 August 2025) Funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea, KAIST researchers have created a programmable robotic folding sheet that can change shape in real time, potentially boosting robot adaptability in unpredictable environments. The thin polymer sheet is embedded with micro metal resistors that function as heaters and sensors, enabling autonomous folding, temperature monitoring, and reconfiguration without external equipment. Tests showed applications including an adaptive robotic hand and a crawling sheet, with potential uses in disaster-response, medical devices, and space exploration tools. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/12/kaist-develops-real-time-programmable-robotic-sheet-that-can-grasp-and-walk-on-its-own/

Swift Navigation and Taiwan Mobile Partner to Unlock Autonomy and Automation with Centimeter-Accurate Positioning

(AI Insider – 12 August 2025) Swift Navigation has partnered with Taiwan Mobile to launch its Skylark Precise Positioning Service in Taiwan, providing centimeter-level accuracy for industries including automotive, robotics, and logistics. Skylark is a real-time GNSS correction service that improves GPS accuracy from meters to centimeters using Swift’s advanced atmospheric modeling and a carrier-grade network of ground reference stations. The service supports applications such as ADAS-enabled and autonomous vehicles, robotic lawnmowers, surveying drones, and last-mile fleet optimization, with Taiwan’s tech-driven market positioned as a key hub for adoption. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/12/swift-navigation-and-taiwan-mobile-partner-to-unlock-autonomy-and-automation-with-centimeter-accurate-positioning/

Nvidia Announces New Omniverse Libraries, Cosmos Physical AI Models and AI Computing Infrastructure for Advanced Robotics

(AI Insider – 12 August 2025) Nvidia has unveiled new simulation libraries, AI models, and computing infrastructure at SIGGRAPH to accelerate advanced robotics development. The company also introduced NuRec rendering for high-accuracy 3D environment reconstruction, open-sourced Isaac Sim 5.0 and Isaac Lab 2.2, and launched Cosmos Reason, a reasoning vision-language model enabling robots to interpret complex commands, use common sense, and adapt to unfamiliar environments. Nvidia is supporting these tools with RTX PRO Blackwell Servers, DGX Cloud on Microsoft Azure, and a new OpenUSD curriculum and certification program, aiming to expand industry adoption of simulation-driven AI development in robotics, autonomous vehicles, and manufacturing. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/12/nvidia-announces-new-omniverse-libraries-cosmos-physical-ai-models-and-ai-computing-infrastructure-for-advanced-robotics/

Scientists Say Quantum’s Ultimate Advantages May Yet to be Imagined

(Quantum Insider – 11 August 2025) A new arXiv study from researchers at Caltech, MIT, Google Quantum AI, and AWS proposes a framework for identifying genuine quantum advantages and warns that some may be inherently unpredictable without quantum computers. The paper outlines five keystone properties of a true advantage — predictability, typicality, robustness, verifiability, and usefulness — and divides quantum advantages into four realms: computation, learning and sensing, cryptography and communication, and space advantages. The researchers report that proving and sustaining quantum advantage is complicated by advances in classical methods, noise in quantum systems and the possibility that the most transformative applications may only emerge once large-scale quantum technologies are deployed. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/08/11/scientists-say-quantums-ultimate-advantages-may-yet-to-be-imagined/ – https://arxiv.org/pdf/2508.05720

DeepSeek’s efficiency forces OpenAI to rethink closed AI model strategy

(DigWatch – 11 August 2025) OpenAI has released reasoning-focused open-weight models in a strategic response to China’s surging AI ecosystem, led by DeepSeek’s disruptive efficiency. Unlike earlier coverage, the shift is framed not merely as competitive posturing but as a deeper recognition of shifting innovation philosophies. DeepSeek’s rise stems from maximizing limited resources under the US’s export restrictions, proving that top-tier AI doesn’t require massive chip clusters. The agility has emboldened the open-source AI sector in China, where over 10 labs now rival those in the US, fundamentally reshaping competitive dynamics. – https://dig.watch/updates/deepseeks-efficiency-forces-openai-to-rethink-closed-ai-model-strategy  – https://www.webpronews.com/openai-releases-open-weight-ai-to-rival-chinas-deepseek-advances/

Beijing 2025 Robot Conference highlights China’s humanoid robotics growth

(DigWatch – 11 August 2025) The 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing has drawn significant attention to China’s growing humanoid robotics industry. With over 60 humanoid robots on display, the event attracted investors and tech enthusiasts alike, generating a surge in stock prices for companies such as Unitree Robotics. The conference showcased robots performing diverse activities from industrial operations to more human-like tasks, including marathons and kickboxing, highlighting rapid AI advancements. – https://dig.watch/updates/beijing-2025-robot-conference-highlights-chinas-humanoid-robotics-growth  – https://www.webpronews.com/chinas-humanoid-robots-spark-investor-boom-at-2025-beijing-conference/

NASA and Google develop AI doctor for Mars missions

(DigWatch – 11 August 2025) NASA and Google are collaborating on an AI-powered medical assistant designed for long-distance space travel, particularly missions to Mars. The Crew Medical Officer Digital Assistant (CMO-DA) tool uses Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform and a mix of open-source large language models to provide autonomous medical advice and diagnostics. The capability is crucial due to the significant communication delays between Mars and Earth, which can reach up to 223 minutes one way, making real-time medical consultation impossible. – https://dig.watch/updates/nasa-and-google-develop-ai-doctor-for-mars-missions – https://uk.pcmag.com/news/159512/nasa-and-google-collaborate-on-ai-doctor-for-mars-trip

Kotoba Technologies Raises $11.83M in Seed 2 Funding to Accelerate Commercialization of AI-powered Simultaneous Interpretation

(AI Insider – 11 August 2025) Kotoba Technologies secured USD 11.83M in Seed 2 funding, led by Globis Capital Partners and Boost Capital, to accelerate R&D and global rollout of its AI-powered simultaneous translation and speech technologies. The company’s DOTSU iOS app achieved 500K sessions in three months, and its speech-to-speech AI now delivers near human-interpreter quality with sub-3s latency for Japanese↔English, targeting 500ms for Japanese↔Korean. Global deployments are planned for August, alongside the launch of advanced Japanese TTS models, with investors praising Kotoba’s potential to remove language barriers across Asia and beyond. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/11/kotoba-technologies-raises-11-83m-in-seed-2-funding-to-accelerate-commercialization-of-ai-powered-simultaneous-interpretation/

Survey: Wide Gap Between QEC Awareness And QEC Capabilities

(Quantum Insider – 11 August 2025) Riverlane’s 2025 Quantum Error Correction Survey finds that 95% of more than 300 quantum professionals view QEC as essential to scaling quantum computing, with 2028 emerging as an informal industry deadline for integration. The survey highlights major skills and resource gaps, with 96% of respondents expecting to rely on external support and 41% citing limited training as the top barrier to adoption. Hardware limitations remain a constraint, as current quantum systems lack the size and stability for large-scale QEC experiments, delaying practical readiness for fault-tolerant machines. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/08/11/survey-wide-gap-between-qec-awareness-and-qec-capabilities/

Study: Towards Better Earthquake Risk Assessment with Machine Learning

(AI Insider – 11 August 2025) Researchers at Shibaura Institute of Technology have demonstrated that machine learning, particularly the random forest algorithm, can accurately estimate the depth of the bearing layer—the stable soil or rock layer critical for building foundations in earthquake-prone regions. Analyzing 942 geological surveys from the Tokyo metropolitan area, the team compared random forest (RF), artificial neural networks (ANN), and support vector machines (SVM) using two test scenarios: one with location and elevation data, and another adding stratigraphic information. The study, published in Machine Learning and Knowledge Extraction, found the approach could replace time-consuming and costly standard penetration tests (SPT) in urban areas like Tokyo. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/11/study-towards-better-earthquake-risk-assessment-with-machine-learning/ – https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4990/7/3/69

How Will Agentic AI Change The Web? Researchers Investigate The Web With AI Agents

(AI Insider – 10 August 2025) Agentic AI will shift the web from human-driven navigation to autonomous, goal-directed task execution by software agents, researchers report in a recent study. Web architecture will evolve into an agent-native ecosystem where pages act as active software entities and services compete for agent selection. Economic models will move from human-targeted advertising to an “Agent Attention Economy” based on service invocation fees and agent-oriented ranking. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/10/how-will-agentic-ai-change-the-web-researchers-investigate-the-web-with-ai-agents/ – https://arxiv.org/pdf/2507.21206

Open Ocean Robotics Expands into UK and European Market with New Partnership

(AI Insider – 11 August 2025) Open Ocean Robotics has signed a representative and reseller agreement with UK-based Autonomous Maritime Solutions, expanding its presence in the United Kingdom and Europe to meet growing demand for sustainable, autonomous marine monitoring technologies. Under the agreement, Autonomous Maritime Solutions will market and support Open Ocean Robotics’ solar-powered uncrewed surface vehicles, including the DataXplorer™, for applications in port operations, environmental monitoring, and maritime domain awareness. The partnership leverages Autonomous Maritime Solutions’ expertise in ports and regional maritime regulations to accelerate adoption of zero-emission, AI-driven ocean data solutions across the UK and European markets. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/11/open-ocean-robotics-expands-into-uk-and-european-market-with-new-partnership/

Indian Startup Neuralzome Cybernetics Raises $2.4 Million in Pre-Seed Funding Round for Off-Road Autonomous Robotics

(AI Insider – 11 August 2025) Bengaluru-based deeptech startup Neuralzome Cybernetics has secured $2.4 million in pre-seed funding to advance its autonomous robotics technology for industries including precision agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics. The round was led by 8X Ventures, with participation from Turbostart, Avinya Ventures, Saka Ventures, Appreciate Capital, Astir Ventures, IIM-Ahmedabad’s Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship, SIDBI, and angel investor Heston Castelino. Founded in 2023, Neuralzome is developing teachable, no-code AI agents for a Robot-as-a-Service model, leveraging its NeuralPilot platform and RedPill simulation environment to train robots faster and more cost-effectively. Funding will be used to advance multi-agent autonomy, enhance vision-based navigation, expand manufacturing, and build operations in North America and Europe. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/11/indian-startup-neuralzome-cybernetics-raises-2-4-million-in-pre-seed-funding-round-for-off-road-autonomous-robotics/

Israeli Startup Xpand Raises $6 Million to Launch Autonomous Retail Stores Worldwide

(AI Insider – 11 August 2025) Xpand, a retail technology startup developing autonomous, AI-powered “store-in-a-box” retail units, has raised $6 million in a funding round led by Ibex Investors and Emerge, with participation from its executive team. The funding will support the launch of its first smart autonomous store in Vienna and accelerate rollouts across Europe and North America, alongside expanding sales, marketing, and technology teams. Founded in 2021 as 1MRobotics and rebranded to Xpand, the company integrates robotics, computer vision, and real-time inventory management to deliver 24/7 unmanned retail operations for scalable, frictionless shopping experiences. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/08/11/israeli-startup-xpand-raises-6-million-to-launch-autonomous-retail-stores-worldwide/

India’s Readiness for Digital Therapy: Tele-MANAS and the Road Ahead

(Shaivi Shroff – Observer Research Foundation – 8 August 2025) India’s mental health landscape has historically been characterised by significant treatment gaps. The National Mental Health Survey (2015–16) estimated that nearly 150 million individuals require psychological intervention. However, less than one in 10 receive adequate care. The reasons are both infrastructural and social: a severe paucity of qualified mental health professionals, patchy service delivery across geographies, and deep-rooted stigma that consistently discourages help-seeking behaviour. Against this backdrop, digital mental health services have started offering a promising and scalable alternative. – https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/india-s-readiness-for-digital-therapy-tele-manas-and-the-road-ahead