US and Japan announce sweeping AI and tech collaboration

The US and Japan have unveiled a raft of new AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and other critical technology initiatives.

The ambitious plans were announced this week by President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio following Kishida's Official Visit to the White House.

While the leaders affirmed their commitment across a broad range of areas including defence, climate, development, and humanitarian efforts, the new technology collaborations took centre...

11 April 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

Microsoft: China plans to disrupt elections with AI-generated disinformation

Beijing is expected to ramp up sophisticated AI-generated disinformation campaigns to influence several high-profile elections in 2024, according to Microsoft's threat intelligence team.

Microsoft warned that state-backed Chinese cyber groups – with assistance from North Korean actors – "are likely to target" the presidential and legislative elections in countries such as the US, South Korea, and India this year. Their primary tactic is projected to be the creation and...

5 April 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

UK and US sign pact to develop AI safety tests

The UK and US have signed a landmark agreement to collaborate on developing rigorous testing for advanced AI systems, representing a major step forward in ensuring their safe deployments.

The Memorandum of Understanding – signed Monday by UK Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan and US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo – establishes a partnership to align the scientific approaches of both countries in rapidly iterating robust evaluation methods for cutting-edge AI models,...

2 April 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

Google engineer stole AI tech for Chinese firms

A former Google engineer has been charged with stealing trade secrets related to the company's AI technology and secretly working with two Chinese firms.

Linwei Ding, a 38-year-old Chinese national, was arrested on Wednesday in Newark, California, and faces four counts of federal trade secret theft, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The indictment alleges that Ding, who was hired by Google in 2019 to develop software for the company's supercomputing data...

7 March 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

The UK is outpacing the US for AI hiring

A new report finds that the UK has been growing its AI job market faster than the US over the last five years. 

Analysing job listings data, the report by AIPRM found that – between 2017 and 2022 – the average yearly growth rate for AI hiring was 1.2% in the US. This compares to 1.22% in the UK over the same period. 

The UK's strong performance means it outpaced other major economies like India (1.19% growth), Canada (1.26%), and Brazil...

7 February 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

AUKUS trial advances AI for military operations 

The UK armed forces and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) recently collaborated with the militaries of Australia and the US as part of the AUKUS partnership in a landmark trial focused on AI and autonomous systems. 

The trial, called Trusted Operation of Robotic Vehicles in Contested Environments (TORVICE), was held in Australia under the AUKUS partnership formed last year between the three countries. It aimed to test robotic vehicles and sensors in situations...

5 February 2024 | Applications

AI-generated Biden robocall urges Democrats not to vote

An AI-generated robocall impersonating President Joe Biden has urged Democratic Party members not to vote in the upcoming primary on Tuesday.

Kathy Sullivan – a prominent New Hampshire Democrat and former state party chair – is calling for the prosecution of those responsible, describing the incident as "an attack on democracy."

The call began with a dismissive "What a bunch of malarkey," a phrase that’s become associated with the 81-year-old president. It then...

23 January 2024 | Applications

OpenAI suspends developer of politician-impersonating chatbot

OpenAI has suspended the developer responsible for Dean.Bot, a ChatGPT-powered chatbot designed to impersonate Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips.

The bot, created by “cloning” startup Delphi, aimed to support Phillips in his political campaign. However, this move directly contradicts OpenAI's policies, leading to the suspension of the responsible developer.

The Washington Post reported that, despite displaying a disclaimer describing the nature of the...

22 January 2024 | Applications

US Chief Justice: AI won’t replace judges but will ‘transform our work’

In the Federal Judiciary’s year-end report, US Chief Justice John Roberts addressed the potential impact of AI on the judicial system. In particular, he aimed to quell concerns about the obsolescence of judges in the face of technological advancements.

"As 2023 draws to a close with breathless predictions about the future of artificial intelligence, some may wonder whether judges are about to become obsolete. I am sure we are not—but equally confident that technological...

2 January 2024 | Applications

Biden issues executive order to ensure responsible AI development

President Biden has issued an executive order aimed at positioning the US at the forefront of AI while ensuring the technology's safe and responsible use.

The order establishes stringent standards for AI safety and security, safeguards Americans' privacy, promotes equity and civil rights, protects consumers and workers, fosters innovation and competition, and enhances American leadership on the global stage.

Key actions outlined in the order:

New standards for AI...

30 October 2023 | Artificial Intelligence