Governance and Legislation

Joint Civil Society Letter Urging the EU Institutions to Protect Fundamental Rights in the Code of Practice for General Purpose AI Final Draft

(Laura Lazaro Cabrera – Center for Democracy & Technology – 28 March 2025) A broad coalition of civil society organisations, including CDT Europe, has raised alarm over the latest draft of the EU’s Code of Practice for General Purpose AI (GPAI). In a joint letter addressed to Executive Vice-President Virkkunen, the group expresses deep concern that crucial protections for fundamental rights have been downgraded to mere voluntary suggestions. These changes risk undermining the AI Act’s intended framework and eroding accountability for upstream model providers. The coalition warns that the third draft radically weakens the Code’s approach to systemic risks by shifting responsibility away from model developers and making critical risk categories optional. This not only contradicts the AI Act’s principles but also stands at odds with international consensus on AI safety. With privacy and democratic freedoms at stake, the letter calls for urgent revisions to ensure the Code aligns with the AI Act’s purpose: upholding fundamental rights and ensuring robust protections across the AI lifecycle. – https://cdt.org/insights/joint-civil-society-letter-urging-the-eu-institutions-to-protect-fundamental-rights-in-the-code-of-practice-for-general-purpose-ai-final-draft/

Extremist Propaganda on Social Media: Impact, Challenges, and Countermeasures

(Soumya Awasthi – Observer Research Foundation – 28 March 2025) Social media is becoming an increasingly useful tool for radicalisation and the recruitment and mobilisation of individuals for extremist activities. India, with its unique socio-political landscape, is particularly susceptible to the misuse of social media. This brief explores the challenges posed by social media extremism in India and globally. It examines the psychological and societal impacts of platforms like X, the interplay between local and international propaganda, and the limitations of existing regulatory measures. The brief makes a case for a multi-pronged strategy for addressing these gaps to allow India to effectively counter the evolving threats of social media extremism while balancing security needs with the right to freedom of expression. – https://www.orfonline.org/research/extremist-propaganda-on-social-media-impact-challenges-and-countermeasures

Brain-Computer Interface Systems, Qiyuan Lab, and the PRC’s AI Push

(Matthew Gabriel Cazel Brazil – The Jamestown Foundation – 28 March 2025) Beijing views brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) as “key and core” technologies, leading to substantial state investment for both civilian and military purposes. Qiyuan Lab, an artificial intelligence (AI) laboratory in Beijing led by a People’s Liberation Army Major General and machine learning expert, has ramped up hiring for BCI research-related roles since 2023. Current Qiyuan employees mostly do not appear to indicate their employment status on recruitment sites, suggesting that some of their work may be sensitive. Laboratories such as Zhejiang, Purple Mountain, and Pengcheng share similar objectives—recruiting top-tier talent for AI and BCI endeavors under programs such as the “Overseas Outstanding Youth Fund Project” and guided by the 2017 New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan. – https://jamestown.org/program/brain-computer-interface-systems-qiyuan-lab-and-the-prcs-ai-push/

PRC Deploys DeepSeek Across Local Governments

(Lea Thome – The Jamestown Foundation – 28 March 2025) Beijing has moved to codify its development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in domestic and

/international settings, including at the Two Sessions and the United Nations. At least 72 local governments across the People’s Republic of China have already deployed homegrown AI model DeepSeek, according to a domestic think tank. Officials expect AI deployment in government to expand rapidly with the development of new models, even though such technologies have remained limited to customer and business services in the short term. A lack of compute infrastructure and energy resources in many parts of the country constitute a bottleneck for rapid adoption of AI products to power government services. – https://jamestown.org/program/prc-deploys-deepseek-across-local-governments/

What Comes After the Paris AI Summit?

(Seán Ó hÉigeartaigh – RUSI – 27 March 2025) The Paris AI Action summit was meant to continue the work begun at Bletchley on building global consensus around the safety and security challenges of frontier AI technologies. Instead, it revealed deep fractures in international AI governance. This could hardly have come at a worse time, as the leaders of frontier companies warn that artificial general intelligence may finally be in sight, and as the necessary cooperation between leading nations such as the USA and China looks more distant than ever. But while the Summit series may no longer play the role envisaged at Bletchley, there are still paths to avoiding a dangerous race to the bottom. A more targeted governance approach focused on security risks may prove more practical, and there are important bridging roles for states to play in building consensus between the major powers. – https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/what-comes-after-paris-ai-summit

Deepfakes, policing, mental health and more: Lawmakers look to further regulate AI

(Kyle Dunphey – Route Fifty – 17 March 2025) From reining in deepfakes to regulating chatbots used for therapy or legal advice, Utah lawmakers passed a handful of laws this year that deal with artificial intelligence. In 2024, the Legislature took its first step in regulating artificial intelligence, passing a law that created a new state office to both regulate the emerging technology, while fostering innovation. The Utah Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy is intended to be a regulatory sandbox, inviting the private sector to work with the state’s Department of Consumer Protection to identify ways in which AI can be used for good, and bad. In the year since the office was created, the intersection of AI and mental health has emerged as an area that shows promise, but also requires extra regulation, according to lawmakers. – https://www.route-fifty.com/artificial-intelligence/2025/03/deepfakes-policing-mental-health-and-more-lawmakers-look-further-regulate-ai/404085/?oref=rf-today-nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Route%20Fifty%20Today:%20March%2028%2C%202025&utm_term=newsletter_rf_today

Trump aims to sign two stablecoin bills by August, officials say

(Alexandra Kelley – NextGov – 27 March 2025) President Donald Trump hopes to be able to sign two pieces of legislation supporting stablecoin in the U.S. — the House STABLE Act and the Senate GENIUS Act  — before Congress goes on recess in August, according to two administration officials who spoke Wednesday during the 2025 D.C. Blockchain Summit. Bo Hines, the executive director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets at White House, and Tyler Williams, the counselor to the Treasury Secretary on Digital Assets at the Department of the Treasury, discussed the administration’s plans to create a pro-digital asset regulatory environment. – https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2025/03/trump-aims-sign-two-stablecoin-bills-august-officials-say/404103/?oref=ngfcw_ftt_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Nextgov/FCW%20Federal%20Tech%20Today%20-%20March%2028%2C%202025&utm_term=newsletter_ng_today

What the federal workforce could look like with AI government employees

(Sean Michael Newhouse – NextGov – 27 March 2025) Artificial intelligence agents have the potential to enhance federal employees’ productivity and improve the effectiveness of services they provide to the public, but they also could expedite removals of government workers and experience a host of implementation problems, experts recently told Government Executive. – https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2025/03/what-federal-workforce-could-look-ai-government-employees/404098/?oref=ngfcw_ftt_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Nextgov/FCW%20Federal%20Tech%20Today%20-%20March%2028%2C%202025&utm_term=newsletter_ng_today

Partnership for Public Service launches AI Center for Government

(Chris Teale – NextGov – 27 March 2025) The Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit that looks to build a better government, on Tuesday announced its new AI Center for Government, an effort to promote artificial intelligence across all levels of government including state and local. The center will focus on developing AI leaders in the public sector, building workforce and talent at agencies, increasing AI literacy and allowing government employees and leaders to come together and share information and best practices about the technology as they implement it. The effort is backed by Microsoft and Google.org, the latter company’s philanthropic arm. – https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2025/03/partnership-public-service-launches-ai-center-government/404065/?oref=ngfcw_ftt_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Nextgov/FCW%20Federal%20Tech%20Today%20-%20March%2028%2C%202025&utm_term=newsletter_ng_today

Three ways agencies can prepare before AI costs skyrocket

 

(Ramakrishnan Krishnamurthy, Anand Trivedi – NextGov – 27 March 2025) As a new administration takes the reins in Washington, one of the key topics that is gaining momentum is the desire to leverage the power of artificial intelligence to advance government missions. There’s been much debate about appropriate use of AI, how it will affect the government workforce and how to use it ethically. But the key AI adoption driver that may preempt all the others is the cost of implementing these solutions. AI has been used across the federal government for many years, but the cost of implementing AI solutions escalated dramatically for a number of reasons. For one, the sheer size of the data sets associated with generative AI models means agencies will have to make sizable investments in compute and data preprocessing to fine-tune and run the large models to get the needed responses out of them. – https://www.nextgov.com/ideas/2025/03/three-ways-agencies-can-prepare-ai-costs-skyrocket/403868/?oref=ngfcw_ftt_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Nextgov/FCW%20Federal%20Tech%20Today%20-%20March%2028%2C%202025&utm_term=newsletter_ng_today

 

ETSI Launches New Security Standard for Quantum-Safe Hybrid Key Exchanges

 

(Quantum Insider – 27 March 2025) The European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI) has launched a new post-quantum security standard designed to protect critical data from future quantum computing threats. The standard introduces Covercrypt, a hybrid encryption system that secures data by allowing only authorized users to access session keys based on specific user attributes, ensuring both current and future quantum-safe protection. Organizations, exemplified by Cosmian, are already adopting ETSI’s standard to enhance security infrastructure and comply with future-proof cryptographic requirements efficiently and rapidly. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/27/etsi-launches-new-security-standard-for-quantum-safe-hybrid-key-exchanges/

 

Beyond Big Tech: The Revolutionary Potential of State Data Commons

 

(Kevin Frazier, Kevin Wei .- Lawfare – 27 March 2025) The Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE’s) use of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked widespread concerns about further integrating new tools into essential government services. Likewise, the State Department’s plans to use AI to revoke visas from foreign nationals deemed “pro-Hamas” has raised public concerns. This general rush to apply an AI hammer to anything that looks remotely like a nail risks pounding a message into the minds of many Americans: AI is bad. If that message becomes too entrenched, Americans may uniformly disapprove of even responsible uses of AI to improve government services. That may set up an unfortunate paradigm: a private sector that continues to develop AI at a breakneck pace and a public sector unable to leverage these powerful tools to enhance education, health care, and other vital services. This technological gap threatens not just America’s competitive edge against strategic rivals but, more fundamentally, the capacity of the federal government and state governments to improve the lives of Americans across the country. – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/beyond-big-tech–the-revolutionary-potential-of-state-data-commons

Can AI fix the gender gap in STEM? Here’s what the data says 

(Andrea Willige – World Economic Forum – 26 March 2025) Despite ongoing efforts to encourage more women into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) they remain significantly underrepresented, especially in senior roles. A new white paper from the World Economic Forum and LinkedIn warns that AI-driven workplace transformations could exacerbate gender disparities. However, these shifts also present an opportunity for employers to expand their talent pools by equipping more women with the necessary technology skills to gain an early mover advantage. – https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/03/ai-stem-women-gender-gap/

Gender Parity in the Intelligent Age

(World Economic Forum – 25 March 2025) Developed in collaboration with LinkedIn as part of an ongoing data partnership for the Global Gender Gap Report, this paper addresses the challenges and opportunities of an AI-driven economic transformation from a gender parity perspective. In an exploration of workforce, skilling, and innovation scenarios, the paper provides strategic insights on how women and men are engaging with AI. Raising timely reflections for industry, policy and multilateral leaders, this paper sets the tone for further exploration of GenAI as an accelerant for gender parity. – https://www.weforum.org/publications/gender-parity-in-the-intelligent-age-2025/

 

CDT Europe’s AI Bulletin: March 2025

(Laura Lazaro Cabrera, Aimée Duprat-Macabies, Magdalena Maier – Center for Democracy & Technology – 26 March 2025) Policymakers in Europe are hard at work on all things artificial intelligence, and CDT Europe is here with our monthly Artificial Intelligence Bulletin to keep you updated. We cover laws and policies that relate to AI, and their implications for Europe, fundamental rights, and democracy. – https://cdt.org/insights/cdt-europes-ai-bulletin-march-2025/

Advancing Multi-stakeholderism for Global Governance of the Internet and AI

(Sabhanaz Rashid Diya – Centre for International Governance Innovation – 26 March 2025) There are growing tensions between the multilateral and multi-stakeholder approach to governing the internet and other digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI). Recent advancements in AI have prompted debates on whether a decentralized governance model can respond to increasing threats posed by powerful, transnational technology developers. Growing strains on multilateralism can be explained by shifting geopolitical and economic power distribution between North Atlantic Treaty Organization members and nonmembers. However, multilateralism can compel policy coordination and cost reduction within the present, highly fragmented global AI governance ecosystem. Multi-stakeholderism, while not a panacea, principally offers a pathway of equal footing for state and non-state actors to influence AI governance. However, this approach is only possible if concerned stakeholders are deliberate about designing multi-stakeholder mechanisms throughout the product life cycle. – https://www.cigionline.org/publications/advancing-multi-stakeholderism-for-global-governance-of-the-internet-and-ai/

Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of AGI

(Simon Goldstein, Peter N. Salib – Lawfare – 26 March 2025) One of the great successes of the 20th century was that the U.S. and the Soviet Union never entered into total war. Nuclear deterrence was central to this feat; each of the two great superpowers had nuclear weapons. If either party attacked the other, the attacker could expect to be destroyed by the defender in a second strike. Today, the United States and China are engaged in a new kind of conflict: the artificial general intelligence (AGI) race. As AI capabilities advance rapidly, many expect AI to become the most important economic and military technology in the world. Indeed, the AGI race is often portrayed as an existential matter: Whoever wins the race will “rule the world.”. In this article, we argue that the most important element of the AGI race remains nuclear deterrence—not, as most commenters suggest, AGI itself. There are two possibilities. First, if AGI does not disrupt nuclear deterrence, then the winner of the AGI race will not, in fact, “rule the world.” Second, if AGI does challenge nuclear deterrence, then it poses a grave threat to international security, regardless of who wins the AGI race. In that event, countries will engage in high-risk strategies to try and preserve their ability to threaten a nuclear strike. If they fail, peace will no longer be incentivized through nuclear deterrence. It is therefore crucial to better understand whether and how AGI will affect nuclear deterrence. – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/nuclear-deterrence-in-the-age-of-agi

UnitedHealth removes mentions of DEI from its website

(TechCrunch – 26 March 2025) UnitedHealth Group has scrubbed much of its website mentioning its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, including pulling down blog posts and removing large sections from its website, TechCrunch has learned. According to archived copies of UnitedHealth’s website, several of the company’s web pages dedicated to DEI no longer load and now redirect to a “page not found” error. A section of the company’s career page that used to have a dedicated section for diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with its diversity initiatives, no longer appears on the same live page. UnitedHealth also removed a 2022 blog post featuring a conversation with its vice president of DEI. It’s not clear why UnitedHealth pulled down the pages, and if it represents a shift of verbiage or an actual change in its policies. UnitedHealth spokesperson Tyler Mason did not return requests for comment. The removal of DEI from UnitedHealth’s websites coincides with a broad retreat from DEI policies and programs by household names and tech companies alike, amid mounting pressure from Trump administration-issued executive orders targeting DEI programs. – https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/26/unitedhealth-removes-mentions-of-dei-from-its-website/

 

Making digital regulation work – The crucial role technical standards play in implementing the EU AI Act

 

(Robert Kilian, Dominik Ebel, Linda Jäck – OECD.AI – 25 March 2025) As governments and other stakeholders harmonise the EU digital acts to restore strength to Europe’s companies, they must also focus on properly implementing existing tech laws. The vast implementation space provided by the EU legislator has enormous potential that needs to be exploited. Technical standards are the cornerstone of EU AI compliance and the most important element for implementing the EU AI Act in practice. They are specifications of legal requirements for high-risk AI systems developed by the European Standardisation Organisations CEN-CENELEC at the request of the European Commission. Through this mechanism, ambitious requirements for AI developers and deployers are being set across sectors. They could serve as a blueprint for innovation-friendly global regulation of high-risk AI systems if done right. If done wrong, they could lead to negative conformity presumptions and lock AI providers, deployers, and suppliers into costly, perennial compliance efforts. – https://oecd.ai/en/wonk/making-digital-regulation-work-the-crucial-role-technical-standards-play-in-implementing-the-eu-ai-act

 

Using Internet Standards to Keep Kids Away from Adult Content Online

 

(Nick Doty – Center for Democracy and Technology – 25 March 2025) In an effort to block kids from online content intended for adults, some have argued that age-verification or age-assurance tools offer the possibility of simple, effective guardrails. In the brief to the Supreme Court last year, CDT laid out serious concerns these tools raise regarding privacy and First Amendment freedoms – in addition to questions about their efficacy. But that doesn’t mean technical solutions can’t address some valid concerns about adult content. In particular, two policies related to internet standards are worth pursuing right now. – https://cdt.org/insights/using-internet-standards-to-keep-kids-away-from-adult-content-online/

 

Government AI Hire, Use, Buy (HUB) Roundtable Series – Roundtable 1: Government as a User of AI

(Center for Security and Emerging Technology – March 2025) Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology and Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation, together with the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law and Policy (Tech Institute), led a series of invite-only roundtables over the course of 2024 to grapple with the legal liability questions that artificial intelligence poses, examine AI’s potential to transform government services, and consider how the government can better attract and use AI talent. This resulting report was authored in 2024 after those discussions and is the first installment of a four-part series. – https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/government-ai-hire-use-buy-hub-roundtable-series-roundtable-1-government-as-a-user-of-ai/

 

To AI or Not To AI: A Practice Guide for Public Agencies to Decide Whether to Proceed with Artificial Intelligence

(Elizabeth Laird – Center for Democracy & Technology – 25 March 2025) Public agencies have significant incentives to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) in their delivery of services and benefits, particularly amid recent advancements in generative AI. In fact, public agencies have already been using AI for years in use cases ranging from chatbots that help constituents navigate agency websites to fraud detection in benefit applications. Agencies’ resource constraints, as well as their desire to innovate, increase efficiency, and improve the quality of their services, all make AI and the potential benefits it often offers — automation of repetitive tasks, analysis of large swaths of data, and more — an attractive area to invest in. – https://cdt.org/insights/to-ai-or-not-to-ai-a-practice-guide-for-public-agencies-to-decide-whether-to-proceed-with-artificial-intelligence/

Guide to the 2025 Annual Projects for the Major Research Program on Explainable and Generalizable Next-Generation Artificial Intelligence Methods

(Center for Security and Emerging Technology – 24 March 2025) The following guide announces China’s funding priorities for explainable and generalizable AI basic research in 2025. The Chinese government is funding cutting-edge basic research on various approaches to AI, including generative large models but also brain-inspired and cognitive AI models. The guide also encourages and subsidizes novel applications of AI in physical modeling, biological and health research, and materials science. – https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/china-2025-explainable-ai-project-guide/

 

Japan’s cybersecurity shift: Adoption of Active Cyber Defence posture

(Abhishek Sharma – Observer Research Foundation – 21 March 2025) In February 2025, the Japanese Cabinet passed two bills on strengthening Japan’s cybersecurity. If passed through the Diet, it will give Japan’s Self Defence Forces (SDF) and the police powers to bolster the country’s cyber defence capabilities further. With the Active Cyber Defence (ACD) legislation, Japan intends to institutionalise new cyber mechanisms, moving beyond the earlier established limitations that restricted certain cyber operations and campaigns. – https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/japan-s-cybersecurity-shift-adoption-of-active-cyber-defence-posture

AI Erasure and Its Implications for Australian National Security  

(Guido Melo – Australian Institute of International Affairs – 21 March 2025) What if an unpredictable leader chose to block Australian access to ChatGPT? Or if the owner of a major social media platform decided to rewrite historical narratives to align with corporate interests? Without robust frameworks to safeguard digital sovereignty, Australia could find itself exposed to manipulation, disinformation, and significant national security risks. – https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/ai-erasure-and-its-implications-for-australian-national-security/

Geostrategies

Balancing Development and Digital Harms: Assessing the BRICS Digital Agenda

(Basu Chandola, Sameer Patil – Observer Research Foundation – 28 March 2025) BRICS has made strides in developing a digital agenda that promotes the use of digital technologies for development while trying to counter digital harms. The grouping has prioritised areas such as agritech and digital agriculture, technology for education, digital health, technology for climate action, and the use of data to further the development agenda. Additionally, bridging the digital divide, promoting cybersecurity, and furthering the right to privacy have been key priorities. This brief traces BRICS initiatives over the years and presents an overview of its digital agenda. It also recommends four key areas that BRICS could focus on in the future. – https://www.orfonline.org/research/balancing-development-and-digital-harms-assessing-the-brics-digital-agenda

South Korea Launches Quantum Initiative in Aerospace with Norma and Gyeongsang National University

(Quantum Insider – 27 March 2025) Norma and Gyeongsang National University have launched South Korea’s first quantum advantage project in aerospace, aiming to develop quantum algorithms for nonlinear high-speed aerodynamics simulations. The project targets exponential improvements in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for hypersonic vehicles and space systems by solving equations like Burgers’ and Navier-Stokes with quantum computing. The initiative will proceed in three phases: QCFD development and demonstration, prototype collaboration with aerospace and defense firms, and commercialization for global markets. Norma will lead quantum machine learning tool development, while the university will focus on QCFD; the project is expected to span 5 to 8 years and position South Korea as a leader in quantum aerospace innovation. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/27/south-korea-launches-quantum-initiative-in-aerospace-with-norma-and-gyeongsang-national-university/

Regulator-promoter function separation can prevent ‘space’ lawfare

(Chaitanya Giri – Observer Research Foundation) A geoeconomic witticism that has been around for some time is that, ‘the United States innovates, China manufactures, and the European Union (EU) regulates.’ Recently, both American companies, Google and Meta have complained that the EU’s proposed Artificial Intelligence Act and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are stifling their innovation and product rollout in Europe. Excessive and premature regulations have affected Europe’s high-tech innovation capacities and are one of the reasons for growing concerns in trans-Atlantic economic relations. India has a lesson to learn as it seeks to become the third-largest economy amidst significant geopolitical changes. India cannot be merely a manufacturing power as China was for a long time; it must become an intellectual property power. For that to happen, it must carefully navigate the path of advancing and regulating scientific innovations and technologies. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), the new body within the Department of Space, announced an INR 1,000 crore startup Venture Capital Fund in October 2024 and an INR 500 crore Technology Development Fund in February 2025, both in quick succession. These announcements have sparked inquiries in hushed tones within closed governmental and non-governmental circles: Is it possible for a regulatory body like IN-SPACe to finance innovation? If so, how can one rule out the appearance of (if not actual) conflict of interest when a regulator must enforce regulations against a startup it has financed, compared to one it has not financed? IN-SPACe has yet to address this nuanced perception or misperception that is circulating. – https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/regulator-promoter-function-separation-can-prevent-space-lawfare

Security

Report: Personal info on federal judges is widely accessible online, leading to safety risks

(Suzanne Smalley – The Record – 28 March 2024) More than half of U.S. appellate court judges examined in a recent study were shown to have their personal data, including home addresses, phone numbers, names of relatives and case rulings listed on people search sites. An estimated 56% of judges studied, who all work in the country’s 12 regional circuit courts, have likely had personal information listed on the sites, which are run by the largely unregulated data broker industry, according to Incogni, a data deletion company. Their research also showed that about 50 out of the 270 judges studied appear on five or more data broker sites. – https://therecord.media/personal-info-on-judges-widely-available-online

New York’s cyber chief on keeping cities and states safe from cyberattacks

(Jonathan Greig – The Record – 26 March 2025) Three years ago, Colin Ahern became New York state’s first ever chief cyber officer — a role he took on after serving as first deputy director of New York City Cyber Command and acting CISO for the city. As cyber threats targeting government agencies surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, he took steps to move state systems to the cloud and tighten security measures. Ahern got his start in cyber as a U.S. Army Officer and left the Army as a company commander at the U.S. Army Cyber Brigade, where he oversaw the creation of a specialized cyberspace operations organization. He eventually returned to government after working in financial services and as a professor at Columbia University. Ahern sat down with Recorded Future News earlier this year to discuss New York’s efforts to protect local governments from ransomware and more. – https://therecord.media/new-york-cyber-chief-on-keeping-cities-states-safe

Chinese ‘FamousSparrow’ hackers back from the dead and targeting North America, researchers say

(Jonathan Greig – The Record – 26 March 2025) A Chinese government hacking group thought to be dormant since 2022 has allegedly been targeting organizations in the U.S., Mexico and Honduras. Researchers from the cybersecurity firm ESET said Wednesday they were investigating suspicious activity on the network of a U.S. trade group when they found hacking tools previously linked to a group named FamousSparrow. Further investigation revealed the group had upgraded the backdoor tool it had become known for, called — SparrowDoor. ESET found two previously undocumented versions on victim networks. – https://therecord.media/china-famous-sparrow-back-eset

UK warns of emerging threat from ‘sadistic’ online ‘Com networks’ of teenage boys

(Alexander Martin – The Record – 26 March 2025) Online networks of teenage boys “dedicated to inflicting harm and committing a range of criminality” are among the most significant concerns for British law enforcement, officials announced this week. Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) is warning of a “new generation of young, English-speaking cyber criminals” who are “predominantly teenage boys that often share sadistic and misogynistic material, and have been seen to target those their own age or younger.” – https://therecord.media/uk-threat-com-sadistic-teenager

Defense, Intelligence, and Warfare

Turkiye–Indonesia defence industry cooperation takes off

(Awais Hanif – East Asia Forum – 29 March 2025) Turkiye and Indonesia have signed a defence deal for joint drone production, supporting Indonesia’s military modernisation and self-sufficiency while strengthening its maritime security. Turkiye, a dominant player in the global drone market, sees this as a step into Southeast Asia’s arms industry. Despite interoperability challenges, the agreement enhances bilateral defence ties and positions Turkiye as an alternative supplier amid shifting global security dynamics. This partnership aligns with Indonesia’s long-term strategy to reduce reliance on Western arms through technology transfer and local defence industry development. – https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/03/29/turkiye-indonesia-defence-industry-cooperation-takes-off/

Autonomous Battlefield: PLA Lessons from Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

(Sunny Cheung, Joe McReynolds – The Jamestown Foundation – 28 March 2025) Chinese military experts are incorporating lessons from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on the use and importance of drones and autonomous systems, which is reshaping the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) strategic planning and operational doctrine. In simulated Taiwan Strait scenarios, the PLA has demonstrated heavy reliance on drones to carry out phased operations culminating in precision-guided airdrops to support an amphibious invasion. These exercises suggest the PLA intends to mobilize multi-theater, domain-specialized operations in the event of a future Taiwan contingency. Tactical innovations, notably the use of cost-effective first-person view drones capable of precise anti-armor operations, drone swarm tactics, and multi-domain integration, are highlighted by Chinese analysts, as is the integration of artificial intelligence-driven systems. Chinese strategists emphasize the need to develop stealthier drones, robust anti-jamming capabilities (such as fiber-optic guidance), and autonomous ground logistics systems, aimed at enhancing battlefield sustainability and reducing vulnerabilities in future combat scenarios. – https://jamestown.org/program/autonomous-battlefield-pla-lessons-from-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/

US Army to work with Rafael on ‘Americanization’ of Spike missile family

(Seth J. Frantzman – Breaking Defense – 27 March 2025) The US Army is teaming up with an arm of Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to more closely develop the Spike family of missiles, including “future enhancements and Americanization” of the munitions. Rafael Systems Global Sustainment, a US subsidiary of the Israeli firm, announced the signing of a cooperation agreement with US Army Combat Capabilities Command (DEVCOM) that “aims to leverage the expertise and resources of both organizations to adequately evaluate the cutting-edge precision tactical missile systems for better alignment with the U.S Army’s evolving needs for modern warfare.”. “As the defense landscape continues to evolve, partnerships like this CRADA [Cooperative Research and Development Agreement] between Rafael and DEVCOM play a crucial role in driving innovation and ensuring the readiness of the U.S Army,” Joe Anderson, the CEO Rafael Advanced Defense Systems said in the statement. He noted the Spike system is used worldwide by 43 countries and is deployed with infantry and armored brigade combat teams by these nations. – https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/us-army-to-work-with-rafael-on-americanization-of-spike-missile-family/

Turkish, Egyptian firms team up on unmanned ground vehicle project

(Agnes Helou – Breaking Defense – 27 March 2025) Turkish defense firm Havelsan joined forces with Egypt’s Kader Factory for Developed Industries to produce unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) in Egypt, Havelsan said in a statement Wednesday, in what analysts said was a sign of deepening ties between Ankara and Cairo. Kader Factory, which is affiliated with the government-owned Arab Organization for Industrialization, will benefit from Turkish engineering expertise and licensing to jointly produce the UGVs in its facilities in Cairo, according to Havelsan. “This cooperation represents not only a transfer of technology but also a sharing of expertise and strategic vision. We are proud to be co-producing advanced unmanned ground vehicles with our Egyptian partners. This partnership marks a significant step forward in strengthening the defense capabilities of both nations,” said Havelsan’s deputy general Şevket Ünal in the statement. – https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/turkish-egyptian-firms-team-up-on-unmanned-ground-vehicle-project/

US greenlights potential $1.96 billion MQ-9B drone deal for Qatar

(Lee Ferran – Breaking Defense – 26 March 2025) The US government approved a potential $1.96 billion sale to Qatar of eight MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicles, which, if completed, would mark the first sale of the General Atomics-produced drones to the Middle East. The potential deal also includes hundreds of bombs along with scores of missiles, several radars, radios, satellite communication ground systems and related equipment, along with US technical support. “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East,” the State Department said in its public notification. “The proposed sale will improve Qatar’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing timely intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, target acquisition, counter-land, and counter-surface sea capabilities for its security and defense.” – https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/us-greenlights-potential-1-96-billion-mq-9b-drones-for-qatar/

In the wake of Hegseth’s software memo, experts eye further change

(Courtney Albon – Defense News – 26 March 2025) In the two weeks since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a directive requiring the use of rapid procurement methods and contracting tools for all software acquisition, military officials and industry executives have expressed a mix of optimism and angst about the mandate, while also calling for more sweeping reforms to how the Pentagon develops, tests and funds software-heavy programs. The March 6 memo directs all Defense Department components to use DOD’s Software Acquisition Pathway, along with other authorities designed to speed up the buying process and better leverage commercial providers. The tools singled out in Hegseth’s order have existed for years, but a relatively small number of programs actually use them. – https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2025/03/26/in-the-wake-of-hegseths-software-memo-experts-eye-further-change/

US Army wants AI solutions to protect homeland munitions sites

(Jen Judson – Defense News – 26 March 2025) The U.S. Army is looking for inexpensive but high-tech solutions, including artificial intelligence, to help protect the massive acreage that make up its sites where munitions are made and stockpiled. – https://www.defensenews.com/land/2025/03/26/us-army-wants-ai-solutions-to-protect-homeland-munitions-sites/

New ‘Space Warfighting Framework’ coming to codify Space Force concepts, terms

(Theresa Hitchens – Breaking Defense – 26 March 2025) The Space Force is readying a new “Space Warfighting” framework to explain service concepts and terms — such as “space superiority” and “orbital warfare” — both internally to its own operational planners and externally to Joint Force planners, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said today. “[W]hat it allows us to do is is lay down a common vocabulary, common terms of reference,” he told the Mitchell Institute in an online interview. “This is what really has to happen in order for us to achieve space superiority.”. The interview signaled a rapprochement between Saltzman and the institute, following his Feb. 20 ban on engagement with Mitchell by Space Force personnel — which came hard on the heels of the Feb. 19 release of a new Mitchell report calling on the Defense Department, and the Space Force itself to more clearly define the service’s role in warfighting. – https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/new-space-warfighting-framework-coming-to-codify-space-force-concepts-terms/

The Army wants to put $1B into Transformation in Contact 2.0

 

(Meghann Myers – Defense One – 25 March 2025) The Army is doubling down on its Transformation in Contact modernization model, the service’s top operations officer said Tuesday—adding more units into the program and multiplying the number of systems they’ll test as well as the funding to make it all happen. The service plans to spend $1 billion on the effort between now and the end of fiscal year 2027, Lt. Gen. Joe Ryan told an audience at AUSA’s Global Force Symposium. That’s a huge jump from the $15 million the Army spent on the first three TiC brigades in 2024. – https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/03/army-wants-put-1b-transformation-contact-20/404051/?oref=d1-featured-river-secondary

Rapid strike: US military’s light vehicles can now fire HIMARS rockets from anywhere

 

(Kapil Kajal – Interesting Engineering – 25 March 2025) Oshkosh Defense is making a significant impression by showcasing its next-generation vehicle that can fire rockets at the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA) Global Force Symposium from March 25 to 27, 2025. The defense contractor is presenting its Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires (ROGUE-Fires), an advanced platform designed to enhance military capabilities through advanced autonomous technology. This year marks the first public demonstration of ROGUE-Fires, which can fire the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Family of Munitions (MFOM) – the same munitions that the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) can fire. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/light-vehicles-fire-himars-rockets

Raytheon’s ‘DeepStrike’ autonomous launcher shines at US Army’s PC-C5 initiative

(Neetika Walter – Interesting Engineering – 25 March 2025) Raytheon’s new autonomous launcher, ‘DeepStrike,’ made a successful debut at the U.S. Army’s Project Convergence Capstone 5 (PC-C5) event, which focuses on testing future warfare technologies. Paired with its bid for a new training missile, ‘DeepStrike’ was successfully fired three times with different objectives during the event, a company official said. At this year’s event, officials are testing several autonomous weapons, including the Army’s AML system, an uncrewed version of the M142 rocket launcher, and a rival design from Raytheon. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/raytheons-autonomous-launcher-makes-successful-debut

Estonia pledges major investments in military AI

(Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. – Breaking Defense – 24 March 2025) The Estonian Ministry of Defence has laid out big ambitions for artificial intelligence in a new defense strategy released today. This AI pledge comes just days after Estonia’s March 18 announcement that it would increase its overall defense spending from 3.3 percent of gross domestic product — already above many other NATO nations — to 5 percent. The new plan out of Tallinn calls for building a “digital infrastructure” for the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF), one robust enough to run “AI solutions” for everything from intelligence analysis and wartime targeting to smart logistics and back-office administration. (Pentagon plans for AI emphasize similar areas, rather than building “killer robots.”) – https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/estonia-pledges-major-investments-in-military-ai/

Amid renewed fighting in Gaza, Israel conducts ‘advanced’ tests for Iron Dome

(Seth J. Frantzman – Breaking Defense – 24 March 2025) The Israel Missile Defense Organization, which is part of Israel’s Ministry of Defense, conducted a series of new “advanced” interception tests with the Iron Dome Air Defense System this month, the ministry revealed recently, saying “new capabilities” shown “represent a significant leap in the system’s performance and ability to counter evolving regional threats.”. The tests were conducted by Iron Dome-maker Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, whose CEO, Yoav Tourgeman described the exercise as “the largest and most significant ever conducted with the Iron Dome defense system.”. He added in the ministry’s statement Friday that “the tests incorporated new capabilities across a wide range of scenarios, all of which the system successfully handled. These new capabilities will further enhance our ability to address future threats.” The ministry, too, called it a “successful comprehensive flight test campaign.” – https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/amid-renewed-fighting-in-gaza-israel-conducts-advanced-tests-for-iron-dome/

Boosting Interoperability of Joint Forces with AI: A Unified Language for Joint Warfighting

(Richard Farnell – Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs – 21 March 2025) This spring, a new Ukrainian law—“On the protection of the constitutional order in the activities of religious organizations”—comes into force. One of its goals is to limit the influence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which declared its independence from the Moscow Patriarchate back in May 2022, but which the Ukrainian authorities still suspect of collaborating with Russia. Previously, most of the criticism of the standoff between the Ukrainian authorities and the UOC came from Moscow, which cited it as one of its justifications for invading Ukraine. But now the church issue has begun to create international problems for Kyiv from other quarters: namely, the new U.S. administration. – https://www.belfercenter.org/research-analysis/boosting-interoperability-joint-forces-ai-unified-language-joint-warfighting

Frontiers

EuroHPC Selects Pasqal to Build 140-Qubit Neutral Atom Quantum Simulator in Italy, Upgrade Planned for 2027

(Quantum Insider – 27 March 2025) The European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) has signed a €13 million procurement contract with Pasqal to deliver EuroQCS-Italy, a neutral atom-based quantum simulator hosted by CINECA in Bologna, Italy. The system will initially provide at least 140 analogue-mode qubits, with a 2027 upgrade introducing hybrid analogue/digital capabilities for more complex quantum algorithm execution. EuroQCS-Italy will support scientific, industrial, and public sector users across Europe, enabling research in quantum many-body physics, optimization, machine learning, and materials science. This project is part of a broader EuroHPC initiative to establish a diverse network of quantum computing platforms across Europe, including deployments in Czechia, Germany, France, Spain, Poland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/27/eurohpc-selects-pasqal-to-build-140-qubit-neutral-atom-quantum-simulator-in-italy-upgrade-planned-for-2027/

Quantum Computers Analyze Their Own Entanglement

(Quantum Insider – 27 March 2025) A new quantum algorithm developed by researchers in Japan and the UK allows quantum computers to both detect and protect quantum entanglement, a key resource in quantum technologies. The method, called variational entanglement witness (VEW), improves accuracy over traditional techniques by distinguishing entangled from non-entangled states without damaging the fragile entanglement. The approach uses nonlocal measurements that preserve the quantum state, offering potential benefits for quantum computing, communication, and cryptography. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/27/quantum-computers-analyze-their-own-entanglement/

AI-powered therapy shows promise in first clinical trial of mental health study

(Aamir Khollam – Interesting Engineering – 27 March 2025) We’re indeed living in interesting times, watching AI come to its full potential. What was once the realm of fiction is now shaping to be the fabric of healthcare. However, conversations about AI being useful for mental health treatment have been nothing but divisive. – https://interestingengineering.com/health/groundbreaking-ai-therapy-shows-positive-results

Top Universities For Quantum Research — 2025

(Quantum Insider – 26 March 2025) While we can unequivocally say that the following universities are global leaders in quantum research, we acknowledge that comparisons are difficult, if not impossible, and that research output is not the only measure of quantum leadership. Research quality, educational quality, educational opportunity and mentorship, while harder to quantify, are indeed facets of quantum research leadership. However, in order to move beyond a top-of-mind list, we use output as a way to add rigor and justify entry on the list of Top Universities for Quantum Research. We also include a measure of output based on the number of students at the school to create a fairer standard. One thing that is noticeable on the list is that universities with high quantum research output show signs of those other intangible qualities of scientific leadership. All have strong centers and institutes for quantum research and include top faculty. These schools also gain media attention for their work, which is noted when possible and when relevant. Besides a recognition of some of the leaders in quantum research, we can take away a few lessons, albeit anecdotally. First, there is just a general increase in awareness of quantum, particularly quantum computing and quantum sensing, that is driving universities to create centers and institutes of learning. Another trend is the appearance of many more Chinese universities on the list — perhaps a reflection of that nation’s efforts to attain global leadership in quantum. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/26/top-universities-for-quantum-research-2025/

Robots to extract 41.5 tonnes of radioactive sandbags at Japan’s Fukushima plant

(Kaif Shaikh – Interesting Engineering – 26 March 2025) Remotely operated robots are set to begin work in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant’s basements next week, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) announced on March 21. Their mission: remove sandbags heavily contaminated by radiation after the 2011 nuclear disaster. These sandbags, used to absorb water laced with radioactive particles, have remained in zones too hazardous for human intervention, where lethal radiation levels persist. Measurements at the sandbags’ surface show exposure rates of 4.4 sieverts per hour. Robots offer a critical alternative, as prolonged direct contact at these intensities can be deadly. Japanese media report approximately 2,850 sandbags still on-site, totaling around 41.5 tonnes of radioactive material, though Tepco has yet to confirm these figures. Once removed, the sandbags will be sealed in dedicated containers and then relocated to a temporary storage area beyond the immediate perimeter of Fukushima Daiichi. – https://interestingengineering.com/culture/robots-clear-sandbags-from-fukushima-daiichi

OpenAI adopts rival Anthropic’s standard for connecting AI models to data

(TechCrunch – 26 March 2025) OpenAI is embracing rival Anthropic’s standard for connecting AI assistants to the systems where data resides. In a post on X on Wednesday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that OpenAI will add support for Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol, or MCP, across its products, including the desktop app for ChatGPT. MCP is an open source standard that helps AI models produce better, more relevant responses to certain queries. – https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/26/openai-adopts-rival-anthropics-standard-for-connecting-ai-models-to-data/

National Quantum Computing Centre’s Paper Explores Quantum Computing’s Transformative Potential in Healthcare And Pharmaceuticals

(Quantum Insider – 26 March 2025) UK – The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) has published its first Insights Paper exploring how quantum computing could transform healthcare and pharmaceuticals over the coming decades. The paper identifies over 40 proof-of-concept use cases, including drug discovery, diagnostics, personalised medicine, and healthcare system optimisation, aligned with national health and quantum strategy priorities. It highlights both the sector’s enthusiasm for mission-led initiatives and the need to address key challenges such as technology maturity, integration with existing systems, and cross-disciplinary workforce development. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/26/national-quantum-computing-centres-paper-explores-quantum-computings-transformative-potential-in-healthcare-and-pharmaceuticals/

Google Executive Says Quantum Applications Could Arrive in Five Years

(Quantum Insider – 26 March 2025) A top Google executive told CNBC the company is about five years away from quantum computers running practical applications beyond classical capabilities. Google’s Julian Kelly said early uses may include simulating advanced physics problems and generating novel data, though AI-related uses remain speculative. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/26/google-executive-says-quantum-applications-could-arrive-in-five-years/

America’s housing crisis gets high-tech upgrade with 3D printed, robot-built homes

(Neetika Walter – Interesting Engineering – 26 March 2025) As rents soar and housing grows increasingly scarce, millions of Americans are struggling to keep a roof over their head. In a bid to tackle this crisis, builders are using innovative ways to rapidly increase housing supply.  From 3D printing to factory-built homes to using hemp, builders are exploring unconventional methods to construct homes faster without burning a hole in the pockets of the buyers and renters. Adrianne Todman, former acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, emphasized that the shortage of both homes for sale and rental properties is a pressing issue and that embracing innovative construction methods could help bridge the gap more quickly. “I can only imagine what our housing situation would be like now if we could have made a decision to be more aggressive in adopting this type of housing decades ago,” she said. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/builders-find-unique-solutions-to-us-housing-crisis

Drones can now navigate without GPS with Maxar’s first-of-its-kind Raptor system

(Kapil Kajal – Interesting Engineering – 25 March 2025) In a significant advancement for both military and commercial operations, Maxar Intelligence has introduced Raptor, an innovative software suite designed to enable autonomous drones to navigate and extract precise ground coordinates without relying on GPS. This new technology is expected to enhance the capability of unmanned systems in various scenarios, from combat situations to humanitarian missions. Raptor stands out by allowing drones to utilize their native cameras alongside Maxar’s extensive 3D global terrain data, covering over 90 million square kilometers worldwide. This approach solves the common challenges drones face in GPS-denied environments, ensuring they can operate effectively both day and night. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/drones-can-now-navigate-without-gps

Oracle’s AI Agent Studio: Streamlining Enterprise Automation

(Kitty Wheeler – Technology Magazine – 25 March 2025) AI agents are increasingly being adopted by large enterprises to automate complex processes across industries. For example, in financial services, procurement agents are being used to handle vendor contracts and invoices with minimal human intervention. Meanwhile in manufacturing, companies deploy maintenance agents to monitor equipment performance and initiate service requests. These implementations have led to measurable improvements, including reduced process cycle times, lower operational costs and improved compliance accuracy. However, despite these successes, scaling AI agent deployments across entire organisations remains a challenge due to technical complexity – causing many businesses to struggle to move beyond departmental pilots while maintaining robust security protocols and governance standards. Tackling these challenges, Oracle has introduced its AI Agent Studio for Fusion Applications. – https://technologymagazine.com/articles/how-oracle-ai-agent-studio-aims-to-transform-enterprise-ai

Google Study Finds AI and the Human Brain Use Similar Signals to Understand Speech

(AI Insider – 24 March 2025) A study published in Nature Human Behaviour shows that the way large language models represent speech aligns closely with neural activity in the human brain during conversation. Researchers found that the internal “embeddings” used by OpenAI’s Whisper model to represent words correspond to brain activity patterns recorded from epilepsy patients during natural dialogue. Despite architectural differences, both human brains and language models process speech by sequentially transforming sound into meaning, suggesting shared computational principles. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/03/24/google-study-finds-ai-and-the-human-brain-use-similar-signals-to-understand-speech/

US engineers create quantum ‘super highway’ for instant processor communication

(Aamir Khollam – Interesting Engineering – 24 March 2025) Researchers at MIT have developed an innovative interconnect device that allows for “all-to-all” communication between quantum processors. This system makes it possible for every processor in a quantum network to talk directly to one another, greatly improving scalability and efficiency. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/us-engineers-create-quantum-super-highway-for-instant-processor-communication

US researchers develop solar-powered nanotech mats to clean polluted water

(Aamir Khollam – Interesting Engineering – 24 March 2025) Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a groundbreaking material that uses sunlight to remove dangerous pollutants from water. By combining soft chemistry gels with electrospinning — a method where electric force turns liquid into small fibers — the team created ultra-thin strips of titanium dioxide (TiO₂). This compound already plays a big role in solar cells, gas sensors, and self-cleaning technologies, but the team took it further. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/us-researchers-make-nanotech-water-purifier

Nvidia’s GR00T N1 and the Future of Global Humanoid Robots

(Kitty Wheeler – Technology Magazine – 20 March 2025) Humanoid robotics have progressed from a theoretical concept to reality at an accelerating pace over the past decade. Once confined to research labs and science fiction, they are now entering industries across the world – from taking care of labour tasks for people, to reading human emotions of patients in hospital care. More recently, the convergence of advanced AI models, vastly improved computing power and breakthroughs in materials science, has created conditions for humanoid robots to move into more practical deployment across global businesses. Now, Nvidia has announced at its GTC event a new suite of technologies aimed at accelerating humanoid robot development, including Isaac GR00T N1, a foundation model designed to provide robots with generalised reasoning and skills. – https://technologymagazine.com/articles/nvidias-gr00t-n1-and-the-future-of-global-humanoid-robots