Governance and Legislation

Amid Federal Push for AI Innovation, Who Will Look Out for Consumers?

(Kevin Frazier – Lawfare – 14 March 2025) Every wave of technological innovation presents regulators with a difficult question: How can we accelerate further advances and widespread adoption while also safeguarding core consumer interests, such as privacy and autonomy? Artificial intelligence (AI) is no exception. The answer to that question has so far gone largely unanswered, and consumer well-being demands one sooner rather than later. Enforcement of existing consumer protection laws by state attorneys general (AGs) offers the best chance of safeguarding consumers while not duly impeding AI innovation. Broader recognition of the ongoing role of AGs as consumer advocates can allow Congress and the state legislatures to focus on different aspects of the public policy challenges posed by AI. The Trump administration is primed to speed up AI innovation. Its efforts to achieve “global AI dominance” will likely only grow in the coming weeks and months. Additionally, DeepSeek, a Chinese company, recently released a highly capable, partially open-sourced model that rivals OpenAI’s frontier models and, in doing so, sent shockwaves across the AI community and Capitol Hill. A focus on winning the AI race will likely render consumer protection issues an afterthought in federal conversations. – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/amid-federal-push-for-ai-innovation–who-will-look-out-for-consumers

A Dynamic Governance Model for AI

(Paulo Carvão, Yam Atir, Salvina Ancheva – Lawfare – 13 March 2025) As artificial intelligence (AI) evolves from a tool of efficiency to a determinant of policy and governance, a fundamental shift is underway: Technologists are no longer just innovators—they are becoming political actors. Once largely bound to the legislative frameworks crafted by elected officials, the private sector is now setting the agenda, drafting its guidelines, and, in many ways, governing the future of AI. This transformation raises urgent questions about democratic resilience and the role of public institutions. As AI systems influence economic structures, information flows, and security landscapes, decision-making shifts from public to private hands. It is crucial to develop a governance structure that safeguards democracy while encouraging innovation and preventing capture by a handful of dominant industry players. – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/a-dynamic-governance-model-for-ai

Abu Dhabi Guidelines Offer Blueprint for Cybersecurity in Health

(Robert Lemos – Dark Reading – 13 March 2025) The critical nature of healthcare and a historical lack of focus on cybersecurity has left the hospitals and the medical industry in the Middle East vulnerable to ransomware attacks, but governments in the region are requiring critical industries — including healthcare — to increasingly strict cybersecurity standards. Most recently, Abu Dhabi — one of seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates — released its second version of its Abu Dhabi Healthcare Information and Cyber Security (ADHICS) Strategy, providing requirements for every hospital, insurance company, medical device makers, and other related companies to have systems and controls capable of protecting information and operations. The ADHICS standard is a significant step toward improving care while modernizing defenses, cybersecurity firm Fortra stated in a March analysis of the strategy. – https://www.darkreading.com/cyber-risk/abu-dhabi-guidelines-offer-blueprint-cybersecurity-health

Google calls for weakened copyright and export rules in AI policy proposal

(Kyle Wiggers – TechCrunch – 13 March 2025) Google, following on the heels of OpenAI, published a policy proposal in response to the Trump administration’s call for a national “AI Action Plan.” The tech giant endorsed weak copyright restrictions on AI training, as well as “balanced” export controls that “protect national security while enabling U.S. exports and global business operations.”. “The U.S. needs to pursue an active international economic policy to advocate for American values and support AI innovation internationally,” Google wrote in the document. “For too long, AI policymaking has paid disproportionate attention to the risks, often ignoring the costs that misguided regulation can have on innovation, national competitiveness, and scientific leadership — a dynamic that is beginning to shift under the new Administration.” – https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/13/google-calls-for-weakened-copyright-and-export-rules-in-ai-policy-proposal/

Y Combinator urges the White House to support Europe’s Digital Markets Act

(Maxwell Zeff – TechCrunch – 13 March 2025) Y Combinator, one of the world’s most prolific startup accelerators, sent a letter on Wednesday urging the Trump administration to openly support Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a wide-ranging piece of legislation that aims to crack open Big Tech’s market power. The DMA designates six tech companies as “gatekeepers” to the internet — Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta, and Microsoft — and limits these technology kingpins from engaging in anticompetitive tactics on their platforms, in favor of interoperability. The law became applicable in May 2023, and it’s already had a major impact on American tech companies. – https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/13/y-combinator-urges-the-white-house-to-support-europes-digital-markets-act/

European lawmaker says EU is committed to continuing data transfers to US

(Suzanne Smalley – The Record – 13 March 2025) A key European commissioner on Thursday tamped down fears that Europe might withdraw from a 2023 agreement allowing cross-border data flows with the U.S., saying Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson had indicated he supports the compact and that Europe is committed to upholding it. After the Trump administration ordered all Democratic members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) to resign, many worried the move would threaten the Transatlantic Data Privacy Framework (TDPF), an agreement that safeguards the flow of commercial data between Europe and the U.S. – https://therecord.media/lawmaker-data-transfer-us-mcgrath

Adaptation and Innovation: The Civic Space Response to AI-Infused Elections

(Isabel Linzer – Center for Democracy and Technology – 13 March 2025) AI avatars delivered independent news about Venezuela’s contested election, allowing journalists to protect their identity and avoid politically motivated arrest. Voters in the United Kingdom could cast their ballots for an AI avatar to hold a seat in Parliament. A deepfake video showed United States President Joe Biden threatening to impose sanctions on South Africa if the incumbent African National Congress won. These are a few of the hundreds of ways generative AI was used during elections in 2024, a year that was touted as “the year of elections” and described as the moment in which newly widespread AI tools could do lasting damage to human rights and democracy worldwide. Though technology and security experts have described deepfakes as a threat to elections since at least the mid to late 2010s, the concentrated attention in 2024 was a reaction to the AI boom in the preceding year. In September 2023, a leading parliamentary candidate in Slovakia lost after a fake audio smearing him was released two days before the election, prompting speculation that the deepfake had changed the election results. At the beginning of the year, OpenAI’s ChatGPT set a record as the “fastest-growing consumer application in history.” – https://cdt.org/insights/adaptation-and-innovation-the-civic-space-response-to-ai-infused-elections/

CDT Europe Statement on the Third General Purpose AI Code of Practice Draft

(Laura Lazaro Cabrera – Center for Democracy and Technology – 12 March 2025) The European AI Office unveiled the third draft of the Code of Practice on general purpose AI (GPAI) models. The Code, due to be finalised in May, will play a complementary role to the AI Act by setting out key commitments and measures for GPAI model providers to follow in order to comply with their corresponding obligations under the Act. The Centre for Democracy and Technology Europe (CDT Europe) regrets that this final draft, which is to be put to multi-stakeholder consultation, all but removes fundamental rights from the scope of mandatory risk assessments. – https://cdt.org/insights/cdt-europe-statement-on-the-third-general-purpose-ai-code-of-practice-draft/

Recommendations for Policymakers and Public Administrators to Advance Responsible AI Governance Practices and Disability Rights

(Quinn Anex-Ries, Ariana Aboulafia – Center for Democracy and Technology – 11 March 2025) The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) recognize the unique role of policymakers and public administrators, particularly those who make decisions about how public agencies develop, procure, and use AI or algorithmic systems. These internal decision-makers have the ability to enact policies that address opportunities for and risks to disabled people, and to implement practices within governmental offices and agencies that balance these priorities. – https://cdt.org/insights/recommendations-for-policymakers-and-public-administrators-to-advance-responsible-ai-governance-practices-and-disability-rights/

IBM’s CEO doesn’t think AI will replace programmers anytime soon

 

(Kyle Wiggers – TechCrunch – 11 March 2025) IBM CEO Arvind Krishna says that, despite the Trump administration’s attacks on globalism, global trade isn’t dead. In fact, he thinks that the U.S.’s key to growth will be embracing an international exchange of goods. “So, I actually am a firm believer — I think it goes all the way back to the economists who studied global trade in the 1800s — and I think their perspective was, every 10% increase in global trade leads to a 1% increase in local GDP,” Krishna said during an onstage interview at SXSW on Tuesday. “So, if we want to really optimize even for local [growth], you got to have global trade.”. Global trade goes hand in hand with allowing overseas talent to flow into the U.S., Krishna said. The administration and its allies have called for increased restrictions on student and H-1B work visas, which they claim put U.S. citizens at a disadvantage. “We want people to come here and bring their talent with them and apply that talent,” Krishna said. “And we want to develop our own talent as well, but you can’t develop it as well if you’re not bringing the best people from across the world for our people to learn from too. So we should be an international talent hub, and we should have policies that go along with that.”. During the wide-ranging interview, Krishna touched on not only geopolitics but also AI, which he thinks is a valuable technology — but no panacea. He disagreed with a recent prediction from Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, that 90% of code may be written by AI in the next three to six months. – https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/11/ibms-ceo-doesnt-think-ai-will-replace-programmers-anytime-soon/

The United States Must Avoid AI’s Chernobyl Moment

(Janet Egan, Cole Salvador – Just Security – 10 March 2025) In January, U.S President Donald Trump tasked his advisors to develop by July 2025 an AI Action Plan, a roadmap intended to “sustain and enhance America’s AI dominance.” This call to action mirrors the early days of nuclear energy — a transformative technology with world-changing potential but also grave risks. Much like the nuclear industry was derailed by public backlash following disasters such as Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, AI could face a similar crisis of confidence unless policymakers take proactive steps to prevent a large-scale incident. A single large-scale AI disaster—be it in cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, or biotechnology—could undermine public trust, stall innovation, and leave the United States trailing global competitors. Recent reports indicate plans to cut the government’s AI capacity by dismantling the AI Safety Institute. But this would be a self-inflicted wound—not only for safety, but for progress. If Washington fails to anticipate and mitigate major AI risks, the United States risks falling behind in the fallout from what could become AI’s Chernobyl moment. – https://www.justsecurity.org/108644/united-states-must-avoid-ais-chernobyl-moment/

AI-Generated Voice Evidence Poses Dangers in Court

(Rebecca Wexler, Sarah Barrington, Emily Cooper, Hany Farid – Lawfare – 10 March 2025) Gary Schildhorn received a call that no parent wants to receive. When Schildhorn picked up the phone, the voice of his panicked son told him that he had been in a car accident and was in jail. A second call, moments later, purportedly from a lawyer, gave Schildhorn instructions on how to pay the $9,000 bond. Schildhorn was preparing payment when he received a call from his real son, who was not, in fact, in jail. Schildhorn nearly fell victim to the growing trend of artificial intelligence-powered voice scams. AI-generated voices are a problem not only for fraud but also for the legal system. Indeed, accusations of AI-generated voice clones have now made their way into the courts, and the way the courts deal with audio recording evidence needs to catch up. Under the current Federal Rules of Evidence, someone trying to introduce an audio recording of a voice can satisfy the authentication standard for admissibility merely by putting a witness on the stand who says they are familiar with the person’s voice and the recording sounds like them. Specifically, Rule 901 states that the following evidence “satisfies the requirement [for admissibility]: … An opinion identifying a person’s voice—whether heard firsthand or through mechanical or electronic transmission or recording—based on hearing the voice at any time under circumstances that connect it with the alleged speaker.” The rule presumes that this evidence will be “sufficient to support a finding that the item is what the proponent claims it is.”. In the age of artificial intelligence, this presumption is no longer tenable. The Evidence Rulemaking Committee should amend the rules to make the enumerated examples in Rule 901(b) permissive, not mandatory. The examples should illustrate circumstances that may satisfy the authentication requirement while still leaving judges discretion to exclude an item of evidence if there is other proof that it is a fake. – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/ai-generated-voice-evidence-poses-dangers-in-court

First Insights Into the U.S.-U.K. CLOUD Act Agreement

(Richard Salgado – Lawfare – 10 March 2025) The US Department of Justice recently renewed its CLOUD Act agreement with the United Kingdom. It also submitted a report to Congress, the first of its kind, offering an initial glimpse into the implementation of the agreement. The report reflects some early success, unexpected shortcomings, and several significant issues that policymakers must address. – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/first-insights-into-the-u.s.-u.k.-cloud-act-agreement

Promise versus Reality: Trends in Big Data and AI 2025

(Miah Hammond-Errey – Australian Institute of International Affairs – 7 March 2025) 2025 is shaping up to be yet another huge year for technology and geopolitics. AI has so much hype, it can be hard to cut through and get a sense of reality.  Yet, the initial promise of technology rarely predicts how it ultimately develops and integrates into society. The space between the promise and reality offers insight into some interesting trends for 2025. – https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/promise-versus-reality-trends-in-big-data-and-ai-2025/

Geostrategies

Singapore Invests $24.5 Million in Quantum and Supercomputing Integration Initiative

(Quantum Insider – 14 March 2025) Singapore launched HQCC 1.0, a $24.5 million initiative to integrate quantum computing, high-performance computing, and AI, focusing on middleware development, hybrid algorithms, and workforce training. NSCC Singapore signed MoUs with AMD and CSC Finland to establish a Centre of Excellence, advance HPC-quantum integration, and collaborate on AI, digital twin technologies, and green data centers. New talent development programs, including the Young Investigator Seed Project and Compute Pilot Initiative, will support early-career researchers and provide HPC resources for SMEs and startups. NSCC Singapore plans to expand its supercomputing infrastructure, with a new national supercomputer expected to be operational by late 2025, complementing its existing HPC resources. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/14/singapore-invests-24-5-million-in-quantum-and-supercomputing-integration-initiative/

IBM and Basque Government to Deploy Europe’s First IBM Quantum System Two

(Quantum Insider – 14 March 2025) The Basque Government and IBM will install Europe’s first IBM Quantum System Two at the IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computational Center in San Sebastian, Spain, with deployment expected by the end of 2025. The system, powered by IBM’s Heron processor, will enable utility-scale quantum computing and support algorithm development aligned with the Basque Country’s IKUR 2030 vision. The center will provide Spain’s quantum researchers, industries, and academic institutions with access to advanced quantum technologies, fostering workforce development and international research collaboration. IBM and the Basque Government are developing educational programs to train quantum talent in Spain and promote the region as a global quantum computing hub. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/14/ibm-and-basque-government-to-deploy-europes-first-ibm-quantum-system-two/

China Establishes Quantum-Secure Communication Links With South Africa

(Quantum Insider – 14 March 2025) China has established a quantum key distribution link between Beijing and South Africa, marking its first ultra-secure communication connection in the southern hemisphere. The experiment used China’s quantum communication satellites, advancing efforts to build an intercontinental network resistant to hacking. China aims to launch a global quantum communication service by 2027, leveraging quantum satellites to secure transmissions among BRICS nations. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/14/china-established-quantum-secure-communication-links-with-south-africa/

Limits of Economic Deterrence in the US-China Tech Competition

(Rogier Creemers, Louise Marie Hurel – RUSI) A week before reaching a deal, US President Donald Trump said he wanted $500 billion worth of Ukraine’s critical minerals as compensation for having supported the country following the full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022. The offer, then rejected by Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, was followed by threats to cut the country’s access to Starlink’s satellite communications system if it did not reach a deal. At the core of the US government’s pressure lays, among other things, its desire to diminish US dependency on the country that holds almost half of the world’s critical minerals reserves essential for tech development: China. Only 12 days following the inauguration of Trump’s second presidency, the administration announced a fresh set of 10% tariffs on imports from China—shortly thereafter increased by an extra 10%. China followed with a retaliatory set of measures including antitrust probes into US tech companies, 10-15% tariffs on farm products, coal, crude oil and farm equipment, and expansion of export controls on critical minerals that are essential in producing everything from smartphones to F-35s and solar panels. Trump’s latest rush to secure critical minerals in Ukraine, a country that currently does not produce them (despite having them) and cannot ensure easy access to them during an ongoing war, raises the question of how ready they are to deal with pressures from their trade war with China – particularly in realms of high technology. How quickly and effectively can they respond to, and anticipate changes to critical supply chains feeding key sectors such as defence and technology? How effective have US economic deterrence measures been to stop Chinese tech? – https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/limits-economic-deterrence-us-china-tech-competition

Understanding U.S. Allies’ Current Legal Authority to Implement AI and Semiconductor Export Controls

(Gregory C. Allen, Isaac Goldston – Center for Strategic & International Studies – 14 March 2025) Since October 2022, the United States has devoted significant resources to restricting China’s access to artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced semiconductor technologies. In the final months of the Biden administration, the Department of Commerce issued four additional far-reaching export control updates. On December 2, 2024, it released two rules that added 140 companies to the Entity List, expanded the scope of the Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR), and restricted new technology areas such as high-bandwidth memory, among other measures. In the second week of January 2025, the Department of Commerce issued the AI Diffusion Framework and the Foundry Due Diligence Rule, further shaping the spread of AI and semiconductor technologies throughout the world. Export controls remain front and center for the second Trump administration, which directed an effort to “identify and eliminate loopholes in existing export controls—especially those that enable the transfer of strategic goods, software, services, and technology . . . to strategic rivals and their proxies” on its first day in office. However, countries like the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan continue to control key chokepoints in the AI and semiconductor value chain, making unilateral action only so effective. Furthermore, the existing multilateral export control architecture is neither sufficiently flexible nor fast to allow for the kind of sophisticated, targeted controls that the United States has levied on China. The success or failure of the U.S. export control strategy is thus dependent on its allies’ ability to implement controls outside of this traditional architecture or U.S. extraterritorial regulations covering allies. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of U.S. allies’ export control authorities related to AI and semiconductor technologies and does the same analysis for China. It demonstrates that U.S. allies often do not have equivalents to U.S. export control authorities and tools like the FDPR and Entity List, but that they generally do have the capability to introduce some controls on advanced semiconductor chips and related equipment not covered by multilateral export control regimes. As a result, lack of alignment with the U.S. export control regime cannot necessarily be attributed to a lack of authorities alone. Allies’ enforcement capacity and willingness to act are also key ingredients in the implementation of effective export controls and are crucial to the success of U.S. and allied technology competition with China. Accordingly, the recommendations section of this paper addresses each of these three elements. The paper proceeds as follows. First, it identifies key export control authorities used by the United States to slow the progress of China’s AI and semiconductor industries and analyzes which other countries possess these authorities and are thus capable of implementing similar controls. It then surveys the export control policies of key actors, including the European Union, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China. It concludes by offering recommendations to U.S. and allied policymakers to make AI and semiconductor export controls more effective. – https://www.csis.org/analysis/understanding-us-allies-current-legal-authority-implement-ai-and-semiconductor-export

Salesforce Announces $1B Investment in Singapore to Drive AI Innovation

(AI Insider – 13 March 2025) Salesforce has unveiled plans to invest $1 billion in Singapore over the next five years, reinforcing its commitment to the country’s digital transformation and the expansion of its AI-powered platform, Agentforce. The cloud software giant aims to accelerate AI adoption in enterprise solutions while supporting Singapore’s push to enhance workforce productivity amid demographic shifts. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/03/13/salesforce-announces-1b-investment-in-singapore-to-drive-ai-innovation/

South Korea Launches Quantum Strategy Comittee, Allocates $15M Annually for Quantum Startups, But Some Warn It Falls Short

(Quantum Insider – 13 March 2025) South Korea launches a ₩1 trillion Science and Technology Innovation Fund, with a dedicated account allocating ₩20 billion annually for quantum startups over four years.

The government plans to train 2,500 quantum researchers to expand the talent pipeline and strengthen national quantum capabilities. Key initiatives include developing 1,000-qubit quantum computers,  expanding quantum infrastructure, and integrating quantum cryptography into national security. Industry experts criticize the lack of additional investment, noting that South Korea lags behind the U.S., China, and the U.K. in quantum funding and industrialization efforts. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/13/south-korea-launches-quantum-strategy-comittee-allocates-15m-annually-for-quantum-startups-but-some-warn-it-falls-short/

Andhra Pradesh Plans ‘Quantum Valley’ to Advance India’s National Quantum Mission

(Quantum Insider – 12 March 2025) Andhra Pradesh plans to establish a Quantum Valley in Amaravati as part of India’s National Quantum Mission, with a task force overseeing its development and investment strategy. The initiative will involve collaborations with IIT Madras, TCS, and IBM, among others, aiming to advance research in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. The state seeks to attract top researchers and global investments while integrating quantum computing into its broader DeepTech Research Park initiative in Amaravati. The project aligns with India’s ₹6,000 crore National Quantum Mission, supporting multi-institution collaborations and economic growth through quantum technology applications. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/12/andhra-pradesh-plans-quantum-valley-to-advance-indias-national-quantum-mission/

From Brain Drain to Brain Gain: How India Can Outflank the US in AI

 

(S. Yash Kalash – Centre for International Governance Innovation – 12 March 2025) The global race for artificial intelligence (AI) supremacy is intensifying, and India is well-positioned to assert its influence by nationalizing its AI and tech talent. This move is especially significant given the challenges that the United States faces in acquiring and retaining foreign-born professionals, particularly in political climates where immigration policies are subject to greater scrutiny. The reality is that the US AI sector owes much of its ascendancy to the contributions of immigrants — a fact evidenced by statistics. More than half of leading AI companies in the United States were founded or co-founded by immigrants or their children; Indian nationals, in particular, have played a major role, with around 65 percent of top US AI companies tracing some leadership to the Indian diaspora, while in academia, 70 percent of full-time graduate students in AI-related fields are international. These figures underscore a level of dependence that could become a strategic liability, should restrictive visa programs and domestic political tensions deter future talent inflows. – https://www.cigionline.org/articles/from-brain-drain-to-brain-gain-how-india-can-outflank-the-us-in-ai/

Asian democracies in doubt about DeepSeek

(Seth Hays – East Asia Forum – 7 March 2025) The release of China’s DeepSeek R1 generative AI model has prompted Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to reassess their AI governance in terms of privacy protection, national security and industrial policies. The countries have responded with varying measures, such as suspending the use of DeepSeek over data privacy and national security concerns, promoting laws centred on AI governance and leading in global AI governance discussions, demonstrating their capability to boost their domestic AI industries amid regional volatility and geopolitical tension. – https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/03/07/asian-democracies-in-doubt-about-deepseek/

Global Trends on Chip Design and Fabrication-Related Research

(Rahul Pandey – Vivekananda International Foundation – 7 March 2025) In September 2024, the then Senator Marco Rubio (now Secretary of State of the United States of America) published a ‘Made in China 2025’ (MIC 2025) report. This report has demonstrated China’s growth trajectory in the 10 strategic industries related to defence, space, agriculture machinery and semiconductors. The June 12th 2024, edition of The Economist also focussed on China’s sciences, which observed that China had outpaced the US in some foundational science subjects. In contrast, India was far behind in the highly cited research output. On 28th August 2024, the Australian premier think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) published its Two Decades Critical Technology Tracker List, which shows that China had achieved a massive jump from 3 leads in technologies in its first 2003-2007 survey to 57 leads out of 64 critical technologies list. According to the latest tracker data, the US lead had decreased from 60 to 7 out of 64, and India had jumped from 4 to 45. – https://www.vifindia.org/article/2025/march/07/Global-Trends-on-Chip-Design-and-Fabrication-Related-Research

How Autocrats Weaponize AI — And How to Fight Back

(Albert Cevallos – Journal of Democracy – March 2025) Artificial Intelligence  is transforming societies around the globe, ushering in new possibilities for innovation and advocacy. But it has also become a battleground between autocrats and activists. Authoritarian regimes, armed with vast resources and cutting-edge AI tools, have gained a significant upper hand in surveilling, targeting, and suppressing dissent. Meanwhile, activists often lack the resources and training they need to leverage AI and fight back. This resource gap leaves activists vulnerable, excludes them from shaping the future development of AI, and hinders their ability to counter oppression. Closing the gap is essential for protecting human rights and ensuring that AI evolves in ways that uphold transparency, justice, and freedom. – https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclusive/how-autocrats-weaponize-ai-and-how-to-fight-back/

Defense, Intelligence, and Warfare

The Navy needs a 180-degree pivot: Embracing autonomy and AI for maritime dominance

(John Ferrari – Breaking Defense – 14 March 2025) The United States Navy stands at a critical juncture, and as the global maritime landscape evolves, so too must our approach to maintaining naval supremacy. As it stands now, the navy is incapable of being active in three simultaneous theaters, lacks the depth in munitions, ships, and personnel for sustained combat operations, and struggles to produce the necessary warships, using outdated concepts from World War II and the Cold War. Which is to say, almost every part of the system is flawed. To address these challenges, the Navy must pivot away from large, costly platforms and embrace mass production and customizability. The service’s guiding philosophy should focus on autonomous systems, AI, cyber, electronic warfare, and distributed lethality, and include a cultural shift toward viewing software programmers as key partners for sailors. Unmanned surface and subsurface ships are at a similar development stage as unmanned aircraft were a decade ago. However, the maturity curve and adoption of drone ships will proceed much more rapidly than it has for comparable aircraft. This is due to two simple reasons: AI’s rapid development is providing a springboard that aerial drones a decade ago did not have, and sea drone production will benefit from the lessons learned from aerial drones. – https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/the-navy-needs-a-180-degree-pivot-embracing-autonomy-and-ai-for-maritime-dominance/

UK Royal Navy receives first autonomous mine countermeasures system

(Tim Martin – Breaking Defense – 14 March 2025) The UK has announced the first delivery of an autonomous mine countermeasures system as part of a €430 million ($468 million) Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation-led (OCCAR) Anglo-French naval cooperation program. In a statement today, the British MoD said that the Thales-made Maritime Mine Counter Measure (MMCM) systems are a “new capability” for the Royal Navy and comprise a 12-meter long Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) dubbed ARIADNE, alongside off-board payloads and a Remote Command Centre (RCC). “With this advanced technology, mines can be rapidly detected in a more cost-effective and safer manner than previously, greatly increasing operational tempo and eliminating the need for sailors to enter mine danger areas,” noted London. – https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/uk-royal-navy-receives-first-autonomous-mine-countermeasures-system/

US military to test Ukraine’s long-range drones in hunt for low-cost warfare tech

(Kapil Kajal – Interesting Engineering – 14 March 2025) The U.S. military is planning to test Ukraine’s long-range drones for the first time. The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has awarded contracts to four companies as part of the Artemis project, which aims to assess the operational capabilities of long-range, one-way unmanned aerial systems (UAS). This initiative, executed in collaboration with the Department of Defense’s Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment, is set against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts and the evolving demands on military technology. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-to-test-ukraine-drones

War-ready navigation: Lockheed Martin’s quantum INS to guide troops without GPS

(Kapil Kajal – Interesting Engineering – 14 March 2025) Lockheed Martin has secured a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Innovation Unit (DIU) to develop a quantum-enabled Inertial Navigation System (INS) prototype. This new technology, named QuINS, aims to redefine navigation capabilities for military operations by providing accurate location data even in areas where GPS signals are unreliable or unavailable. QuINS employs quantum sensing technology to enhance navigation and positioning. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/lockheed-navigation-quantum-ins-gps

Agentic AI adoption is a top priority for defense and intelligence leaders. Here’s why

(Bill Pessin – NextGov – 13 March 2025) We are at an inflection point in the global AI race — the defining technological battleground of this century. The rapid development and deployment of agentic AI is not just an imperative but a necessity for the U.S. to maintain its strategic edge in the great power competition. Global powers are increasingly focused on AI advancement as a key area of competition, and the U.S. will face increasing challenges from rivals who are rapidly advancing their capabilities. To stay ahead, the U.S. must prioritize the adoption of agentic AI — self-learning AI systems that autonomously handle a wide range of inquiries and tasks without human intervention. – https://www.nextgov.com/ideas/2025/03/agentic-ai-adoption-top-priority-defense-and-intelligence-leaders-heres-why/403624/?oref=ng-homepage-river

Army releases Unified Network Plan 2.0, honing in on multi-domain fighting, zero trust

(Carley Welch – Breaking Defense – 11 March 2025) After months of anticipation, the Army has released the second version of its Unified Network Plan, building off of the 2021 iteration that aimed to collapse its 69 enterprise and tactical networks into a single, shared one by 2027. The service’s updated plan, also known as AUN 2.0 and released late last week, reiterates the 1.0 version of paving the way for a unified network but creates a clearer focus on preparing the Army for multi-domain operations. Since the first plan, AUN 2.0 says, “a confluence of emerging technologies and events has transformed the world into a multidomain, persistently contested information environment that demands a far more data-centric approach to harness the power of the Army Network to fight and win.” – https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/army-releases-unified-network-plan-2-0-honing-in-on-multi-domain-fighting-zero-trust/

Canada, other allies play a key role in some military AI experiments

 

(Patrick Tucker – Defense One – 11 March 2025) Artificial intelligence could help the U.S. military speed up the process of finding and targeting missile threats, but a recent joint Air Force exercise showed that continuing cooperation through joint military alliances and partnerships is critical to that task—cooperation that is being challenged by continued verbal attacks by President Donald Trump. A December exercise that included the U.S. Air Force, as well as forces from Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, tested how allied forces using artificial intelligence and new sensor data, could accelerate operations relevant to missile defense, such as identifying or finding adversary mobile missile launchers or command and control sites.  The exercise was called ShOC-N, or Shadow Operations Center-Nellis. – https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2025/03/allies-canada-play-key-role-some-military-ai-experiments/403672/?oref=d1-featured-river-secondary

Geospatial-intelligence agency aims for more AI resources in 2025

(Courtney Albon – Defense News – 10 March 2025) The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is making a concerted effort to accelerate its artificial intelligence efforts over the next year, creating new AI leadership roles and pushing more resources toward its computing infrastructure. NGA’s mission is to turn data from satellites, radars and other sources into usable intelligence for military decision makers and operators. Given that mission and its lead role in the Defense Department’s high-profile Maven data and image processing system, AI has long been a part of the NGA’s focus. – https://www.defensenews.com/space/2025/03/10/geospatial-intelligence-agency-aims-for-more-ai-resources-in-2025/

Craft a Maritime Domain Awareness Mobile Application for Resilient Maritime Governance in the Indo-Pacific

(Linh T Nguyen – Australian Institute of International Affairs – 7 March 2025) The Indo-Pacific faces significant maritime challenges, and the solutions to that problem are undermined by insufficient maritime domain awareness (MDA) and fragmented international cooperation. A “Maritime Domain Awareness Mobile Application” featuring an open-source, user-friendly design with interactive functionalities could help address both shortfalls. The app would improve policymakers’ access to maritime information while fostering trust and regional collaboration, starting with a pilot program built by Vietnam. – https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/craft-a-maritime-domain-awareness-mobile-application-for-resilient-maritime-governance-in-the-indo-pacific/

Frontiers

AI Pioneer Geoffrey Hinton Warns of Superintelligence Within Decades

(AI Insider – 14 March 2025) Nobel Prize-winning scientist Geoffrey Hinton believes artificial intelligence could surpass human intelligence alarmingly soon. In an interview during Nobel Week in Stockholm, the renowned AI researcher shared his concerns about the future of the technology he helped create. “In between 5 and 20 years from now there’s a good chance a 50% chance we’ll get AI smarter than us,” Hinton stated, reflecting on the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence capabilities. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/03/14/ai-pioneer-geoffrey-hinton-warns-of-superintelligence-within-decades/

Next-Gen Video Processing Gets a Boost with Allegro DVT’s AI-Powered NVP300

(AI Insider – 14 March 2025) Allegro DVT has introduced the NVP300, its first AI-based Neural Video Processing semiconductor IP, marking a significant step forward in AI-driven video enhancement. Designed to deliver real-time AI processing for 4K video with industry-leading efficiency, the NVP300 optimizes silicon area and power consumption, making it ideal for embedded applications. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/03/14/next-gen-video-processing-gets-a-boost-with-allegro-dvts-ai-powered-nvp300/

Oxford Instruments, OQC, and Quantum Machines to Reveal Open Quantum Computing Platform at APS Global Physics Summit 2025

(Quantum Insider – 14 March 2025) Oxford Instruments NanoScience, Oxford Quantum Circuits, and Quantum Machines are launching the Architect platform: an open-architecture quantum computing system that integrates OQC’s Lucy Gen2 processor, Quantum Machines’ OPX1000 controller, and Oxford Instruments’ ProteoxMX dilution refrigerator. The platform addresses key barriers in quantum computing by providing hands-on access to real hardware, allowing users to modify, upgrade, and interact with every layer of the quantum stack for skills development and research. Each component has been independently validated, with OQC’s Lucy Gen2 processor demonstrating 98% uptime in cloud operations, Quantum Machines’ OPX1000 proving rapid deployment at the University of Glasgow, and ProteoxMX ensuring optimal cryogenic performance. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/14/oxford-instruments-oqc-and-quantum-machines-to-reveal-open-quantum-computing-platform-at-aps-global-physics-summit-2025/

SEEQC Installs Cross-Qubit Scaling Platform at UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre

(Quantum Insider – 14 March 2025) SEEQC is installing a cross-qubit scaling platform at the National Quantum Computing Centre in Oxfordshire, making it the first deployment of its kind in the UK. The platform uses Single Flux Quantum digital logic to enhance quantum computing control systems, addressing scalability and efficiency challenges. SEEQC, which recently secured $30 million in funding, partners with major industry players and is focused on transitioning quantum computing from research to scalable, enterprise-ready systems. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/14/seeqc-installs-cross-qubit-scaling-platform-at-uks-national-quantum-computing-centre/

Robots to soon require exercises like humans for more strength, lifelike agility

(Prabhat Ranjan Mishra – Interesting Engineering – 14 March 2025) According to a study, robots built with lab-grown skeletal muscle tissue could require physical exercises similar to those of humans. Called biohybrid robots, these innovations can achieve lifelike agility with exercises like human workouts. A new study from China concluded that physical training of artificial muscles during their growth phase can double contraction strength. It can also enable biohybrid caterpillar-bot to move much faster than conventional processes. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed an electromechanical co-stimulation system to boost the effectiveness and performance of artificial skeletal muscle tissues. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/robots-to-require-exercises-like-humans

Infleqtion Secures $6.2M ARPA-E Award to Advance Quantum-Powered Energy Grid Optimization

Infleqtion has secured $6.2 million in ARPA-E funding to develop quantum-enhanced solutions for optimizing energy grids, marking the first-ever quantum technology award from the agency. The company’s ENCODE project, in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory, EPRI, and NREL, aims to integrate quantum computing into power grid optimization to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness. By leveraging quantum algorithms, Infleqtion seeks to enhance solution accuracy and speed for grid management, potentially reducing operational costs and supporting a more sustainable energy infrastructure. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/13/infleqtion-secures-6-2m-arpa-e-award-to-advance-quantum-powered-energy-grid-optimization/

Lockheed Martin, Q-CTRL, and AOSense Partner to Develop Quantum-Enabled Navigation System for GPS-Denied Environments

(Quantum Insider – 13 March 2025) Lockheed Martin announced they have secured DIU contract to prototype a quantum-enabled Inertial Navigation System (QuINS) to provide precise navigation without GPS, addressing vulnerabilities in contested environments. Lockheed will partner with with Q-CTRL for quantum control expertise and AOSense for high-performance quantum sensors in hopes of transitioning quantum navigation from research to real-world deployment. The initial phase of the contract will test QuINS in real-world conditions, with the goal of enhancing military navigation and potentially informing future civilian navigation technologies. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/13/lockheed-martin-q-ctrl-and-aosense-partner-to-develop-quantum-enabled-navigation-system-for-gps-denied-environments/

World’s 1st tech for printing high-resolution 3D microstructures created

(Neetika Walter – Interesting Engineering – 13 March 2025) In a first, scientists have developed a technology to print high-resolution 3D microstructures using MXene, a two-dimensional nanomaterial consisting of alternating metal and carbon layers. Discovered in the U.S. in 2011, MXene is often referred to as the “dream material” due to its high electrical conductivity and strong electromagnetic shielding abilities. Commonly used in high-efficiency batteries and electromagnetic shielding, MXene had never been applied to 3D printing due to several challenges. To address this, the Smart 3D Printing Research Team at KERI, led by Dr. Seol Seung-kwon, introduced a unique technique called the Meniscus method. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/scientists-use-mxene-to-3d-print-microstructures

Quantum Internet Alliance Announces QNodeOS, the First Operating System for Quantum Networks

(Quantum Insider – 12 March 2025) Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA) researchers developed QNodeOS, the first operating system for quantum networks, enabling programmable and executable quantum applications across various hardware platforms. QNodeOS removes barriers between networking hardware and software, allowing developers to create quantum network applications without needing system-specific code, similar to classical operating systems. The operating system supports multiple quantum hardware architectures, demonstrated by successful integration with both trapped ion processors and color center-based systems. QIA plans to deploy QNodeOS on the Quantum Network Explorer, providing broader access for researchers and developers to experiment and advance quantum networking technology. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/12/quantum-internet-alliance-announces-qnodeos-the-first-operating-system-for-quantum-networks/

Google DeepMind unveils new AI models for controlling robots

(TechCrunch – 12 March 2025) Google DeepMind, Google’s AI research lab, on Wednesday announced new AI models called Gemini Robotics designed to enable real-world machines to interact with objects, navigate environments, and more. – https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/12/google-deepmind-unveils-new-ai-models-for-controlling-robots/

UK’s robotic ‘Golf Bag’ fleet to take a swing at dangerous work, keeping humans safe

(Jijo Malayil – Interesting Engineering – 11 March 2025) In the United Kingdom, robotic systems could soon replace humans in hazardous environments involving chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) threats. A collaboration involving Oxford Dynamics, Createc, Autonomous Devices, and the University of Bristol has secured over $2.5 million (£2 million) in funding from two government departments to develop autonomous solutions for high-risk situations. The advanced suite of technologies, including a robot fleet, aims to remove humans from hazardous tasks while processing complex data in real time. The UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) plans to use these tools for environmental remediation and recovery efforts. Beyond this, the innovations could address challenges in UK defense and other sectors while supporting over 100 specialist jobs. “It is an example of how the work of Defense, Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is delivering science and technology advantage across Government and ensuring that defense and security are prepared for the future,” said a statement from the UK government. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/uk-autonomous-robot-fleet-replace-humans