Top of the Day
Human Rights and Democracy in the Quantum Age
(Maya Recanati – Just Security – 26 February 2025) On Feb. 19 2025, Microsoft unveiled Majorana 1, a quantum chip powered by a new state of matter that the company claims will help create more powerful and less error prone quantum computers. With this discovery, Microsoft declared that quantum computers capable of solving “meaningful, industrial-scale problems” are merely years away. This stunning feat demonstrates that the second quantum revolution is rapidly advancing. Such progress will likely help scientists tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges, such as climate change or drug discovery, by simulating highly complex chemical compositions that even the most powerful supercomputers can’t understand. Such modeling would reduce the time and cost of research and could lead to the discovery of new materials, for example, that create more efficient batteries. Yet, such advancements may also pose serious risks to human rights defenders in the near term. – https://www.justsecurity.org/108168/quantum-age/
Militarizing AI: How to Catch the Digital Dragon?
(Kurtis H. Simpson, Samuel Paquette, Raphael Racicot, Samuel Villanove – Centre for International Governance Innovation – 26 February 2025) The global spread of artificial intelligence (AI) is ubiquitous. No other single technology is having the pervasive impact that these systems currently exert over our lives. AI is shaping decision making, accelerating information flows, augmenting surveillance, improving intelligence gathering, changing communications, redefining data management, empowering analysis and altering social behaviours. The magnitude of this change is reflected in the investments being made in this technology. Global annual spending on AI, including enabled applications, infrastructure and related internet technology (as well as services), is currently estimated at US$235 billion, which is expected to increase to US$631 billion by 2028. As a subset of this global transformation, AI holds the potential to fundamentally redefine modern warfare. – https://www.cigionline.org/articles/militarizing-ai-how-to-catch-the-digital-dragon/
Low-cost drone daredevils to slash search risk in dark and deadly rescue missions
(Mrigakshi Dixit – Interesting Engineering – 26 February 2025) A new drone system with 3D mapping technology has been developed to aid in indoor search and rescue operations during disasters. The search and rescue operations often involve navigating unstable structures inside hazardous environments. The dangers involved have long posed a challenge to law enforcement and first responders. Drone technology offers pre-entry awareness for hazardous inside situations, which are often dark, confined, and lack GPS. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/low-cost-drone-daredevils-to-slash-search-risk-in-dark-and-deadly-rescue-missions
US Army to test MIT’s smart fiber computer clothing for Arctic operations
(Srishti Gupta – Interesting Engineering – 26 February 2025) Researchers from MIT have built an advanced fiber-based computer that can be embedded into textile fabrics, enabling it to track health, monitor physical activities, and give alerts on potential health risks in real time. These fiber computers’ physiological data capture ability surpasses standard-fashioned wearables, which are restricted to certain body areas like the chest and the wrist. Because these fiber computers are integrated into the fabric, they can be placed anywhere on the body. In early trials, these garments were comfortable, able to be washed in machines, and practically invisible. This breakthrough could transform personal health monitoring, sports performance tracking, and even military safety systems. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/mit-develops-smart-fiber-computers
China shrinks jet antenna to 0.047 times wavelength to boost fighter’s stealth power
(Srishti Gupta – Interesting Engineering – 26 February 2025) The evolution of military aircraft design has increasingly emphasized stealth and aerodynamic efficiency, pushing engineers to develop low-profile antennas that integrate seamlessly with an aircraft’s structure. Traditional antennas, with their protruding forms, create unwanted radar signatures and disrupt airflow, posing significant challenges for stealth technology. However, a breakthrough study from researchers at the Southwest China Institute of Electronic Technology and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) introduces an innovative ultra-wideband omnidirectional circular ring antenna, which may redefine how communication and navigation systems are embedded into modern aircraft. (…) The integration of high gain frequency and vertical polarization increases performance and makes the antenna effective for airborne navigation and secure military communication. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/china-shrinks-jet-antenna-stealth-power
Google’s AI co-scientist could enhance research, say Imperial researchers
(Simon Levey – Imperial College – 19 February 2025) A partnership between Imperial, the Fleming Initiative, and technology giant Google gave scientists access to a powerful new artificial intelligence, designed to make research faster and more efficient. Google has published the first test results of its AI ‘co-scientist’ system, in which academics from a handful of top-universities asked a question to help them make progress in their field of biomedical research. – https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/261293/googles-ai-co-scientist-could-enhance-research/
Security
Gabbard: UK demand to Apple for backdoor access is ‘grave concern’ to US
(Suzanne Smalley – The Record – 27 February 2025) Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has told U.S. lawmakers she ordered a legal review of the U.K. government’s secret directive to Apple for a backdoor that could give British authorities access to encrypted data belonging to Americans. Gabbard sent Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) a letter on Tuesday saying that the United Kingdom did not brief her on the request and that she didn’t know about the development until the Washington Post reported the demand earlier this month. – https://therecord.media/odni-gabbard-uk-apple-backdoor-request-grave-concern
‘Cyber incident’ shuts down Cleveland Municipal Court for third straight day
(James Reddick – The Record – 27 February 2025) Cleveland Municipal Court is closed for the third straight day this week due to a cybersecurity incident. The court has posted the same statement about the event to its Facebook page every day since Monday, saying they “have not confirmed its nature and scope” and that “all internal systems and software platforms will be shut down until further notice.” – https://therecord.media/cyber-incident-shuts-down-cleveland-municipal-court
Australian IVF provider Genea confirms hackers accessed patients’ healthcare data
(James Reddick – The Record – 26 February 2025) One of Australia’s largest fertility services providers, Genea, said on Wednesday that data stolen during a recent cyberattack on its systems had been published online by hackers. According to the company’s investigation, the attackers accessed patient management systems that include personal information, private health insurance details, medical history and diagnoses and treatments, as well as pathology and diagnostic test results. – https://therecord.media/genea-australia-confirms-hackers-accessed-patient-data
Frontiers
Humanoid robot performs dexterous tasks with high precision using Canada firm’s new tech
(Prabhat Ranjan Mishra – Interesting Engineering – 26 February 2025) A Canadian firm has successfully integrated the new tactile sensor technology into its Phoenix general-purpose robots. Sanctuary AI revealed that the integration enables teleoperation pilots to more effectively leverage the dexterity capabilities of general-purpose robots to achieve complex, touch-driven tasks with precision and accuracy. The integration came as the company recently unveiled Sanctuary AI’s cutting-edge tactile sensors and demonstrated progress in creating dexterous intelligence for autonomous labor. “The sense of touch is a key enabler for creating human-level dexterity in robots and critical for physical AI to achieve its full potential,” said James Wells, CEO at Sanctuary AI. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/canada-humanoid-robot-performs-dexterous-tasks