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Can Prize Challenges Help The DoD Find Autonomous Cybersecurity AI Solutions?

Prize Challenges have been growing in popularity as the Government tries to get out from under their cumbersome, innovation-sapping Federal Acquisition Regulations. Recently, the US Navy has seen some excellent success with their Artificial Intelligence Applications to Autonomous Cybersecurity (IA ATAC) Challenge. Anyone over 18 years of age, who is a US citizen, can participate. …
Emerging Public Health Sector Ransomware Attacks

The Joint DHS, FBI, HHS advisory on the malicious targeting of the US public health sector by criminals using ransomware should cause immediate tactical action by cyber defenders in the medical and healthcare community. It also signals the need for strategic actions by executives in these and other sectors. It could also change the dynamic…
OODAcon Online 18 Nov 2020: Hack your way into the future

Join us 18 November 2020 from 1:00pm till 4:30pm for OODAcon Online. The OODAcon conference brings together the hackers, thinkers, strategists, disruptors, leaders, technologists, and creators with one foot in the future to discuss the most pressing issues of the day and provide insight into the ways technology is evolving. OODAcons are not just about…
Covid-19, Gangs, and Conflict

The Coronavirus pandemic is fueling conflict and fostering extremism while concurrently empowering gangs, cartels, and mafias in their quest for power and profit. In COVID-19, Gangs, and Conflict, OODA Network Experts John P. Sullivan and Robert J. Bunker bring together a curated collection of both new and previously published material to explore the trends and…
Sinaloa Cartel-Linked “Freelancers” Introduce ESG-Friendly Meth recipe to Netherlands, EncroChat Probe Reveals

Sinaloa cartel-linked freelancers have brought their sustainable meth-cooking recipe to the Netherlands according to new evidence uncovered in the EncroChat encrypted crime-network probe. This is especially troubling given other reports of record numbers of meth labs being seized in the Netherlands this year, with more in the region producing far more meth than the local…
What The Business Strategist Should Know About Congress’s Latest Report On Future Threats and Defense

The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) chartered a special task force to assess what the nation should know about the dynamic national security environment and produce a report to guide future action. The report was just issued. It evaluates strategic priorities of the US DoD to seek better matches of national resources to next-generation threats…
OODA Monthly Meeting: Where our members gather online for trust based networking

OODA Network members are invited to participate in a monthly video call to discuss items of common concern to our membership. These highly collaborative sessions are great ways for our members to meet and interact with each other while talking about items of common interest. We also use these sessions to help better focus our…
OODA Network Interview: Masha Sedova

This OODA Network Expert interview is with Masha Sedova, Co-Founder of Elevate Security. Masha’s life story is a surprise and an inspiration. Read how this Russian-born emigre developed a synergy between left-brain and right-brain to solve one of our toughest problems in Cyber Security – the Insider Threat. Masha often hears executives opine “Humans are the…
Your Ransomware Payments Could Violate OFAC Sanctions

The U.S. Department of Treasure released an advisory today highlighting that ransomware payments could violate their Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanction controls. This advisory drastically changes the dynamic for how companies are managing ransomware response including the payment of ransoms directly or through third party negotiators. This is an advisory that every CISO,…
Cyber: The Art Of War

Foreign bad actors are conducting a covert cyber war. The pace, frequency, and intensity of cyberattacks are now greater than ever. As the physical realm inevitably merges with the cyber one, forming a new kind of infrastructure, cyberattacks on this infrastructure can have a catastrophic impact on our energy, waste, water, transportation, and telecommunications facilities.…
Changes In How The US Navy Incentivizes Innovation and Acquires New Solutions

Several years ago, the Navy selected Hondo (James) Geurts as their new Acquisition Chief. His previous experience buying for Special Operations Command taught him some unique ways to incentivize innovation and improve speed-to-capability. While some programs (ships, submarines, etc.) benefit from the full scrutiny of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, most IT systems do not. The…
Gary Harrington on Leadership Lessons from Delta Force to the CIA

Gary Harrington had a distinguished career of national service that included over three decades in top tier special operations groups including Delta Force and then transitioning into the CIA. Gary was one of the first to deploy into Afghanistan after 9/11 and was at the tip of the spear in many locations including as a…
The Future of Enterprise Robotics

Examples of robots and the use of robotics in business are all around us today. Their success in manufacturing and in assisting humans in critical missions has already been demonstrated as economically viable and this means their use will only grow. This special report seeks to provide insights that will inform your business strategy and…
DoD Intentions With Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Systems for Ground Forces

Unmanned ground systems have been around and in use in DoD for decades. They were used throughout WWII for various functions considered too dangerous for humans, like demolition missions or advancing on a battle front to draw enemy fire. What’s exciting today is the explosion of possibilities as we couple artificial intelligence with modern day sensors…
OODA Network Interview: Joel Wallenstrom

This post is based on an interview Joel Wallenstrom, CEO and President at Wickr. It is part of our series of interviews of OODA Network members. Our objective with these interviews is to provide actionable information of interest to the community, including insights that can help with your own career progression. We also really like…

Briefs

Sam Altman returns to OpenAI in a bizarre reversal of fortunes

Sam Altman has agreed to return to lead OpenAI, the company said in a Tuesday post on X, just days after his surprise ouster as chief executive sparked an employee revolt that threatened to undermine what has been the leading company in the fledgling artificial intelligence industry. “We have reached an agreement in principle for…
French pilot sentenced for decapitating skydiver with wing of plane

In a tragic incident in July 2018, a French pilot, unnamed in reports, has been banned from flying after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for decapitating a skydiver, Nicolas Galy, with the wing of a plane. The pilot, employed by the Midi-Pyrénées Skydiving School Association, received a suspended sentence from Montauban criminal court, while…
North Korea spy satellite: South partially suspends military deal after launch

South Korea has suspended portions of its 2018 agreement with North Korea following Pyongyang’s claim of successfully launching a spy satellite into space. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo expressed concern over the launch, leading Seoul to resume surveillance flights along the border, defying the established no-fly zone. Despite uncertainties about the satellite’s functionality, analysts suggest its…
Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Drilling resumes to save trapped Indian workers

In Uttarakhand, India, where 41 workers have been trapped for 10 days in a tunnel, drilling operations have resumed near the tunnel’s mouth after a temporary suspension due to concerns about cracking sounds. Efforts include drilling from the mountain’s top and continuing to dig through debris to create a micro-tunnel for the workers to exit.…
Russian actress killed in Ukrainian strike while performing to soldiers

A Russian actress, Polina Menshikh, tragically lost her life in a Ukrainian shelling incident on November 19 while performing in an occupied Ukrainian dance hall. She was reportedly celebrating a Russian military holiday during her show when the hall was struck. The strike claimed the lives of about 20 Russian soldiers, as confirmed by Ukrainian…
Microsoft Offers Up to $20,000 for Vulnerabilities in Defender Products

Microsoft has launched the Microsoft Defender Bounty Program, encouraging global researchers to identify vulnerabilities within Defender products and services. The program initially focuses on Defender for Endpoint APIs and offers rewards ranging from $500 to $20,000, based on the impact and quality of the reported flaws. The highest bounties are reserved for critical-severity remote code…
Sam Altman is Back as OpenAI CEO Just Days After Being Removed, Along With a New Board

After a controversial ousting, Sam Altman is set to return to OpenAI as CEO following an agreement reached between him and the company, forming a new board. Former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor will chair this board, joined by Larry Summers, Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, and others. The removal of Altman had sparked internal chaos and…
Windows Hello Fingerprint Authentication Bypassed on Popular Laptops

Security researchers from Blackwing Intelligence and Microsoft’s Offensive Research and Security Engineering (MORSE) discovered vulnerabilities in fingerprint sensors used for Windows Hello authentication on popular laptops. The Dell Inspiron 15, Lenovo ThinkPad T14s, and Microsoft Surface Pro X were targeted, all equipped with Match-on-Chip fingerprint sensors, ensuring fingerprint data stays within the sensor. However, the…
185,000 Individuals Impacted by MOVEit Hack at Car Parts Giant AutoZone

The car parts giant AutoZone has notified nearly 185,000 individuals about compromised personal information due to the MOVEit hacking campaign. Cybercriminals exploited a vulnerability in the MOVEit Transfer file transfer app, accessing data like social security numbers. While no fraud cases have been reported, affected customers are offered credit monitoring and identity protection. AutoZone responded…
The Chaos at OpenAI, Explained

If they had been the plot of a science fiction movie, or an episode of “Succession,” the events at OpenAI last weekend would have seemed a little over-the-top. A secret board coup! Fears of killer A.I.! A star C.E.O., betrayed by his chief scientist! A middle-of-the-night staff revolt that threatens to change the balance of…
As A.I.-Controlled Killer Drones Become Reality, Nations Debate Limits

It seems like something out of science fiction: swarms of killer robots that hunt down targets on their own and are capable of flying in for the kill without any human signing off. But it is approaching reality as the United States, China and a handful of other nations make rapid progress in developing and deploying…
A New Generation of Robots Can Help Small Manufacturers

Automation is fundamentally changing industries and workplaces. The International Federation of Robotics predicts that in a decade, more than half of production operators will be working with robots. Big companies? They’re already there, harnessing advanced technology and optimizing their output. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)? Not so much. Let’s take a moment to think about why…
Generative AI startup AI21 Labs raises cash in the midst of OpenAI chaos

One AI startup’s undoing is another’s opportunity. Case in point: today, AI21 Labs, a company developing generative AI products along the lines of OpenAI’s GPT-4 and ChatGPT, closed a $53 million extension to its previously-announced Series C funding round. The new tranche, which had participation from new investors Intel Capital and Comcast Ventures, brings AI21’s total…
OpenAI in ‘Intense Discussions’ to Unify Company, Memo Says

OpenAI Vice President of Global Affairs Anna Makanju said in a memo to staff Monday that the company is in “intense discussions” to unify its divided staff, according to a statement reviewed by Bloomberg. The note comes after days of high-stakes negotiations over who would lead the company, and a threat by almost the entire…
China warns Argentina severing ties would be ‘serious mistake’

Argentinian president-elect Javier Milei has previously criticized China and stated he will not deal with communists. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the two countries made significant progress under Alberto Fernandez’s administration and cutting ties now would be a serious mistake. Read More: https://www.reuters.com/world/china-says-would-be-serious-mistake-if-argentina-cuts-ties-2023-11-21/
Netanyahu, Hamas chief indicate deal on Gaza truce and hostages is close

Hamas and Israeli leadership both indicated that they are on the cusp of reaching a temporary truce on Tuesday. The deal would likely secure the release of 50 civilian hostages from Hamas and an unspecified number of minor-aged Palestinian captives from Israeli custody, as well as a multi-day pause in fighting. Read More: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/white-house-says-israel-hamas-hostage-deal-closer-than-before-2023-11-21/
CISA Offering Free Cybersecurity to Non-Federal Critical Infrastructure Entities

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency announced on Monday it will expand its managed cybersecurity services to non-federal critical infrastructure organizations in need of risk management. CISA previously offered its direct services to federal clients. Read More: https://www.securityweek.com/cisa-offering-free-cybersecurity-services-to-non-federal-critical-infrastructure-entities/
Tor Network Removes Risky Relays Associated With Cryptocurrency Scheme

On Monday, the Tor Project announced it removed certain relays deemed harmful to the network’s integrity. Many of the relays were associated with a for-profit scheme that accepted cryptocurrency payments. Read More: https://www.securityweek.com/tor-network-removes-risky-relays-associated-with-cryptocurrency-scheme/
Ethnic fighting kills 32 in disputed region straddling Sudan, South Sudan

According to a local information minister, ethnic violence in the disputed, oil-rich Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan left 32 dead over the weekend. The United Nations Interim Security Force (UNISFA) has since intensified patrols and met with Abyei political and traditional leadership. Read More: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ethnic-fighting-kills-32-disputed-region-straddling-sudan-south-sudan-2023-11-20/
Canadian government discloses data breach after contractor hacks

Two Canadian government contractors, Brookfield Global Relocation Services (BGRS) and SIRVA Worldwide Relocation & Moving Services, suffered data breaches in October. The Canadian government recently announced that the sensitive data of an undisclosed number of government employees were exposed. Read More: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/canadian-government-discloses-data-breach-after-contractor-hacks/
Russia’s LittleDrifter USB Worm Spreads Beyond Ukraine

Check Point threat researchers recently discovered a USB worm dubbed LitterDrifter that the Gamaredon APT group used to target Ukrainian entities. The worm has now spread to a host of likely unintended targets in the US, Chile, Germany, Poland, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. Read More: https://www.securityweek.com/russias-litterdrifter-usb-worm-spreads-beyond-ukraine/
Seized Galaxy Leader ship in Yemen’s Hodeidah port area – owner

According to the vessel’s owner, Houthi Rebels are currently holding the Galaxy Leader and its crew in Yemen’s Hodeidah port. Galaxy Maritime Ltd, registered to the Isle of Man, stated that it also lost communications with the vessel. Read More: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/seized-galaxy-leader-ship-yemens-hodeidah-port-area-owner-2023-11-20/
A backyard factory: How robots empower you to create your own products

For most of the 20th century, manufacturing was primarily the domain of big factories, big machines, and big money. Giant production lines stamped out cars, ketchup, kettles, and Kevlar. Creating a product involved a very expensive and complex tooling-up process, a sunk cost that would eventually be paid back through the volume of sales that…
OpenAI’s Misalignment and Microsoft’s Gain

I have, as you might expect, authored several versions of this Article, both in my head and on the page, as the most extraordinary weekend of my career has unfolded. To briefly summarize: On Friday, then-CEO Sam Altman was fired from OpenAI by the board that governs the non-profit; then-President Greg Brockman was removed from…
OpenAI shakeup has rocked Silicon Valley, leaving some techies concerned about future of AI

A wide swath of Silicon Valley has hitched its hopes and fortunes over the past few years to the kind of generative artificial intelligence technologies that OpenAI helped popularize. Many industry experts point to the debut of ChatGPT late last year as an iPhone-like moment, ushering a potential shift in the way people interact with computers…
Microsoft Hires Sam Altman Hours After OpenAI Rejects His Return

Microsoft has hired Sam Altman to power up its innovation in artificial intelligence after the co-founder of OpenAI was ousted as CEO in a chaotic boardroom coup on Friday. Meanwhile, the ChatGPT company will get its third CEO in three days. It’s another major shakeup to the balance of power over artificial intelligence, the most significant…
OpenAI Employees Threaten to Quit Unless Board Resigns

OpenAI was in open revolt on Monday with 505 employees signing an open letter threatening to leave unless the board resigns and reinstates Sam Altman as CEO, along with cofounder and former president Greg Brockman. Altman was controversially fired by the board on Friday. “The process through which you terminated Sam Altman and removed Greg…
US Defense Chief Visits Ukraine in Show of Solidarity

The United States Secretary of Defense made an unannounced visit to Kyiv to reassure Ukraine that Washington will continue supporting its fight against invading Russian forces. “[Austin] will also underscore the continued US commitment to providing Ukraine with the security assistance it needs to defend itself from Russian aggression,” the Pentagon statement said. The US…
Russian Diplomacy Leverages Israel-Hamas War for Moral High Ground

The European Union and the United States have framed their defense of Ukraine as a stance against an aggressor and a war criminal, however, Israel’s persecution of the war in Gaza is weakening criminal prosecutions against Russia. This has political and legal ramifications, complicating the task of holding Russia accountable for its crimes in Ukraine.…
Argentina Elects Javier Milei in Victory for Far Right

Argentines on Sunday chose Javier Milei, a far-right libertarian, as their next president. This is a shift to the right for the nation struggling under an economic crisis and a sign of the enduring strength of the global far right. Mr. Milei has pledged to slash spending and taxes, close Argentina’s central bank and replace…
Former Obama and Biden Officials Sign Letter Defending U.S.’s Israel Stance

More than 100 former members of the Obama and Biden administrations have sent a letter to the White House backing he president’s request for $14.3 billion in new security assistance for Israel and affirms his opposition to a cease-fire, challenging anonymous demands from hundreds of officials across the Biden administration that Israel halt its military…
Yamaha Motor Confirms Data Breach Following Ransomware Attack

The personal information of employees was stolen in a ransomware attack targeting a Philippines subsidiary of Yamaha Motor. The incident, the Japanese mobility and industrial giant says, occurred on October 25, and only impacted one server managed by Yamaha Motor Philippines, which is the company’s motorcycle manufacturing and sales subsidiary in the country. Yamaha says…
Only 9% of IT budgets are Dedicated to Security

The expansion of attack surfaces in a post-pandemic hybrid world, combined with shrinking teams and budgets and the rapid rise of generative AI, are fueling an urgent need for companies to improve their security posture. For companies of all sizes, limited risk visibility and resource constraints make it challenging to improve their security. 1 in…
Why Cyber War Readiness is Critical for Democracies

Rik Ferguson, the VP Security Intelligence for Forescout, predicts that once the war in Ukraine ends Russia’s offensive cyber capabilities will be directed towards other targets. Ferguson says they are getting better at cyber attacks. Mirroring the development of attacks against IT systems, they have recently begun exploiting legitimate tools found in OT environments, so…
IT Pros Worry Generative AI Will Be a Major Driver of Cybersecurity Threats

Just before ChatGPT’s first birthday (Nov. 30), a report from Fastly highlights the fact that many organizations view generative AI as a growing cybersecurity threat. Data breaches and data loss (40%), identity-based threats such as malware and phishing (38%), and generative AI (29%) are viewed as the biggest cybersecurity threats over the next 12 months,…
How Sam Altman is pushing OpenAI into the ‘Big Tech’ pantheon

Sam Altman paced the stage calm and confident, ready in black jeans and Lego x Adidas sneakers to sell himself as the next Steve Jobs — or at least this year’s Mark Zuckerberg. The OpenAI founder had gathered about 1,000 software engineers and AI researchers into a former Honda dealership in downtown San Francisco for…
AI is already being melded with robotics – one outcome could be powerful new weapons

Interest in the incorporation of robots into security, policing and military operations has been steadily increasing over the last few years. It’s an avenue already being explored in both North America and Europe. Robot integration into these areas could be seen as analogous to the inclusion of dogs in policing and military roles in the 20th…
OpenAI Exploring ChatGPT’s Potential In Classrooms—Despite Critics Saying AI Promotes Cheating

OpenAI—the company behind ChatGPT—is exploring ways for its popular generative artificial intelligence platform to be used in schools, according to Reuters, marking a new undertaking for the company that’s been criticized by some educators for enabling cheating. Brad Lightcap, chief operating officer for OpenAI, said at a San Francisco conference last week that the company will…
Google delays OpenAI rival, Gemini AI

Alphabet’s Google delayed the release of its OpenAI rival Gemini AI conversation artificial intelligence software. Google had earlier given a small group of companies access to an early version of Gemini. However, Google told the companies that they should not expect it until the first quarter of next year, a report from The Information said.…
CSA Launches First Zero Trust Certification

The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) has introduced the Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT), the industry’s inaugural authoritative zero trust certification. The certification responds to the evolving landscape of pervasive technology and the inadequacy of legacy security models and aims to equip security professionals with the knowledge necessary to develop and implement a zero…
ChatGPT’s Popularity Triggers Global Generative AI Investment Surge

While AI is not a new technology, GPT-3.5 captured the world’s attention and triggered a surge of investment in generative AI. As a result, IDC expects worldwide spending on AI solutions will grow to more than $500 billion in 2027. Most organizations will also experience a notable shift in the weight of technology investments toward…
APTs Swarm Zimbra Zero-Day to Steal Government Info Worldwide

At least four separate cyberattack groups have used a former zero-day security vulnerability in the Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS) to steal email data, user credentials, and authentication tokens from government organizations globally. ZCS is an email server, calendaring, and chat and video platform, used by “thousands” of companies and “hundreds of millions” of individuals, according…
Unpatched Critical Vulnerabilities Open AI Models to Takeover

Researchers have identified nearly a dozen critical vulnerabilities in the infrastructure used by AI models, which could leave companies at risk as they race to take advantage of AI. According to Protect AI, vulnerabilities in AI systems can give attackers unauthorized access to the AI models, allowing them to co-opt the models for their own…
Myanmar: Eight children killed in military strike on school in Chin State

In Myanmar’s Chin State, a military jet reportedly bombed a remote village, Vuilu, resulting in the tragic deaths of 11 individuals, including eight children, on Wednesday. The strike targeted an improvised school within the village, causing casualties among those studying there. The region has been a center of resistance against the military junta since 2021,…
David McBride: Australian war crimes whistleblower pleads guilty

David McBride, a whistleblower involved in revealing alleged Australian war crimes in Afghanistan, has pleaded guilty to charges of leaking classified information after a legal ruling disrupted his defense strategy. McBride, a former military lawyer, disclosed documents to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) exposing alleged unlawful killings by Australian forces in Afghanistan, forming the basis…
Italy bans lab-grown meat in nod to farmers

Italy’s parliament has approved a law banning the production, sale, or import of lab-grown meat or animal feed, positioning it as a defense of Italian tradition. Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida hailed Italy as the world’s first country safeguarded from synthetic food’s social and economic risks. The vote triggered rallies for and against the ban, resulting…
Swimming rivers and faking illness to escape Ukraine’s draft

Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, nearly 20,000 men have fled the country to evade conscription, with some resorting to perilous methods like crossing rivers or utilizing fraudulent documents. Another 21,113 were caught attempting to flee. Many cite various reasons for leaving, including joining family abroad, pursuing education, or seeking better livelihoods. President…
AI and automation: Business leaders adopt small-scale solutions for greater impact

Business leaders recognize automation is changing the way companies operate. The hope is that automation — whether it’s in the form of robots, machine learning, or artificial intelligence (AI) — will make us all more productive in the not-so-distant future. However, getting to the point where automation enhances our working life is far from straightforward.…
New Research Shows ChatGPT Reigns Supreme In AI Tool Sector

ChatGPT has revolutionized the AI industry. Actually, let’s make that “industry”, period. And according to new research, brd on traffic reports from SEMRush, ChatGPT reigns supreme over all other AI tools – with a 60% market share. Why does ChatGPT dominate the online AI space? Who’s using these services, and for what purpose, in the…
Microsoft announces custom AI chip that could compete with Nvidia

Microsoft unveiled two chips at its Ignite conference in Seattle on Wednesday. The first, its Maia 100 artificial intelligence chip, could compete with Nvidia’s highly sought-after AI graphics processing units. The second, a Cobalt 100 Arm chip, is aimed at general computing tasks and could compete with Intel processors. Cash-rich technology companies have begun giving their clients…
Researchers printed a robotic hand with bones, ligaments and tendons for the first time

Researchers at the Zurich-based ETH public university, along with a US-based startup called Inkbit, have done the impossible. They’ve printed a robot hand complete with bones, ligaments and tendons for the very first time, representing a major leap forward in 3D printing technology. It’s worth noting that the various parts of the hand were printed…
Running thousands of LLMs on one GPU is now possible with S-LoRA

Fine-tuning large language models (LLM) has become an important tool for businesses seeking to tailor AI capabilities to niche tasks and personalized user experiences. But fine-tuning usually comes with steep computational and financial overhead, keeping its use limited for enterprises with limited resources. To solve these challenges, researchers have created algorithms and techniques that cut…
US and China agree to resume military communications after summit

The US and China have agreed to resume military communications to attempt to ease rising tensions according to President Joe Biden. Following a rare meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping in California on Wednesday, Biden said that the two countries will be back to direct, open and clear communications. This was the first time the…
Finland to close some crossing points on Russia border – PM

Finland’s prime minister announced that some of the border crossings that Finland shares with Russia will be closed. Four crossing points in the south are closing at midnight on Friday, however two in the north will day open for asylum applications. Finland has seen a surge of illegal crossings from Russia in recent days. Most…
S Africa’s ruling ANC to back opposition motion to close Israeli embassy

The African National Congress, South Africa’s ruling party, has said it will support the parliamentary motion calling to close the Israeli embassy in the country. The ANC also supported a call from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to the International Criminal Court to investigate Israel for war crimes. In addition to closing the embassy, South…
Oil Giant Aramco Drills Down on Saudi ICS Security

Aramco is exploring ways of strengthening cyber protections for its industrial assets and infrastructure. Aramco is looking to boost security for operational technology environments. It will work with Dragos, a cybersecurity firm to open a Saudi-Arabia based academy to provide training for this region. The work with Dragos will accelerate Saudi Arabia’s vision to foster…
Civilian IT budgets to dive in 2024, PSC forecasts

Pandemic-driving spending boosts in information technology budgets at civilian agencies are expected to end in the coming years according to the Professional Services Council, a trade group representing leading federal contractors. It is expected that there will be an almost 20% reduction in budgets for IT at civilian agencies. Overall federal IT spending is expected…
Microsoft Copilot Studio lets anyone build custom AI copilots

Last week OpenAI announced its new GPT platform to let anyone create their own version of ChatGPT, and now Microsoft is following with Copilot Studio: a new no-code solution that lets businesses create a custom copilot or integrate a custom ChatGPT AI chatbot. Microsoft Copilot Studio is designed primarily to extend Microsoft 365 Copilot, the…
OpenAI halts new ChatGPT Plus sign-ups amid high demand

OpenAI, the company behind the popular artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT, said it has put new sign-ups on hold for the premium version of the AI tool, ChatGPT Plus, due to a high surge in usage after DevDay. The company’s CEO, Sam Altman, made the announcement via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Nov.…
Amazon launches Astro for Business, a robot to protect SMBs

Amazon just announced a new assignment for its home-monitoring robot, Astro: business security. With the new Astro for Business, small and midsize businesses (SMBs) can protect their inventory and surveil up to 5,000 square feet. Astro is going from a household robot to a business security solution powered by its AI-driven person recognition and mapping,…