Artificial intelligence Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

Why detecting deepfakes is no longer enough to stay secure

Deepfakes and injection attacks are no longer just tools for misinformation; they are now being deployed to break the identity verification systems that underpin banking, hiring, and account access.

Bad actors are targeting the critical moments when a system determines whether someone is a real person, from customer onboarding at banks to remote hiring and account recovery workflows.

Attackers exploit verification systems in two main ways: by using increasingly convincing synthetic faces and voice clones to mimic real people, and by launching injection attacks that substitute fraudulent video into the capture pipeline before it ever reaches the detection system.

According to the Entrust 2026 Identity Fraud Report, deepfakes are now linked to one in five biometric fraud attempts, with injection attacks rising 40% year-on-year.

Experts warn that detecting deepfakes alone is no longer sufficient. Enterprises must validate the whole session, including device integrity and behavioural signals, in real time.

Gartner predicts that by 2026, 30% of enterprises will no longer consider face-based identity verification reliable in isolation, given the pace AI AI-generated deepfake attacks.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Yale expert warns against overtrusting AI health chatbots

More than 40 million people use ChatGPT alone for health information every day, and both ChatGPT and Claude have recently launched services specifically designed to give consumers health advice.

Yale School of Medicine clinician-educator Shaili Gupta warns that whilst chatbots can democratise access to health information, the risks of overtrust are significant.

Gupta notes that AI chatbots are deliberately designed to feel personal, trained to use pronouns like ‘you’ and ‘I’, which makes users more likely to treat them as authoritative voices rather than information tools.

She cautions against the ‘three C’s’: chatbots that are too competent, too cogent, or too concrete, as these are the most likely to lead patients into harmful health decisions.

Human clinicians, Gupta argues, remain challenging to replace not only because they conduct physical examinations, but also because they bring instinct, experience, and genuine relatability to patient care. She recommends using chatbots for efficiency and general information, whilst leaving diagnosis firmly in the hands of medical professionals.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Growing robotics market positions Qualcomm for next technology wave

Qualcomm expects robotics to become a significant business opportunity within two years, according to chief executive Cristiano Amon. The company is increasingly expanding beyond smartphones as it searches for new long-term growth markets.

Earlier this year, Qualcomm introduced its Dragonwing processor designed specifically for robotics applications. The chipset aims to operate across multiple robotic platforms using a scalable approach similar to its successful mobile processor strategy.

Industry enthusiasm for robotics has grown alongside rapid advances in AI technologies. Often described as ‘physical AI’, these systems allow robots to interpret surroundings and perform complex tasks more effectively.

Market forecasts suggest strong future demand, with analysts predicting robotics could develop into a multi-trillion-dollar global industry. Technology leaders across the semiconductor sector increasingly view intelligent machines as a major next computing platform.

Robotics innovation featured prominently at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where companies showcased emerging autonomous machines. Growing investment highlights intensifying competition to shape the future of AI-powered automation worldwide.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

EU launches ProtectEU counterterrorism agenda

The European Commission has unveiled a new counterterrorism agenda under the ProtectEU initiative, outlining measures to strengthen the EU’s response to evolving security threats. Officials say the strategy aims to improve preparedness, reinforce cooperation and protect citizens and businesses from emerging forms of terrorism and violent extremism.

Authorities warn that technological change is reshaping the threat landscape. Terrorist groups increasingly exploit digital tools such as social media, AI and encrypted platforms for recruitment, propaganda and fundraising.

New risks also include the potential misuse of drones, crypto-assets and 3D-printed weapons, while radicalisation of minors online has become a growing concern across Europe.

The agenda proposes stronger capabilities for anticipating threats through expanded intelligence analysis and enhanced support for Europol, including greater use of open-source intelligence. Additional research funding will explore the security implications of emerging technologies, while new initiatives aim to strengthen early prevention efforts and community engagement to counter radicalisation, particularly among young people.

Online safety forms another key priority. The Commission plans to intensify cooperation with digital platforms to remove extremist content more quickly and to strengthen enforcement of the Digital Services Act. A new EU Online Crisis Response Framework is also proposed to improve coordination between authorities and technology companies during security incidents.

Measures targeting the physical environment will focus on protecting public spaces and critical infrastructure, including investments in security projects and stronger monitoring of individuals suspected of terrorism.

The strategy also seeks to improve the tracking of terrorist financing, including through cryptocurrencies, and to expand cooperation with international partners, such as countries in the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean region.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Ocado job cuts raise AI questions

Ocado has announced plans to cut 1,000 jobs from its 20,000 strong global workforce, with roles mainly affected in technology and support. The company, headquartered in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, said the move would save £150m and follows major investment in robotics and automation.

Chief executive Tim Steiner said Ocado had completed a significant phase of investment in automation, but the company declined to confirm that AI directly led to the redundancies. At its Luton warehouse, opened in 2023, human staff continue to work alongside AI powered robots.

Analysts suggested that competition has intensified as retailers in the UK, the US and Canada adopt similar AI driven systems. Some former clients in the US and Canada have invested in their own technology, reducing reliance on Ocado’s platform.

Retail experts argued that deeper structural challenges, including changing consumer expectations and cost pressures in Hertfordshire and beyond, are also at play. Local leaders in Welwyn Hatfield have requested urgent talks as the company reshapes its operating model.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Microsoft locks Copilot Discord after AI backlash

Microsoft has temporarily locked its official Copilot Discord server after a surge of spam linked to criticism of its AI strategy. The disruption followed widespread use of the nickname ‘Microslop’, a term mocking the company’s AI push.

The backlash intensified after chief executive Satya Nadella urged the industry to embrace AI in a December 2025 blog post. Users began flooding the Copilot Discord server with variations of the term, bypassing Microsoft’s word filters.

Microsoft initially blocked the word before restricting channels and eventually taking the entire server offline. In a statement, the company said the move was intended to protect users from harmful spam.

The controversy reflects broader resistance to AI integration across Windows 11 and Microsoft software. Microsoft has not confirmed when the Copilot Discord server will return online.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Deepfake scams target Indian global executives

A deepfake video of Bombay Stock Exchange chief executive Sundararaman Ramamurthy circulated on social media in India, falsely offering stock advice to investors. The exchange moved quickly to report and remove the content, warning the public not to trust fake investment clips.

Cybersecurity experts say such cases are rising sharply, with one US firm estimating a 3,000 percent increase in deepfake incidents over two years. Executives in the US and the UK have also been impersonated using AI-generated audio and video.

In Hong Kong, police said a UK engineering firm lost $25m after an employee joined a video call featuring deepfake versions of senior colleagues. The transfer was made to multiple accounts before the fraud was discovered.

Security companies in the US and the UK are developing detection tools that analyse facial movement and blood flow patterns to identify AI-generated footage. Analysts warn that as costs fall and tools improve, businesses in India, Hong Kong and beyond face an escalating arms race against digital fraud.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Free plan users can now transfer data to Claude

Anthropic has enhanced its Claude AI chatbot to make switching from other platforms easier. Users on the free plan can now activate Claude’s memory feature, which allows them to import data from other AI platforms using a new dedicated tool.

The update ensures that users don’t have to start over when transferring context and history from competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini.

The memory import option, first introduced in October for paid subscribers, now appears under ‘settings’ → ‘capabilities’ for all users. The tool lets users copy a prompt from their previous AI and paste the output into Claude, seamlessly transferring past interactions.

The recent popularity of Claude has been driven by tools such as Claude Code and Claude Cowork, as well as the launch of the Opus 4.6 and Sonnet 4.6 models. Upgrades enhance Claude’s coding, spreadsheet, and complex task capabilities, boosting its appeal to new users.

Anthropic’s visibility has also increased amid debates with the Pentagon, as the company refuses to loosen AI safeguards for military use, drawing ‘red lines’ around mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Medical chatbots spark powerful debate over serious health risks and benefits

Medical chatbots are rapidly becoming part of digital healthcare as technology companies expand AI tools into health services. Companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic are introducing chatbot features designed to answer medical questions using personal data.

Medical chatbots can analyse information from medical records, wearable devices and wellness applications. By incorporating details such as prescriptions, age and prior diagnoses, they aim to provide more personalised responses than a standard internet search.

However, companies stress that these tools are not substitutes for professional medical care. They are not intended to diagnose conditions but rather to summarise results, explain terminology and help users prepare for appointments.

Supporters argue that medical chatbots can improve patient understanding. Experts from the University of California, San Francisco, note that the tools may clarify complex reports and highlight essential health trends when used responsibly.

Despite these benefits, significant limitations remain. AI systems can hallucinate or generate inaccurate advice, and users may struggle to distinguish reliable guidance from subtle errors.

Independent research reinforces these concerns. A 2024 study by the University of Oxford found that participants who used chatbots for hypothetical health scenarios did not make better decisions than those who relied on online searches or personal judgement.

Performance was strong when analysing structured written cases. Yet effectiveness declined during real-world interactions, where communication gaps affected outcomes.

Privacy presents another major issue. Medical chatbots often require users to upload sensitive health information to deliver personalised responses.

Unlike doctors and hospitals, AI companies are not bound by HIPAA, the US federal health privacy law. Although platforms state that data is stored separately and not used to train models, privacy standards differ from those in traditional healthcare.

Experts from Stanford University advise users to understand these differences before sharing medical records. Transparency and informed consent are critical considerations.

Medical chatbots are also inappropriate in emergencies. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath or severe headaches should seek immediate medical attention instead of consulting AI tools.

Even in non-urgent cases, specialists recommend maintaining healthy scepticism. Consulting multiple AI systems may provide a form of second opinion, but it does not replace professional medical advice.

Medical chatbots, therefore, represent both opportunity and risk. As their capabilities expand, users must carefully weigh convenience and personalisation against accuracy, oversight and data protection concerns.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Vietnam AI Law establishes comprehensive risk based governance framework

Vietnam’s Law on Artificial Intelligence has entered into force, establishing the first dedicated AI legal framework in Southeast Asia. The law centralises oversight and replaces earlier AI provisions in the 2025 Law on Digital Technology Industry.

The framework closely mirrors the AI Act adopted by the European Union. It promotes accountability, transparency, and safety in response to risks such as misinformation, copyright infringement, and deepfakes.

At the same time, Vietnam places a stronger emphasis on digital sovereignty and domestic AI capacity. While remaining open to international integration, the law prioritises national strategic interests.

The legislation introduces a tiered risk classification system. AI systems considered to pose unacceptable risks, including threats to national security or human dignity, are banned, while low-risk applications such as spam filters face lighter obligations.

The Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology will lead implementation. A national AI database will support monitoring and registration, and a dedicated AI development fund will invest in data centres and research capacity as part of Vietnam’s broader technology strategy.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!