Governance, Legislation, and Geostrategies

Revised draft UNGA resolution for Scientific Panel on AI and Global Dialogue on AI Governance

(Digital Watch Observatory – 16 May 2025) As negotiations advance among UN General Assembly members in New York, a revised draft resolution has been issued outlining updated proposals for the terms of reference and modalities for the Scientific Panel on AI and Global Dialogue on AI Governance. According to the revised draft, published on 15 May 2025, the Panel will comprise 40 members, to be appointed by an Independent Appointment Committee for a 3-year term. The Committee itself would consist of 10 members to be nominated by member states and elected by the Plenary on AI, and 10 members to be appointed by the Secretary-General. – https://dig.watch/updates/revised-draft-unga-resolution-for-scientific-panel-on-ai-and-global-dialogue-on-ai-governance

Kazakhstan plans energy upgrade with crypto mining

(Digital Watch Observatory – 16 May 2025) Kazakhstan is looking to modernise its energy system through digital mining. The government is also considering broader legalisation of crypto trading beyond its current regulatory zone. Under a proposed ’70/30′ model, foreign investors would fund upgrades to thermal power plants, with 70% of the new energy routed to the national grid and 30% used by mining operations. – https://dig.watch/updates/kazakhstan-plans-energy-upgrade-with-crypto-mining

Encircling the West: The PRC Gains Ground in Legacy Chips

(Sunny Cheung – The Jamestown Foundation – 16 May 2025) Beijing is on course to dominate innovation in and production of legacy semiconductor chips, which strategists see as a way to push back against U.S.-led containment in critical technologies. These chips, used everywhere from vehicles to defense, offer a scalable and resilient path for latecomers to build industrial leverage without needing frontier innovation. The Chinese domestic industry relies on vast state subsidies and fosters internal competition that leads to brutal price wars between firms. This ultimately allows manufacturers to undercut overseas competitors and drive them out of business, thereby capturing the global market share and reshaping supply chain dependencies. This strategy prioritizes market dominance over profitability, part of a broader shift from growth-centric to security-driven industrial planning. Chinese experts hold up Japan’s past missteps as a key lesson, and advocate remaining aligned to market demand to avoid stagnating. – https://jamestown.org/program/encircling-the-west-the-prc-gains-ground-in-legacy-chips/

HUMAIN and NVIDIA Forge Landmark Partnership to Establish Saudi Arabia as Global AI Powerhouse

(AI Insider – 16 May 2025) HUMAIN, the AI subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has announced a strategic collaboration with NVIDIA to accelerate AI development, digital transformation, and global innovation. This partnership aims to position Saudi Arabia as a leader in AI infrastructure, GPU cloud computing, and AI-driven industries. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/05/16/humain-and-nvidia-forge-landmark-partnership-to-establish-saudi-arabia-as-global-ai-powerhouse/

Why OpenAI’s Corporate Structure Matters to AI Development

(Kevin Frazier – Lawfare – 15 May 2025) A group of AI experts and legal scholars have once again raised concerns to two state attorneys general that OpenAI’s latest proposal to reform its corporate structure runs afoul of the lab’s mission. For many years, that mission has been described in manifold ways but boils down to a core idea: “help the world build safe AI technology and ensure that AI’s benefits are as widely and evenly distributed as possible.” In their recently published letter, the authors warn that OpenAI’s desired corporate structure would suffer from a critical flaw: Key decision-makers would no longer have a “primary fiduciary duty to advance OpenAI’s charitable mission above all else.” This letter, which follows an earlier letter by an even larger set of stakeholders raising similar concerns, and the surrounding debate over OpenAI’s future raise important questions about the adequacy of the nation’s current approach to corporate governance in an age of incredible progress in artificial intelligence – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/why-openai-s-corporate-structure-matters-to-ai-development

AI can sow the seeds for ASEAN’s food security future

(Mae Chow – East Asia Forum – 15 May 2025) Artificial intelligence presents an opportunity to enhance agricultural efficiency, optimise food supply chains and boost climate resilience. ASEAN must prioritise AI integration into food security initiatives to pool resources, harmonise data systems and address fragmented approaches that widen the digital divide and slow ASEAN economic integration. Challenges emerge from internet penetration gaps and infrastructure costs. But AI offers opportunities to improve agricultural financial digitalisation and broader supply chain resilience, fostering improved food security in the region. – https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/05/15/ai-can-sow-the-seeds-for-aseans-food-security-future/

FDA to Roll Out Generative AI Across All Centers by Mid-2025

(AI Insider – 15 May 2025) The FDA is rolling out generative AI tools across all centers by June 30, 2025, to streamline scientific reviews and reduce administrative workload. A successful pilot program showed that generative AI could significantly cut time spent on routine tasks like summarizing trial data and scanning regulatory documents. The agency will use a unified, secure platform tailored to each center’s needs, with oversight from its new Chief AI Officer and continued updates based on staff feedback. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/05/15/fda-to-roll-out-generative-ai-across-all-centers-by-mid-2025/

U.S. Presses Federal Agencies to Adopt Post-Quantum Cryptography in Government Acquisitions

(Quantum Insider – 15 May 2025) Federal agencies are being directed to begin incorporating post-quantum cryptographic standards into procurement to protect sensitive data from future quantum-enabled decryption. The Biden and Trump administrations have both supported policies requiring agencies to inventory critical IT systems and begin transitioning to NIST-approved quantum-safe encryption protocols. Despite growing awareness of quantum risks, only a small percentage of organizations have implemented quantum-safe solutions, with funding and integration challenges cited as key barriers. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/05/15/u-s-presses-federal-agencies-to-adopt-post-quantum-cryptography-in-government-acquisitions/

Republicans seek to block state AI laws for a decade

(Digital Watch Observatory – 15 May 2025) Republican lawmakers in the US have introduced a proposal that would block states from regulating artificial intelligence for the next ten years. Critics argue the move is a handout to Big Tech and could stall protections already passed in states like California, Utah, and Colorado. – https://dig.watch/updates/republicans-seek-to-block-state-ai-laws-for-a-decade

Lawyers sanctioned after AI-generated cases found false

(Digital Watch Observatory – 15 May 2025) A federal judge in California has sanctioned two law firms for submitting a legal brief containing fake citations generated by AI tools. Judge Michael Wilner described the AI-generated references as ‘bogus’ and fined the firms $31,000, criticising them for failing to properly check the sources. – https://dig.watch/updates/lawyers-sanctioned-after-ai-generated-cases-found-false

FTC’s Ferguson tells lawmakers agency won’t regulate AI until after problems occur

(The Record – 15 May 2025) Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Andrew Ferguson on Thursday told members of the House Appropriations Committee he believes it is important for the agency to avoid stifling artificial intelligence innovation and not regulate the field ahead of abuses. The United States has an advantage in stoking AI innovation because it doesn’t “reflexively regulate new technologies,” he said, though his predecessor Lina Khan took an aggressive approach to AI. – https://therecord.media/ftc-ferguson-wont-regulate-ai-until-problems-arise

AI Agents Must Follow the Law

(Cullen O’Keefe, Ketan Ramakrishnan – Lawfare – 14 May 2025) Artificial intelligence (AI) agents are the next big frontier in general-purpose AI. By now, most people are familiar with generative AI systems: systems like OpenAI’s GPT-4o that specialize in outputting media (text, code, images, audio, video) that humans consume or use. But the goal of frontier AI companies has never been to simply automate content generation—it has been to automate most of the economically valuable work that humans currently do, at least in the digital realm. Thus, AI companies are trying to turn their generative AI systems into “computer-using agents”: AI systems that “can do anything a human can do in front of a computer.” – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/ai-agents-must-follow-the-law

Curating Cyberspace: Rights, Responsibilities, and Opportunities

(Mary Anne Franks – Just Security – 14 May 2025) Free speech sells. In the United States, the view that tech platforms are outposts of free speech and democracy has been leveraged to grant the industry sweeping immunity from liability under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. This interpretation of the law preemptively absolves tech platforms from responsibility for the choices they make about third-party content – both the choices about what not to allow and what to allow. But while the right of private entities to exclude the speech of others as they see fit is an essential and long-recognized aspect of the First Amendment freedom of speech and association, the decision to repeat, promote, or encourage other people’s speech has generally been understood as a responsibility. A newspaper is, of course, not liable for the op-eds it chooses not to publish, but it does face the potential for liability for those it does. The two choices that speech intermediaries can take – exclusion or inclusion – are not symmetrical. – https://www.justsecurity.org/110703/platform-curation-right-responsibility-opportunity/

EU and Japan Formalize Quantum Collaboration with Letter of Intent and Joint Research Initiative

(Quantum Insider – 14 May 2025) The EU and Japan signed a Letter of Intent on 13 May 2025 to strengthen cooperation in quantum science and technology, aligning with broader goals under the EU-Japan Digital Partnership. The agreement establishes joint funding mechanisms (Horizon Europe and Japan’s SIP) and supports reciprocal participation in quantum research initiatives. The Q-NEKO project, involving 16 institutions and €4 million (approximately $4.5 million) in EU funding, was selected to advance quantum-AI applications in areas like biomedicine and climate modeling. Both sides committed to expanding collaboration in related fields such as quantum communications, semiconductors, and cybersecurity, with a progress review scheduled for 2026 in Brussels. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/05/14/eu-and-japan-formalize-quantum-collaboration-with-letter-of-intent-and-joint-research-initiative/

White House: Quantinuum Lands Up to $1 Billion Quantum Deal in Historic U.S.-Qatar Investment Pact

(Quantum Insider – 14 May 2025) According to the White House, Quantinuum and Al Rabban Capital finalized up to a $1 billion joint venture that will be used to invest in quantum technologies and workforce development in the United States and Qatar, marking one of the largest quantum deals to date. The agreement is part of a broader $243.5 billion package of commercial deals between the U.S. and Qatar, including major aerospace, energy, and defense contracts. The White House said the quantum investment will support U.S. jobs and strengthen American leadership in emerging technologies. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/05/14/quantinuum-lands-1-billion-quantum-deal-in-historic-u-s-qatar-investment-pact/

Instagram calls for EU-wide teen protection rules

(Digital Watch Observatory – 14 May 2025) Instagram is calling on the European Union to introduce new regulations requiring app stores to implement age verification and parental approval systems. The platform argues that such protections, applied consistently across all apps, are essential to safeguarding teenagers from harmful content online. ‘The EU needs consistent standards for all apps, to help keep teens safe, empower parents and preserve privacy,’ Instagram said in a blog post. – https://dig.watch/updates/instagram-calls-for-eu-wide-teen-protection-rules

German watchdog demands Meta stop AI training with EU user data

(Digital Watch Observatory – 14 May 2025) The Verbraucherzentrale North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), a regional data protection authority in Germany, has issued a formal warning to Meta, urging the tech giant to stop training its AI models using data from European users. The regulator argues that Meta’s current approach violates EU privacy laws and may lead to legal action if not halted. Meta recently announced that it would use content from Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger—including posts, comments, and public interactions—to train its AI systems in Europe. – https://dig.watch/updates/german-watchdog-demands-meta-stop-ai-training-with-eu-user-data

India increases scrutiny of crypto in border regions

(Digital Watch Observatory – 14 May 2025) India has ramped up surveillance of crypto transactions in Jammu and Kashmir and other border regions, following security concerns. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) advised crypto platforms to monitor transactions linked to ‘private wallets,’ enabling peer-to-peer transfers without oversight. – https://dig.watch/updates/india-increases-scrutiny-of-crypto-in-border-regions

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Launches AI Company ‘Humain’ to Accelerate National AI Ambitions

(AI Insider – 14 May 2025) Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has unveiled Humain, a new artificial intelligence venture aimed at strengthening Saudi Arabia’s AI infrastructure and advancing the kingdom’s technological capabilities. Backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which oversees $940 billion in assets, Humain will focus on developing large-scale data centers and foundational AI systems to support the nation’s digital transformation goals. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/05/14/saudi-arabias-crown-prince-launches-ai-company-humain-to-accelerate-national-ai-ambitions/

Amazon to invest in Saudi AI Zone

(Digital Watch Observatory – 14 May 2025) Amazon has announced a new partnership with Humain, an AI company launched by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to invest over $5 billion in creating an ‘AI Zone’ in the kingdom. The project will feature Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure, including servers, networks, and training programmes, while Humain will develop AI tools using AWS and support Saudi startups with access to resources. – https://dig.watch/updates/amazon-to-invest-in-saudi-ai-zone

Thailand embraces digital tokens for public investment

(Digital Watch Observatory – 14 May 2025) Thailand’s Finance Ministry is preparing to launch 5 billion baht ($150 million) in digital investment tokens known as the G-Token within the next two months. The initiative is designed to raise public funds through a new blockchain-based model. Unlike traditional bonds, the G-Token will not be classified as a debt instrument. Instead, it will form part of the country’s budget borrowing plan and allow direct public participation. – https://dig.watch/updates/thailand-embraces-digital-tokens-for-public-investment

New Ways to Frame Responsible Cyber Behaviour Beyond the UN

(Louise Marie Hurel – RUSI – 13 May 2025) Responsible cyber behaviour (RCB) refers to the collective expectations of state and non-state actors about how they should behave in cyberspace. ‘Behaviour’ in this context comprises the values, norms, policies, practices and technologies that are meant to protect and secure cyberspace. These expectations are highly contested and vary across regions. Within cybersecurity debates – and specifically in the context of the UN’s Open-Ended Working Group on the security of and in cyberspace (OEWG) and Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) – ‘responsibility’ has often been associated with ‘responsible state behaviour’. Within this context, the term ‘responsible state behaviour’ mainly concerns the collective expectations of UN member states in meeting and observing their international commitments to norms and international law. The debate largely concentrates on how states should behave towards each other, rather than how they ought to act domestically. As these discussions are held at the UN First Committee responsible for international peace and security, dialogue on responsibility in cyberspace is restricted to those parameters. RUSI’s research, and this paper, takes a wider view, based on the premise that understanding RCB requires consideration of cultural values, regional alliances and domestic factors such as institutional or legislative setup. The objective of this paper is to provide a wider conceptual lens on RCB, looking beyond the UN debate and, to some degree, beyond Western perspectives. The paper investigates two areas: states’ perceptions of what international responsibility entails; and how other multilateral bodies and initiatives have sought to frame responsibility. – https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/occasional-papers/new-ways-frame-responsible-cyber-behaviour-beyond-un

SEC plans fresh rules for crypto securities

(Digital Watch Observatory – 13 May 2025) The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is preparing new rules for crypto assets that qualify as securities. At a roundtable on 12 May, SEC Chair Paul Atkins said current laws are outdated and don’t fit the fast-growing digital asset sector. So far, only four crypto issuers have registered successfully — something Atkins called a failure of regulation, not of the industry. – https://dig.watch/updates/sec-plans-fresh-rules-for-crypto-securities

EU prolongs sanctions for cyberattackers until 2026

(Digital Watch Observatory – 13 May 2025) The EU Council has extended its sanctions on cyberattacks until May 18, 2026, with the legal framework for enforcing these measures now lasting until 2028. The sanctions target individuals and institutions involved in cyberattacks that pose a significant threat to the EU and its members. – https://dig.watch/updates/eu-prolongs-sanctions-for-cyberattackers-until-2026

US senator calls for AI chip tracking to protect national security

(Digital Watch Observatory – 13 May 2025) A new bill introduced by Republican Senator Tom Cotton aims to bolster national security by requiring location verification features on American-made AI chips. The Chip Security Act, announced on 9 May, would ensure such technology does not end up in the hands of foreign adversaries, particularly China. – https://dig.watch/updates/us-senator-calls-for-ai-chip-tracking-to-protect-national-security

Australia appoints pro-crypto assistant minister for digital economy

(Digital Watch Observatory – 13 May 2025) Australia’s crypto sector has welcomed the appointment of Andrew Charlton as Assistant Minister for the Digital Economy. Charlton, a known supporter of blockchain, will also oversee AI and emerging technologies. He will work alongside Minister Tim Ayres. – https://dig.watch/updates/australia-appoints-pro-crypto-assistant-minister-for-digital-economy

US Copyright Office avoids clear decision on AI and fair use

(Digital Watch Observatory – 13 May 2025) The US Copyright Office has stopped short of deciding whether AI companies can legally use copyrighted material to train their systems under fair use. Its newly released report acknowledges that some uses—such as non-commercial research—may qualify, while others, like replicating expressive works from pirated content to produce market-ready AI output, likely won’t. – https://dig.watch/updates/us-copyright-office-avoids-clear-decision-on-ai-and-fair-use

How China’s tech giants wired the Gulf

(Tye Graham, Peter W. Singer – Defense One – 13 May 2025) The Persian Gulf is quickly turning into China’s favorite testbed for the next-generation of digital infrastructure. As a key part of China’s “Digital Silk Road 2.0,” the region’s richest capitals have signed a cascade of contracts with Chinese companies over the past two years that promise to deliver everything required for a 21st-century metropolis: cloud regions protected by local data-sovereignty laws, nationwide 5G cores, fleets of AI cameras, and the software to knit them all together. – https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/05/china-tech-giants-wired-gulf/405283/

Microsoft expands cloud push across Europe

(Digital Watch Observatory – 12 May 2025) Microsoft has unveiled a new set of commitments aimed at strengthening its digital presence across Europe, pledging to expand cloud and AI infrastructure while supporting the region’s economic competitiveness. Announced by Microsoft President Brad Smith in Brussels, the ‘European Digital Commitments’ include a promise to increase European data centre capacity by 40% within two years, bringing the total to over 200 across 16 countries. – https://dig.watch/updates/microsoft-expands-cloud-push-across-europe

Scale AI expands into Saudi Arabia and UAE

(Digital Watch Observatory – 12 May 2025) Scale AI, a San Francisco-based startup backed by Amazon, plans to open a new office in Riyadh by the end of the year as part of its broader Middle East expansion. The company also intends to establish a presence in the United Arab Emirates, although it has yet to confirm the timeline for that move. Trevor Thompson, the company’s global managing director, said the Gulf is among the fastest-growing regions for AI adoption outside of the US and China. – https://dig.watch/updates/scale-ai-expands-into-saudi-arabia-and-uae

Metaplanet’s Bitcoin stash exceeds $700 million

(Digital Watch Observatory – 12 May 2025) Japanese investment firm Metaplanet now holds 6,796 BTC, worth approximately $707 million, surpassing El Salvador in Bitcoin holdings. On 12 May, the firm added 1,241 BTC, investing $129 million at current prices. – https://dig.watch/updates/metaplanets-bitcoin-stash-exceeds-700-million

AI in finance: Balancing innovation and stability

(Iota Kaousar Nassr – OECD.AI – 8 May 2025) Artificial intelligence has emerged as a transformative force across many activities in today’s rapidly evolving digital finance world. Integrating AI into the financial system promises unprecedented efficiency gains and improved customer experience from banking and consumer finance to asset management, trading and insurance. – https://oecd.ai/en/wonk/ai-in-finance-balancing-innovation-and-stability

Promoting AI Innovation Through Competition. A Guide to Managing Market Power

(Jack Corrigan – Center for Security and Emerging Technology – May 2025) Maintaining long-term U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence will require policymakers to foster a diversified, contestable, and competitive market for AI systems. Today, however, incumbent technology companies maintain a distinct advantage in the production of large AI models, and they have the means and motion to use their control over key chokepoints in the AI supply chain (compute, data, foundation models, distribution channels) to stifle competition. This report explores the associated economic and national security risks, and offers recommendations for maintaining an open and competitive AI industry. – https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/promoting-ai-innovation-through-competition/

Defense, Intelligence, and Warfare

Securing the space-based assets of NATO members from cyberattacks

(Julia Cournoyer – Chatham House – 15 May 2025) The increased dependence on space-based assets for both military and civilian functions has turned these critical systems into a potential target for cyberattacks. NATO’s deterrence capability relies on these assets, such as satellites, for secure communication, navigation, intelligence and early warning systems. Protecting space-based assets requires a coordinated and proactive cybersecurity strategy. This paper proposes a three-tiered framework – based on mitigation, adaptation and resilience – for strengthening NATO’s space cybersecurity approach. As defence commitments among NATO allies shift, ensuring the long-term stability of space security cooperation within the alliance will be critical for sustaining collective deterrence and operational resilience. – https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/05/securing-space-based-assets-nato-members-cyberattacks

‘Politically unacceptable, morally repugnant’: UN chief calls for global ban on ‘killer robots’

(UN News – 14 May 2025) UN Secretary-General António Guterres has once again called for a global ban on lethal autonomous weapon systems – machines capable of taking human lives without human oversight – describing them as “politically unacceptable” and “morally repugnant.” – https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/05/1163256?utm_source=UN+News+-+Newsletter&utm_campaign=26b75a21e3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_05_14_09_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fdbf1af606-26b75a21e3-108061322

NATO requires an electronic warfare ‘paradigm shift’ to beat Russia, says alliance official

(Tim Martin – Breaking Defense – 12 May 2025) NATO must make drastic changes to its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities if the alliance wants to win a future war against Russia, as reliance on US systems remains in doubt, according to a NATO representative. “I think we as NATO can accomplish this [victory], but it will take a paradigm shift in how we operate within [the] EME [Electromagnetic Environment] and broadly EW capabilities in the maritime environment,” said Bas Nieuwenhuijse, chair of the NATO maritime EW syndicate, during the Association of Old Crows Europe trade show in Rome. – https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/nato-requires-an-electronic-warfare-paradigm-shift-to-beat-russia-says-alliance-official/

Golden Dome push sets stage for telecom battle over spectrum access

(Lauren C. Williams – Defense One – 12 May 2025) The wildly ambitious Golden Dome missile-defense vision is turning up the heat on a long-running fight between the Pentagon and the telecommunications industry for control of certain radio frequencies.  “That area of the spectrum is golden, and we need to protect it to maintain national security. And I use the word golden specifically, because the only way we can achieve Golden Dome” is by using frequencies around 3 gigahertz, Katie Arrington, who is performing the duties of the Pentagon chief information officer, told lawmakers Thursday at a hearing of the House Armed Services’ panel on cyber, information technologies, and innovation. “It is critical for national security.” – https://www.defenseone.com/defense-systems/2025/05/golden-dome-push-sets-stage-telecom-battle-over-spectrum-access/405263/?oref=d1-featured-river-secondary

Pentagon taps 12 more companies for space data transport network demos

(Courtney Albon – Defense News – 12 May 2025) The Defense Innovation Unit said Monday it has selected 12 companies to join its effort to build a secure network of military and commercial communication satellites, which will begin conducting demonstrations later this summer. The Hybrid Space Architecture program, or HSA, brings together a slew of Defense Department organizations — including DIU, Space Systems Command and the Air Force Research Laboratory — to show the value of integrating commercial satellites and communications systems into the military’s architecture to provide more bandwidth, security and flexibility. – https://www.defensenews.com/space/2025/05/12/pentagon-taps-12-more-companies-for-space-data-transport-network-demos/

Security

FBI warns AI hackers are impersonating US officials to infiltrate government

(Digital Watch Observatory – 16 May 2025) The FBI has issued a warning about a growing cyber campaign that uses AI-generated voice and text messages to impersonate senior U.S. government officials. The scheme, active since April 2025, aims to deceive current and former federal and state officials and their associates into giving up sensitive personal information and account access. In a public service announcement, the FBI said malicious actors are sending highly targeted messages to build trust before redirecting victims to separate platforms that AI hackers may control. – https://interestingengineering.com/culture/fbi-warns-ai-hackers-impersonating-us-officials

European crypto crime ring dismantled

(Digital Watch Observatory – 16 May 2025) European authorities have broken up a crypto laundering ring that moved over €21 million for criminal groups tied to China and the Middle East. Dubbed the ‘mafia crypto bank,’ the group used the hawala method and cryptocurrency to obscure illicit fund transfers. – https://dig.watch/updates/european-crypto-crime-ring-dismantled

Cybercriminals trick users with fake AI apps

(Digital Watch Observatory – 12 May 2025) Cybercriminals are tricking users into downloading a dangerous new malware called Noodlophile by disguising it as AI software. Rather than using typical phishing tactics, attackers create convincing fake platforms that appear to offer AI-powered tools for editing videos or images. These are promoted through realistic-looking Facebook groups and viral social media posts, some of which have received over 62,000 views. – https://dig.watch/updates/cybercriminals-trick-users-with-fake-ai-apps

Frontiers

Duke and Columbia Researchers Develop New Technique to Teach Teamwork to Robots

(AI Insider – 16 May 2025) A new robot training method developed by researchers at Duke and Columbia University enables teams of robots to learn human-style cooperation through brief coaching from a single human. The system, called HUMAC, uses limited real-time intervention to teach predictive reasoning and strategy, allowing robot teams to double their success rate in complex tasks such as hide-and-seek simulations. Funded in part by the Army Research Laboratory’s STRONG program, the research offers a scalable alternative to traditional reinforcement learning and may support future deployment of autonomous systems in disaster response, defense, and other real-world scenarios. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/05/16/duke-and-columbia-researchers-develop-new-technique-to-teach-teamwork-to-robots/

Soopra AI Closes $1M Pre-Seed Round and Launches Soopra ASK, the World’s First Social Network of AI Agents

(AI Insider – 16 May 2025) Soopra AI launched Soopra AI 2.0 (ASK), the world’s first social network of AI agents, enabling real-time engagement with influencers, experts, and public figures for tasks like scheduling, Q&A, and sales outreach. The company closed a $1 million pre-seed round to accelerate product development, expand its user base, and support its mission of building an AI-driven creator economy where users retain data ownership. With over 20,000 active users and 500+ AI personas, Soopra AI aims to redefine digital interaction by empowering creators and educators to scale their presence and expertise across platforms. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/05/16/soopra-ai-closes-1m-pre-seed-round-and-launches-soopra-ask-the-worlds-first-social-network-of-ai-agents/

Quantum Computing Roadmaps: A Look at The Maps And Predictions of Major Quantum Players

(Quantum Insider – 16 May 2025) Major quantum computing companies, including IBM, Google, Microsoft, Rigetti, D-Wave, IonQ, Quantinuum, Intel, and Amazon, have outlined roadmaps with varying approaches and timelines to achieving quantum advantage. These roadmaps focus on different quantum architectures, such as superconducting qubits, trapped ions, topological qubits, and quantum annealing, with milestones ranging from near-term practical applications to long-term fault-tolerant computing. While companies predict transformative impacts in optimization, AI, and scientific simulations, significant challenges remain, including qubit stability, error correction, scalability, and integration with classical computing. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/05/16/quantum-computing-roadmaps-a-look-at-the-maps-and-predictions-of-major-quantum-players/

First Omnichannel Agentic AI Debuts as Forethought Secures $25M to Revolutionize Customer Engagement

(AI Insider – 16 May 2025) Forethought, the leader in agentic AI for customer experience, has announced the launch of the first multi-agent, omnichannel AI platform designed to revolutionize how businesses engage with customers. This platform enables enterprises to deploy AI agents across chat, email, voice, and SMS, extending automation and intelligence beyond support into sales, marketing, and account management. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/05/16/first-omnichannel-agentic-ai-debuts-as-forethought-secures-25m-to-revolutionize-customer-engagement/

Norma Partners with Rigetti to Launch 84-Qubit Quantum Cloud Service in South Korea

(Quantum Insider – 16 May 2025) Norma signed an MOU with Rigetti Computing to launch an 84-qubit quantum cloud service, integrating Rigetti’s hardware with its Q Platform to offer cloud-based quantum program development and execution in South Korea. Rigetti will provide access to an 84-qubit quantum system, though the specific model was not disclosed; the announcement builds on Rigetti’s recent launch of the Ankaa-3 processor and its global expansion via cloud platforms like Amazon Braket and Microsoft Azure. Norma continues to position itself as a middleware provider, leveraging international hardware partnerships to broaden access to quantum computing in South Korea and support national efforts to build a competitive quantum ecosystem. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/05/16/norma-partners-with-rigetti-to-launch-84-qubit-quantum-cloud-service-in-south-korea/

China’s Space-Based Atom Interferometer Pushes Limits of Inertial Sensing

(Quantum Insider – 16 May 2025) China’s space-based cold atom gyroscope uses quantum interference of ultracold atoms to achieve high-precision motion sensing in orbit. The device leverages matter-wave interference from rubidium atoms to detect tiny changes in rotation and acceleration with exceptional sensitivity. Researchers optimized laser configurations to eliminate quantum decoherence effects, enabling stable and repeatable measurements in microgravity. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/05/16/chinas-space-based-atom-interferometer-pushes-limits-of-inertial-sensing/

Singapore turns to robot dogs to guard, guide, and patrol the city of the future

(Interesting Engineering – 12 May 2025) Robot dogs are increasingly used in various roles across one of Asia’s richest economies, Singapore. The quadrupeds’ assignments include guarding bus depots, guiding the visually impaired, patrolling construction sites, and assisting with social services. The number of robotics-related firms tracked nationally has risen to over 300, up from 200 in 2023, indicating rapid growth in the sector, reports a Singapore media outlet. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/robot-dogs-gain-ground-in-singapores

Quantum AI interest surges in data science and cybersecurity

(Digital Watch Observatory – 12 May 2025) Quantum AI is no longer a distant concept for many businesses, with over 60 percent actively investing in or exploring the technology, according to new research from SAS. The report highlights that the most common area of application is in data analytics and machine learning, accounting for 48 percent of use cases. Research and development follows at 41 percent, while cybersecurity ranks third at 35 percent. – https://dig.watch/updates/quantum-ai-interest-surges-in-data-science-and-cybersecurity