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This is the 3rd installment of our OODA Almanac series which are intended to be a quirky forecasting of themes that the OODA Network think will be emergent each year. The theme for last year was exponential disruption, which was carried through into our annual OODAcon event. This year’s theme is “jagged transitions” which is…
The Biden administration debuted a new power yesterday for fighting Russian cybercrime and rolled out the first major public move of a new government team devoted to battling the illicit use of cryptocurrency. Both steps came as part of an international effort to punish Bitzlato, a cryptocurrency exchange that U.S. authorities say helped criminals profit…
This article leads to actionable recommendations for continuing the focus on speed of adoption of new technologies, including how to improve risk management issues from a USG perspective, and identifying strategies that can be implemented now, by those with the authority and will to do so.
In July of last year, we followed up on OODA CTO Bob Gourley’s analysis of the Blueprint for a Blue Ocean with the question What Exactly is the PRC up to in the Arctic? The July 2021 report “Exploring the Relationship between China’s Investment in the Arctic and Its National Strategy” by CNA, provided a federally…
There is increasing focus for U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) to try and replicate the ability of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) – the unified combatant command with the mission of overseeing the special operations elements in the U.S. Armed Services – to bring capabilities directly into the battlespace. At a recent meeting, the chief…
OODA Network Member and Senior Advisor at the Georgetown University Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) will be leading off the January 2023 OODA Network Member meeting at the end of this week. In preparation for the call, and in case you missed it last month, the CSET Seminar that featured Dr. Flagg is…
OODA CEO Matt Devost was interviewed by Brooke Gladstone for a segment on WNYC’s On the Media this weekend in a segment from the January 13th show, It’s a Machine’s World. Listen to the segment here.
Last year, the State Department launched a new cybersecurity bureau, designed to enhance digital diplomacy and online standards around the world. Nate Fick is the first person to lead the new Bureau as the first State Department Ambassador-at-Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy. Earlier this month, the State Department launched the Office of the Special…
The National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act became Public Law in December 2018 to accelerate American leadership in quantum information science and technology. This is the third Annual Report on the NQI Program, as required by the NQI Act. The United States has invested in fundamental Quantum Information Science (QIS) R&D, with core efforts underway in over a…
In “On Grand Strategy,” Yale historian John Lewis Gaddis compiles a lifetime’s worth of reflection on what makes a statesman successful or unsuccessful. It investigates the components of knowledge, temperament, and bravery that produce great leaders and resilient empires, similar to “Makers of Modern Strategy.” The advantage of Mr. Gaddis’ book over its illustrious predecessor…
In the midst of the ChatGPT news frenzy, OpenAI released POINT-E, which extends the implications everyone is trying to sort out about the capabilities of ChatGPT into the 3-D realm – and which may act as an accelerant in the production of the next generation 3-D interface of the global network, commonly known as the…
In December, we covered the run-up to the signing into law of the Quantum Cybersecurity Preparedness Act. The actual signing was in late December and was included in the OODA Loop News Brief on December 28th. Following are details from the news item with coverage of the signing into law of the seminal legislation, characterized…
TikTok was in the news over the holiday break. To insure our readership did not miss the critical learnings about the potential threat posed by the pervasive use of TikTok by the American public, we have compiled a few items which were listed in the OODA Loop News Brief in December. We lead with the…
China’s economic aspirations are well known, and some experts believe China is in a rush to decouple itself from the U.S. economy, as it seeks its continued rise shifting focus from “economic growth to economic control.” To achieve this end, China needs to separate its reliance on foreign technology by creating an indigenous alternative that…
Throughout 2022, we tracked the adoption rate of global crypto and digital currency initiatives and their potential long-term impact on the global financial system. In 2023, we extend our research and analysis to the ongoing disintermediation of the global financial system, crypto and blockchain cybersecurity, enhanced security measures – as well as the evolution of…
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency (BfV) has warned that Russia’s GRU military intelligence service has been carrying out cyberattacks against NATO and European Union countries. The BfV said in a statement they are engaged in malicious activities targeting critical infrastructure globally, including in the United States. The statement, titled a Joint Cybersecurity Advisory, was issued by…
A vulnerability in the popular LiteSpeed Cache plugin for WordPress could allow attackers to retrieve user cookies and potentially take over websites. The debug log file is publicly accessible, which means an unauthenticated attacker could access the information exposed in the file and extract any user cookies stored in it. This would allow attackers to…
The Predator spyware has resurfaced with fresh infrastructure after a drop in activity caused by US sanctions against Intellexa Consortium, Recorded Future reports. The malware, primarily used by government actors, allows operators to infiltrate devices and access or exfiltrate sensitive data, and even to activate the infected device’s cameras and microphones, without the user’s knowledge.…
OpenAI’s paid business offerings reached a milestone, reaching one million paying business users across ChatGPT Enterprise, Team and Edu offerings. The one million user mark significantly increased from the 600,000 the company posted in April this year. In January, OpenAI chief operating officer Brad Lightcap revealed ChatGPT Enterprise, the first of the business-focused subscription products…
In the rapidly evolving landscape of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI), large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI’s GPT-4, Google’s Gemma, Meta’s LLaMA 3.1, Mistral.AI, Falcon, and other AI tools are becoming indispensable business assets. One of the most promising advancements in this domain is Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG). But what exactly is RAG, and…
Every year, Ark Invest releases a report titled “Big Ideas” that observes promising technologies that can shape the world in the near future. In the 2024 edition, Ark noted several key technologies to watch out for, including robotics. According to the report, robotics represents a global revenue opportunity worth $24 trillion. But what specific sectors…
Apple Inc.’s most important event of the year takes place Monday, when the company will roll out its latest iPhones and set the stage for a new artificial intelligence platform. The event kicks off from Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. local time. Apple doesn’t typically hold this event on…
Spend enough time talking to tech executives and you might come away thinking generative artificial intelligence — the technology behind ChatGPT and other services that can create text, video and images — is about to upend every aspect of our lives. A.I. co-pilots, assistants and agents promise to boost productivity with helpful suggestions and shortcuts.…
France’s new Prime Minister faces a tough road ahead and a looming budget deadline. President Macron has named the next Prime Minister of France. Michel Barnier is a career politician from the conservative side of French politics and has served in numerous roles during his career. The left-wing alliance has denounced the appointment while the…
Police thwarted a potential attack on the Israeli Consulate in Munich. Munich police killed a man that was believed to be attempting to attack the Israeli Consulate. Police responded after people reported a man with a long-gun and bayonet approaching the Israeli Consulate. The individual has been identified and Austrian authorities have confirmed that he…
Bahrain’s King has pardoned hundreds of inmates. Bahrain’s King has issued pardons for over 450 prisoners to mark the 25th anniversary of his reign. Many of these prisoners have been characterized as political prisoners by rights groups. Pardons of large numbers of prisoners have been regularly issued over the past few years as Bahrain has…
The DOJ has indicted a man for working with Russian intelligence officials to attack Ukrainian and US systems. The Department of Justice has indicted a man for working with the GRU to launch cyber attacks against US and Ukrainian systems. The indictment alleges these attacks took place as early as 2020. These attacks were part…
Planned Parenthood has been attacked by the RansomHub ransomware gang. Planned Parenthood has been attached by the RonsomHub ransomware gang. The gang is alleged to have stolen over 90 gigabytes of data which includes patient information. Planed Parenthood has acknowledged the allegations of the attack, and said they are working with partners to address the…
A database containing information on hundreds of thousands of people was found to be unsecured. Researchers have found an unsecured database containing the personal information of over 762,000 car owners in China. The database was hosted on a US based sever and there is no clear owner. Researchers have speculated that this could be an…
A researcher has discovered a new flaw in Yubikeys. A researcher has discovered that Yubikeys are vulnerable to side-channel attacks. The researcher has notified Yubico, and they have produced a list of affected versions. This exploit has been identified as moderately difficult to execute due to the tools required to carry it out. Read more:…
It has been a year and a half since OpenAI introduced its most recent “foundation” large language model (LLM), GPT-4, and the rumor mill has been in high gear the past month with speculation on when a next-generation model will appear. Appearing at a business conference this week, the lead executive for OpenAI’s Japan operations,…
OpenAI executives have discussed higher-priced subscriptions for upcoming large language models, such as its reasoning-focused Strawberry and a new flagship LLM dubbed Orion, the Information reported on Thursday. In early internal talks at OpenAI, subscription prices ranging up to $2,000 per month were discussed, the report said, citing one person with direct knowledge of the…
Companies are “struggling” to find value in the generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) projects they have undertaken and one-third of initiatives will end up getting abandoned, according to a recent report by analyst Gartner. “After last year’s hype, executives are impatient to see returns on Gen AI investments, yet organizations are struggling to prove and…
Last week, the 2024 World Robot Conference took place in Beijing, featuring over 600 robotic products from around the world, attracting over 1.3 million attendees. There were 27 humanoid robots on display, capable of applications in manufacturing, healthcare, household management and entertainment. As embodied artificial intelligence (AI) becomes the next technological frontier after large language…
The first legally binding international AI treaty will be open for signing on Thursday by the countries that negotiated it, including European Union members, the United States and Britain, the Council of Europe human rights organisation said. The AI Convention, which has been in the works for years and was adopted in May after discussions…
Over 50 African nations gathered in Beijing this week for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. At the forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised to create over one million jobs for Africa. Additionally, Xi is pledging $51 billion in financing and his support for 30 infrastructure projects on the continent. The financial assistance will be given…
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, is refusing the current ceasefire proposal. Netanyahu believes that his military should be able to maintain control over the Philadelphi Corridor. This is Gaza’s southern border area with Egypt. Israeli forces have controlled the area since May. Netanyahu’s stance on this issue has become the main obstacle in the current…
Mexico’s lower house of Congress has approved the president’s proposal to redesign the entire judiciary. This is the start of a new system where almost every judge will be elected to office. Currently, judges are appointed based on their training and qualifications. The bill will now move to the Senate for voting. The bill is…
Russia has launched a major attack on Ukraine’s western city of Lviv, close to Ukraine’s border with Poland. This attack caused NATO-member Poland to quickly get aircraft in the air in response to the drone and missile strike near Polish territory. This is the third time in the past eight days that the NATO member…
Researchers have discovered a disturbingly simple method with which attackers can distribute malicious payloads through the PyPI package repository. The attacker only has to re-register a malicious package on PyPI with the same name as a legitimate package that was previously registered but is now removed. Then, the hacker just has to wait for organizations…
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) announced that they were seizing 32 internet domains. The domains are part of Doppelganger, a pro-Russian propaganda operation. The DoJ is accusing the Russian government of directing the operation and violating U.S. criminal trademark and money laundering laws. The Russian influence campaign aims to disperse Russian government propaganda…
Researchers have discovered that YubiKey security keys can be cloned through a side-channel attack. The attack uses a vulnerability in a third-party cryptographic library, Infineon, to make a clone of a YubiKey security key. The clone can then be used to gain access to a victim’s account. However, the attack is difficult to pull off.…
North Korean hackers are using a fake FreeConference App to target job seekers. The actors are using a Windows video conferencing application to impersonate FreeConference.com. This is allowing them to backdoor developer systems. The financially-driven campaign is called “Contagious Interview,” and CrowdStrike is tracking the North Korean threat group under the name “Famous Chollima.” The…
Shares of AI heavyweight Nvidia tumbled 9.5% on Tuesday in the deepest ever single-day decline in market value for a U.S. company, as investors softened their optimism about artificial intelligence in a broad market selloff following tepid economic data. Nvidia lost $279 billion in market capitalization, a major indication that investors are becoming more cautious…
A long-awaited search engine being developed by the maker of ChatGPT is far from ready to replace Google, according to interviews with people who got access to the tool, videos shared online and analysis by a search marketing firm. OpenAI’s SearchGPT uses artificial intelligence to provide slick answers with clearly marked sources, by summarizing information drawn…
Anthropic is launching a new subscription plan for its AI chatbot, Claude, catered towards enterprise customers that want more administrative controls and increased security. Claude Enterprise will compete with OpenAI’s business-specific solution, ChatGPT Enterprise, released roughly a year ago. Claude Enterprise allows businesses to upload proprietary company knowledge into Anthropic’s AI chatbot. Then Claude can…
Back in February, Norway’s 1X showed off the progress it had made with its pick-and-place workplace humanoid, Eve. Now the OpenAI-backed company has released video footage of its latest prototype, a bipedal butlerbot named Neo Beta. Eve doesn’t walk on two legs but wheels along at up to 9 mph (14.5 km/h). It lacks human-like hands,…
Safe Superintelligence (SSI), newly co-founded by OpenAI’s former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, has raised $1 billion in cash to help develop safe artificial intelligence systems that far surpass human capabilities, company executives told Reuters. SSI, which currently has 10 employees, plans to use the funds to acquire computing power and hire top talent. It will…
In an attempted escape from the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s biggest prison, at least 129 people were killed. Interior Minister Shabani Lukoo stated that the attempted breakout happened amidst a fire in the prison’s administrative buildings. Of the 129 dead, 24 were killed by gunfire. Around 59 were injured. Makala prison is the largest…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced plans to completely restructure his cabinet in a major shake-up. Now, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has offered to resign. At least six other senior leaders are offering to resign as well, and more are expected to follow suit. A new list of ministers is expected to be presented…
ISIL is claiming that they were behind a deadly suicide bombing in Kabul on Monday. The bombing killed at least six people and wounded thirteen. The group posted to Telegram on Tuesday, stating that one of its members had detonated an explosive vest in Kabul in the Monday attack. The bombing was targeting the Taliban…
Yesterday, Russian forces carried out one of its deadliest strikes against Ukraine since the war began in 2022. Over 41 people were killed and 180 injured when two Russian missiles hit a hospital and military facility in Poltava. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says many people are believed to still be trapped under the rubble. Russia…
Halliburton, a U.S. oil service giant, has confirmed that corporate data was stolen during a cyberattack last month. The company has not officially confirmed that the cyberattack was part of a ransomware extortion scheme. However, the attack resulted in significant disruptions for the company including limited access to some IT systems. Halliburton stated that the…
The Dutch Data Protection Authority (Dutch DPA) is fining Clearview AI 30.5 million euros, equivalent to $33.7 million. The Dutch DPA is imposing the fine against the facial recognition firm for violating the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). They stated that Clearview AI had built an illegal database holding photographs of faces which included…
Head Mare, a hacktivist group, is being connected to cyber attacks solely targeting Russian and Belarusian organizations. The group recently exploited a WinRAR vulnerability to execute code via a prepared archive, disguising its payload. The hacktivist group began attacking Russian organizations in 2023 in response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Head Mare frequently leaks sensitive information…
“Cicada3301” is a recently created ransomware tool on the market. The ransomware is named after the infamous 4chan puzzle project from the early 2010s. Cicada3301 emerged over two months ago on June 18, and has since been used to compromise 21 companies. The ransomware is similar to the BlackCat ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation. Cicada3301 is being…
Imagine a customer-service center that speaks your language, no matter what it is. Alorica, a company in Irvine, California, that runs customer-service centers around the world, has introduced an artificial intelligence translation tool that lets its representatives talk with customers who speak 200 different languages and 75 dialects. So an Alorica representative who speaks, say, only Spanish…
China’s efforts to match US computing power in artificial intelligence are being hampered by bug-ridden software, with customers of leading AI chipmaker Huawei complaining about performance issues and the difficulty of switching from Nvidia products. The Chinese technology giant has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to develop a domestic alternative to industry leader…
Embodied AI—the integration of artificial intelligence with physical systems to perform complex tasks in real-world environments—is transforming how we interact with the world around us. By coupling AI-driven algorithms with robotics, especially in industries that require real-world solutions, we can enhance the human experience. Various industries have already embraced embodied AI systems. Seeking to solve…
Say what you will about Elon Musk, but when the technological disruptor sets his mind to something, he plays to win. Founded only in July of last year, his latest artificial intelligence startup, xAI, just brought a new supercomputer dubbed “Colossus” online during the Labor Day weekend designed to train its large language model (LLM)…
U.S. facial recognition company Clearview AI has been fined 30.5 million euros ($33.7 million) for building what Dutch data protection watchdog DPA said on Tuesday was an illegal database. DPA also issued an additional order, imposing a penalty of up to 5 million euros on Clearview for non-compliance. “Clearview AI does not have a place…
US researchers have potentially identified the launch site for the new SSC-X-9 Skyfall nuclear powered cruise missile. Civilian researchers using commercially available satellite images have potentially identified the launch site for the new SSC-X-9 Skyfall nuclear powered cruise missile. The Skyfall has been in development and testing for several years and has had a troubled…
The President of Honduras has moved to end the extradition treaty with the US. Following new inquires into the family of current President Xiomara Castro, an announcement has been made that the US-Honduras extradition treaty will be ended. This move has reignited fears that the President and her administration have fallen to the cycle of…
An arrest warrant has been issued for the Venezuelan opposition’s presidential candidate. Venezuelan authorities have obtained an arrest warrant for the opposition’s presidential candidate. Following the summer election, the opposition with broad international support has decried the election results as falsified, and has refused to cooperate with investigations into their campaign. The warrant was obtained…
A North Korean group has used a zero-day Chrome exploit to defraud crypto users. A North Korean hacker group has used a zero-day Chrome exploit to run remote code in the Chromium rendering process. The group, known as Citrine Sleet, tricks users into accessing a fake website which then allows the group to deploy the…
Transport for London has fallen victim to a cyber attack. The agency responsible for public transportation in London has fallen victim to a cyber attack. The agency said that no consumer data has been comprised and no operations have been disrupted. It said that its back room systems have been compromised. There is currently no…
Researchers have uncovered a widespread malware campaign against entities in several countries. Researchers have uncovered a new malware campaign that makes use of several complex techniques to infiltrate victim’s systems. The novel malware has been named “Voldemort” and has been found in systems at insurance and aerospace companies as well as universities. The malware has…
Hackers have manipulated Google’s search results to trick victims into downloading malware. Malicious actors have spoofed GlobalProtect VPN software and manipulated Google’s search engage process to trick users into downloading malware. Researchers discovered the fraudulent landing pages and found they are capable of delivering several different types of malware. They also believe that malicious actors…
OpenAI quietly improved the controls in its Assistants API, making it easier for developers to work with files when building AI assistants. The enhanced controls for File Search within the Assistants aim to help people building AI agents improve responses. The improvements let developers adjust how agents choose information from which to generate responses. They…
From its convoluted non-profit-for-profit structure to the brief ouster and return of its CEO, there is not much about OpenAI that’s typical. The startup’s latest funding round, which would reportedly value OpenAI at a whopping $103 billion, is a case in point. According to The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI is in talks to raise several billion…
At the DataGrail Summit 2024 this week, industry leaders delivered a stark warning about the rapidly advancing risks associated with artificial intelligence. Dave Zhou, CISO of Instacart, and Jason Clinton, CISO of Anthropic, highlighted the urgent need for robust security measures to keep pace with the exponential growth of AI capabilities during a panel titled…
“The Jetsons” debuted September 23, 1962. The first episode, titled “Rosey the Robot,” was an origin story of sorts for the titular character, describing how an overworked Jane hired the housekeeper. Sixty-two years after her debut, Rosey remains an important pop cultural touchstone for the unfulfilled promise of home robots. The home of 2024 isn’t necessarily…
Canadian startup Cohere announced significant improvements to its Command R series of large language models (LLMs) on Friday, aiming to enhance performance in coding, math, reasoning, and latency for its enterprise clients. The upgrades come as the company seeks to solidify its position in the competitive AI market. Founded in 2019 by former Google Brain…
The highly anticipated launch of the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro takes place on September 9, but new details on next year’s iPhone 17 ask some difficult questions of Apple’s AI strategy. Multiple sources, including supply chain analyst Jeff Pu and reliable Weibo leaker “Phone Chip Expert” have highlighted that next year’s iPhone…
The US government announced agreements with leading artificial intelligence startups OpenAI and Anthropic to help test and evaluate their upcoming technologies for safety. Under the agreements, announced on Thursday, the US AI Safety Institute will receive early access to major new AI models from the companies to evaluate capabilities and risks as well as collaborate…
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