Economic

Deepfake technology fuels new harassment risks

A growing threat of AI-generated media is reshaping workplace harassment, with deepfakes used to impersonate colleagues and circulate fabricated explicit content in the US. Recent studies found that almost all deepfakes were sexually explicit by 2023, often targeting women.

Organisations risk liability under existing laws if deepfake incidents create hostile work environments. New legislation like the TAKE IT DOWN Act and Florida’s Brooke’s Law now mandates rapid removal of non-consensual intimate imagery.

Employers are also bracing for proposed rules requiring strict authentication of AI-generated evidence in legal proceedings. Industry experts advise an urgent review of harassment and acceptable use policies, clear incident response plans and targeted training for HR, legal and IT teams.

Protective measures include auditing insurance coverage for synthetic media claims and staying abreast of evolving state and federal regulations. Forward-looking employers already embed deepfake awareness into their harassment prevention and cybersecurity training to safeguard workplace dignity.

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Microsoft begins password deletion in six weeks

Microsoft has announced that it will begin deleting saved passwords from its Authenticator app in six weeks, urging users to shift to more secure passkeys. The company confirmed that by August 2025, saved passwords will no longer be accessible, marking a decisive move away from traditional logins.

Users can transition their credentials to Microsoft Edge or adopt passkeys, which are less vulnerable to phishing and breaches. Despite growing risks, Google is making similar recommendations as most users still rely on passwords or outdated two-factor authentication.

The changes reflect a broader industry push to phase out passwords entirely, citing their inherent insecurity and the surge in credential-based attacks. Microsoft also warned that attackers are intensifying efforts to exploit passwords before their relevance fades.

Authenticator will continue supporting passkeys, but users must keep it enabled as their passkey provider. Microsoft’s message is clear: act now to secure your accounts before password support disappears.

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Meta AI adds pop-up warning after users share sensitive info

Meta has introduced a new pop-up in its Meta AI app, alerting users that any prompts they share may be made public. While AI chat interactions are rarely private by design, many users appeared unaware that their conversations could be published for others to see.

The Discovery feed in the Meta AI app had previously featured conversations that included intimate details—such as break-up confessions, attempts at self-diagnosis, and private photo edits.

According to multiple reports last week, these were often shared unknowingly by users who may not have realised the implications of the app’s sharing functions. Mashable confirmed this by finding such examples directly in the feed.

Now, when a user taps the ‘Share’ button on a Meta AI conversation, a new warning appears: ‘Prompts you post are public and visible to everyone. Your prompts may be suggested by Meta on other Meta apps. Avoid sharing personal or sensitive information.’ A ‘Post to feed’ button then appears below.

Although the sharing step has always required users to confirm, Business Insider reports that the feature wasn’t clearly explained—leading some users to publish their conversations unintentionally. The new alert aims to clarify that process.

As of this week, Meta AI’s Discovery feed features mostly AI-generated images and more generic prompts, often from official Meta accounts. For users concerned about privacy, there is an option in the app’s settings to opt out of the Discovery feed altogether.

Still, experts advise against entering personal or sensitive information into AI chatbots, including Meta AI. Adjusting privacy settings and avoiding the ‘Share’ feature are the best ways to protect your data.

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Plumbing still safe as AI replaces office jobs, says AI pioneer

Nobel Prize-winning scientist Geoffrey Hinton, often called the ‘Godfather of AI,’ has warned that many intellectual jobs are at risk of being replaced by AI—while manual trades like plumbing may remain safe for years to come.

Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Hinton predicted that AI will eventually surpass human capabilities across most fields, but said it will take far longer to master physical skills. ‘A good bet would be to be a plumber,’ he noted, citing the complexity of physical manipulation as a barrier for AI.

Hinton, known for his pioneering work on neural networks, said ‘mundane intellectual labour’ would be among the first to go. ‘AI is just going to replace everybody,’ he said, naming paralegals and call centre workers as particularly vulnerable.

He added that while highly skilled roles or those in sectors with overwhelming demand—like healthcare—may endure, most jobs are unlikely to escape the wave of disruption. ‘Most jobs, I think, are not like that,’ he said, forecasting widespread upheaval in the labour market.

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Google warns against weak passwords amid £12bn scams

Gmail users are being urged to upgrade their security as online scams continue to rise sharply, with cyber criminals stealing over £12 billion in the past year alone. Google is warning that simple passwords leave people vulnerable to phishing and account takeovers.

To combat the threat, users are encouraged to switch to passkeys or use ‘Sign in with Google’, both of which offer stronger protections through fingerprint, face ID or PIN verification. Over 60% of Baby Boomers and Gen X users still rely on weak passwords, increasing their exposure to attacks.

Despite the availability of secure alternatives, only 30% of users reportedly use them daily. Gen Z is leading the shift by adopting newer tools, bypassing outdated security habits altogether.

Google recommends adding 2-Step Verification for those unwilling to leave passwords behind. With scams growing more sophisticated, extra security measures are no longer optional, they are essential.

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JPMorgan moves deeper into crypto with new JPMD trademark

JPMorgan Chase has filed a trademark application in the US for ‘JPMD’, a name set to cover a wide range of cryptocurrency-related financial services. The new trademark covers digital asset trading, payments, transfers, custody, brokerage, and real-time token transactions.

The move indicates the banking giant may be preparing to deepen its involvement in blockchain-powered financial infrastructure.

The filing follows recent developments in JPMorgan’s blockchain division, Kinexys. It successfully tested a transaction involving tokenised US Treasuries (OUSG) via Ondo Finance, with Chainlink’s CRE facilitating asset movement.

Despite CEO Jamie Dimon’s ongoing scepticism toward Bitcoin, the bank appears to be adapting to the digital asset economy. Dimon stated he would allow clients to access Bitcoin, though JPMorgan would not provide custody services for the asset.

With BTC currently hovering around $107,000, the bank’s strategic branding and blockchain experimentation suggest a growing, if cautious, embrace of crypto services in traditional finance.

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Brazil lawmaker pushes to scrap crypto tax on Bitcoin holders

Brazilian lawmaker Eros Biondini has introduced a draft bill aiming to eliminate cryptocurrency taxes, especially for those holding Bitcoin as a long-term store of value. The proposal seeks to repeal clauses in the tax code and a 2023 law that currently require income tax on crypto profits.

The bill will be reviewed by a committee in the Chamber of Deputies before potentially moving to the Senate and the President, who both hold veto powers.

Biondini argues that new taxes on financial transactions, including foreign exchange and insurance, are poorly timed amid economic fragility. He highlights that Brazil’s tax burden reached its highest in 15 years, amounting to 32.32% of GDP in 2024.

The lawmaker criticised the government for opposing crypto adoption, claiming that existing and proposed tax laws unfairly penalise people seeking safe, sovereign stores of value.

Previously, Biondini also pushed for formal recognition of Bitcoin as a strategic store of value in Brazil. His earlier proposal would exempt Bitcoin holders from tax and confirm their right to self-custody without intermediaries.

In November last year, he unveiled a plan to allocate up to 5% of Brazil’s $372 billion international reserve fund into Bitcoin, signalling a bold approach to national economic sovereignty.

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China’s robotics industry set to double by 2028, led by drones and humanoid robots

China’s robotics industry is on course to double in size by 2028, with Morgan Stanley projecting market growth from US$47 billion in 2024 to US$108 billion.

With an annual expansion rate of 23 percent, the country is expected to strengthen its leadership in this fast-evolving field. Analysts credit China’s drive for innovation and cost efficiency as key to advancing next-generation robotics.

A cornerstone of the ‘Made in China 2025’ initiative, robotics is central to the nation’s goal of dominating global high-tech industries. Last year, China accounted for 40 percent of the worldwide robotics market and over half of all industrial robot installations.

Recent data shows industrial robot production surged 35.5 percent in May, while service robot output climbed nearly 14 percent.

Morgan Stanley anticipates drones will remain China’s largest robotics segment, set to grow from US$19 billion to US$40 billion by 2028.

Meanwhile, the humanoid robot sector is expected to see an annual growth rate of 63 percent, expanding from US$300 million in 2025 to US$3.4 billion by 2030. By 2050, China could be home to 302 million humanoid robots, making up 30 percent of the global population.

The researchers describe 2025 as a milestone year, marking the start of mass humanoid robot production.

They emphasise that automation is already reshaping China’s manufacturing industry, boosting productivity and quality instead of simply replacing workers and setting the stage for a brighter industrial future.

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OpenAI considers antitrust action against Microsoft over AI hosting control

OpenAI reportedly tries to reduce Microsoft’s exclusive control over hosting its AI models, signalling growing friction between the two companies.

According to the Wall Street Journal, OpenAI leadership has considered filing an antitrust complaint against Microsoft, alleging anti-competitive behaviour in their ongoing collaboration. The move could trigger federal regulatory scrutiny.

The tension comes amid ongoing talks over OpenAI’s corporate restructuring. A report by The Information suggests that OpenAI is negotiating to grant Microsoft a 33% stake in its reorganized for-profit unit. In exchange, Microsoft would give up rights to future profits.

OpenAI also wants to revise its existing contract with Microsoft, particularly clauses that grant exclusive Azure hosting rights. The company reportedly aims to exclude its planned $3 billion acquisition of AI startup Windsurf from the agreement, which otherwise gives Microsoft access to OpenAI’s intellectual property.

This developing rift could reshape one of the most influential alliances in AI. Microsoft has invested heavily in OpenAI since 2019 and integrates its models into Microsoft 365 Copilot and Azure services. However, both firms are diversifying.

OpenAI is turning to Google Cloud and Oracle for additional computing power, while Microsoft has begun integrating alternative AI models into its products.

Industry experts warn that regulatory scrutiny or contract changes could impact enterprise customers relying on tightly integrated AI solutions, particularly in sectors like healthcare and finance. Companies may face service disruptions, higher costs, or compatibility challenges if major players shift strategy or infrastructure.

Analysts suggest that the era of single-model reliance may be ending. As innovation from rivals like DeepSeek accelerates, enterprises and cloud providers are moving toward multi-model support, aiming for modular, scalable, and use-case-specific AI deployments.

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Bitcoin slides as Trump issues Tehran evacuation warning

Bitcoin prices slumped on Monday evening as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East worsened. The drop followed Trump’s early G7 exit and reported return to Washington for an emergency White House meeting.

The crypto market reacted quickly to the heightened uncertainty. Bitcoin dropped by over $2,000, falling from an intraday high of $108,780 to around $106,421. Ethereum suffered a steeper decline of nearly 5 per cent, while other leading altcoins shed between 5 and 6 per cent.

According to CoinGlass, roughly $400 million in leveraged positions were liquidated, and overall crypto market capitalisation fell by around $80 billion.

The sell-off followed reports of escalating violence in the region. Embassies, including those of China and Russia, have urged their nationals to leave Israel immediately, citing worsening security conditions, civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.

The Chinese embassy recommended departure via land borders, while Russia’s ambassador called for all citizens to leave without delay.

Cryptocurrency markets, already volatile since early May, remain highly sensitive to global political risks. Although Bitcoin is still trading above $100,000, further instability could prompt deeper losses if tensions continue to escalate.

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