Cybersecurity

NSA, CISA and others urge for unified approach to strengthen cybersecurity resilience

The National Security Agency (NSA) has joined the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and other partners to release a new Cybersecurity Information Sheet (CSI) titled ‘A Shared Vision of Software Bill of Materials’ (SBOM) for Cybersecurity.

Aimed at promoting the adoption of SBOM practices, the report highlights their role in improving transparency and addressing risks within the software supply chain.

By integrating SBOM generation, analysis, and sharing into existing security processes, organisations can better manage vulnerabilities and strengthen cyber resilience.

Practical risk management strategies and real-world examples outlined in the CSI support the broader Secure by Design initiative.

Authors urge a unified SBOM approach across the cybersecurity community to prevent fragmentation, lower implementation costs, and enhance long-term effectiveness.

Inconsistent or siloed adoption, they caution, could limit the sustainability and impact of SBOM as a core cybersecurity tool.

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

3D-printed ion traps could accelerate quantum computer scaling

Quantum computers may soon grow more powerful through 3D printing, with researchers building miniaturised ion traps to improve scalability and performance.

Ion traps, which confine ions and control their quantum states, play a central role in ion-based qubits. Researchers at UC Berkeley created 3D-printed traps just a few hundred microns wide, which captured ions up to ten times more efficiently than conventional versions.

The new traps also reduced waiting times, allowing ions to be usable more quickly once the system is activated. Hartmut Häffner, who led the study, said the approach could enable scaling to far larger numbers of qubits while boosting speed.

3D printing offers flexibility not possible with chip-style manufacturing, allowing for more complex shapes and designs. Team members say they are already working on new iterations, with future versions expected to integrate optical components such as miniaturised lasers.

Experts argue that this method could address the challenges of low yield, high costs, and poor reproducibility in current ion-trap manufacturing, paving the way for scalable quantum computing and applications in other fields, including mass spectrometry.

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

ITU warns global Internet access by 2030 could cost nearly USD 2.8 trillion

Universal Internet connectivity by 2030 could cost up to $2.8 trillion, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space, and Technology (CST) Commission. The blueprint urges global cooperation to connect the one-third of humanity still offline.

The largest share, up to $1.7 trillion, would be allocated to expanding broadband through fibre, wireless, and satellite networks. Nearly $1 trillion is needed for affordability measures, alongside $152 billion for digital skills programmes.

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasised that connectivity is essential for access to education, employment, and vital services. She noted the stark divide between high-income countries, where 93% of people are online, and low-income states, where only 27% use the Internet.

The study shows costs have risen fivefold since ITU’s 2020 Connecting Humanity report, reflecting both higher demand and widening divides. Haytham Al-Ohali from Saudi Arabia said the figures underscore the urgency of investment and knowledge sharing to achieve meaningful connectivity.

The report recommends new business models and stronger cooperation between governments, industry, and civil society. Proposed measures include using schools as Internet gateways, boosting Africa’s energy infrastructure, and improving localised data collection to accelerate digital inclusion.

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

Japan considers stricter crypto rules under securities law

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has proposed moving cryptocurrency regulation under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA), which would align oversight with securities law and impose tougher rules on the industry.

The regulator noted crypto issues such as unclear disclosures, scams, unregistered operations, and exchange security weaknesses. Applying the Act could bring stricter disclosure requirements, regulation of brokerages, and enforcement tools such as emergency injunctions.

The report, though non-binding, highlights crypto’s growing role in Japan. Over 12 million exchange accounts have been opened, with deposits exceeding 5 trillion yen ($33.7bn).

Around 70 per cent of users are middle-income earners, and most expect long-term price gains. Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato recently acknowledged that cryptocurrencies could be part of diversified portfolios despite volatility risks.

If adopted, the proposed changes would reshape Japan’s regulatory landscape by treating crypto more like traditional financial instruments, aiming to reduce risks while strengthening investor confidence.

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

OpenAI boss, Sam Altman, fuels debate over dead internet theory

Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, has suggested that the so-called ‘dead internet theory’ may hold some truth. The idea, long dismissed as a conspiracy theory, claims much of the online world is now dominated by computer-generated content rather than real people.

Altman noted on X that he had not previously taken the theory seriously but believed there were now many accounts run by large language models.

His remark drew criticism from users who argued that OpenAI itself had helped create the problem by releasing ChatGPT in 2022, which triggered a surge of automated content.

The spread of AI systems has intensified debate over whether online spaces are increasingly filled with artificially generated voices.

Some observers also linked Altman’s comments to his work on World Network, formerly Worldcoin, a project launched in 2019 to verify human identity online through biometric scans. That initiative has been promoted as a potential safeguard against the growing influence of AI-driven systems.

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

ECB outlines plans for resilient digital euro

The European Central Bank (ECB) has emphasised that its proposed digital euro will enhance Europe’s resilience against cyber threats and infrastructure disruptions while ensuring broad access to digital payments.

Piero Cipollone, a member of the ECB’s Executive Board, told the European Parliament that resilience and inclusiveness are central to the project. The digital euro is intended to complement physical cash, providing spare capacity alongside private payment systems.

Safeguards include multi-region transaction processing, a mandatory ECB-run app, and offline functionality to allow peer-to-peer payments during network or power outages.

The ECB also highlighted the importance of accessibility. Millions of Europeans with visual or hearing impairments or limited digital literacy could benefit from adaptive interfaces, voice commands, large-font displays, and mandatory support from payment providers.

Public institutions such as post offices and libraries may offer free assistance for those less familiar with digital tools.

Lawmakers received the ECB’s 14th update on the digital euro, underscoring the central bank’s commitment to combining security, inclusivity, and technological innovation in Europe’s evolving payments landscape.

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

Google Cloud study shows AI agents driving global business growth

A new Google Cloud study indicates that more than half of global enterprises are already using AI agents, with many reporting consistent revenue growth and faster return on investment.

The research, based on a survey of 3,466 executives across 24 countries, suggests agentic AI is moving from trial projects to large-scale deployment.

The findings by Google Cloud reveal that 52% of executives said their organisations actively use AI agents, while 39% reported launching more than ten. A group of early adopters, representing 13% of respondents, have gone further by dedicating at least half of their future AI budgets to agentic AI.

These companies are embedding agents across operations and are more likely to report returns in customer service, marketing, cybersecurity and software development.

The report also highlights how industries are tailoring adoption. Financial services focus on fraud detection, retail uses agents for quality control, and telecom operators apply them for network automation.

Regional variations are notable: European companies prioritise tech support, Latin American firms lean on marketing, while Asia-Pacific enterprises emphasise customer service.

Although enthusiasm is strong, challenges remain. Executives cited data privacy, security and integration with existing systems as key concerns.

Google Cloud executives said that early adopters are not only automating tasks but also reshaping business processes, with 2025 expected to mark a shift towards embedding AI intelligence directly into operations.

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

Coinbase relies on AI for nearly half of its code

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said AI now generates around 40 per cent of the exchange’s code, expected to surpass 50 per cent by October 2025. He emphasised that human oversight remains essential, as AI cannot be uniformly applied across all areas of the platform.

Armstrong confirmed that engineers were instructed to adopt AI development tools within a week, with those resisting the mandate dismissed. The move places Coinbase ahead of technology giants such as Microsoft and Google, which use AI for roughly 30 per cent of their code.

Security experts have raised concerns about the heavy reliance on AI. Industry figures warn that AI-generated code could contain bugs or miss critical context, posing risks for a platform holding over $420 billion in digital assets.

Larry Lyu called the strategy ‘a giant red flag’ for security-sensitive businesses.

Supporters argue that Coinbase’s approach is measured. Richard Wu of Tensor said AI could generate up to 90 per cent of high-quality code within five years if paired with thorough review and testing, similar to junior engineer errors.

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

UK factories closed as cyberattack disrupts Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has ordered factory staff to work from home until at least next Tuesday as it recovers from a major cyberattack. Production remains suspended at key UK sites, including Halewood, Solihull, and Wolverhampton.

The disruption, first reported earlier this week, has ‘severely impacted’ production and sales, according to JLR. Reports suggest that assembly line workers have been instructed not to return before 9 September, while the situation remains under review.

The hack has hit operations beyond manufacturing, with dealerships unable to order parts and some customer handovers delayed. The timing is particularly disruptive, coinciding with the September release of new registration plates, which traditionally boosts demand.

A group of young hackers on Telegram, calling themselves Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters, has claimed responsibility for the incident. Linked to earlier attacks on Marks & Spencer and Harrods, the group reportedly shared screenshots of JLR’s internal IT systems as proof.

The incident follows a wider spate of UK retail and automotive cyberattacks this year. JLR has stated that it is working quickly to restore systems and emphasised that there is ‘no evidence’ that customer data has been compromised.

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

Advanced Pilot Assistance System enters year-long trial on CB Pacific

Mythos AI has installed its Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) on the CB Pacific, a chemical tanker operated by CB Tankers under the Lomar group. The deployment marks the beginning of a year-long trial to introduce advanced bridge intelligence to the commercial shipping industry.

APAS uses a radar-first perception system that integrates with existing ship radars, processing multiple data streams to deliver prioritised alerts. By reducing its reliance on machine vision, the system aims to eliminate distractions, enhance decision-making, and improve navigation safety.

The CB Pacific, equipped with Furuno radar and consistent routes, will serve as a testbed to evaluate APAS performance in live conditions. Trials will assess collision prediction, safe navigation, signal processing, and compliance with maritime rules.

Mythos AI emphasises that APAS is designed to support crews, not replace them. CEO Geoff Douglass said the installation marks the company’s first operational use of the system on a tanker and a milestone in its wider commercial roadmap.

For LomarLabs, the pilot showcases its hands-on innovation model, offering vessel access and oversight to facilitate collaboration with startups. Managing Director Stylianos Papageorgiou said the radar-first architecture shows how modular autonomy can be advanced through trust, time, and fleet partnerships.

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