The US House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including provisions to prohibit the Pentagon from using Chinese-made humanoid robots due to national security and data privacy concerns, while commercial sales remain unaffected.
A social network called Moltbook, designed for AI agents running OpenClaw, allows researchers to observe millions of AI interactions. These exchanges, covering topics like religion and consciousness, reveal emergent behaviors, potential biases, and security risks such as prompt injection, while also highlighting how human intentions shape AI actions.
Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a £300 billion ($397bn) defence investment plan over four years, increasing the budget by £15 billion ($20bn) to modernise armed forces against rising threats, including from Russia. The plan includes over £5 billion for drones and autonomous systems.
Google DeepMind is adopting a cybersecurity approach to AI safety, viewing advanced AI agents as potential insider threats. They've published an "AI Control Roadmap" with a tiered defense system, including automated kill switches and using AI to monitor other AI, to manage risks like data misuse and sabotage.
Indian-American engineer Vibhav Altekar, CTO of Saronic Technologies, developed a drone boat used in a US military rescue near the Strait of Hormuz. Altekar's background includes research at UC Davis and UCSF, and roles at Intel and Twitter.
Singapore aims to become a hub for "physical AI" (robots and autonomous systems) by leveraging its stable regulations, digital infrastructure, and experience with robot deployment. The city-state announced the launch of a new research lab at the ATxSummit.
Thailand's military is establishing a Joint Capabilities Command to develop AI-driven autonomous military systems and enhance cross-domain warfare capabilities, aiming for greater precision and reduced casualties in modern conflicts.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that future wars will hinge on innovative thinking and synergy, not just weaponry. He urged commanders to prioritize artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and secure communications, stressing the need to anticipate enemy surprises and stay ahead. Singh highlighted hybrid threats and multi-domain operations, commending the forces' jointness and technological adoption.
