The UK government has appointed academic and industry experts as members of the Frontier AI Taskforce’s external advisory board. The new appointees will support the task force’s mission to identify artificial intelligence systems that could threaten public safety and global security, according to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Yoshua Bengio, a Turing Award...
Category: General News
Report: China to Raise $41B Fund to Develop Advanced Chips
The China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, also known as the Big Fund, is planning to launch its third investment initiative supporting the country’s development of advanced semiconductors. People familiar with the matter told Reuters that China’s state-owned fund aims to generate investments worth $41 billion, a significant increase compared to the previous funds worth...
Poland Boosts Naval Strike Capability With Kongsberg Missiles Worth $1.49B
Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has won a $1.49 billion contract to supply Poland with four Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System squadrons. Both land- and sea-based platforms can launch the NSM fifth-generation strike missile, for delivery to or already in use in 12 countries. It was initially developed for the Norwegian Navy. The NSM...
Jordan Steps Up Naval Security Role in the Middle East
Jordan has taken another step toward enhancing its role in naval security in the Middle East, with the Royal Jordanian Navy’s membership in the International Maritime Security Construct as its latest initiative. Jordan is also a member of the 38-nation Combined Maritime Forces, another Mideast-based naval security partnership in the region’s major international shipping lanes. CMF’s...
UK Cyber Chief Urges Developers to Secure AI Tech
Security should be a core requirement in developing artificial intelligence capabilities, according to Lindy Cameron, CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre in the U.K. Appearing as a keynote speaker at the recent Chatham House Cyber 2023 conference, Cameron called on developers to anticipate security risks and embed mitigating measures when designing AI tools, the...
UK Outlines Key Objectives of AI Safety Summit in November
The UK government has outlined its core objectives for the Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit, which will be held on Nov. 1 and 2 at Bletchley Park in England. The summit will gather select countries and various technology, academic and nonprofit groups to discuss the safe advancement of AI. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology...
Sweden Beefs Up Measures Against Foreign Disinformation Campaigns
Sweden’s Ministry of Civil Defence has announced an additional function and possibly more funding for the Psychological Defence Agency created earlier this year to counter malicious foreign disinformation campaigns against the country. Civil Defence Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin told reporters on Aug. 29 that the government plans to add a $720,000 budget annually to the agency...
US Sanctions Fundraisers of North Korea Weapons Program
The United States has added to its sanctions list two individuals and one Russian company for their involvement in generating funds for North Korea’s development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed the sanctions on Moscow-based company Intellekt, Russian national Sergey Mikhaylovich Kozlov...
Japan’s Defense Ministry Requests $52.9B for 2024 Military Modernization Plans
Japan’s Ministry of Defense has submitted a $52.9 billion budget request for the fiscal year 2024 that outlines the country’s military modernization objectives. The spending plan, which requires the Finance Ministry’s approval, details the Japanese Armed Forces’ wish to strengthen its warfare capabilities across several domains, Defense News reported. The shopping list includes the acquisition...
US OKs $80M Arms Shipment to Boost Taiwan’s Self-Defense
Washington has cleared $80 million to fund the shipment of military supplies and services to Taiwan under the Department of State’s Foreign Military Financing program. A CNN report said that according to a letter the department addressed to Congress, the approved transfer of equipment under FMF, a program normally reserved for sovereign nations, would bolster...