Zach Witkoff, co-founder of the Trump-affiliated crypto project World Liberty Financial, had his X account hacked on Wednesday. The hacker used the account to promote a fake memecoin project involving Barron Trump, claiming that the news would soon be confirmed by the Trump family.
World Liberty Financial quickly confirmed the hack, urging users to ignore the fraudulent Barron Trump project. This incident is part of a wider trend of crypto scams, as Ivanka Trump also warned earlier this year about a fake memecoin using her likeness to defraud investors.
World Liberty Financial, a decentralised finance project, launched its own token, WLFI, in October 2024. Despite these security issues, the project continues to operate with the Trump family’s name associated with its team.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Elon Musk’s $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI’s assets has sparked controversy, with OpenAI accusing him of contradicting his own legal claims.
Musk’s lawsuit, filed in August, argues that OpenAI’s assets should remain in a charitable trust and not be transferred for private gain. OpenAI has called his offer ‘an improper bid to undermine a competitor’.
The dispute comes as OpenAI seeks to transition into a for-profit organisation to secure funds for advanced AI development. Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI who left before ChatGPT’s rise in 2022, has launched his own AI startup, xAI, in 2023.
OpenAI’s letter to a federal court highlights the clash between Musk’s stated opposition to privatising its assets and his attempt to acquire them with private investors. The AI company argues that Musk’s bid undermines his legal position and the nonprofit’s mission.
Representatives for Musk have yet to comment. OpenAI continues to defend its transition plan, emphasising the need for substantial investment to remain competitive in the fast-evolving AI landscape.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Google has announced a new partnership with Poland, signing a memorandum of understanding aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI in the country. The agreement was revealed by CEO Sundar Pichai during a news conference on Thursday. Through this collaboration, Google and Poland seek to use AI as a tool to drive economic growth and innovation, focusing on areas that include cybersecurity, health, and energy.
The deal highlights the potential for AI to transform key sectors of the economy, with both parties eager to explore new opportunities. Pichai emphasised how AI could help bolster cybersecurity measures, improve healthcare delivery, and increase energy efficiency in Poland, which would have far-reaching implications not just for the country but for the broader European region. These sectors, in particular, are seen as critical for future development, and the use of AI could significantly enhance Poland’s technological capabilities.
This partnership also underscores Google’s growing commitment to global AI initiatives, as the company continues to collaborate with governments and organisations around the world to implement AI-driven solutions. Poland is positioning itself as an important player in Europe’s AI landscape, and this agreement represents a step forward in its efforts to modernise and compete on a global scale in the rapidly evolving tech space.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
A Chicago family and their nanny were kidnapped for five days in October by armed men demanding a ransom in cryptocurrency. The kidnappers stole $15 million in digital assets, including Bitcoin and Ether, and forced the victims to transfer funds from their crypto accounts before releasing them.
The incident began when one of the suspects pretended to be at the door to fix a damaged garage, only to overpower the family with a gun. The victims were then transported to an Airbnb and later to another location, where they were threatened with death unless they complied with the kidnappers’ demands.
FBI agents were able to track the suspects using surveillance footage and forensic evidence. The investigation led to six arrests, with one suspect, Zehuan Wei, apprehended while trying to re-enter the US in January. The remaining suspects are believed to have fled to China.
This case highlights the growing trend of crypto-related kidnappings, as criminals target individuals with access to digital currencies. Recently, other high-profile kidnappings for cryptocurrency ransom have also made headlines, including the abduction of a Ledger co-founder and a Toronto CEO.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Baidu plans to make its AI chatbot, Ernie Bot, free for all users starting 1 April. The service, which will be accessible on both desktop and mobile platforms, reflects the company’s confidence in improved technology and reduced operational costs.
China’s AI sector is heating up, with DeepSeek emerging as a notable rival. DeepSeek offers free chatbot services that it claims rival OpenAI’s advanced systems while maintaining lower costs.
Despite Baidu’s position as an early leader in AI, its Ernie Bot has struggled to gain traction, lagging behind ByteDance’s Doubao chatbot and DeepSeek in user adoption.
Baidu initially introduced premium features in late 2023, charging users for advanced search capabilities powered by Ernie 4.0. The upcoming free release of both Ernie Bot and an advanced search function marks a shift in strategy.
The advanced search feature promises enhanced reasoning and tool integration, aimed at delivering expert-level responses to users.
Ernie Bot’s latest version, Ernie 4.0, claims parity with OpenAI’s GPT-4 in terms of capabilities. By removing cost barriers, Baidu hopes to attract a larger user base and strengthen its position in the competitive AI sector.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
US Vice President JD Vance criticised Europe’s heavy-handed AI regulations at a Paris summit, warning they could stifle innovation. He argued the EU’s approach, including the Digital Services Act and GDPR, burdens smaller firms with high compliance costs, which could harm AI’s transformative potential. Vance also dismissed content moderation policies as authoritarian censorship.
The United States and Britain opted not to sign the summit’s declaration advocating inclusive, ethical, and safe AI. Vance emphasised America’s intention to lead AI innovation and resist regulatory frameworks that might hinder its progress. French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen countered by stressing that regulation is essential to build public trust in AI.
Geopolitical competition dominated discussions, with Vance warning of potential risks in partnering with China. He cautioned against allowing authoritarian regimes to influence critical information infrastructure through subsidised technology exports. Although he didn’t name DeepSeek, a recent Chinese AI development, his remarks highlighted growing concerns about maintaining technological leadership.
The summit exposed significant policy differences, with the US prioritising rapid AI advancement over stringent safety measures. Critics labelled this a missed opportunity to address broader AI risks, including supply chain security and workforce disruptions.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Elon Musk announced on Thursday that his AI chatbot, Grok 3, is nearing completion and will be released in the next week or two. In a video call at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Musk stated that Grok 3 exhibits powerful reasoning capabilities, outperforming other AI models in tests conducted so far. This new AI is being developed through Musk’s company, xAI, which he founded to rival OpenAI and Google.
Musk, also a co-founder of OpenAI, has been outspoken in his criticism of the AI startup. Recently, a consortium led by Musk made a $97.4 billion offer to acquire OpenAI’s nonprofit assets, a move that comes amid Musk’s ongoing legal battle with OpenAI. He is challenging the company’s decision to transition to a for-profit model, arguing that it undermines its original nonprofit mission.
In addition to discussing AI, Musk shared his thoughts on reducing US government spending, suggesting that $1 trillion could be saved by cutting inefficiencies. He also spoke on international matters, advising the US to be less involved in other countries’ affairs. Musk’s comments followed a partnership announcement with UAE AI Minister Omar Al Olama on a futuristic underground transport system called the “Dubai Loop.”
Musk’s remarks at the summit highlighted his wide-ranging influence, not only in technology but also in global political and economic discussions.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
China’s chipmaking equipment purchases are expected to decline in 2025, following three years of growth, due to overcapacity and increasing restrictions from US sanctions. After purchasing $41 billion in equipment in 2024, which accounted for 40% of global sales, China’s spending is predicted to fall by 6% to $38 billion this year, marking the first decline since 2021. The drop in demand is attributed to reduced purchases in response to export controls and an excess of manufacturing capacity.
Despite these challenges, China has been a key driver for the global wafer fabrication equipment market over the past few years, even as other sectors saw downturns. Much of China’s equipment buying has been linked to stockpiling efforts in response to US sanctions aimed at limiting China’s ability to produce advanced chips, particularly for military use. Chinese firms, like SMIC and Huawei, have continued to advance in chip production, although at a higher cost and with more effort, while also focusing on expanding in the mature-node chip market.
In addition to growing its domestic production capabilities, China’s leading equipment manufacturers, such as Naura Technology Group and AMEC, are expanding internationally. However, the country still faces significant challenges in self-sufficiency, particularly in areas like lithography systems, testing, and assembly tools. While China’s domestic companies have made strides in equipment sales, they still rely heavily on foreign suppliers for advanced technology in these areas.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Anduril, a defence technology startup founded by Palmer Luckey, will take charge of the US Army’s $22 billion mixed-reality headset program. The project, known as the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), aims to equip soldiers with augmented and virtual reality capabilities to enhance situational awareness and mission command of unmanned systems.
The agreement sees Anduril assuming responsibility for the production, hardware, and software development of the IVAS project, while Microsoft Azure will serve as the preferred cloud platform for associated workloads.
Microsoft’s earlier development efforts utilised HoloLens technology to meet the Army’s high-tech demands.
The partnership comes amid a global push by defence firms to integrate artificial intelligence and smart peripherals into military technology. Anduril is also collaborating with OpenAI and Palantir to leverage defence data for AI training. Final approval from the US Department of Defense remains pending.
Reports suggest Anduril is in discussions to secure new funding that could boost its valuation to $28 billion. Luckey, who previously founded Oculus VR, acquired by Facebook in 2014, continues to play a significant role in the advancement of cutting-edge technology for defence applications.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Baidu, China’s tech giant, is set to unveil the next version of its AI model, Ernie 5, in the second half of 2025. This new iteration will introduce multimodal capabilities, allowing it to process and convert a variety of formats such as text, video, images, and audio, offering significant advancements in AI technology.
The release is timed to respond to increasing competition in China’s rapidly developing AI sector, particularly from the startup DeepSeek. The company has gained attention with a reasoning model that rivals OpenAI’s GPT while offering lower costs. Despite being one of the first to enter the AI space in China after the debut of ChatGPT in 2022, Baidu has faced challenges in gaining widespread adoption of its Ernie model.
Baidu’s AI offerings have struggled to keep pace with competitors like ByteDance’s Doubao chatbot and DeepSeek in terms of user uptake. The company maintains that its latest version, Ernie 4, is comparable to OpenAI’s GPT-4, but the adoption rate has been slower than anticipated. CEO Robin Li acknowledged the unpredictable nature of innovation, noting DeepSeek’s rise as a reminder that the future of AI is uncertain and can emerge from unexpected places.
Li also stressed the importance of continued investment in data centres and cloud infrastructure to keep up with the evolving demands of AI, even as newer models, such as DeepSeek’s, challenge the cost-efficiency of large AI models.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
