Governance, Legislation, and Geostrategies

Beijing launches blockchain plan to boost industry integration

(Digital Watch  Observatory – 2 May 2025) Beijing has unveiled a two-year plan aimed at promoting blockchain development and adoption across various sectors. The initiative, announced on 29 April, is supported by local bodies like the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and the Cyberspace Administration Office. – https://dig.watch/updates/beijing-launches-blockchain-plan-to-boost-industry-integration

For long-term AI ambitions, Australia should think nuclear

(Kyle McCurdy – The Strategist – 2 May 2025) Australia’s two major parties are divided over nuclear energy and the future mix of the nation’s power sources. But they are missing Australia’s opportunity to power the next generation of AI models. During the election campaign, the Liberals advocated adopting nuclear power as an alternative green energy source for Australia, especially using small-scale nuclear power generators. Labor criticised the plan as being too vague and the technology as too immature, and said they will continue to rely on fossil fuels to smooth the transition to green technology by 2050. Although small-scale nuclear power technology has been proven in many submarines cruising around the world—and some are questioning if Labor’s plans will even get Australia to net zero by 2050—we are missing out on a massive national security and economic opportunity for Australia. The training of AI models requires significant power. OpenAI’s GPT-4 was estimated to use 50 times more electricity to train than its GPT-3 model. This trend is likely to continue for frontier models. By 2030, power consumption by data centres is set to double, and AI is forecast to consume more than 9 percent of total US power generation. – https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/for-long-term-ai-ambitions-australia-should-think-nuclear/

Deep Tech as an Infinite Game: A Policy Imperative for India’s Technological Future

(Nisha Holla – Observer Research Foundation – 1 May 2025) India’s ambition to become a global technological competitor hinges on a critical mindset shift—recognising deep technology as an infinite game. Deep tech—encompassing frontier sectors like Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, and semiconductors—does not conform to short-term business cycles. It requires sustained investment, policy continuity, safe harbours for corporate incentives, an ecosystem that nurtures cutting-edge research over decades, and long-term state stewardship. – https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/deep-tech-as-an-infinite-game-a-policy-imperative-for-india-s-technological-future

The Authoritarian Risks of AI Surveillance

(Matthew Tokson – Lawfare – 1 May 2025) Concerns about authoritarianism loom large in American politics. Against this backdrop, another phenomenon may be pushing democracies toward authoritarianism: artificial intelligence (AI) law enforcement. AI surveillance and policing systems are currently used by authoritarian nations around the world. Evidence suggests that these systems are effective in suppressing political unrest and entrenching existing regimes. Concerningly, AI surveillance and policing systems have also become increasingly prevalent in cities across the United States. As I explain in a new article, AI law enforcement tends to undermine democratic government, promote authoritarian drift, and entrench existing authoritarian regimes. AI-based systems can reduce structural checks on executive authority and concentrate power among fewer and fewer people. In the wrong hands, they can help authorities detect subversive behavior and discourage or punish dissent, while enabling corruption, selective enforcement, and other abuses. These effects are already visible in today’s relatively primitive AI systems, and they’ll become increasingly dangerous to democracy as AI technology improves. – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-authoritarian-risks-of-ai-surveillance

The Digital Divide Meets the Quantum Divide

(Michael Karanicolas, Alessia Zornetta – Just Security – 1 May 2025) For decades, critics have argued that intellectual property rules–particularly in patent law–have entrenched global inequality by ensuring the fruits of technological development remain concentrated in wealthy countries. This has slowed, and in some cases stalled, growth in the Global South. Similar concerns are now emerging with the rise of the AI economy, where first movers are setting governance standards to suit their own interests, often at the expense of poorer nations. As countries in the Global North race toward quantum supremacy, this familiar pattern of technological gatekeeping is poised to repeat itself. Disparities in both access to and control over transformative technologies are likely to widen, driven by the national security implications of quantum advancements. Already, we are seeing restrictive export controls and competitive research initiatives designed to hoard these technologies among the countries developing them. The Global South risks exclusion—not only from the technological and economic benefits of quantum innovation, but also from the enhanced security protections it promises. These emerging silos of privileged access to quantum technology echo problematic trends from previous technological regimes but also introduce new challenges, particularly given quantum’s potential to undermine existing digital infrastructure. – https://www.justsecurity.org/111035/digital-divide-meets-quantum-divide/

Microsoft outlines new commitments to Europe’s digital future

(Digital Watch Observatory – 1 May 2025) Microsoft has unveiled a set of five digital commitments aimed at supporting Europe’s technological and economic future. Central to the announcement is a major expansion of its cloud and AI infrastructure, including plans to grow its datacentre capacity by 40% across 16 European countries. – https://dig.watch/updates/microsoft-outlines-new-commitments-to-europes-digital-future

Bank of Italy warns about crypto risks and US policy influence

(Digital Watch Observatory – 1 May 2025) The Bank of Italy has once again expressed concerns over the growing influence of crypto in traditional finance. In its latest Financial Stability Report, the central bank warned that the global integration of digital assets poses a significant risk to financial stability. For years, central banks have raised alarms about the systemic threats crypto presents. These include volatility, regulatory gaps, and the potential for contagion across markets. However, recent political changes have intensified these worries. – https://dig.watch/updates/bank-of-italy-warns-about-crypto-risks-and-us-policy-influence

Trump and tech: After 100 days

(Digital Watch Observatory – 30 April 2025) Against the backdrop of the first 100 days of the new US administration, experts gathered during a Diplo event to assess the shifting terrain of global digital governance. – https://dig.watch/updates/trump-and-tech-after-100-days

UAE launches academy to lead in AI innovation

(Digital Watch Observatory – 30 April 2025) The UAE has announced the launch of its AI Academy, aiming to strengthen the country’s position in AI innovation both regionally and globally. Developed in partnership with the Polynom Group and the Abu Dhabi School of Management, it is designed to foster a skilled workforce in AI and programming. – https://dig.watch/updates/uae-launches-academy-to-lead-in-ai-innovation

UK refuses to include Online Safety Act in US trade talks

(Digital Watch Observatory – 30 April 2025) The UK government has ruled out watering down the Online Safety Act as part of any trade negotiations with the US, despite pressure from American tech giants. Speaking to MPs on the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, the parliamentary under-secretary for online safety, stated unequivocally that the legislation was ‘not up for negotiation’. – https://dig.watch/updates/uk-refuses-to-include-online-safety-act-in-us-trade-talks

UK and US join forces to promote responsible cryptocurrency adoption

(Digital Watch Observatory – 30 April 2025) The United Kingdom and the United States are set to strengthen their collaboration in advancing cryptocurrency adoption. UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves confirmed that the UK plans to introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto assets. The government hopes to work closely with the US to promote the responsible use of the asset class. – https://dig.watch/updates/uk-and-us-join-forces-to-promote-responsible-cryptocurrency-adoption

Apple to shift US iPhone assembly to India by 2025

(Digital Watch Observatory – 30 April 2025) Apple is preparing to assemble all iPhones sold inside the US in India by next year, aiming to produce over 60 million units annually in the country by 2026. The move comes in response to mounting geopolitical tensions and renewed tariff threats under former President Donald Trump’s trade agenda, which once imposed duties as high as 145% on Chinese imports. – https://dig.watch/updates/apple-to-shift-us-iphone-assembly-to-india-by-2025

Big Tech accused of undue influence over EU AI Code

(Global Watch Observatory – 30 April 2025) The European Commission is facing growing criticism after a joint investigation revealed that Big Tech companies had disproportionate influence over the drafting of the EU’s Code of Practice on General Purpose AI. The report, published by Corporate Europe Observatory and LobbyControl, claims firms such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and OpenAI were granted privileged access to shaping the voluntary code, which aims to help companies comply with the upcoming AI Act. – https://dig.watch/updates/big-tech-accused-of-undue-influence-over-eu-ai-code

The unexpected visionary: Pope Francis on AI, humanity, and the future of work

(Molly Kinder – Brookings – 29 April 2025) As the world reflects on Pope Francis’ legacy following his death last week, his leadership on social and economic justice is rightly being celebrated. But far less known—yet still profoundly prescient—is his visionary leadership on artificial intelligence. At a time of rapid technological advancement with few guardrails, Pope Francis emerged as the world’s leading moral voice, insisting that AI be developed and deployed with human dignity at its core. Today, AI is poised to reshape nearly every dimension of life—from work to governance to human relationships—at a pace few institutions are prepared to confront. In this context, Pope Francis’ moral guidance spoke beyond religious boundaries. Rooted in a deep concern for the common good, his message has resonated with policymakers, technologists, and citizens alike, regardless of religious belief or views on organized religion. Leading architects of the AI era—including Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and xAI CEO Elon Musk—have sought audiences with the pope, recognizing the need for ethical frameworks that match the power and reach of the technologies they are building. This essay focuses on one critical dimension of Pope Francis’ ethical approach to AI: his vision for the future of work. I draw on remarks that I delivered last month at a global convening at the Vatican. For two days, I joined 60 participants—judges, former government ministers, cardinals, academics, and policymakers—in the Vatican gardens to examine AI through the lens of justice, democracy, and ethics. As a researcher focused on AI’s impact on work and workers, I consider how Pope Francis’ teachings can guide a future where technological progress enhances, rather than diminishes, human dignity. His teachings challenge us to evaluate progress not by technical capability or profit, but by how well technology serves humanity—placing people at the center of innovation, not its margins. – https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-unexpected-visionary-pope-francis-on-ai-humanity-and-the-future-of-work/

How anticipatory governance can lead to AI policies that stand the test of time

(David Winickoff, Karine Perset – OECD.AI – 29 April 2025) Artificial intelligence is a transformative force, reshaping economies, societies, and geopolitics in real-time. Governments and industries are pouring resources into advancing AI, seeking economic rewards and strategic advantages. However, this surge of innovation raises a pressing question: How can AI governance policies possibly keep pace, pave the way for its benefits, and mitigate the risks? The recent Steering AI’s Future report offers valuable lessons for effective AI governance, focusing on five key elements from the Framework for Anticipatory Governance of Emerging Technologies: guiding values, strategic intelligence, stakeholder engagement, agile regulation, and international co-operation. – https://oecd.ai/en/wonk/how-anticipatory-governance-can-lead-to-ai-policies-that-stand-the-test-of-time

Bridging the digital divide in Africa: Enhancing technology adoption for economic growth

(Susan Lund, Marcio Cruz – Brookings – 29 April 2025) The adoption of digital technologies by firms is a critical driver of productivity and economic growth for developing economies. While there have been notable advancements in digitalization—particularly in mobile payments—the overall use of digital technologies among businesses in Africa remains low. Despite the proliferation of mobile phones and increasing internet connectivity, many African firms do not fully leverage digital technologies for core business functions. Recent International Finance Corporation (IFC) research indicates that less than one-third of firms that have adopted digital technologies use them intensively for their most productive purposes such as business administration, planning, and sales. Our analysis shows that 600,000 formally registered firms and 40 million microbusinesses in Africa could benefit from digital upgrades. – https://www.brookings.edu/articles/bridging-the-digital-divide-in-africa-enhancing-technology-adoption-for-economic-growth/

Securing Tomorrow: Why America Needs an AI Education Corps

(Kevin Frazier – Lawfare – 29 April 2025) Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a future prospect; it is a present reality fundamentally altering U.S. national security and economic competitiveness. Maintaining American leadership in this domain requires more than technological innovation—it demands a strategically literate populace and a robust pipeline of domestic talent capable of developing, deploying, and defending against AI capabilities. While President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth,” acknowledges this need, its framework—relying primarily on task forces, grant prioritization, and partnership formation—lacks the scale and implementation power required to meet the immediate strategic challenge. Existing educational infrastructure is demonstrably unprepared to deliver the widespread AI proficiency necessary to counter sophisticated disinformation threats, fill critical national security workforce gaps, and outpace determined global competitors. I argue for a concrete, actionable solution: the creation of a national AI Education Corps. This initiative is proposed not merely as an educational program, but as a vital component of U.S. national strategy. It offers the necessary mechanism to translate the executive order’s objectives into tangible results by deploying specialized expertise directly into K-12 schools nationwide. The Corps is designed to provide the sustained, adaptable support required to build foundational AI literacy at scale—a prerequisite for national resilience against AI-driven threats and for cultivating the human capital essential for long-term technological and military advantage. Status quo approaches are insufficient; a dedicated, national effort is now a strategic necessity. – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/securing-tomorrow–why-america-needs-an-ai-education-corps

India Releases Technology Engagement Strategy for Quantum, Ambitions Meet Hardware Realities

(Quantum Insider – 29 April 2025) India’s first National Quantum Mission report highlights strong progress in quantum software and communication but emphasizes gaps in domestic quantum hardware fabrication, industrial investment, and workforce development. Startups like QPiAI and QNu Labs are advancing quantum computing and secure communications, but India remains heavily reliant on foreign hardware and suffers from limited institutional funding. To strengthen its position, India plans to expand local fabrication capabilities, improve regulatory frameworks, and support deep-tech startups through new funding initiatives. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/04/29/india-releases-technology-engagement-strategy-for-quantum-ambitions-meet-hardware-realities/

Assistive Technologies in India: The Data Dilemma

(Tanusha Tyagi – Observer Research Foundation – 29 April 2025) Assistive technology (AT) is integral to the health sector, with over 2.5 billion people worldwide relying on some form of it. Demographic shifts coupled with epidemiological transition have predicted the need for AT to reach 3.5 billion by 2050.  ATs have several benefits, including enhancing the quality of life, improving health care access, enabling early detection of health issues, and fostering patient and caregiver engagement. Nevertheless, such technology raises several ethical implications, including concerns around user privacy, surveillance, confidentiality, and management of large volumes of data. This piece discusses the various types of ATs and the data-intensive nature of such technologies. It examines how the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA), and the draft DPDP Rules 2025, fall short in addressing these concerns, particularly around data minimisation and meaningful user control. The article also provides recommendations for policy measures to help tackle this grey area. – https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/assistive-technologies-in-india-the-data-dilemma

Deepfake victims gain new rights with House-approved bill

(Digital Watch Observatory – 29 April 2025) The US House of Representatives has passed the ‘Take It Down’ Act with overwhelming bipartisan support, aiming to protect Americans from the spread of deepfake and revenge pornography. The bill, approved by a 409-2 vote, criminalises the distribution of non-consensual intimate imagery—including AI-generated content—and now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature. – https://dig.watch/updates/deepfake-victims-gain-new-rights-with-house-approved-bill

At the 20th Collective Study Session of the CCP Central Committee Politburo, Xi Jinping Stresses: Persist in Being Self-Reliant, Be Strongly Oriented Toward Applications, and Push the Orderly Development of Artificial Intelligence

(Center for Security and Emerging Technology – 28 April 2025) The following article is a summary by China’s state media of a Chinese Politburo collective study session on AI, at which Xi Jinping spoke. Xi emphasized the importance of China achieving superiority in AI and highlighted China’s need to improve domestic AI chips and software. He also urged the country to use AI to turbocharge scientific research. However, Xi mentioned AI risks in his speech as well, and called for new AI laws, regulations, and technology risk monitoring efforts. This is the first such Politburo session on AI since 2018. – https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/xi-politburo-collective-study-ai-2025/

Online Safety Regulations Around the World: The State of Play and The Way Forward

(Mariana Olaizola Rosenblat – Just Security – 28 April 2025) There is a growing international consensus that governments should take a more active role in overseeing digital platforms. As 2025 began, this was no longer a theoretical discussion: the past few years brought a surge of legislative action across major economies. The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) are now in full force, transforming how major tech platforms are allowed to operate in Europe. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and many other countries have passed robust online safety laws that are now entering the enforcement stage. The United States is also an active arena of digital regulation, at least at the state level, although the federal government has yet to enact sweeping digital regulation. This is an opportune moment to analyze ongoing regulatory efforts and shape the future of digital governance. To help policymakers and the public navigate this complex landscape, the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights (..) undertook a global survey and analysis of online safety regulations. Through a systematic review of 26 laws in 19 jurisdictions, what initially seemed like a morass of requirements revealed itself as a set of discernible approaches to platform regulation. – https://www.justsecurity.org/110916/global-online-safety-regulations/

Scoping the UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill

(RUSI – 28 April 2025) RUSI’s Cyber and Tech research group, in partnership with Darktrace, convened a policy roundtable in London on 6 February 2025 to discuss the ongoing development of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (CSRB). Participants included representatives from technology vendors, cyber security services vendors, academia and critical national infrastructure providers. The expert discussion provided a platform for participants to reflect on the UK government’s Cyber Strategy, existing cyber security legislation, and how to design the CSRB so that it keeps pace with an evolving threat landscape. This conference report summarises points made during the roundtable discussion, none of which are attributable. It begins by setting out the background to the CSRB and its expected measures, and developments on the CSRB since the roundtable took place. Following this, it outlines key discussions from the roundtable, before finally presenting main takeaways and recommendations for the UK government: providing practical steps to ensure the CSRB is effective, proportionate and future-proof. – https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/conference-reports/scoping-uk-cyber-security-and-resilience-bill

India May Likely Push for Expanded Access to Quantum and Emerging Technologies in US Trade Talks

(Quantum Insider – 28 April 2025) As part of negotiations for a new bilateral trade agreement, India may likely seek relaxed US export controls and greater access to advanced technologies, such as quantum computing, AI, semiconductors, and biotechnology. While the US has eased technology transfer restrictions for close allies like Australia and the UK, India may face additional scrutiny over its export controls, cybersecurity standards, and defense ties. Negotiations are unfolding amid a widening US-India trade imbalance, with India maintaining a $41 billion goods surplus. The future of quantum collaboration between the US and India will ultimately depend on the policies enacted, not on diplomatic rhetoric, as access to quantum capabilities increasingly defines economic and strategic leadership. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/04/28/india-may-likely-push-for-expanded-access-to-quantum-and-emerging-technologies-in-us-trade-talks/

Microsoft Leadership Urges U.S., Allies to Double Down on Quantum

(Quantum Insider – 28 April 2025) Microsoft President Brad Smith warns that the United States risks falling behind China in the global race for quantum computing unless it strengthens investment, workforce development, and supply chain security. Smith calls for expanding federal research funding, boosting quantum talent development, and shoring up domestic quantum manufacturing to maintain U.S. technological leadership. Global competition is accelerating as China pours billions into quantum technologies, highlighting the urgency for coordinated U.S. action across government, academia, and industry. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/04/28/microsoft-leadership-urges-u-s-allies-to-double-down-on-quantum/

IBM Commits $150 Billion to Boost U.S. Tech Leadership, Includes $30 Billion to Back Quantum, Mainframe Manufacturing

(Quantum Insider – 28 April 2025) IBM announced a $150 billion investment plan over five years to strengthen U.S. innovation and technology leadership, including more than $30 billion for research and development. The company will continue manufacturing mainframes in Poughkeepsie, New York, and expand its American-based quantum computing operations. IBM described quantum computing as a major platform shift poised to boost U.S. competitiveness, create jobs, and enhance national security. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/04/28/ibm-commits-150-billion-to-boost-u-s-tech-leadership-includes-30-billion-to-back-quantum-mainframe-manufacturing/

UK government urged to outlaw apps creating deepfake abuse images

(Digital Watch Observatory – 28 April 2025) The Children’s Commissioner has urged the UK Government to ban AI apps that create sexually explicit images through “nudification” technology. AI tools capable of manipulating real photos to make people appear naked are being used to target children. – https://dig.watch/updates/uk-government-urged-to-outlaw-apps-creating-deepfake-abuse-images

New AI guidelines aim to cut NHS waiting times

(Digital Watch Observatory – 28 April 2025) The UK government has announced new guidelines to encourage the use of AI tools in the NHS, aiming to streamline administrative processes and improve patient care. AI that transcribes spoken conversations into structured medical documents will be used across hospitals and GP surgeries. – https://dig.watch/updates/new-ai-guidelines-aim-to-cut-nhs-waiting-times

AI educational race between China and USA brings some hope

(Digital Watch Observatory – 28 April 2025) The AI race between China and the USA shifts to classrooms. As AI governance expert Jovan Kurbalija highlights in his analysis of global AI strategies, two countries see AI literacy as a ‘strategic imperative’. From President Trump’s executive order to advance AI education to China’s new AI education strategy, both superpowers are betting big on nurturing homegrown AI talent. – https://dig.watch/updates/ai-educational-race-between-china-and-usa-brings-some-hope

Defense, Intelligence, and Warfare

China’s counter-UAV efforts reveal more than technological advancement

(Tye Graham, P.W. Singer – Defense One – 2 May 2025) Unmanned aerial vehicles are reshaping modern warfare—from the battlefields of Ukraine to the contested skies over the South China Sea—and spurring Beijing to upgrade its counter-drone capabilities aggressively. Recent demonstrations featuring high-power microwave systems and AI-assisted autonomous interceptors reveal an evolving PLA strategy designed to neutralize mass drone swarms and first-person-view attack drones. China now appears to be adopting a multi-layered defense approach that integrates electronic warfare, directed-energy weapons, and AI-driven interception systems, combining both kinetic and non-kinetic solutions. – https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2025/05/chinas-counter-uav-efforts-reveal-more-technological-advancement/405031/?oref=d1-featured-river-secondary

European Defence Fund funnels money to drones, hypersonic defense, AI

(Rudy Ruitenberg – Defense News – 1 May 2025) The European Union’s executive arm picked 62 defense projects for a combined €910 million ($1 billion) in financing in the latest funding round by the European Defence Fund, focusing on areas including drones, autonomous mine sweeping and defense against hypersonic weapons. Flagship projects in the funding round include Eurosweep, which aims to develop an unmanned minesweeping system, ENGRT II to develop a next-generation rotorcraft, and the iMUGS2 project to test unmanned ground vehicles, the European Commission said on Wednesday. – https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2025/05/01/european-defence-fund-funnels-money-to-drones-hypersonic-defense-ai/

Trump 2.0 Will Escalate the Contest for Military AI Supremacy

(Kyle Hiebert – Centre for International Governance Innovation – 30 April 2025) Days after re-entering the White House, Donald Trump tore up Joe Biden’s directives on the US government’s oversight and use of artificial intelligence (AI). Trump has instead ordered America’s AI industry be fully unleashed. Enormous ripple effects on the technology’s development and its impacts will soon follow. And they may include reshaping the future of war. A fragmenting international order has spurred a new global arms race. Meanwhile, AI-powered weapons, target detection systems and surveillance tools are evolving, as battlefield data from Ukraine, Gaza and elsewhere is prompting rapid iteration. Together, these dynamics have excited military personnel and mobilized venture capitalists. But they are also raising alarm over the possibility of runaway military AI. – https://www.cigionline.org/articles/trump-20-will-escalate-the-contest-for-military-ai-supremacy/

The Pentagon must balance speed with safety as it modernizes software

(Georgianna Shea – Defense News – 30 April 2025) The Department of Defense is at grave risk of being caught flat-footed by the next software vulnerability. When an adversary discovers it, the Pentagon may not know which systems are exposed until substantial damage has been done. This blind spot is dangerous. The Pentagon needs to balance expediting its software acquisition process with a better system for gauging prospective vulnerabilities and mitigating harm in the event of an attack. DOD understands the need for software modernization and is taking steps to improve both its development and procurement methods. A recent directive designates the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) as the primary process for creating both weapons and business systems. This necessary evolution marks a shift from lengthy, hardware-focused timelines to a faster and more flexible software-centric model. SWP streamlines development and emphasizes speed by allowing programs to share and repurpose software test results. – https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/2025/04/30/the-pentagon-must-balance-speed-with-safety-as-it-modernizes-software/

French startup turns jetliner into space weapon platform for satellite defense

(Interesting Engineering – 30 April 2025) A Paris-based space startup is developing a new spacecraft to intercept and destroy military threats in orbit. The company, called Dark, was founded in 2022 by former missile engineers from European defense contractors MBDA and Thales. The new venture, devised to protect increasingly important satellite infrastructure, reflects the dramatic militarization of space. – https://interestingengineering.com/space/space-weapon-platform-for-satellite-defense

China develops 2-pound drone that looks like a flying thermos and drops grenades

(Interesting Engineering – 29 April 2025) To achieve dominance in unmanned warfare, China has introduced various new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones. These autonomous drones are deployed as a part of China’s intelligent warfare doctrine. Under this strategy, the country plans to rapidly field cost-effective, AI-enabled UAVs optimized for attack and reconnaissance missions. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/china-2-pound-thermos-inspired-drone

The ADF isn’t nearly fast enough. It must rush into the cheap-drone revolution

(Erik Davis – The Strategist -29 April 2025) The Australian Defence Force isn’t doing enough to adopt cheap drones. It needs to be training with these tools today, at every echelon, which it cannot do if it continues to drag its feet. Cheap drones have changed the way armies fight on today’s battlefield, and Australia is already years behind in adopting this new technology. In July 2023, the government’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) laid out the challenge to industry to develop sovereign small drones for ‘training, surveying, photographic, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance purposes.’ Noticeably, strike was not listed as a requirement. Following a fly-off a year ago this month, three vendors signed $2.2 million contracts to provide 3,000 drones each weighing less than 2 kilograms and having a range of 5 kilometres, all for a price of $5,000 each. – https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-adf-isnt-nearly-fast-enough-it-must-rush-into-the-cheap-drone-revolution/

The AI arms race will be won on mathematical proof

(Anjana Rajan, Jonathan Ring – Defense One – 25 April 2025) The AI-powered weapons and systems that the Pentagon is racing to build will come with a significant vulnerability: our inability to determine how they will behave under real battlefield conditions. The Defense Department, National Security Agency, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency call this the “software understanding gap.” Increasingly, users do not understand the digital building blocks of their systems, which leads to an inability to predict, verify, and secure their systems’ actions. Without a deeper understanding of our most complex software, the United States’ world-class arsenal will be unreliable across modern battlefields, and adversaries may be emboldened to exploit those vulnerabilities. – https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/04/ai-arms-race-will-be-won-mathematical-proof/404834/

Frontiers

MIT’s new circuit achieves record quantum coupling, could 10x processing speed

(Interesting Engineering – 2 May 2025) Quantum computers promise to solve problems far beyond the reach of classical machines, from simulating new materials to transforming AI. But one key challenge stands in the way: speed. To be reliable, quantum computers must perform calculations and error corrections before their fragile quantum bits, or qubits, lose coherence. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/record-quantum-coupling-mit-readout-speed

Amazon launches first Kuiper satellites to challenge Starlink

(Digital Watch Observatory – 1 May 2025) Amazon has launched the first 27 satellites of its Project Kuiper broadband network into low-Earth orbit, marking a major step in its $10bn plan to deliver global internet coverage and rival Elon Musk’s Starlink. The satellites were launched aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, after weather delays earlier this month. They are the first of over 3,200 that Amazon intends to deploy, with the aim of reaching underserved and remote areas around the world. – https://dig.watch/updates/amazon-launches-first-kuiper-satellites-to-challenge-starlink

China launches world’s fastest submersible drone with rocket-drilling capabilities

(Interesting Engineering – 30 April 2025) China has launched the “Blue Whale,” the world’s first high-speed, uncrewed submersible vessel. This advanced boat can operate independently for a long time in very tough ocean conditions. The hybrid platform is designed to operate above and below the waterline and marks an important advancement in China’s indigenous marine technology development, according to Xinhua News. The launch took place on April 28 in the southern coastal city of Zhuhai under the auspices of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunzhou Tech. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/worlds-first-fast-submersible-drone

World’s first eco-friendly silver plating tech can transform electronics

(Interesting Engineering – 30 April 2025) Scientists in South Korea have developed the world’s first eco-friendly silver (Ag) plating technology using a phosphorus (P) compound as a key plating component. The method enables silver plating without the use of highly toxic cyanide. In the new method, scientists form an acidic plating solution based on phosphorus compounds that successfully produce uniform and stable silver thin films. The eco-friendly silver plating process for semiconductors and electronic components is essential for enhancing electrical signal transmission in multiple types of systems. – https://interestingengineering.com/science/worlds-first-eco-friendly-silver-plating-tech

Egyptian Researchers Unleash Quantum Ninjas to Improve Renewable Energy Forecasts

(Quantum Insider – 29 April 2025) A quantum-inspired AI system developed by Egyptian researchers significantly improved renewable energy forecasting accuracy, potentially easing the integration of solar and wind power into electric grids. The model combines a Quantum Temporal Model with the Ninja Optimization Algorithm to overcome forecasting challenges like data variability and feature selection. In testing, it outperformed traditional deep learning models and optimization techniques, achieving a 95.15% accuracy rate and a near-zero error margin when predicting energy output. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/04/29/egyptian-researchers-unleash-quantum-ninjas-to-improve-renewable-energy-forecasts/

Alibaba launches Qwen3 AI model

(Digital Watch Observatory – 29 April 2025) As the AI race intensifies in China, Alibaba has unveiled Qwen3, the latest version of its open-source large language model, aiming to compete with top-tier rivals like DeepSeek. The company claims Qwen3 significantly improves reasoning, instruction following, tool use, and multilingual abilities compared to earlier versions. – https://dig.watch/updates/alibaba-launches-qwen3-ai-model

Japan’s new 256-qubit quantum computer unleashes 4X more power than before

(Interesting Engineering – 28 April 2025) Japanese tech giant Fujitsu and leading research institute RIKEN have announced a major breakthrough with the development of a 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer, hailed as one of the most powerful systems of its kind in the world. The new system, built at the RIKEN RQC-FUJITSU Collaboration Center headquartered in Wako, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, quadruples the number of qubits compared to the previous 64-qubit machine unveiled in 2023. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/japan-256-qubit-quantum-computer?group=test_b

Security

North Korean IT worker scam is now a threat to all companies, cybersecurity experts say

(Jonathan Greig – The Record – 1 May 2025) North Korea’s ability to surreptitiously slip thousands of its workers into Fortune 500 companies was a main focus for cybersecurity professionals at this year’s RSA Conference. Recorded Future News spoke to and heard from dozens people on every side of the issue — from incident responders helping companies that hired them to researchers embedded in the chat rooms where DPRK workers provide updates to senior officials. – https://therecord.media/north-korean-it-worker-scam-expands-rsa

Billbug Expands Cyber-Espionage Campaign in Southeast Asia

(Robert Lemos – Dark Reading – 1 May 2025) A China-linked cyber-espionage group using custom malware had “significant success” infecting government organizations and critical private-sector industries in much of Southeast Asia in late 2024 and early 2025, according to intelligence reports released this month. The group has targeted the government, manufacturing, telecommunications, and media sectors in several Southeast Asian countries and regions, including the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam, according to a report released last week by the Symantec threat hunting team at Broadcom, which calls the group Billbug (but it’s better known as Lotus Panda or Lotus Blossom). It has used legitimate but out-of-date binaries from security firms to load malicious software components onto targeted systems in order to compromise them, according to the Symantec threat analysis. – https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/billbug-cyber-espionage-campaign-southeast-asia

DARPA Highlights Critical Infrastructure Security Challenges

(Alexander Culafi – Dark Reading – 30 April 2025) US critical infrastructure sectors face a wide range of security challenges, forcing federal government leaders to find new advantages in the form of automation and artificial intelligence technologies. In an RSAC Conference 2025 panel session, “AI and Cyber Defense: Protecting Critical Infrastructure,” federal officials discussed the ongoing cybersecurity risks that threaten various facets of critical infrastructure and what can be done to mitigate those risks. Participants included Kathleen Fisher, Office Director, Information Innovation Office at the US Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); Rob McHenry, Acting Director at DARPA; Vincent Tang, Deputy Director at Advanced Research Projects Agency for Infrastructure (ARPA-I); and Jennifer Roberts, Director of Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). – https://www.darkreading.com/cyber-risk/darpa-highlights-critical-infrastructure-security-challenges

The FBI’s Brett Leatherman gives the latest ‘Typhoon’ forecast

(Martin Matishak – The Record – 30 April 2025) The discovery that Chinese state-backed hackers had burrowed into U.S. critical infrastructure with the aim of causing mass disruption continues to reverberate nearly two years after the hacking group behind the attacks was first publicly disclosed. Several similar entities have emerged since the group, known as Volt Typhoon, was unveiled by Microsoft and U.S. officials in May 2023. They range from Salt Typhoon, which broke into U.S. telecom firms in a sweeping espionage campaign, to Silk Typhoon, which breached the Treasury Department, to Flax Typhoon, which targeted Taiwan. For the latest on where U.S. efforts against these groups stand, Recorded Future News sat down with Brett Leatherman, FBI deputy assistant director of cyber operations, at the RSA Conference. – https://therecord.media/fbi-interview-china-hacking-volt-salt-flax-typhoon

EU criticised for secretive security AI plans

(Digital Watch Observatory – 30 April 2025) A new report by Statewatch has revealed that the European Union is quietly laying the groundwork for the widespread use of experimental AI technologies in policing, border control, and criminal justice. The report warns that these developments pose serious threats to transparency, accountability, and fundamental rights. – https://dig.watch/updates/eu-criticised-for-secretive-security-ai-plans

Cybercriminals target Gmail accounts in sophisticated new attack

(Digital Watch Observatory – 29 April 2025) Gmail users are facing a serious new threat that could lead to their accounts being hijacked by cybercriminals. Experts at Malwarebytes have issued an urgent warning about a sophisticated scam that is bypassing Gmail’s usually reliable spam filters, putting billions of accounts at risk. – https://dig.watch/updates/cybercriminals-target-gmail-accounts-in-sophisticated-new-attack

Terrorism and Extremism

Experts see rise of powerful non-state groups as US retreats from global stage

(Patrick Tucker – Defense One – 30 April 2025) Several trends are giving violent extremist groups a brighter, more profitable future, security officials and experts from around the world said this week at the Soufan Center Security Forum here. Cryptocurrencies and sophisticated use of shell companies are helping them accumulate funds. AI is making recruitment and disinformation a snap. The reduction of social-media monitoring is enabling such campaigns to flourish. The U.S. retreat from multilateral diplomatic efforts is reducing the pressure that kept such groups in check. All this is making such groups more powerful, independent, and useful as proxy tools for autocratic regimes. State-backed militias are no longer operating on the margins—they’re deploying increasingly sophisticated weapons and tactics, thanks in part to a surge in funding and arms transfers from autocratic sponsors. Russia, for example, has dispatched the Wagner Group across Ukraine, Africa, and the Middle East. But nowhere is this more evident than in Yemen, where Iran’s material and technical support has transformed the Houthis from a local insurgency into a regional threat. Houthis progressed from firing short-range rockets to launching cruise missiles and drones at targets hundreds of miles away—striking at Saudi oil facilities, Israeli airports, UAE territory, and shipping in international waters. – https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/04/experts-see-rise-powerful-non-state-groups-us-retreats-global-stage/404971/?oref=d1-featured-river-top