Daily Digest on AI and Emerging Technologies (14 November 2024)

TOP OF THE DAY

AI Threat to Escalate in 2025, Google Cloud Warns

(Kevin Poireault – Infosecurity Magazine – 13 November 2024) Researchers at Google Cloud believe the AI threat will worsen in 2025 despite not having had the catastrophic impact some analysts initially predicted. In its Cybersecurity Forecasts 2025, the tech giant anticipates that successful malicious use of AI observed in 2024 will continue and new sophisticated uses will emerge. Malicious actors will continue to use AI and large language models (LLMs) to develop and scale sophisticated social engineering schemes including phishing campaigns. Google Cloud analysts also forecast that cyber espionage actors and cybercriminals will continue to leverage deepfakes for identity theft, fraud, and bypassing know-your-customer (KYC) security requirements. During the report launch event in London, attended by Infosecurity on November 12, Stuart McKenzie, Managing Director of Mandiant Consulting EMEA at Google Cloud, said, “AI will play a massive part of overall cyber threats in 2025.” – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/ai-threat-escalate-in-2025-google/

Advancing Open Source AI: Definitions, Standards, and Global Implementation for a Sustainable Future

(Amreen Taneja, Stefano Maffulli, David Manset – AI for Good – 13 November 2024) Open source AI is evolving rapidly, with global efforts to establish clear governance, standards, and implementation strategies. This blog explores three interconnected initiatives shaping the future of open source AI: the Open Source Initiative’s (OSI) ongoing Open Source AI Definition (OSAID in version 1.0); the co-design process to extend Digital Public Goods (DPG) Standard to better define open source AI; and the ITU’s Open Source Program Office (OSPO) work on a reference implementation for the global south. By aligning these efforts, the international community can build an inclusive, ethical, and impactful AI ecosystem that serves both innovation and public good. – https://aiforgood.itu.int/advancing-open-source-ai-definitions-standards-and-global-implementation-for-a-sustainable-future/

Harnessing AI for a Sustainable Future at COP29: AI for Climate Action Innovation Factory and AI/ML in 5G Challenge

(Celia Pizzuto – AI for Good – 13 November 2024) As the impacts of climate change grow increasingly urgent, AI is emerging as a powerful tool in the global effort to combat environmental challenges. During a side event at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, two major initiatives – the AI for Climate Action Innovation Factory and the ITU AI/ML in 5G Smart Energy Supply Scheduling for Green Telecom Challenge – highlighted innovative uses of AI to advance sustainability, resilience, and resource efficiency. During a dedicated session showcasing the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) broader Green Digital Action efforts, award ceremonies were held for each initiative, highlighting digital solutions that support international climate goals. – https://aiforgood.itu.int/harnessing-ai-for-a-sustainable-future-at-cop29-ai-for-climate-action-innovation-factory-and-ai-ml-in-5g-challenge/

Collaborative AI Governance: A Policy Roadmap for Canada and the UK

(Ann M. Fitz-Gerald, Carsten Maple, Halyna Padalko – RUSI – 13 November 2024)The UK and Canada, leveraging their strengths as trusted middle powers, are well-positioned to lead in setting global AI standards, fostering ethical, responsible and innovative AI governance. – https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/collaborative-ai-governance-policy-roadmap-canada-and-uk

QSolid and the Jülich Research Center Launch Germany’s First Optimized Superconducting Quantum Computer Prototype

(Cierra Choucair – Quantum Insider – 13 November 2024) The Jülich Research Center, through the QSolid project, has launched Germany’s first quantum computer prototype with optimized superconducting qubits with the goal of supporting complex calculations in industry and research. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, QSolid brings together 25 German institutions, with a total investment of €76.3 million (approximately $83 million). The 10-qubit system, equipped with a custom software stack and soon accessible via cloud through JUNIQ, will undergo further development to integrate with Jülich’s supercomputer, advancing toward a hybrid quantum-HPC system by 2026. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/11/13/qsolid-and-the-julich-research-center-launch-germanys-first-optimized-superconducting-quantum-computer-prototype/

Australia’s State of Quantum Update Shares Early Wins, Sets Big Goals, And Sees Big Challenges in Quest Global Quantum Leadership

(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 13 November 2024) Australia’s quantum industry is projected to become a $6 billion sector, creating nearly 20,000 jobs by 2045, according to the State of Australian Quantum report, which details the nation’s early steps in developing a globally competitive quantum ecosystem. Significant government investments, including $940 million for PsiQuantum and $1 billion through the National Reconstruction Fund, are bolstering research, supporting quantum startups, and building partnerships with industry leaders to accelerate growth. While milestones have been reached, challenges remain; Australia’s quantum strategy highlights the need for patient capital, improved IP frameworks, talent retention and greater public awareness to reach its 2030 vision. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/11/13/australias-state-of-quantum-update-shares-early-wins-sets-big-goals-and-sees-big-challenges-in-quest-global-quantum-leadership/

Malaysia’s First Quantum Computing Centre Launched Through SDT Inc. and MIMOS Partnership

(Cierra Choucair – Quantum Insider – 13 November 2024) SDT Inc. has partnered with MIMOS Technology Solutions in Malaysia to establish the country’s first Quantum Computing Centre. With expertise in quantum communication and ultra-precision electronics, SDT Inc. intends to support Malaysia’s quantum initiatives by providing secure, high-performance computing solutions. The collaboration involves key Malaysian agencies, including NACSA, MyQI, MOSTI, and MOD, to strategically integrate quantum technology into critical sectors like cybersecurity, healthcare, and finance. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/11/13/malaysias-first-quantum-computing-centre-launched-through-sdt-inc-and-mimos-partnership/

Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Quantinuum Partner to Advance Quantum Computing in Qatar

(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 13 November 2024) Quantinuum has partnered with Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Science and Engineering to advance quantum research in areas like quantum chemistry, machine learning, AI, and cybersecurity through Qatar’s first dedicated quantum research center. The collaboration will provide QC2 researchers with remote access to Quantinuum’s advanced quantum hardware, allowing them to deepen their expertise in quantum software, algorithms, and hardware. This partnership aligns with HBKU’s goal of building a strong quantum ecosystem in Qatar, addressing local and global challenges through high-impact research in quantum computing. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/11/13/hamad-bin-khalifa-university-and-quantinuum-partner-to-advance-quantum-computing-in-qatar/

SECURITY

Hive0145 Targets Europe with Advanced Strela Stealer Campaigns

(Alessandro Mascellino – Infosecurity Magazine – 13 November 2024) Ongoing campaigns by cybercriminal group Hive0145 have launched a series of attacks across Europe, deploying the sophisticated Strela Stealer malware to steal sensitive email credentials. IBM X-Force researchers reported in a new advisory today that this wave primarily targets Spain, Germany and Ukraine, and employs stolen, authentic invoices in phishing emails to deceive recipients and boost infection success. – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/hive0145-targets-eu-strela-stealer/

Wisconsin city of Sheboygan says ransom demanded after cyberattack

(Jonathan Greig – The Record – 13 November 2024) Cybercriminals have demanded a ransom from officials in the city of Sheboygan, Wisconsin this week after launching an attack that caused network issues. Since late October, the city of more than 50,000 has been dealing with technology outages. On Sunday the city provided an update, confirming that hackers gained “unauthorized access” to the city’s network. – https://therecord.media/sheboygan-wisconsin-hackers-demand-ransom

Bitdefender releases decryptor for ShrinkLocker ransomware

(Jonathan Greig – The Record – 13 November 2024) A decryptor for the ShrinkLocker ransomware has been released by Bitdefender following months of concern from incident responders about attacks involving the malware. Bitdefender published a lengthy research blog alongside the decryptor explaining in detail how the ransomware works. The strain uses Microsoft’s BitLocker to encrypt files and then removes recovery options. – https://therecord.media/bitdefender-releases-decryptor-shrinklocker

GOVERNANCE AND LEGISLATION

House AI Task Force wants to marry light touch regulations with sector-specific policy

(Alexandra Kelley – NextGov – 13 November 2024) Members from the House AI Task Force on Wednesday reiterated their priorities for artificial intelligence legislation introduced in the lower chamber, with a focus on keeping humans at the center of AI technologies and their applications while maintaining a light-tough regulatory approach. Speaking during an interview with WTOP recorded in September and aired on Wednesday, Reps. Don Beyer, D-Va., and Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., shed light on what the task force will focus on in its forthcoming report. As members of the House AI Task Force, Beyer and Obernolte both emphasized their desire to eventually advance the 14 bills the group endorsed earlier this fall. – https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2024/11/house-ai-task-force-wants-marry-light-touch-regulations-sector-specific-policy/401023/?oref=ng-homepage-river

Harmonizing the Dual Role of AI in Climate with Global Standards

(Cindy X. S. Zheng – AI for Good – 8 November 2024) On November 1-2, 2024, the 5th AI Policy Summit took place in Zurich, organized by RegHorizon and the ETH Zurich Center for Law and Economics. The event gathered policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and civil society to explore the future of AI governance. For the first time, AI for Good and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) served as strategic partners, enhancing the summit’s collaborative focus on global AI policy. This two-day event broadly covered topics ranging from climate and youth to sovereignty and standards under the umbrella theme of AI regulation, offering insights from a global and Swiss-specific perspective. – https://aiforgood.itu.int/harmonizing-the-dual-role-of-ai-in-climate-with-global-standards/

Navigating AI Standards: Perspectives from Leading Standardization Organizations at the AI Policy Summit 2024

(Cindy X. S. Zheng – AI for Good – 8 November 2024) At the 5th AI Policy Summit in Zurich, organized by RegHorizon and ETH Zurich Center for Law and Economics, experts from academia, governments, civil society, and industry brought diverse perspectives to the discussion, all highlighting the need to navigate and harmonise AI standards processes. – https://aiforgood.itu.int/navigating-ai-standards-perspectives-from-leading-standardization-organizations-at-the-ai-policy-summit-2024/

DEFENSE, INTELLIGENCE, AND WAR

DOD issues private 5G deployment guide for military bases

(Edward Graham – NextGov – 13 November 2024) The Department of Defense has released a new strategy document that gives global military installations the ability to use private 5G networks if such solutions best meet their mission needs. The Pentagon’s private 5G deployment strategy, which was signed on Oct. 16 and publicly released on Tuesday, outlined the operational requirements that must be met for DOD bases to embrace private networks instead of commercial high-speed solutions. – https://www.nextgov.com/defense/2024/11/dod-issues-private-5g-deployment-guide-military-bases/401012/?oref=ng-homepage-river

Air Force ordering more robot wingmen for its experimentation unit

(Audrey Decker – Defense One – 13 November 2024) The Air Force is buying more drones for its collaborative combat aircraft experimentation unit in Nevada to test out how the service will use these robot wingmen in a potential fight. “One thing that I recently did was approve some additional CCA purchases to equip the experimental operations unit in order to enable that experimentation to happen using real assets,” Andrew Hunter, the service’s acquisition chief, said today at Defense One’s State of Defense Business event. – https://www.defenseone.com/business/2024/11/air-force-ordering-more-robot-wingmen-its-experimentation-unit/401030/?oref=d1-featured-river-secondary

Pentagon announces new batch of drones for Replicator program

(Noah Robertson – Defense News – 13 November 2024) The Pentagon unveiled a new round of aerial and maritime drones for Replicator, a massive effort to fast-track the delivery of unmanned weapons systems to the services. Included in the batch are multiple drones from the Army’s company-level small unmanned aerial system, or UAS, program. The service had selected the Ghost-X, made by Anduril Industries, and the C-100, made by Performance Drone Works. – https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2024/11/13/pentagon-announces-new-batch-of-drones-for-replicator-program/

FRONTIERS

Shielding Qubits from the Cosmos: NIST Quantifies Radiation’s Role in Quantum Errors

(Cierra Choucair – Quantum Insider – 13 November 2024) The study by NIST highlights background radiation as a significant disruptor of superconducting qubits, with cosmic and terrestrial ionizing radiation causing decoherence and threatening qubit stability. Researchers found that gamma rays from radioactive isotopes in structural materials and cosmic rays both introduce energy disruptions in silicon substrates, affecting qubit performance and error correction. Experimental setups using silicon substrates of varying thicknesses revealed that thicker substrates, contrary to expectation, absorb more radiation, suggesting that minimizing substrate thickness may improve qubit stability. The team suggests future quantum labs should account for site-specific radiation levels and explore shielding materials to reduce radiation impact. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/11/13/shielding-qubits-from-the-cosmos-nist-quantifies-radiations-role-in-quantum-errors/

IBM Says Qiskit Executes Complex Algorithms With Record Level of Scale, Speed And Accuracy

(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 13 November 2024) Qiskit can extend length and complexity of certain circuits to 5,000 two-qubit operations with accurate results on IBM quantum computers. RIKEN and Cleveland Clinic explore new, scientifically valuable problems by combining quantum and classical resources with Qiskit; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute takes steps towards quantum-centric supercomputing. Qiskit services from IBM, Algorithmiq, Qedma, QunaSys, Q-CTRL, and Multiverse Computing to expand performance while simplifying how next-generation algorithms can be built. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/11/13/ibm-says-qiskit-executes-complex-algorithms-with-record-level-of-scale-speed-and-accuracy/