Prominent personalities

Social media authenticity questioned as Altman points to bot-like behaviour

Sam Altman, X enthusiast and Reddit shareholder, has expressed doubts over whether social media content can still be distinguished from bot activity. His remarks followed an influx of praise for OpenAI Codex on Reddit, where users questioned whether such posts were genuine.

Altman noted that humans are increasingly adopting quirks of AI-generated language, blurring the line between authentic and synthetic speech. He also pointed to factors such as social media optimisation for engagement and astroturfing campaigns, which amplify suspicions of fakery.

The comments follow OpenAI’s backlash over the rollout of GPT-5, which saw Reddit communities shift from celebratory to critical. Altman acknowledged flaws in a Reddit AMA, but the fallout left lasting scepticism and lower enthusiasm among AI users.

Underlying this debate is the wider reality that bots dominate much of the online environment. Imperva estimates that more than half of 2024’s internet traffic was non-human, while X’s own Grok chatbot admitted to hundreds of millions of bots on the platform.

Some observers suggest Altman’s comments may foreshadow an OpenAI-backed social media venture. Whether such a project could avoid the same bot-related challenges remains uncertain, with research suggesting that even bot-only networks eventually create echo chambers of their own.

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

Anthropic AI faces legal setback in authors’ piracy lawsuit

A federal judge has rejected the $1.5 billion settlement Anthropic agreed to in a piracy lawsuit filed by authors.

Judge William Alsup expressed concerns that the deal was ‘nowhere close to complete’ and could be forced on writers without proper input.

The lawsuit involves around 500,000 authors whose works were allegedly used without permission to train Anthropic’s large language models. The proposed settlement would have granted $3,000 per work, a sum far exceeding previous copyright recoveries.

However, the judge criticised the lack of clarity regarding the list of works, authors, notification process, and claim forms.

Alsup instructed the lawyers to provide clear notice to class members and allow them to opt in or out. He also emphasised that Anthropic must be shielded from future claims on the same issue. The court set deadlines for a final list of works by September 15 and approval of all related documents by October 10.

The ruling highlights ongoing legal challenges for AI companies using copyrighted material for training large language models instead of relying solely on licensed or public-domain data.

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

Orson Welles lost film reconstructed with AI

More than 80 years after Orson Welles’ The Magnificent Ambersons was cut and lost, AI is being used to restore 43 missing minutes of the film.

Amazon-backed Showrunner, led by Edward Saatchi, is experimenting with AI technology to rebuild the destroyed sequences as part of a broader push to reimagine how Hollywood might use AI in storytelling.

The project is not intended for commercial release, since Showrunner has not secured rights from Warner Bros. or Concord, but instead aims to explore what could have been the director’s original vision.

The initiative marks a shift in the role of AI in filmmaking. Rather than serving only as a tool for effects, dubbing or storyboarding, it is being positioned as a foundation for long-form narrative creation.

Showrunner is developing AI models capable of sustaining complex plots, with the goal of eventually generating entire films. Saatchi envisions the platform as a type of ‘Netflix of AI,’ where audiences might one day interact with intellectual property and generate their own stories.

To reconstruct The Magnificent Ambersons, the company is combining traditional techniques with AI tools. New sequences will be shot with actors, while AI will be used for face and pose transfer to replicate the original cast.

Thousands of archival set photographs are being used to digitally recreate the film’s environments.

Filmmaker Brian Rose, who has rebuilt 30,000 missing frames over five years, has reconstructed set movements and timing to match the lost scenes, while VFX expert Tom Clive will assist in refining the likenesses of the original actors.

A project that underlines both the creative possibilities and ethical tensions surrounding AI in cinema. While the reconstructed footage will not be commercially exploited, it raises questions about the use of copyrighted material in training AI and the risk of replacing human creators.

For many, however, the experiment offers a glimpse of what Welles’ ambitious work might have looked like had it survived intact.

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

OpenAI backs AI-generated film Critterz for 2026 release

OpenAI is supporting the production of Critterz, an AI-assisted animated film set for a global theatrical release in 2026. The project aims to show that AI can streamline filmmaking, cutting costs and production time.

Partnering with Vertigo Films and Native Foreign, the film is being produced in nine months, far faster than the usual three years for animated features.

The film, budgeted under $30 million, combines OpenAI’s GPT-5 and DALL·E with traditional voice acting and hand-drawn elements. Building on the acclaimed 2023 short, Critterz will debut at the Cannes Film Festival and expand on a story where humans and AI creatures share the same world.

Writers James Lamont and Jon Foster, known for Paddington in Peru, have been brought in to shape the screenplay.

While producers highlight AI’s creative potential, concerns remain about authenticity and job security in the industry. Some fear AI films could feel impersonal, while major studios continue to defend intellectual property.

Warner Bros., Disney, and Universal are in court with Midjourney over alleged copyright violations.

Despite the debate, OpenAI remains committed to its role in pushing generative storytelling. The company is also expanding its infrastructure, forecasting spending of $115 billion by 2029, with $8 billion planned for this year alone.

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

Trilateral quantum talks highlight innovation and security priorities

The United States, Japan, and South Korea held two Trilateral Quantum Cooperation meetings this week in Seoul and Tokyo. Officials and experts from government and industry gathered to discuss securing quantum ecosystems against cyber, physical, and intellectual property threats.

The US State Department stressed that joint efforts will ensure breakthroughs in quantum computing benefit citizens while safeguarding innovation. Officials said cooperation is essential as quantum technologies could reshape industries, global power balances, and economic prosperity.

The President of South Korea, Lee Jae Myung, described the partnership as entering a ‘golden era’, noting that Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo must work together both to address North Korea and to drive technological progress.

The talks come as Paul Dabbar, the former CEO of Bohr Quantum Technology, begins his role as US Deputy Secretary of Commerce. Dabbar brings experience in deploying emerging quantum network technologies to the new trilateral framework.

North Korea has also signalled interest in quantum computing for economic development. Analysts note that quantum’s lower energy demand compared to supercomputers could appeal to a country plagued by chronic power shortages.

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

Mental health concerns over chatbots fuel AI regulation calls

The impact of AI chatbots on mental health is emerging as a serious concern, with experts warning that such cases highlight the risks of more advanced systems.

Nate Soares, president of the US-based Machine Intelligence Research Institute, pointed to the tragic case of teenager Adam Raine, who took his own life after months of conversations with ChatGPT, as a warning signal for future dangers.

Soares, a former Google and Microsoft engineer, said that while companies design AI chatbots to be helpful and safe, they can produce unintended and harmful behaviour.

He warned that the same unpredictability could escalate if AI develops into artificial super-intelligence, systems capable of surpassing humans in all intellectual tasks. His new book with Eliezer Yudkowsky, If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies, argues that unchecked advances could lead to catastrophic outcomes.

He suggested that governments adopt a multilateral approach, similar to nuclear non-proliferation treaties, to halt a race towards super-intelligence.

Meanwhile, leading voices in AI remain divided. Meta’s chief AI scientist, Yann LeCun, has dismissed claims of an existential threat, insisting AI could instead benefit humanity.

The debate comes as OpenAI faces legal action from Raine’s family and introduces new safeguards for under-18s.

Psychotherapists and researchers also warn of the dangers of vulnerable people turning to chatbots instead of professional care, with early evidence suggesting AI tools may amplify delusional thoughts in those at risk.

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

Google hit with $3.5 billion EU fine

The European Commission fined Google nearly $3.5 billion after ruling that the company had abused its dominance in digital advertising. Regulators found that Google unfairly preferred its ad exchange, AdX, in its publisher ad server and ad-buying tools, which violated EU antitrust rules.

Officials ordered Google to end these practices within 60 days and to address what they described as ‘inherent conflicts of interest’ across the adtech supply chain. Teresa Ribera, the Commission’s executive vice president, said the case showed the need to ensure that digital markets serve the public fairly, warning that more potent remedies would follow if Google failed to comply.

Google announced it would appeal, arguing that its advertising services remain competitive and that businesses have more alternatives than ever. The fine marks the EU’s second-largest competition penalty, following a record $5 billion action against Google in 2018.

The ruling drew criticism from US President Donald Trump, who accused Europe of unfairly targeting American tech firms and threatened retaliatory measures.

Trump hosted a dinner with industry executives, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and co-founder Sergey Brin, where he won praise for his policies on AI.

Meanwhile, Google secured partial relief in a separate antitrust case in the United States when a judge declined to impose sweeping remedies such as forcing the sale of Chrome or Android.

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!

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!