Rising use of AI is transforming cyberattacks in the UAE, enabling deepfakes, automated phishing and rapid data theft. Expanding digital services increase exposure for businesses and residents.
Criminals deploy autonomous AI tools to scan networks, exploit weaknesses and steal information faster than humans. Shorter detection windows raise risks of breaches, disruption and financial loss.
High-value sectors such as government, finance and healthcare face sustained targeting amid skills shortages. Protection relies on cautious users, stronger governance and secure-by-design systems across smart infrastructure.
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UK lawmaker Jess Asato said an AI-altered image depicting her in a bikini circulated online. The incident follows wider reports of sexualised deepfake abuse targeting women on social media.
Platforms hosted thousands of comments, including further manipulated images, heightening distress. Victims describe the content as realistic, dehumanising and violating personal consent.
Government ministers of the UK pledged to ban nudification tools and criminalise non-consensual intimate images. Technology firms face pressure to remove content, suspend accounts, and follow Ofcom guidance to maintain a safe online environment.
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A Grok-powered AI support tool has been added to Starlink’s website, expanding automated help for broadband users. The chatbot builds on a similar service already available through the company’s mobile app.
Users can access the chatbot via the checkout support page, receiving a link by email. Responses are limited to Starlink services and usually appear within several seconds.
The system is designed to streamline support for millions of users worldwide, including rural UK customers. Public opinion remains divided over the growing reliance on AI instead of human support staff.
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The US Department of Defence plans to integrate Elon Musk’s AI tool Grok into Pentagon networks later in January, according to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The system is expected to operate across both classified and unclassified military environments as part of a broader push to expand AI capabilities.
Hegseth also outlined an AI acceleration strategy designed to increase experimentation, reduce administrative barriers and prioritise investment across defence technology.
An approach that aims to enhance access to data across federated IT systems, aligning with official views that military AI performance relies on data availability and interoperability.
The move follows earlier decisions by the Pentagon to adopt Google’s Gemini for an internal AI platform and to award large contracts to Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and xAI for agentic AI development.
Officials describe these efforts as part of a long-term strategy to strengthen US military competitiveness in AI.
Grok’s integration comes amid ongoing controversy, including criticism over generated imagery and previous incidents involving extremist and offensive content. Several governments and regulators have already taken action against the tool, adding scrutiny to its expanded role within defence systems.
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The US AI company, OpenAI, has acquired healthcare technology startup Torch only days after unveiling ChatGPT Health, signalling an accelerated push into medical and clinical applications.
Financial terms were not officially disclosed, although media reports estimate the transaction at between $60 million and $100 million.
Torch was developed as a unified medical memory platform, designed to consolidate patient data from hospitals, laboratories, wearable devices and consumer testing services.
The company positioned its technology as a means to support AI systems in navigating fragmented healthcare information, rather than relying on isolated data sources.
Torch’s four-person team will join OpenAI following the acquisition, reinforcing the company’s internal healthcare expertise. OpenAI has emphasised privacy, safety and collaboration with medical professionals as core principles guiding its expansion into sensitive data environments.
The move follows a broader strategy by OpenAI to strengthen enterprise offerings, particularly for large healthcare organisations. Recent hires and partnerships suggest healthcare remains a priority area as AI adoption increases across regulated sectors.
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Ant International has announced a partnership with Google to support the launch of the Universal Commerce Protocol, a new open standard designed to enable agent-driven commerce across discovery, purchasing and post-purchase support.
A collaboration that aims to simplify how AI agents, merchants and payment providers interact across platforms.
The protocol establishes a shared language that enables agents to collaborate seamlessly without requiring bespoke integrations, while remaining compatible with existing industry frameworks. Google says alignment on common standards is essential for agentic commerce to scale across sectors and markets.
AI interfaces such as the Gemini app and AI Mode in Google Search are expected to support native purchasing within conversations. Users expressing shopping intent will receive curated product options and complete payments through integrated wallet services without leaving the chat environment.
Ant International is contributing payment expertise, alternative payment methods and AI-based risk management to ensure traceable transactions and consumer trust.
The company states that secure intent verification and fraud protection are crucial as users entrust purchasing decisions to intelligent agents.
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UK-based microcomputer manufacturer Raspberry Pi Holdings plc announced that surging demand for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) from AI data centres is tightening the supply of key components used in its products, leading to heightened uncertainty about future trading.
Investors reacted negatively, with shares sliding about 7.5 percent on the London Stock Exchange after the company’s warning that memory pricing and availability may remain constrained beyond the first half of 2026.
Raspberry Pi stressed that it has taken steps to mitigate the situation, including qualifying additional suppliers, developing lower-memory products and raising prices, and maintains sufficient inventory for the near term.
The company also reported that adjusted earnings for 2025 were ahead of market forecasts, supported by strong unit shipments. However, it highlighted ‘limited visibility’ for the second half of 2026 and beyond due to the unpredictable memory supply landscape.
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Körber Supply Chain and Sereact have formed a strategic partnership to bring AI-controlled pick-and-place robotics technology into automated production and distribution solutions.
The collaboration aims to overcome the limitations of conventional automation by using AI systems that analyse visual and object data in real-time and autonomously adjust picking strategies for a wide variety of products.
The Sereact solution is now part of Körber’s broader supply chain ecosystem, enabling companies to integrate flexible and scalable robot automation into their warehouse and logistics operations.
AI-enabled robots can handle unknown or complex items with precision and speed, making logistics processes more efficient and reducing reliance on manual labour.
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A Northern Ireland politician, Cara Hunter of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), has quit X after renewed concerns over Grok AI misuse. She cited failures to protect women and children online.
The decision follows criticism of Grok AI features enabling non-consensual sexualised images. UK regulators have launched investigations under online safety laws.
UK ministers plan to criminalise creating intimate deepfakes and supplying related tools. Ofcom is examining whether X breached its legal duties.
Political leaders and rights groups say enforcement must go further. X says it removes illegal content and has restricted Grok image functions on the social media.
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San Jose became the site of the inaugural Silicon Valley AI Film Festival (SVAIFF) on January 10–11, bringing together filmmakers, tech innovators and creatives to explore how AI is transforming cinema and creative expression.
The event featured AI-generated film trailers, such as “Revolutionary” and “Cosmic,” as well as panel discussions on industry trends and the economic implications of AI in film, and a competition that received over 2,000 entries.
Festival co-founder Cynthia Jiang highlighted how production companies are increasingly using AI in post-production and concept development, while acknowledging resistance remains among some traditional filmmakers.
Human and AI-assisted art appeared throughout the festival, including fashion shows that blended robotics with runway models and featured a humanoid robot performer.
The festival also celebrated creative achievements with awards, such as the Grand Prix for ‘White Night Lake’ and Best Animated Short for ‘A Tree’s Imagination.’ It premiered the feature-length film ‘The Wolves,’ directed by Bing He, who credited generative AI with enabling his vision without replacing his writing role.
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