NewzIntel.com

Category: Machine Learning

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Protecting the copyright of subtitles in European series and films and developing our AI using this data – E-002840/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Whether any subject matter enjoys protection as a work of authorship and merits copyright protection under EU copyright law would depend on whether it qualifies as an original work and can be expressed in a manner which makes it identifiable with sufficient precision and objectivity.

    If subtitles meet the criteria for copyright protection, their use by third parties must be authorised by the relevant rightsholders, unless specific exceptions or limitations apply in EU copyright law.

    Article 4 of Directive (EU) 2019/790[1] introduces an exception for text and data mining carried out on lawfully accessible copyright-protected content, which provide a relevant framework for the use of protected content for the training of artificial intelligence (AI) models.

    Under Article 4(3) of Directive (EU) 2019/790, rightsholders can expressly reserve the right ‘in an appropriate manner such as machine-readable means’, thus preventing their works from being used under the exception for text and data mining purposes, including in the context of AI.

    The respect of such rights reservation is supported by the AI Act[2]. Under the AI Act , general-purpose AI model providers must put in place a policy to respect EU copyright law and make publicly available a sufficiently detailed summary of the content used for regardless of where the training occurs.

    The Commission will continue to promote the development of AI in the EU, in the respect of copyright rules, by facilitating licensing between creative industries and AI companies.

    • [1] Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market and amending Directives 96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/790/oj
    • [2] Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng
    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – AI liability directive – E-002654/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. The proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Liability Directive[1] was designed with a forward-looking approach to modernise certain fault-based liability rules, considering AI’s unique characteristics (opacity, complexity and autonomy), which differentiate it from traditional software.

    Legal certainty regarding liability is important for reducing risks and encouraging businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises and startups, to invest in AI. Harmonised rules for fault-based liability minimise fragmentation, creating a predictable environment for innovation while ensuring accountability.

    2. The proposed Directive does not create any administrative burden for businesses (no reporting, no registration, no documentation obligation) and enhances legal certainty.

    The proposed AI Liability Directive is targeted and proportionate, as it only deals with aspects of liability that are challenged by the specificities of the AI, while all other aspects of liability are left to national law.

    3. The Commission’s aim is to create a framework that does not stifle growth. The proposed Directive does not create any additional hurdles for companies, as it relies on obligations that companies must already comply with under European or national law.

    The AI Act[2] reduces risks for safety and fundamental rights, the Product Liability Directive[3] sets no-fault liability of producers for defective products, benefiting consumers, and the proposed AI Liability Directive covers liability for damages caused by AI, linked to the fault of any persons.

    Adaptation of fault-based liability to the specificities of AI allows any type of victims of accidents caused by AI systems to prove a successful liability claim and obtain compensation.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52022PC0496
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng
    • [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/2853/oj/eng

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Safer Internet Day 2025: Tackling abusive AI-generated content risks

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Safer Internet Day 2025: Tackling abusive AI-generated content risks

    Every year, Safer Internet Day provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on the state of online safety – how far we’ve come and how we can continue to improve. For almost a decade, Microsoft has marked the occasion by releasing research on how individuals of all ages perceive and experience risk online. Last year, we highlighted the growing importance of AI. This year, in our ninth Global Online Safety Survey, we’ve dug deeper to understand how people view and are using this technology, plus how well they can identify AI-generated content.   

    Our findings show that while there has been a global increase in AI users (51% have ever used compared to 39% in 2023), worries about the technology have also increased: 88% of people were worried about generative AI, compared to 83% last year. Further, our data confirms that people have difficulty in identifying AI generated content, which may amplify abusive AI content risks.  

    Announcing new resources to empower the responsible use of AI

    At Microsoft, we are committed to advancing AI responsibly to realize its benefits. Fundamental to this is the work we do to build a strong safety architecture and to safeguard our services from abuse. Unfortunately, we know that the creation of harmful content is one of the ways in which AI can be subject to abuse, which is why we are taking a comprehensive approach to addressing this issue. That approach includes public awareness and education – and this year’s research underscored the need for media literacy and guidance on the responsible use of AI. Building on the launch of our Family Safety Toolkit last year, we’re pleased to announce new resources: 

    • Partnership with Childnet: We are proud to partner with Childnet, a leading UK organization dedicated to making the internet a safer place for children. Together, we are developing educational materials aimed at preventing the misuse of AI, such as the creation of deepfakes. These resources will be available to schools and families, providing valuable information on how to protect children from online risks. This partnership underscores our comprehensive approach to tackling non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) risks, including through education for teens.  
    • Minecraft “CyberSafe AI: Dig Deeper”: We are thrilled to announce the release of “CyberSafe AI: Dig Deeper,” a new educational game in Minecraft and Minecraft Education that focuses on the responsible use of AI. This game is designed to engage young minds and foster curiosity while teaching important lessons about AI in a safe and controlled game environment. Players will embark on exciting adventures, solving puzzles and challenges that highlight the ethical considerations of AI and prepare them to navigate real-world digital safety scenarios at home and at school. While the player doesn’t engage with generative AI technology directly through the game, they will work through challenges and scenarios that simulate use of AI and learn how to use it responsibly. “Dig Deeper” is the fourth installment in a series of CyberSafe worlds from Minecraft created in partnership with Xbox Family Safety that have been downloaded more than 80 million times. 
    • AI Guide for Older Adults: We are also proud to partner with Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP, whose programs and partners collectively engage over 500,000 older adults each year with free technology and AI training. As part of the partnership, OATS released an AI Guide for Older Adults that helps people age 50+ understand the benefits and risks of AI, including guidance on staying safe. Training for OATS call center staff to handle AI-related questions is also helping increase older adults’ confidence in their ability to use the technology and spot scams.  

     Additional resources for educators to help students navigate the digital world can be found here.  

    A deeper dive into this year’s Global Online Safety Survey findings

    As the digital landscape evolves, we adapt our global survey questions to reflect these changes. This year, we identified an opportunity to quiz people on their ability to identify AI-generated content using images from Microsoft’s “Real or Not” quiz. We asked respondents about their confidence in spotting deepfakes before and after looking at a series of images. We found 73% of respondents admitted that spotting AI-generated images is hard, and only 38% of images were identified correctly. We also asked people about their concerns: common worries about generative AI included scams (73%), sexual or online abuse (73%) and deepfakes (72%).  

    Our research also shows that people worldwide continue to be exposed to a variety of online risks, with 66% exposed to at least one risk over the last year. You can find the full results, including additional data on teen and parent experiences and perceptions of life online here. 

    Reaffirming our commitment to online safety 

     Our approach at Microsoft is centered on empowering users by advancing safety and human rights. We know we have a responsibility to take steps to protect our users from illegal and harmful online content and conduct, as well as to contribute to a safer online ecosystem. We also have a responsibility to protect human rights, including critical values such as freedom of expression, privacy, and access to information. At Microsoft, we achieve this balance through carefully tailoring our safety interventions across our different consumer services, depending on the nature of the service and of the harm. 

     Our approach to advance online safety has always been grounded in privacy and free expression. We advocate for proportionate and tailored safety regulations, supporting risk-based approaches while cautioning against over-broad measures that hinder privacy or freedom of speech. We will continue to engage closely with policymakers and regulators around the world on ways to tackle the biggest risks, especially to children, in thoughtful ways: productivity software like Microsoft Word, for example, should not be subject to the same requirements as a social media service. And finally, we will continue our advocacy for modernized legislation to protect the public from abusive AI-generated content in support of a safer digital environment for all. 

     Global Online Safety Survey Methodology 

    Microsoft has published annual research since 2016 that surveys how people of varying ages use and view online technology. This latest consumer-based report is based on a survey of nearly 15,000 teens (13-17) and adults that was conducted this past summer in 15 countries examining people’s attitudes and perceptions about online safety tools and interactions. Responses to online safety differ depending on the country. Full results can be accessed here. 

    Tags: AI, deepfakes, Microsoft Global Online Safety Survey, Online Safety, Responsible AI, Safer Internet Day

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville Joins “The Will Cain Show” to Discuss Super Bowl LIX, Illegal Immigration, and Military Academies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined “The Will Cain Show” on Fox to recap attending Super Bowl LIX with President Trump and react to President Trump’s announcement that he will be deputizing IRS agents to help with immigration enforcement. Senator Tuberville also discussed President Trump’s dismissal of the Board of Visitors for each of the U.S. military service academies.
    Excerpts from Senator Tuberville’s interview can be found below, and his full interview can be found on YouTube or Rumble.

    CAIN: “Coach joins us now. Coach, great to have you again here on the Will Can Show. You were there. You were in the stadium with President Trump. There’s a headline today from CBS with a new approval poll out that shows that Donald Trump is doing overwhelmingly well, record-setting approval ratings with not just men, which is to be noted. Both virtually, everyone in America setting records, energetic first weeks doing what he promised. Did you feel that last night at the Superdome?”
    TUBERVILLE: “Oh, a hundred percent. There was there was two winners last night—Donald Trump and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles just totally dominated the line of scrimmage, Will. It was just unbelievable. I would’ve never believed it, but they did. And as you said, you well noticed this, they didn’t even blitz. They didn’t blitz one time, and he still controlled the line of scrimmage. But Donald Trump was a huge hit there last night, first president ever to go to a Super Bowl, amazing feat there, but as you said, the loser also was the halftime show.” […]
    CAIN: “Thank you for your editorial judgement, Coach—who has asked me to call him Coach, it’s not an act of lack of self-respect. It’s he said, ‘Will, I prefer you to call me ‘Coach’ instead of ‘Senator.’’ So I am gonna move to your other job now, Coach, and that is this. This is notable on the to do list. President Trump deputizing IRS agents to enforce under DHS illegal immigration. This is quite a move to think that 80,000—by the way—IRS agents were hired under Joe Biden. Donald Trump redeploys them to fight illegal immigration.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Yeah, get them out of their house. They’re sitting at home, harassing the American citizens about their taxes. President Trump’s gonna get them off the couch, get them out of out the front of the television, and send them on the road to help where they actually can help, what an idea. Right? We’ve got way too many IRS agents. The American people need a break here, but we need we do need a lot of help at the border.”
    CAIN: “Imagine that. How about law enforcement folks on those that break the law, those that are in this country illegally and aid going to actual Americans and not to people of foreign countries. You sit on the Armed Services Committee, Senator, and I found this very notable today. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, then President Trump pointed out they’re gonna dissolve the Board of Visitors for the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, and the Coast Guard academies. They don’t like what they’ve seen become of these academies.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Yeah, we’re having a lot of problems with academies. Some are better than others, Will. I’m the Chairman of the Personnel [Sub]committee on Armed Services and we’re gonna get to the bottom of it. But President Trump just basically let all the Board of Visitors go…. He will replace everybody on there. We’ll put some good people, people that really love the military, wanna build a fighting machine along with Pete and work well together. But, you know, the Air Force Academy is having huge problems. The Naval Academy is having not quite as many. West Point is doing pretty good, but we still got a lot of work to do. But, we need to be one hundred percent teaching these young men and women how to control and fight a war, and it all starts there with our leaders in the military academies.”
    CAIN: “We’ve seen the numbers on the recruiting increases over the last couple of months with the appointment of the new Secretary of Defense. And it’s looking to put the United States military back on the right foot that attracts the best young men and women of merit into serving this country. Senator, Coach, it’s always good to see you. Thank you for being with us today.”
    TUBERVILLE: “You too, Will. I saw Jerry Jones last night, our team’s owner. He said he’s coming back.”
    CAIN: “Oh, well, that’s good. I need somebody to put a good word for our Dallas Cowboys. Thank you, Coach.”
    TUBERVILLE: “You got it.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Latin America is moving fast to protect democracy from excesses of big tech

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sebastian Smart, Senior Research Fellow in Access to Justice, Law and Technology, Anglia Ruskin University

    Brazil’s president Lula da Silva is one of the Latin American leaders who are concerned about misinformation being used to undermine democracy. Focuspix/Shutterstock

    Bosses of tech giants Meta, Google and X had front row seats at Donald Trump’s recent presidential inauguration. This special treatment highlighted the increasingly cosy relationship between leaders of technology companies and the White House.

    Just a few weeks before the ceremony, Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg had pledged to “work with President Trump to push back on governments around the world that are going after American companies and pushing to censor more”.

    Zuckerberg also highlighted, and criticised, the restrictions that the European Union and Latin American nations had put in place to legally restrict the social media giants. These include liability for moderation and limiting targeted advertising.

    However, Latin America is emerging as the region which is moving fast to protect democratic institutions from misuse of social media, and other technology.

    For instance, Brazil’s proposed fake news bill (Lei das Fake News) seeks to regulate social media and curb misinformation. It has faced strong opposition from Google. The bill is still under consideration by Brazil’s Congress.



    Read more:
    Meta’s shift to ‘community notes’ risks hurting online health info providers more than ever

    Other examples include how, in August 2024, Brazil’s Supreme Court temporarily banned X for failing to comply with legal requirements, including blocking social media accounts accused of spreading misinformation linked to the 2022 election. X had also failed to appoint a local legal official.

    The platform remained suspended until October 8 2024, when X complied with the court’s orders, paid fines totalling 28 million reals (£3.9 million), and appointed a legal representative.

    Brazil temporarily banned social media network X.

    The court decision has been part of a broader effort in Brazil to protect its democracy and restrict potential disruption from use of technology or social media.

    This push intensified after allies of then president Jair Bolsonaro used social media to spread misinformation (ahead of the 2022 elections), and then attack democratic institutions, and mobilise supporters in the lead-up to the January 8 2023 attacks on government buildings.

    Digital platforms were used to spread false claims of voter fraud and discredit mainstream media as well as spread misinformation about Bolsonaro’s opponents. These efforts fuelled conspiracy theories and protests, which later turned violent. In response, Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court tightened regulations, ordering platforms to remove false election claims.



    Read more:
    Elon Musk’s feud with Brazilian judge is much more than a personal spat − it’s about national sovereignty, freedom of speech and the rule of law

    But the region’s regulatory efforts extend beyond social media into other emerging technologies. Colombia, Ecuador and Chile – among others – are currently debating regulations of artificial intelligence (AI) and looking at AI’s human rights and environmental impact.

    Chile was the first country to recognise neurorights (brain rights) in its constitution, ensuring protections against the misuse of neurotechnology, such as brain-computer interfaces that could read or manipulate thoughts, emotions or cognitive processes. These developing technologies could be used in medicine, but also raise ethical concerns about privacy and cognitive freedom.

    Political leaders across Latin America also regularly challenge global technology leaders over their effect on society. Chile’s president, Gabriel Boric, has criticised Elon Musk’s support for far-right movements. Brazil’s president, Lula da Silva, said the world did not have to put up with Musk’s “far-right free-for-all just because he is rich”. Brazil’s first lady, Janja Lula da Silva, was even more direct. During a global summit on social media regulation, she declared: “I’m not afraid of you, fuck you, Elon Musk.”

    History of authoritarianism

    Many people in Latin America remember how political power was abused in the recent past to undermine democracy. During the military dictatorships of the 1970s and 1980s in countries such as Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, many businesses supported repressive regimes.

    After the coup in Chile in 1973, Augusto Pinochet’s authoritarian government privatised industries and cut social protections with help from the Chicago Boys, a group of US-trained Latin American economists. The regime crushed dissent through state violence, and imprisoned and tortured thousands of people.

    In the early 1970s, Chilean president Salvador Allende had tried to establish the Cybersyn Project, an ambitious initiative to create an economic planning system using networked telex machines and an early form of algorithmic decision-making. It was designed to enhance state control over the economy, while reducing dependence on foreign corporations. But Cybersyn was dismantled after the US-backed military coup that installed Pinochet’s dictatorship.

    Today, Latin America may be better positioned to counter foreign influence than it was in the 1970s. Brazil’s leadership at the recent G20 global summit, where it successfully pushed for social media and artificial intelligence regulation, showed that there is a regional will to push back against the demands, and power, of Silicon Valley’s technology giants.

    The question is whether these countries can sustain their efforts against pressure from big companies, economic pressure (such as tariffs) and shifting geopolitical alliances. If they do, Latin American nations could provide a much-needed counterweight to corporate influence, and an example to the rest of the world of what could be achieved.

    Sebastian Smart receives funding from FONDECYT-Chile

    – ref. Latin America is moving fast to protect democracy from excesses of big tech – https://theconversation.com/latin-america-is-moving-fast-to-protect-democracy-from-excesses-of-big-tech-248487

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Azure for mission-critical workloads in healthcare: EHR and beyond

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Azure for mission-critical workloads in healthcare: EHR and beyond

    In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, digital transformation is no longer a luxury but a necessity. One of the most critical components of this transformation is the electronic health record (EHR) system, which plays a pivotal role in healthcare operations and care delivery. Organizations are actively exploring alternatives for their traditional on-premises infrastructures to overcome significant challenges, including high capital expenditure, frequent expensive hardware refresh cycles, outdated security protocols, and most importantly, managing the data web of siloed systems. By leveraging connected EHR systems in the cloud, providers can also unlock the full potential of their data and further deliver data-driven AI innovations.

    Epic® on Azure

    Azure for mission-critical workloads

    Migrating EHR systems to Microsoft Azure provides healthcare organizations with a robust platform for mission-critical workloads, ensuring optimized performance, fast data access, built-in disaster recovery, and enhanced security features, such as AI-powered threat detection and automated compliance monitoring. On top of that, Azure maximizes cloud investments, offering new possibilities to harness data to springboard AI innovations.

    Data is at the heart of healthcare. Hospitals produce more than 50 petabytes of data across more than 10 siloed systems every year. As the healthcare industry faces the dual challenges of managing vast amounts of unstructured data and a shortage of workforce, up to 97% of healthcare data goes unused, highlighting a significant missed opportunity for operational excellence and better patient insights.1 One of the biggest benefits for healthcare customers on Azure is the ability to unify their multi-modal healthcare data for analytics and AI with healthcare data solutions in Microsoft Fabric that lets them ingest, store, and analyze data from various sources and modalities. While Fabric unifies your data, Microsoft Purview delivers the data governance service that helps you classify the data across your data estate, including identification for sensitive data. Integrating Microsoft Purview with healthcare data solutions in Fabric not only strengthens security but also help you ensure compliance, enabling healthcare organizations to govern their data with confidence. We are acutely aware of the industry expectations in which our technology is utilized, and this is one of the many reasons why our healthcare customers trust Azure for mission-critical workloads.

    As we continue to deliver data innovations, we see our customers use their connected data on a wide spectrum of AI capabilities. With Azure AI, healthcare organizations can accelerate innovation through predictive analytics, automate clinical tasks, and improve patient interactions with the help of ambient AI solutions like DAX Copilot (directly embedded in EHR systems), as well as take advantage of Microsoft healthcare AI models in Azure AI Foundry and GitHub, a collection of cutting-edge multi-modal generative AI models that benefit imaging and radiology workflows.

    Enhanced support for mission-critical

    Mission-critical workloads demand comprehensive support. In 2024, Microsoft Unified enhanced its support for mission-critical workloads in healthcare through its Mission Critical Offerings. This initiative provides proactive support to improve the health, resiliency, and performance of healthcare systems via regular assessments, guidance, and optimization recommendations, ensuring business continuity and addressing unique healthcare challenges.

    Collaborating for technology excellence: A strategic partnership that stands out

    Our commitment to mission-critical is reflected in our collaborations with leading EHR providers such as Epic®. This long-standing relationship of more than 20 years has yielded an optimized solution for Epic® on Azure, offering a robust, purpose-built platform backed by joint-reference architecture. Recently, Microsoft announced expanded scalability on Azure for healthcare organizations, specifically for running Epic®’s Chronicles* Operational Database (ODB), increasing its capacity to 65 million global references per second (GRefs/s), a 171% enhancement from 2023 on the new Mbv3 VM series.

    The collaboration with Epic® extends well beyond the cloud infrastructure—to several products and capabilities part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare. Epic® and Microsoft have expanded their collaboration to integrate advanced AI technologies such as Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service and the DAX Copilot into Epic®’s EHR system. The integration helps provide AI-powered clinical insights, streamline administrative processes, and improve clinician productivity through features like note summarization and automated coding suggestions.

    Delivering value beyond infrastructure: The Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare promise

    Microsoft’s well-rounded partnership with Epic® is one of the many reasons why Azure is the cloud of choice for many of our healthcare customers.

    The decision to move mission-critical workloads to the cloud is often not just about infrastructure. Customers like Mercy chose Azure to not only modernize their infrastructure but also extract value from sizeable data archives. Mercy’s digital transformation on Azure enabled it to connect previously siloed data and use several Microsoft services such as Azure Data Lake to result in positive business outcomes. For example, by empowering care teams with smart dashboards and insights into factors that determine patient discharge, Mercy has been able to reduce patient stay durations significantly. Mercy employs Azure AI Document Intelligence to scan and recognize information on patient’s insurance cards which then gets updated on their EHR records automatically.

    We recognize our customer’s desire to have a complete digital transformation in the cloud that transcends every layer of the stack, and Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare lets us deliver to that promise. It encapsulates a broad spectrum of innovative data and AI innovations from Microsoft, purpose-built for the healthcare industry, enabling our customers to achieve their cloud-first goals faster and easier. Recently, Microsoft announced several innovations as part of the portfolio, including new healthcare AI models in Azure AI Foundry, capabilities for healthcare data solutions in Microsoft Fabric, the healthcare agent service in Copilot Studio, and an AI-powered nursing workflow solution.

    As customers realize the value of consolidating their IT investments around a single vendor, Azure is increasingly being adopted for mission-critical workloads. By seamlessly connecting and delivering value across all layers of the stack, Azure for mission-critical extends a customer’s return on cloud investments. Customers like St. Luke’s University Health System are reaping the benefits of their Epic® on Azure migration by taking advantage of several synergies in the Microsoft portfolio, like the interoperability of Microsoft Teams with Epic®. Security is of paramount importance when dealing with patient records, and customers like Jefferson Health migrate their Epic® environments to Azure with high confidence with Microsoft Defender for end-point detection and response.

    Next steps

    As we continue to transform mission-critical workloads in the cloud, we are making it easier for our partners and customers to create connected experiences at every point of care, empower their healthcare workforce, and unlock the value from their data, all with uncompromised privacy and security. Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare is supporting healthcare organizations on every step of their journey toward shaping a healthier future.

    *Epic® and Chronicles are trademarks of Epic Systems Corporation.

    1World Economic Forum, 4 ways data is improving healthcare, December 2019.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How smarter greenhouses could improve the UK’s food security

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sven Batke, Associate Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange – Reader in Plant Science, Edge Hill University

    A tomato greenhouse in north-west England. Sven Batke, CC BY-NC-ND

    When was the last time you walked into a supermarket and marvelled at the abundance of exotic fruits and vegetables, even in the dead of winter? This luxury, now an expectation, only became common in the mid-20th century, reaching the UK some decades later.

    Not long ago, winter produce in UK supermarkets was limited; root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and parsnips, alongside hardy greens such as kale and cabbage. Fruits were even scarcer, mostly apples and pears. Today’s variety owes much to advances in global trade and smarter greenhouses, which help extend growing seasons and bring once seasonal produce to shelves all year round.

    Fast forward just one generation, and now supermarket shelves are stocked with dragon fruit, bananas, coconuts, avocados, and a variety of exotic nuts and vegetables. These items not only hail from the farthest reaches of the globe, but have also been bred to offer consumers unique sensory experiences or health benefits, such as higher concentrations of antioxidants. It’s no surprise that most of these exotic foods are often not grown locally or even within Europe.

    According to the latest government figures from 2023, 53% of the vegetables consumed in the UK are imported, and only 17% of fruits are grown locally. The contrast is stark when you look at exports, which remain relatively small (about 100,000 tonnes in 2023).

    UK food security could be improved by growing more produce inside smart greenhouses.
    Sven Batke, CC BY-NC-ND

    How often do you eat a UK-grown strawberry or tomato outside summer? Many such vegetables come from the Netherlands, Morocco and Spain, while most fruit comes from Colombia, Costa Rica and Brazil. No surprise, given their warmer climates. The UK averages 9-12°C annually, compared to Morocco’s 18-20°C.

    Increasing demand for exotic foods available year-round has made the UK’s food system vulnerable to external market fluctuations. Disruptions, such as trade barriers following Brexit or global hikes in energy prices due to the Ukraine war have placed supply chains under strain.

    Empty supermarket shelves could become more common if we see disruptions in supply chains, putting further pressure on the undervalued domestic growing sector. But could the UK grow more of its own food and reduce reliance on volatile global markets?

    Hi-tech solutions

    Protected horticulture (specifically in the food sector, as opposed to ornamental plants) involves growing fruits and vegetables year-round in controlled environments, such as polytunnels, greenhouses and indoor vertical farms.

    These facilities regulate temperature, humidity and light, and in some cases, even atmospheric gases like CO₂. Water and nutrient inputs are also tightly controlled, reducing waste by up to 95% compared to traditional field-grown methods. This allows year-around protection from the elements. They are often overlooked despite holding the key to solving some of the current food security challenges.



    Read more:
    Four myths about vertical farming debunked by an expert

    As part of the Greenhouse Innovation Consortium, my team of biologists, geographers and I recently mapped over 12,000 greenhouses in Britain. Estimates suggest that around 70% of these structures are more than 40 years old.

    So why haven’t we seen more UK-grown fruits and vegetables on supermarket shelves if we have the technology to produce them? One major reason is the high energy demand of indoor growing, especially in cold and cloudy weather – something we are all too familiar with in the UK. For example, 2024 has seen one of the worse years in total recorded sun hours.

    The UK’s horticulture sector has also received very little government support over the years. There are few incentives for growers to adopt new technology or upgrade infrastructure. Many UK growers still have not adopted technologies like automatic harvest robots or AI-controlled systems, and even simple upgrades like LED growing lights could boost yield by over 50%. However, resource management in this sector requires experience and making these changes is a fine balancing act.

    Most British greenhouses are more than 40 years old so investment is needed to upgrade them.
    Sven Batke, CC BY-NC-ND

    But the future can be bright – if we choose to make it so. To grow more produce all year round without compromising on flavour, the sector needs more investment in local expertise and cutting-edge facilities.

    From precision horticulture to advanced AI-controlled greenhouses, with the right drive and investment, the UK could move towards a more sustainable food production system. Sweden for example is currently investing over £700 million into horticulture.

    While achieving 100% self-sufficiency may not be feasible due to other demands on land, such as housing, conservation, and industry, creating a more resilient and less dependent food sector would benefit everyone (not to mention reducing food miles).

    The UK’s food future doesn’t have to rely on global markets. With investment and innovation, the country can build a resilient, sustainable food system. Year-round demand for exotic produce has exposed supply chain fragility, but fostering domestic growth and technology can change the narrative.

    It’s not about turning back the clock, but about making the most of what the UK has while driving forward the solutions that make sense for the country’s future. The answer is not just more local food. It’s smarter, more resilient food systems that can weather whatever challenges lie ahead.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Sven Batke works together with industry growers and manufactures in the horticulture industry. The work we are doing is part of the Greenhouse Innovation Consortium, which aims to support local growers in the UK.

    – ref. How smarter greenhouses could improve the UK’s food security – https://theconversation.com/how-smarter-greenhouses-could-improve-the-uks-food-security-248719

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Most animals have their own version of tree rings – here’s how we biologists use them to help species thrive

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Anna Sturrock, Senior Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex

    Narwhal tusks reveal how they’re affected by declining Arctic ice. Saifullahphtographer

    We have a natural fascination with time – how landscapes have been carved over millennia, how our bodies grow and sag with age, how the stars traverse the sky each night. Scientists probe the layers beneath our feet to understand the secrets of our past. Geologists and palaeontologists sample ice, rock and fossils to reconstruct past climates and species and archaeologists pick through ancient “dustbins” (middens) in excavation sites to reimagine our historical dinner time.

    Similarly, most living things produce records of their own existence in layered body tissues – often in the form of daily or yearly growth bands. The most familiar of these so-called biochronologies are tree rings, which form every year in response to seasonal cycles in temperature and rainfall.

    Dendrochronology – the art of tree-ring counting – allows us to precisely date trees. Based on the rings in its trunk, a bristlecone pine in eastern California known as Methuselah is said to be the world’s oldest living thing at 4,856 years old.

    Methuselah, the world’s oldest living tree.
    Xiaoling Sun

    It’s not just the number of rings, either – their width tells us whether the tree was thriving in a particular year, or suffering due to drought. Chemical compounds locked into the wood offer clues about atmospheric changes, including those produced by volcanic eruptions.

    Tree rings are famously detailed life records.
    Veroja

    Let’s not not stop at trees – your own tooth cement, nails and hair are forming chemical and visual records of your own life experience right now, storing traces of food, drink and drugs you have consumed. They can also produce “stress marks” during trauma or pregnancy, when a mother literally breaks her own body tissues to grow and nourish her baby.

    Elsewhere in the natural world, some of the more surprising examples of biochronologies include whale earwax, narwhal tusks, bird feathers and the bony plates (scutes) on turtle shells.

    Turtle power.
    VLADIMIR VK

    Recent studies, for instance, have applied forensic analyses of whale earwax to explore their stress levels during historic whaling days. Narwhal tusks, meanwhile, have helped explain how declining Arctic sea ice has affected their diet and exposure to pollution.

    The importance of otoliths

    In my lab, we work with aquatic animals – from fish scales and ear bones to squid eyes and beaks. Like decoding a biological black box, we analyse chemical constituents in the growth layers to reconstruct a detailed picture of the individual’s prior health, diet and movements.

    Some biochronologies are more “fickle”, forming layers at unpredictable rates, including the eye lenses of fish and turtle scutes. Others, such as bird feathers, are shorter lived due to periodic moulting. Yet they all share the important feature of serial growth, producing valuable archives that we can probe to build a picture of the animal’s life.

    Probably the best known biochronometer in the animal world – and my own personal obsession – is the fish otolith, or ear bone (Ancient Greek: oto is ear and líthos is stone). We humans have tiny ear stones (otoconia), whose primary function is to maintain balance, but fish otoliths are also crucial for hearing, as well as featuring specific properties that make them particularly valuable markers of biochronology.

    Unlike “normal” bones, fish otoliths are composed of calcium carbonate crystals and are metabolically inert, meaning they never get broken down and rebuilt. Instead they keep growing – even during periods of starvation – producing daily and annual growth bands.

    These beautiful crystalline structures are also highly resistant to degradation and vary in shape between species. This enables scientists to use a combination of “otolith atlases” and artificial intelligence to identify popular choices of fish from otoliths left behind in ancient human middens, as well as in the contemporary stomach contents or poop of predators such as seals, albatrosses and squid.

    Otoliths have driven my research for almost two decades. I’ve been fascinated by animal migration and the ecological and evolutionary processes underpinning these long and dangerous journeys ever since taking a “movement ecology” class at the University of Edinburgh with the brilliant Professor Victoria Braithwaite in 2003.

    I decided I wanted to track marine animals myself, and my lab now primarily uses otolith and eye lens chemistry to reconstruct fish habitat use and growth rates, and the temperatures they experienced through their lives. We are now also investigating how well these same structures track reproductive events, chronic stress and exposure to pollution.

    And we are working with international teams to understand how hypoxia (low oxygen zones or “dead zones”) affect fish growth and reproduction. Ultimately, this data allows us to connect stressful events in a fish’s past to its lifetime health and survival, which is important for predicting a species’ persistence.

    For example, a recent study used otolith-derived metabolic rates of Atlantic bluefin tuna to show their vulnerability to future climate change. Meanwhile in California, we used otolith chemistry to understand the impact of dams on salmon migration and survival, revealing that – on many rivers – dams have made it impossible for salmon to escape into the mountains during summer, which is essential for enabling them to resist the increasingly severe droughts afflicting the region.

    Conservation

    Fisheries managers read the rings on millions of otoliths each year to track individual cohorts and look for warning signs of overfishing, but I would argue that biochronologies are still underused in this field. For example, fisheries managers could use otoliths to track the movements of juveniles too small to be tagged (those under 4cm long), since chemical markers make it possible to identify where they grew up. This would allow these managers to earmark productive or struggling “nursery habitats” for protection or improvement, respectively.

    We consistently find that rivers and estuaries play a critical role in the survival and growth of valuable species such as salmon, sea bass and anchovies. Juvenile fish often have such high natural mortality rates – often only 1% survive to their first birthday – that even small improvements to their survival can result in large boosts in abundance and make wild fisheries more sustainable.

    Small improvements to survival of wild salmon could make a huge difference to their sustainability.
    Jakub Rutkiewicz

    As such, let’s keep up the momentum to clean and restore our rivers and beaches, and to embrace monitoring tools such as biochronologies to learn which actions produce the biggest benefits. Next time you think about banging the glass at an aquarium, just remember that the fish inside are listening – and recording you too.

    Anna Sturrock receives funding from a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship

    – ref. Most animals have their own version of tree rings – here’s how we biologists use them to help species thrive – https://theconversation.com/most-animals-have-their-own-version-of-tree-rings-heres-how-we-biologists-use-them-to-help-species-thrive-249507

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Partners Sports Africa Investment Summit (SAIS2025), to Champion Infrastructure Investment and Grassroots Sports Development

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    LAGOS, Nigeria, February 11, 2025/APO Group/ —“Grassroots sports represent the foundation of our nation’s sporting future. Investing in inclusive and accessible facilities is not just about playing the game; it is about fostering talent, strengthening communities, and fueling the economic potential of sports. SAIS2025 provides a vital platform to drive these conversations and unlock new opportunities for grassroots sports development in Nigeria and across Africa.”

    As Nigeria continues to position sports as a driver of economic diversification, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports remains committed to policies that expand access, promote participation, and harness sports’ transformative power to create opportunities for all.

    Join Prince Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye and other leading voices at SAIS2025 as they discuss actionable pathways to sustainable and inclusive sports development.

    Event Details

    • Dates: February 17–18, 2025
    • Venue: Lagos Continental Hotel, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
    • Time: 9:00 AM Daily

    For tickets and registration, visit www.SportNigeria.ng/SAIS, email sais@sportnigeria.ng, or contact 0706 203 8705 (Call/WhatsApp).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko spoke in the State Duma during government hour

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko spoke in the State Duma as part of a government hour dedicated to the development of the Education Development Strategy for the period up to 2036 with a perspective up to 2040.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko thanked the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin and the entire deputy corps for the productive dialogue and noted the effectiveness of the government hour format.

    As part of the development of the Strategy for the Development of Education for the Period up to 2036 with a Prospect up to 2040, more than 1.5 thousand experts analyzed over 600 documents from the times of the Russian Empire to the present day.

    In preparing the draft strategy, the systemic instructions of President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin are taken into account.

    For the first time, strategies for leading engineering universities are being developed at the Government level, and an institute of chief designers is being created.

    The content of educational programs is synchronized with the tasks for the OGE and the USE. The child must receive all the knowledge to pass these exams at school.

    A comprehensive plan of measures to improve the quality of mathematical and natural science education for the period up to 2030 has been approved.

    A system of initial vocational education will be introduced in a pilot mode in a number of regions.

    The strategy will state that artificial intelligence and digitalization will not replace live contact between student and teacher.

    “It is important for us to increase the influx of young specialists, this is influenced by the reduction of the bureaucratic burden, and the number of children in the class, and the protection of teachers – their honor and dignity, wages, housing. We have already begun to fight the bureaucratic burden at the legislative level,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

    The strategy should provide opportunities for the participants of the SVO: obtaining a sought-after profession, employment and involving veterans in educational work in educational organizations.

    The Deputy Prime Minister proposed:

    • together with deputies, within the framework of the Education Development Strategy, consider the issue of transferring schools from the municipal to the regional level;

    • The Ministry of Education should work out the issue of teachers completing additional professional education programs at state universities, regional institutes for advanced training, and leading educational centers (Sirius and Innopolis);

    • Rosobrnadzor must ensure monitoring and quality of implementation of these programs.

    In addition, the Ministry of Education and the Russian Academy of Education have been instructed to work on the issue of balancing the workload of students.

    “On the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, the development of the strategy will continue throughout this year. The draft of this fundamental document should be considered by the Council for Science and Education under the President in the second half of the year,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The event was also attended by the Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov, the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, the head of Rosmolodezh Grigory Gurov, the head of Rosobrnadzor Anzor Muzaev, the president of the All-Russian public organization “Russian Union of Rectors” Viktor Sadovnichy, and the president of the Russian Academy of Education Olga Vasilyeva.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General, at Action Summit, Urges Working Together so Artificial Intelligence Expedites Sustainable Development, Not Creates World of ‘Haves and Have-Nots’

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, in Paris today: 

    Let me begin by thanking President Macron and Prime Minister Modi for convening this AI Action Summit.  Let’s get straight to the point.  Let’s look at the world around us beyond those who are in this room.

    This meeting poses a fundamental question about our relationship with artificial intelligence:  Are we ready for the future?  The answer is easy.  No.  We may not even be ready for the present.

    In what seems like the blink of an eye, AI has gone from the stuff of science fiction to a powerful force that is transforming our world. Reshaping the way we live, work and interact.  Fuelling breakthroughs in education, healthcare, agriculture, but also testing our shared values and rights.

    The power of AI carries immense responsibilities.  Today, that power sits in the hands of a few.  While some companies and some countries are racing ahead with record investments, most developing nations find themselves left out in the cold.  This growing concentration of AI capabilities risks deepening geopolitical divides.

    We must prevent a world of AI “haves” and “have-nots”.  We must all work together so that artificial intelligence can bridge the gap between developed and developing countries — not widen it. It must accelerate sustainable development — not entrench inequalities.

    The United Nations offers an inclusive, transparent and effective platform for AI solidarity.  And we are working to strengthen that platform.  The Global Digital Compact, adopted at the Summit of the Future, established the first universal agreement on the governance of AI.

    It brings the world together around a shared vision:  One where technology serves humanity, not the other way around.  The creation of an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI will be central to translating this vision into reality.

    By pooling global expertise, this Scientific Panel will promote a common understanding of AI risks, benefits, opportunities and capabilities, and help bridge knowledge gaps.  I urge everyone to support its creation without delay.

    Member States also agreed to establish a Global Dialogue on AI Governance — within the United Nations — to ensure that all countries have a voice in shaping the future of AI.  Through the Global Dialogue, we can align governance efforts around the world and reinforce their interoperability, uphold human rights in AI applications and prevent misuse.

    The UN provides an inclusive forum for cooperation, complementing existing mechanisms such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) AI Principles, Group of 7 (G7) and the Global Partnership on AI — as well as regional efforts by the African Union, European Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Council of Europe.  And I am confident that discussions at this Summit will help enrich this Dialogue.

    The Compact also calls for building AI capacity in developing nations.  This is not only about technology diffusion.  We need concerted efforts to build sustainable digital infrastructure at an unprecedented scale; foster talent and train workforces to develop, deploy and maintain AI systems; and ultimately, empower peoples and nations to become not just users, but active participants in the AI revolution.

    A global AI capacity-building network, as proposed by my High-Level Advisory Body on AI, is an economic necessity and a moral imperative. Today’s launch of the AI Foundation for Public Interest is an important contribution.

    I will soon present a report on innovative voluntary financing models and capacity-building initiatives to help all countries harness AI as a force for good.

    Finally, we know that AI can be a force for climate action and energy efficiency.  But, we also know AI power-intensive systems are already placing an unsustainable strain on our planet.  So, it is crucial to design AI algorithms and infrastructures that consume less energy and integrate AI into smart grids to optimize power use.  From data centres to training models, AI must run on sustainable energy so that it fuels a more sustainable future.

    I began with a question.  Let me end with a few more.  Who decides what problems AI should or should not solve?  Who benefits most from its deployment?  Who bears the cost of its mistakes?  These questions affect everyone — so the answers must also involve everyone.

    It is in all our interests for Governments and technology leaders to commit to global guardrails, share best practices and shape fair policy and business models.  The whole world benefits when development banks and the philanthropic community provide catalytic funding to jumpstart capacity-building worldwide.  And we all stand to gain when academia and thought leaders help us navigate through this complex landscape.

    AI is not standing still.  Neither can we.  Let us move for an AI that is shaped by all of humanity, for all of humanity.  In other words, let’s make sure we are ready for the future.  Right now.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Madrona-backed Gradial to Expand Agentic AI Ecosystem with Three Strategic Hires

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEATTLE, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gradial, the agentic AI content supply chain company backed by Madrona Venture Group, has tapped three strategic hires to expand the company’s ecosystem of technology platforms, digital experience agencies and enterprise customers. Jason Michaels joins as head of partnerships, Lisa Hillman as head of customer success and Cara Olson as a senior account executive.

    Gradial is an agentic AI platform that supercharges content supply chains, enabling enterprises to drive smarter and faster engagements. The tool allows marketing teams to automate content updates, streamline enterprise migrations and generate pages at scale, breaking free from legacy systems and eliminating content debt. Large enterprises use anywhere from tens to hundreds to marketing technology tools but, according to research from Foundry, an IDG, Inc. company, only 29 percent of companies say they have the right tech to manage content across the organization, 32 percent have the technology but aren’t using its potential, and 28 percent say they haven’t acquired the right technology.

    Founded in 2024, Gradial is already reducing friction, delivering operational cost savings and accelerating publishing speeds for Fortune 500 brands in the technology, healthcare, retail and financial services sectors. Over the past year, the company has also established strategic partnerships with companies such as Slalom, Huge, Dentsu, Infogain and EPAM Systems, delivering transformation initiatives for marketing leaders at world-leading companies.

    “Gradial is changing the game for modern marketing teams, empowering them to focus on high-impact customer experiences and use Gradial to deliver, integrate and optimize content across the entire enterprise,” said Doug Tallmadge, Gradial’s co-founder and CEO. “Bringing in Jason, Lisa and Cara to build partnerships across the digital experience ecosystem represents the next evolution of our mission of creating agentic AI at enterprise scale.”

    Michaels joins Gradial from Accenture Song, where he built and served as head of agency services for North America, leading a 1,000-person team responsible for strategic partnerships, digital user experiences and content supply chain optimization, and working with blue chip clients including Cisco, Intel, Microsoft and TIAA. Previously, he was managing director and chief strategy officer at Wire Stone, a creative marketing and user experience agency that Accenture acquired to amplify its marketing agency services business unit.

    Hillman joins from Kaiser Permanente, the largest managed care company in the United States, where she was a senior director for digital services. Previously, she held senior corporate strategy, digital experience and operations roles at T-Mobile, worked with Fortune 500 companies as a consultant at Accenture, and served as chief operating officer at venture capital firm Tola Capital.

    Olson joins from Merkle, a global digital marketing and customer experience agency, where she served as growth orchestration and enable officer as well as senior director for partnerships. Previously, she was senior director of partnerships and director of relationship marketing at DEG Digital, a digital experience, commerce and advertising services agency.

    “When I saw Gradial, I saw something readily adoptable that customers already wanted but couldn’t find anywhere else,” said Michaels. “The product is powerful and the roadmap is exciting. Gradial has the opportunity to truly transform how enterprises and marketing teams operate at a scale I’ve never seen before.”

    About Gradial

    Founded by veterans of SpaceX and Microsoft and backed by Madrona Venture Group, Gradial is building a modern marketing content supply chain, partnering with enterprises, agencies and technology platforms to deliver reimagined digital experiences at scale. To learn more, visit https://gradial.com/.

    Media Contact:
    Sam Butler for Gradial
    sam@35thAvenuePartners.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: At AI Summit, diplomats and Pharrell mull destiny of tech revolution

    Source: United Nations 4

    Economic Development

    AI is already transforming our world but its power rests “in the hands of a few”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Tuesday in Paris, in an appeal for countries to use the revolutionary technology together, “to bridge the gap between developed and developing countries – not widen it”.

    Addressing the AI Action Summit against the glittering backdrop of the Grand Palais museum in the French capital, the UN chief warned that the growing concentration of AI capabilities risked deepening geopolitical divides. “Global guardrails” must be agreed and deployed urgently and best practices shared, Mr. Guterres insisted, in the interests of solidarity, equitable policies and fair business.

    With national leaders, tech CEOs and even Pharrell Williams looking on, the UN chief also called for clean energy solutions, as AI data centres already place “an unsustainable strain” on our planet.

    “It is crucial to design AI algorithms and infrastructures that consume less energy and integrate AI into smart grids to optimize power use,” he insisted. “From data centres to training models, AI must run on sustainable energy so that it fuels a more sustainable future.”

    The rapidly developing field of AI should help to accelerate universally agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and not “entrench inequalities”, Mr. Guterres continued.

    Unfounded fears

    Also at the summit to discuss AI’s possibilities and perils, singer-superstar Mr. Williams rejected concerns that it might make humans redundant or take people’s jobs. “There’s just too much fear around it,” he said.

    “We wouldn’t use AI to help us write a song,” he added, insisting that the tech “wouldn’t replace creativity…You know, there was a whole thing around the year 2000 as well, but we’re fine, we survived that.”

    Representing US interests, Vice-President JD Vance said that $450 billion of investment in the sector was planned. He cautioned against overly stringent controls. “Excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry as it’s taking off,” he added.

    Soundcloud

    Commercial edge

    Offering insight into how AI is evolving, Choi-Soo-yeon, head of South Korean AI giant Naver, explained that what people want today is “not websites, but information” that is more relevant to their needs.

    “By understanding users underlying intent and context, AI will recommend products their users really want,” she said. “This is expected to create a commerce platform where various tastes to end personalities coexist and are actively connected.”

    The UN’s role in AI

    Highlighting the UN’s mission to ensure that no one is left behind by this new technology, Mr. Guterres pointed to the Global Digital Compact on AI governance which Member States agreed to in September last year. The Compact “brings the world together around a shared vision: one where technology serves humanity, not the other way around,” the Secretary-General said, as he urged all countries to support the creation of an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI.

    Equally important is the establishment of a Global Dialogue on AI Governance featuring all UN Member States, “to align [AI] governance efforts around the world and reinforce their interoperability, uphold human rights in AI applications and prevent misuse…We must prevent a world of AI ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots,’” the UN chief insisted.

    Energy angle

    Addressing the need to square the circle of energy-hungry AI data centres, Fatih Birol, Executive director of the intergovernmental International Energy Agency (IEA) confirmed that electricity demand trends have already been impacted by data centres and other key AI infrastructure requirements.

    “There is no AI without energy,” he said, noting that “thousands” of data centres are going to be built. “This is the challenge for governments to find electricity in a clean way, in a sustainable way and in an affordable way.” 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: DealHub Strengthens Leadership to Accelerate Growth and Power Revenue AI Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Co-founder Eyal Orgil Transitions to Chief Product Officer; Gilad Zubery Appointed Chief Revenue Officer

    AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DealHub.io, the leading Revenue AI platform, today announced a strategic leadership transition to drive its next phase of growth and innovation. Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer, Eyal Orgil, will assume the role of Chief Product Officer, focusing on advancing the company’s product vision and development. Stepping into the CRO role is Gilad Zubery, a seasoned leader experienced in building and leading global GTM teams. Zubery comes to DealHub after holding executive leadership positions at Clicktale and Contentsquare.

    In his new role, Eyal will lead DealHub’s product strategy to deliver advanced solutions that empower Revenue leaders to navigate evolving sales motions and diverse revenue streams. Under his leadership, DealHub will accelerate its investment in AI to streamline revenue orchestration, optimize deal execution, and enhance predictive insights, helping organizations stay ahead in their multifaceted sales landscape.

    “Eyal’s vision for product innovation has been instrumental in building DealHub into the industry leader it is today. His deep understanding of sales processes and extensive sales leadership experience uniquely position him to drive the development of best in class revenue solutions and ensure our continued leadership in the Revenue AI market,” said Eyal Elbahary, CEO of DealHub. “I’m thrilled to welcome Gilad Zubery to the team. His extensive background in leading high-performing global GTM teams and scaling organizations makes him the ideal leader to drive DealHub’s next phase of accelerated growth.”

    Gilad will leverage his extensive international experience to spearhead DealHub’s global go-to-market strategy and expand its presence in key markets. With his expertise in partner ecosystems, business development, sales and global expansion, Gilad will play a pivotal role in propelling DealHub’s growth and market leadership.

    “I am thrilled to be joining DealHub at such an exciting time for the company,” said Zubery. “DealHub’s innovative approach to Revenue AI is transforming how businesses manage their entire sales-to-revenue operations, and I’m looking forward to building on our existing success to take the company to even greater heights.”

    About DealHub
    DealHub delivers a business-logic driven engine to power the complete Quote-to-Revenue workflow incorporating CPQ, CLM, Subscription Billing, DealRoom, and new composable API-First Headless Quoting. 

    This intelligent flow drives revenue execution from new business to renewed customers without delays and errors, ensuring a superior buyer experience across all revenue streams.

    For more information, users can visit dealhub.io or follow DealHub on LinkedIn.

    Contact

    CMO
    Gideon Thomas
    DealHub
    gideon.thomas@dealhub.io

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/da77e819-8ee0-4362-a144-3bbb7b081c31

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9f002c74-3aa7-445e-802b-a30ba0ee1945

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Arctic Wolf Named Official Cybersecurity Partner of BWT Alpine Formula One Team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BWT Alpine Formula One Team announces a partnership with Arctic Wolf, a global leader in Security Operations, Arctic Wolf becomes the Official Cybersecurity Partner of BWT Alpine Formula One and will implement its industry-defining security operations platform, including the newly launched Aurora Endpoint Security, into the team’s global security and technology infrastructure.

    The partnership between Arctic Wolf and BWT Alpine Formula One Team is forged on a mutual commitment to precision and speed. Each week, the Arctic Wolf Aurora Platform, powered by Alpha AI™, processes over seven trillion security events to deliver security outcomes with the scale and precision necessary to ensure peak performance on and off the track.

    Arctic Wolf branding will be featured on BWT Alpine Formula One Team’s car, the race suits of its roster of drivers and the wider team environment.

    “The partnership between Arctic Wolf and BWT Alpine Formula One Team reflects a shared commitment to precision, speed, and the pursuit of excellence,” said Dan Larson, Chief Marketing Officer, Arctic Wolf. “The Arctic Wolf Aurora Platform and the newly launched Aurora Endpoint Security are built to help organizations ascend to new heights of cybersecurity and business resilience so that they can focus on what they do best, and for the BWT Alpine Formula One Team, that means going fast, pushing boundaries and achieving amazing results.”

    “BWT Alpine Formula One Team is laser-focused on leveraging the competitive advantage that effective security operations provide in protecting our infrastructure from the factory to the racetrack and everywhere in between,” said Oliver Oakes, Team Principal, BWT Alpine Formula One Team. “Arctic Wolf’s unparalleled expertise and cutting-edge Aurora Platform will provide us with the confidence and protection necessary to safeguard our operations at every level, ensuring we can dedicate our full attention and energy to what matters most: winning races.”

    Sports and entertainment organisations face unique cybersecurity challenges due to their dynamic environments, consumer-facing digital platforms, and mobile workforces. These factors make them prime targets for threat actors aiming to exploit vulnerabilities and steal sensitive data, including financial information, intellectual property, and personal details of employees and customers. Arctic Wolf understands these challenges deeply and is trusted by over 50 professional sports teams worldwide, including the Minnesota Wild (NHL), Meyer Shank Racing (IndyCar), the Minnesota Vikings (NFL), and the Parramatta Eels (NRL) to protect against threats and safeguard critical data.

    For more information about Arctic Wolf and BWT Alpine Formula One Team’s global partnership, visit arcticwolf.com.

    Additional Resources

    About Arctic Wolf
    Arctic Wolf® is a global leader in security operations, enabling customers to manage their cyber risk in the face of modern cyber-attacks via a premier cloud-native security operations platform. The Arctic Wolf Aurora Platform ingests and analyzes more than seven trillion security events a week to help enable cyber defense at an unprecedented capacity and scale, empowering customers of virtually any size across a wide range of industries to feel confident in their security posture, readiness, and long-term resilience. By delivering automated threat protection, response, and remediation capabilities, Arctic Wolf delivers world-class security operations with the push of a button so customers can defend their greatest assets at the speed of data.

    About BWT Alpine Formula One Team
    BWT Alpine Formula One Team competes in the FIA Formula One World Championship with Grand Prix race winner Pierre Gasly and Formula 1 rookie Jack Doohan, under the leadership of Team Principal Oliver Oakes and Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore. The team, bought by the Benetton Family in 1986, was moved to Enstone, Oxfordshire, in 1992 where it is still based today. Renault bought the Italian-run team in 2000 and rebranded as Alpine F1. The team has a winning legacy, having won the Formula One World Championship seven times, including the Drivers’ World Championship (1994, 1995, 2005 and 2006) with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, and the Constructors’ World Championship (1995, 2005 and 2006). The team’s most recent triumph came at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, the 50th victory overall. The team finished the 2024 season strongly with two podium finishes and ended the year sixth place overall in the Constructors’ Championship.

    Press Contacts:
    Lauren Back
    PR@arcticwolf.com

    BWT Alpine Formula One Team
    media@alpinef1.com

    © 2025 Arctic Wolf Networks, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Arctic Wolf, Aurora, Alpha AI, Arctic Wolf Security Operations Cloud, Arctic Wolf Managed Detection and Response, Arctic Wolf Managed Risk, Arctic Wolf Managed Security Awareness, Arctic Wolf Incident Response, and Arctic Wolf Concierge Security Team are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Arctic Wolf Networks, Inc. or Arctic Wolf Networks Canada, Inc. and any subsidiaries in Canada, the United States, and/or other countries.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Digital Tails Group, Llc. and Bowmo Inc., Announce Introduction of Engineering Solutions and Case Studies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, NY, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — bowmo™, Inc. (OTC: BOMO), a New York City based company powered by AI and XR/VR technologies aiming to provide fully customizable SaaS Platforms to multiple industries (https://bowmo.com) (“bowmo,” “the Company”) and its recent merger partner OWNverse/Digital Tails Group (“DTG”), are pleased to announce release of an expanded family of engineering and industrial automation solutions for industrial manufacturing, healthcare, energy, automotive and aerospace.

    Digital Tails Group developed solutions that include 3D Configurators, CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) Automation, XR (Extended Reality) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) designed to make manufacturing simpler and more efficient. Key system capabilities for engineering industries include 3D product visualization, and integrations with ERP, CAD and PLM systems.

    Typical customer benefits include streamlined manufacturing and design processes, rapid product customizations and ordering, reduced error rates, and increased sales conversion rates.

    Aleksey Shestakov, Chairman of the Board of OWNverse/Digital Tails and the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of bowmo, Inc. summarized, “By integrating several core technologies like 3D visualization, extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI) into an intuitive CPQ solution, we are able to rapidly configure customer solutions that deliver significant ROI and value.”

    Michael R. Neece, Chief Product Officer of bowmo Inc, stated, “Bowmo’s ‘One Platform for Multiple Verticals‘ product strategy is now revealing the significance of integrating AI, 3D/XR, Blockchain and workflow automation into a single platform that can be rapidly configured for specific needs of multiple industry verticals.”

    You can learn more about this latest family of engineering innovations from bowmo and OWNverse/Digital Tails Group at: https://digital-tails.group/industrial-cpq-solution.

    About bowmo, Inc.
    Bowmo Inc., (OTC: BOMO) is a New York City–based AI-powered software and services company that incorporates a novel set of technologies to build a platform that will deliver solutions for multiple industries. Bowmo’s flagship product seamlessly integrates AI and extended reality (XR) technologies to revolutionize recruitment and human resource (HR) processes.

    Building upon our multi-vertical platform, bowmo is poised to introduce a suite of future products catering to the needs of cybersecurity, SaaS sales, retail, sports, media/entertainment, and real estate sectors. This expansion underscores bowmo’s commitment to diversifying revenue streams and addressing diverse industry needs through advanced technological solutions. bowmo’s platform harnesses AI, machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), blockchain, extended/augmented/virtual realities (XR) and process orchestration.

    About Digital Tails Group, LLC.
    Digital Tails Group (“DTG,” the “Company”) is an IT company specializing in software development using 3D technology, extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI). The DTG expertise in advanced technologies ranges from virtual reality (VR) experiences to smart AI algorithms, enabling us to help our clients improve their competitive strength through the application of advanced UI and knowledge technologies.

    About OWNverse, LLC.
    OWNverse is a virtual platform company that develops unique tools for creating targeted products and services for virtual spaces (“Metaverses”) by using the technology stack available through widely used Web2 platforms driven by AI.

    OWNverse allows for the integration of such tools to elevate the dimensionality of products and services, while offering such products and services within the spatially immersive 3D Internet—Web3.

    OWNverse aims to empower all users to become co-creators of the content. The main OWNverse ideology is to supply proven tools to users to provide real value for businesses and create virtual communities in numerous business sectors.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It
    Additional information is available on the Company’s website: https://www.bowmo.com. In addition, other information related to the Company is available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: Michael E. Lakshin, Chairman of the Board and President, Michael.Lakshin@bowmo.com.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by the use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “continue,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, BOMO’s ability to successfully execute its expanded business strategy, including by entering into definitive agreements with suppliers, commercial partners and customers; general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing various software programs, changes in future customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technical advances and delivering technological innovations, regulatory requirements and the ability to meet them, government agency rules and changes, and various other factors beyond BOMO’s control. Except as may be required by law, bowmo, Inc. undertakes no obligation, and does not intend, to update these forward-looking statements after the date of this release.

    Contact:
    Michael E. Lakshin
    Chairman of the Board and President
    Michael.Lakshin@bowmo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    The AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies is an annual economic policy conference, held in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, organized by the Ministry of Finance of Saudi Arabia and the IMF Regional Office in Riyadh. The conference will convene a select group of emerging markets’ ministers of finance, central bank governors, and policymakers, as well as public and private sector leaders, international institutions, and academia. It will offer a unique platform to exchange views on domestic, regional, and global economic developments and discuss policies and reforms to spur inclusive prosperity and build resilience supported by strong international cooperation.

    The sessions with an asterisk (*) will be streamed live on this page.

    Agenda

    Day 1: February 16, 2025

    09:30-09:40 – Opening remarks by H.E. Mohammed Al-Jadaan (Minister of Finance, Saudi Arabia) and Kristalina Georgieva (Managing Director, IMF) *

    09:40-10:00 – Keynote Lecture: Emerging Markets Amid Structural Shifts in the World Economy

    The keynote address will discuss global trends and their potential implications for emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), as well as the role of international cooperation.

    • Keynote Address: H.E. Pan Gongsheng (Governor, PBOC)

    10:00-10:50 – Emerging Markets: Policy Challenges Amid Structural Shifts in the World Economy

    The panel will delve into EMDEs’ policy challenges in the context of the rising uncertainty and the changing global economic landscape. Specifically, it will cover the implications for EMDEs of (i) more frequent external shocks; (ii) elevated uncertainty; and (iii) structural challenges in the context of high debt, weak growth, energy transitions, and new technologies.

    • Moderator: Jihad Azour (Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF)

    Panelists:

    • H.E. Olayemi Cardoso (Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria)
    • José De Gregorio (Dean, School of Economics and Business, University of Chile)
    • H.E. Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari (Minister of Finance, Qatar)
    • Jin Liqun (President, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank)

    10:50-11:10 – Coffee break

    11:10-12:10 – High Debt-Low Fiscal Space—Fiscal Consolidation and Multilateral Solutions to Debt Restructuring

    Maintaining or restoring debt sustainability in EMDEs is a challenging task in the context of elevated debt, higher interest rate and weak potential growth, as well as significant spending pressures (e.g., related to sustainable development goals, defense, energy transitions, and economic diversification). The panelists will discuss the pace of the ongoing pivot towards fiscal consolidation and ways to garner support for politically difficult reforms. Potential debt restructuring mechanisms from both creditor and debtor perspectives will also be highlighted.

    • Moderator: Ryadh Alkhareif (IMFC Deputy, Saudi Arabia)

    Panelists:

    • H.E. Mohammed Al-Jadaan (Minister of Finance, Saudi Arabia)
    • Mauricio Cárdenas (Professor, Columbia University, former Minister of Finance, Colombia)
    • H.E. Situmbeko Musokotwane (Minister of Finance and National Planning, Zambia)
    • H.E. Anton Siluanov (Minister of Finance, Russia)

    12:10-13:00 – Lunch

    13:00-14:00 – Monetary Policy and Capital Flows Amid Elevated Uncertainty

    The session will discuss the path of future monetary policy in EMDEs, considering the spillovers from monetary policy in advanced economies and potential swings in global market sentiment, as well as the uncertainty around the implications for inflation, the neutral rate, and capital flows of the changing economic landscape.

    • Moderator: Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas (Economic Counsellor, Director of the Research Department, IMF)
    • Author: Hélène Rey (Professor, London Business School)

    Discussants:

    • H.E. Fatih Karahan (Governor, Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye)
    • H.E. Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput (Governor, Bank of Thailand)

    14:00-15:00 – Resilience of the Financial System in Emerging Markets

    The panel will focus on the implications of the changing global landscape for financial stability in emerging markets, as well as the policy priorities.

    • Moderator: Tobias Adrian (Director, Monetary and Capital Markets Department, IMF)

    Panelists:

    • H.E. Ayman Mohammad Al-Sayari (Governor, SAMA)
    • H.E. Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al Thani (Governor, Qatar Central Bank)
    • H.E. Taleh Kazimov (Governor, Central Bank of Azerbaijan)
    • H.E. Andriy Pyshnyi (Governor, National Bank of Ukraine)

    19:30-21:30 – Dinner hosted by the Ministry of Finance of Saudi Arabia

    Day 2: February 17, 2025

    09:00-10:00 – Navigating Trade Tensions and Uncertainties

    Against the backdrop of mounting risks and uncertainty, the session will discuss (i) how geoeconomic fragmentation and geopolitical risks are affecting trade and investment globally and in EMDEs; (ii) how EMDEs can adapt to these developments and mitigate risks; (iii) what policies to enhance trade and investment flows; and (iv) what changes to the current global trade system to respond to EMDEs’ needs.

    • Moderator: Indermit Gill (Chief Economist, World Bank Group)

    Panelists:

    • H. E. Adebayo Olawale Edun (Minister of Finance, Nigeria)
    • H.E. Nadia Fettah (Minister of Economy and Finance, Morocco)
    • H.E. Sergii Marchenko (Minister of Finance, Ukraine)

    10:00-11:00 – Productivity in EMDEs: Challenges and Opportunities

    Compared with the pre-pandemic period, the medium-term growth outlook has worsened significantly, including in EMDEs. The projected slowdown jeopardizes income convergence and could also lead to widening income inequality within countries. Against this backdrop, the session will take stock of EMDEs’ growth outlook, including the main headwinds, and discuss the potential challenges and opportunities from shifts in the economic landscape (e.g., AI).

    • Moderator: H.E. Muhammad Al Jasser (President, Islamic Development Bank)
    • Author: Leslie Teo (Director, AI Products, AI Singapore; Former chief economist and head of investment strategy, GIC Singapore)

    Discussants:

    • H.E. Faisal F. Alibrahim (Minister of Economy and Planning, Saudi Arabia)
    • Santiago Levy (Senior Fellow, Brookings)
    • H.E. Federico Sturzenegger (Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, Argentina)

    11:00-11:20 – Coffee break

    11:20-12:20 – Closing Panel: A Path for Emerging Market Resilience *

    The concluding panel will focus on (i) how EMDEs should deal with shocks in the short term, taking into consideration the persistence of some global shocks; (ii) identifying the main trade-offs for fiscal and monetary policymakers to build resilience, maintain stability and spur growth (“rise strong”); and (iii) how the underlying concerns behind “anti-globalization” pressures can be addressed to revitalize global economic integration.

    • Moderator: Kristalina Georgieva (Managing Director, IMF)

    Panelists:

    • H.E. Muhammad Aurangzeb (Minister of Finance, Pakistan)
    • H.E. Rania Al-Mashat (Minister of Planning, Development, International Cooperation, Egypt)
    • H.E. Fernando Haddad (Minister of Finance, Brazil)
    • H.E. Mehmet Şimşek (Minister of Finance, Türkiye)
    • H.E. Hon. John Mbadi Ng’ongo (Minister of Finance, Kenya)

    12:20-12:40 – Closing remarks by H.E. Mohammed Al-Jadaan (Minister of Finance, Saudi Arabia) and Kristalina Georgieva (Managing Director, IMF) *

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: INTERPOL conference: Drawing on national policing expertise for global security

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    11 February 2025

    The three-day meeting brings together 310 law enforcement officials from 150 countries.

    LYON, France – Senior police officials from around the world are gathering in Lyon this week for INTERPOL’s annual Heads of National Central Bureaus (NCBs) Conference.

    As the primary point of contact between INTERPOL and national law enforcement agencies in its 196 member countries, NCBs are uniquely positioned to share knowledge, expertise, and best practices in the fight against transnational crime.

    Bringing together some 310 delegates from 150 countries, the three-day (11 – 13 February) meeting will discuss strategies for using INTERPOL’s capabilities and network to tackle current and emerging security risks.

    Harnessing technology

    Through a series of panel-based discussions and regional roundtable sessions, attendees will address a range of crime threats including gang violence, extremism and radicalization and cybercrime, as well as the use of technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence to enhance law enforcement capabilities.

    INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi said:

    “In today’s world, the importance of cross-border collaboration and data sharing cannot be over-stated.

    “National Central Bureaus are the critical link connecting police agencies across INTERPOL’s member countries to the General Secretariat and the wider global security community. The challenges we face are not easy, but together, we are stronger.”

    INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said:

    “INTERPOL’s mission must always stay aligned with its member countries’ needs—needs that are constantly changing as the landscape of international crime evolves.

    “The Heads of National Central Bureaus’ conference is an opportunity for us to understand the wide-ranging priorities and challenges of our membership, and more importantly how we can help. There will be no strong INTERPOL without strong NCBs.”

    Leading platform

    Now in its 20th edition, the Heads of NCB conference is a leading platform for international police cooperation.

    The event provides senior policing officials with a valuable opportunity to directly engage with their counterparts from around the world, fostering collaboration and exchanging knowledge to drive progress in the global effort to combat transnational crime.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks at AI Action Summit [scroll down for all-English version]

    Source: United Nations – English

    strong>[Bilingual, as delivered]

    Excellences,
     
    Permettez-moi tout d’abord de remercier le Président Macron et le Premier ministre Modi d’avoir organisé ce Sommet pour l’action sur l’intelligence artificielle.
     
    Mesdames et Messieurs,
     
    Allons droit au but.
     
    Regardons le monde qui nous entoure au-delà de ceux qui sont dans cette salle.
     
    Notre réunion pose une question fondamentale sur notre rapport à l’intelligence artificielle.
     
    Sommes-nous prêts pour l’avenir ?
     
    La réponse s’impose d’elle-même.
     
    Non.
     
    Nous ne sommes peut-être même pas prêts pour le présent.
     
    En un battement de cils, l’Intelligence Artificielle a quitté l’univers de la science-fiction pour devenir une force puissante qui révolutionne notre monde.
     
    Transformant nos modes de vie, de travail et d’interaction.
     
    Alimentant des avancées majeures dans l’éducation, la santé, l’agriculture…
     
    Mais mettant également à l’épreuve nos valeurs communes et nos droits fondamentaux.
     
    Le pouvoir de l’intelligence artificielle impose d’immenses responsabilités.
     
    Aujourd’hui, ce pouvoir est entre les mains d’une poignée de personnes.  
     
    Tandis que certaines entreprises et certains pays se lancent dans une course effrénée avec des investissements sans précédent, la plupart des nations en développement se retrouvent laissées pour compte.
     
    Cette concentration grandissante des capacités en matière d’intelligence artificielle menace d’aggraver les clivages géopolitiques.
     
    Nous devons empêcher l’émergence d’un monde de “nantis” et de “démunis” de l’Intelligence Artificielle.
     
    Nous tous devons travailler ensemble pour que l’Intelligence Artificielle puissent combler le fossé entre les pays développés et les pays en développement – et non le creuser.
     
    Elle doit accélérer le développement durable – au lieu de perpétuer les inégalités.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    The United Nations offers an inclusive, transparent and effective platform for AI solidarity.
     
    And we are working to strengthen that platform.
     
    The Global Digital Compact, adopted at the Summit of the Future, established the first universal agreement on the governance of AI.
     
    It brings the world together around a shared vision:
     
    One where technology serves humanity, not the other way around.
     
    The creation of an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI will be central to translating this vision into reality.
     
    By pooling global expertise, this Scientific Panel will promote a common understanding of AI risks, benefits and capabilities, and opportunities and help bridge knowledge gaps.
     
    I urge everyone to support its creation without delay.
     
    Member States also agreed to establish a Global Dialogue on AI Governance – within the United Nations – to ensure that all countries have a voice in shaping the future of AI.
     
    Through the Global Dialogue, we can align governance efforts around the world and reinforce their interoperability; uphold human rights in AI applications and prevent misuse.
     
    The UN provides an inclusive forum for cooperation, complementing existing mechanisms such as the OECD AI Principles, G7 and the Global Partnership on AI – as well as regional efforts by the African Union, European Union, ASEAN and the Council of Europe.
     
    And I am confident that discussions at this Summit will help enrich this Dialogue.
     
    The Compact also calls for building AI capacity in developing nations.
     
    This is not only about technology diffusion.
     
    We need concerted efforts to build sustainable digital infrastructure at an unprecedented scale;
     
    Foster talent and train workforces to develop, deploy and maintain AI systems;
     
    And ultimately, empower peoples and nations to become not just users, but active participants in the AI revolution.
     
    A global AI capacity-building network, as proposed by my High-Level Advisory Body on AI, is an economic necessity and a moral imperative.
     
    Today’s launch of Current AI, a public interest partnership, is an important contribution.
     
    I will soon present a report on innovative voluntary financing models and capacity-building initiatives to help all countries harness AI as a force for good.
     
    Finally, we know that AI can be a force for climate action and energy efficiency.
     
    But we also know AI power-intensive systems are already placing an unsustainable strain on our planet.
     
    So it is crucial to design AI algorithms and infrastructures that consume less energy and integrate AI into smart grids to optimize power use.
     
    From data centres to training models, AI must run on sustainable energy so that it fuels a more sustainable future.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    I began with a question.  Let me end with a few more. 
     
    Who decides what problems AI should or should not resolve?
     
    Who benefits most from its deployment?
     
    Who bears the cost of its mistakes?
     
    These questions affect everyone – so the answers must also involve everyone.
     
    It is in all our interests for governments and technology leaders to commit to global guardrails, share best practices, and shape fair policy and business models.
     
    The whole world benefits when development banks and the philanthropic community provide catalytic funding to jumpstart capacity-building worldwide.
     
    And we all stand to gain when academia and thought leaders help us navigate through this complex landscape.
     
    AI is not standing still.
     
    Neither can we.
     
    Let us move for an AI that is shaped by all of humanity, for all of humanity.
     
    In other words, let’s make sure we are ready for the future… right now.
     
    Thank you.
     
    ***
    [all-English]
     
    Excellencies,
     
    Let me begin by thanking President Macron and Prime Minister Modi for convening this AI Action Summit.
     
    Ladies and gentlemen,
     
    Let’s get straight to the point. 
     
    Let’s look at the world around us beyond those who are in this room.
     
    This meeting poses a fundamental question about our relationship with Artificial Intelligence:  
     
    Are we ready for the future?
     
    The answer is easy.
     
    No. 
     
    We may not even be ready for the present.
     
    In what seems like the blink of an eye, AI has gone from the stuff of science fiction to a powerful force that is transforming our world.
     
    Reshaping the way we live, work, and interact.
     
    Fueling breakthroughs in education, healthcare, agriculture…
     
    But also testing our shared values and rights.
     
    The power of AI carries immense responsibilities.
     
    Today, that power sits in the hands of a few.
     
    While some companies and some countries are racing ahead with record investments, most developing nations find themselves left out in the cold.
     
    This growing concentration of AI capabilities risks deepening geopolitical divides.
     
    We must prevent a world of AI “haves” and “have-nots”.
     
    Nous tous devons travailler ensemble pour que l’Intelligence Artificielle puissent
     
    We must all work together so that artificial can bridge the gap between developed and developing countries – not widen it.
     
    It must accelerate sustainable development – not entrench inequalities.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    The United Nations offers an inclusive, transparent and effective platform for AI solidarity.
     
    And we are working to strengthen that platform.
     
    The Global Digital Compact, adopted at the Summit of the Future, established the first universal agreement on the governance of AI.
     
    It brings the world together around a shared vision:
     
    One where technology serves humanity, not the other way around.
     
    The creation of an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI will be central to translating this vision into reality.
     
    By pooling global expertise, this Scientific Panel will promote a common understanding of AI risks, benefits, opportunities and capabilities, and help bridge knowledge gaps.
     
    I urge everyone to support its creation without delay.
     
    Member States also agreed to establish a Global Dialogue on AI Governance – within the United Nations – to ensure that all countries have a voice in shaping the future of AI.
     
    Through the Global Dialogue, we can align governance efforts around the world and reinforce their interoperability; uphold human rights in AI applications and prevent misuse.
     
    The UN provides an inclusive forum for cooperation, complementing existing mechanisms such as the OECD AI Principles, G7 and the Global Partnership on AI – as well as regional efforts by the African Union, European Union, ASEAN and the Council of Europe.
     
    And I am confident that discussions at this Summit will help enrich this Dialogue.
     
    The Compact also calls for building AI capacity in developing nations.
     
    This is not only about technology diffusion.
     
    We need concerted efforts to build sustainable digital infrastructure at an unprecedented scale;
     
    Foster talent and train workforces to develop, deploy and maintain AI systems;
     
    And ultimately, empower peoples and nations to become not just users, but active participants in the AI revolution.
     
    A global AI capacity-building network, as proposed by my High-Level Advisory Body on AI, is an economic necessity and a moral imperative.
     
    Today’s launch of the AI Foundation for Public Interest is an important contribution.
     
    I will soon present a report on innovative voluntary financing models and capacity-building initiatives to help all countries harness AI as a force for good.
     
    Finally, we know that AI can be a force for climate action and energy efficiency.
     
    But we also know AI power-intensive systems are already placing an unsustainable strain on our planet.
     
    So it is crucial to design AI algorithms and infrastructures that consume less energy and integrate AI into smart grids to optimize power use.
     
    From data centres to training models, AI must run on sustainable energy so that it fuels a more sustainable future.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    I began with a question.  Let me end with a few more. 
     
    Who decides what problems AI should or should not solve?
     
    Who benefits most from its deployment?
     
    Who bears the cost of its mistakes?
     
    These questions affect everyone – so the answers must also involve everyone.
     
    It is in all our interests for governments and technology leaders to commit to global guardrails, share best practices, and shape fair policy and business models.
     
    The whole world benefits when development banks and the philanthropic community provide catalytic funding to jumpstart capacity-building worldwide.
     
    And we all stand to gain when academia and thought leaders help us navigate through this complex landscape.
     
    AI is not standing still.
     
    Neither can we.
     
    Let us move for an AI that is shaped by all of humanity, for all of humanity.
     
    In other words, let’s make sure we are ready for the future… right now.
     
    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Budd, Markey Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prepare for AI Public Health Threats

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) introduced the Strategy for Public Health Preparedness and Response to Artificial Intelligence Threats Act. 

    The bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a strategy for public health preparedness and response to address the risks of misuse of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly with regard to the development of biological or chemical weapons.

    Senator Budd said in a statement:

    “As AI grows in power and influence, we may face the real prospect of AI-generated threats like biological or chemical weapons. We cannot be caught flat-footed on these threats and should begin to prepare now. I’m glad to work with Senator Markey to face potential AI threats head on.”

    Senator Markey said in a statement:

    “The federal government has fallen behind before in addressing the grave risks posed by emerging technologies. We can’t make the same mistake with the technologies of our future. Paired with robust federal investment in research, this legislation would ensure that our federal government and leading experts not only understand the grave risks of artificial intelligence to our health and safety, but are ready to act with the urgency this moment requires. I thank Senator Budd for his partnership ensuring that the federal government prepares for the public health and national security risks for artificial intelligence before it’s too late.”

    Background:

    Artificial intelligence is a rapidly developing technology with the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives. However, AI poses potential threats to public health. 

    For example, a 2019 study published in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence explored how AI could be used to design new chemical weapons. The paper’s authors found that AI could be used to quickly and efficiently design new compounds that were highly toxic. 

    Another study, conducted by students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, found Large Language Models (LLMs) in chatbot platforms can help people without laboratory training to develop viruses highlighted as pandemic threats. 

    These research papers suggest that there is a potential for AI to be used to develop chemical and biological weapons.

    Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek was able to “provide instructions for a bioweapon attack.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IOM, Partners Appeal for USD 81 Million to Assist Over One Million Migrants in Horn of Africa, Yemen, and Southern Africa

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    11 February 2025, Nairobi –The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and 45 humanitarian and development partners are appealing for USD 81 million to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance to over one million migrants — including women and children — and the communities that host them in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, the Republic of Tanzania, Kenya and Yemen. The funding request falls under the Migrant Response Plan for the Horn of Africa to Yemen and Southern Africa (MRP), coordinated by IOM.

    Hundreds of thousands of migrants embark each year on dangerous irregular journeys, primarily from Ethiopia and Somalia, aiming to reach Gulf nations including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via Djibouti and Yemen. On another route, migrants travel through Kenya, Tanzania, and other Southern African nations, with the hope of reaching South Africa.

    These perilous and life-threatening journeys are largely taken by migrants who are desperately searching for work because of grinding economic hardship and poverty, and in some cases because of violence and political instability at home. Also, climate shocks and disasters are increasingly becoming a migration driver.

    “Every day, countless women, men and children face deadly risks along the Eastern and Southern migration routes in Africa,” said Amy Pope, IOM’s Director General. “Without immediate support for migrants and the communities that host them, suffering will deepen, tensions will rise, and life-saving aid will remain out of reach. The time to act is now—we must step up to protect lives, strengthen protection systems, and tackle the root causes of displacement.

    Last year 446,000 movements were tracked along the Eastern Route, 10 percent of which were by children, according to the IOM Regional Data Hub for East, Horn and Southern Africa. On the route migrants are often subject to life-threatening conditions, including starvation and dehydration. According to IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, at least 559 people lost their lives along the Eastern and Southern routes in 2024, while many more deaths are known to go unreported. Women and girls, who make up nearly a third of the tracked movements, often risk facing sexual and gender-based violence. Migrants also often face violence, exploitation, and abuse, and risk being targeted by human traffickers and arbitrary detention.

    According to MRP partners, over 1.4 million migrants and the communities that host them along these routes will need assistance this year. The needs include food, non-food items, medical care, water, sanitation and hygiene, protection, psycho-social support, along with voluntary return and reintegration support. 

    MRP partners have been responding to the needs of migrants and host communities on the routes, while working to support governments in the region, civil society and other partners to address immediate needs, and also to address the root causes of irregular migration.  But the MRP remains chronically underfunded. In 2024, an appeal for USD 112 million was launched, but it remains 80 percent underfunded.

    “Migration is a global phenomenon that requires global solutions. We must work together to create a world where migration is a choice, not a necessity, and where all migrants are treated with dignity and respect” said Dr. Abera Adeba, Executive Director, Agar Ethiopia Charitable Society.

    “Children and adolescents on the move in Eastern and Southern Africa face immense challenges and perils along migration routes. Children are three times more likely than adults to experience violence, exploitation and abuse during their journeys,” said Alison Parker, Deputy Regional Director, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, UNICEF. “The Migrant Response Plan presents a critical inter-agency support framework to collaboratively address these vulnerabilities, coordinate the provision of services to migrants and host communities and safeguard children and their families, throughout their migration journey.”

    “With the steady deterioration of the economic and instability context in East and Horn of Africa, the motivation to move out is at a new peak,” said Mutuku Nguli, Chief Executive Officer, Counter Human Trafficking Trust East Africa.  “This reality has further weakened the community support structures along the transit routes while at the same time aggravating the risk factors associated with irregular migration in Horn of Africa to Yemen and Southern Africa routes. This appeal therefore offers the best opportunity to rescue the situation”.

    Note to Editor

    To learn more about the Regional Migrant Response Plan (MRP): https://www.mrp-easternroute.com/ 

    MRP section in the Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO): https://reliefweb.int/report/world/global-humanitarian-overview-2025-enarfres

    Link to the GHO: https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/world/global-humanitarian-overview-2025-enarfres

    For more information, please contact

    In Nairobi : ronairobimcu@iom.int, +254 797 735977

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: WTW launches HR AI assistant, Expert

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, today announced the launch of Expert, an AI-enabled assistant designed to help U.S. midsize businesses streamline and enhance their HR, compensation and benefits work. Based on WTW’s deep expertise in benefits, rewards and human capital, Expert helps teams with a range of tasks — from summarizing benefit trends to drafting employee communication materials.

    Powered by generative AI, Expert brings WTW’s expertise to users’ fingertips along with access to a comprehensive database of U.S. federal and state HR, benefits and insurance legislation. Expert includes features that help with:

    • Research: Teams can explore market-leading data on compensation and benefits and find information on the latest trends and best practices
    • Regulatory expertise: Users can get information about regulatory and compliance matters
    • Writing: Expert can help users draft colleague communications, job descriptions and employee surveys
    • Search engine: Strategy, policy and benefit plan documents can be stored and searched for in a secure library

    Expert’s catalogue of content includes WTW’s benefit and compensation-related leading human capital research, trend data, thought leadership, white papers, regulatory briefings, best practices and case studies.

    “Generative AI is ideally suited to help benefits, compensation and HR teams save time and access proprietary information. We know that midsize company HR teams are particularly time-constrained, making Expert a welcomed addition,” said Julie Gebauer, President of Health, Wealth & Career, WTW. “Backed by the enthusiasm of clients who beta-tested Expert, we’re excited to bring this breakthrough to even more organizations.”

    Learn more about Expert here.

    About WTW

    At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance.

    Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you. Learn more at wtwco.com.

    Media contacts

    Ileana Feoli
    ileana.feoli@wtwco.com

    Stacy Bronstein
    stacy.bronstein@wtwco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Europe is investing 200 billion in AI development

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    InvestAI has just entered the chat. And Europe has entered the AI Race.
    With this new initiative and the private sector, the EU aims to mobilise 200 billion euros of investments in AI in Europe.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDZtKFB4LJY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Navy Closure Task Force Shares Progress at Red Hill

    Source: United States Navy

    Tanks 7 & 8 Pressure Washing:
    The Navy began pressure washing tanks 7 and 8, the first two tanks to be pressure washed at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF), in January. The pressure washing process, approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Hawaii Department of Health (DOH), includes using a mixture of 3% Simple Green cleaning solution and 97% water. After pressure washing, the cleaning solution is rinsed off, collected, analyzed, and disposed of in accordance with DOH approved waste management requirements. The surface of each tank is then visually inspected by the Navy contractor. Upon completion of the inspection, NCTF-RH personnel will conduct a quality assurance check, after which a third party, independent quality validator will inspect and certify the tanks surfaces as clean. The Navy will submit a cleaning report for final approval by the regulatory agency before beginning the tank decommissioning process.

    Tanks 3 & 4 Degassing Operations:
    The Navy is preparing tanks 3 and 4 for degassing operations later this month. They will be the fifth and sixth tanks to be ventilated since the project began on October 1, 2024. Hourly updates of Air Quality Monitoring (AQM) will be provided by NCTF-RH throughout the ventilation process on its mobile app, with daily summaries on its website (www.navyclosuretaskforce.navy.mil). The tanks are ventilated and cleaned in staggered pairs to safely prepare each tank for the sludge removal, pressure washing and decommissioning processes.

    According to AQM results, Volatile organic compound (VOC) levels, which are pollutants emitted as gases and include a variety of chemicals, have consistently remained below DOH’s regulatory standard limit of 38 parts per million (PPM) by volume with an average of 0.1 PPM by volume total VOCs since the start of ventilation. For questions or concerns, contact the Navy Call Center at 808-210-6968.

    BWS Discussion on Drinking Water:
    The Navy hosted a meeting with members of the Drinking Water Swarm Team and Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) at the Military and Family Support Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, December 10, 2024. Representatives from the Navy, Army, Hawaii DOH, EPA, and BWS and its consultants attended the technical discussion.

    The meeting provided participants a deeper insight into the Swarm Team’s technical memo released in April 2024. The event facilitated productive dialogue among all parties and enabled an in-depth technical discussion about the Navy’s findings, supporting data and the scientific rigor supporting the Navy’s long term drinking water monitoring program.

    A full recording of the meeting is available on the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Safe Waters website (www.jbphh-safewaters.org), the NCTF-RH website (www.navyclosuretaskforce.navy.mil/Media/Videos/) and the NCTF-RH YouTube page (www.youtube.com/@NCTF-RH/featured).

    Spill Drill Exercise:
    NCTF-RH exercised spill response under the National Incident Management System (NIMS) framework and principles during two spill drill tabletop exercises on December 6, 2024, and January 28, 2025. The exercise rehearsed roles, responsibilities, and actions that would mitigate environmental and community impacts in the event of a spill at the Red Hill facility.

    “Let’s Talk Red Hill” Podcast: NCTF-RH released the following seven episodes of the podcast series hosted by Deputy Commander Rear Adm. Marc Williams in December and January:
    – Episode 13: Redaction
    – Episode 12: Waste Management
    – Episode 11: Pressure Washing
    – Episode 10: Looking Ahead in 2025
    – Episode 9: 2024 in Review – Progress on Red Hill Closure
    – Episode 8: Integrated Master Schedule
    – Episode 7: Frequently Asked Questions

    The weekly series offers experts the chance to share the latest updates and insights on the Navy’s progress in closing the RHBFSF. The series can be found on the NCTF-RH YouTube page (www.youtube.com/@NCTF-RH/featured), the NCTF-RH website (www.navyclosuretaskforce.navy.mil/Media/Videos/), Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) website, and the NCTF-RH mobile app.
    Open House: The next NCTF-RH open house is at Alfred Los Banos Hall at Ke`ehi Lagoon Memorial, 2685 North Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, HI, on March 12, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. The open house theme is “NCTF-RH at One Year.” The open house will feature information about NCTF-RH activities over the past year and those planned for 2025 and beyond.

    Navy Releases 2025 Community Engagement Plan: The Navy published the 2025 Community Engagement Plan that outlines NCTF-RH’s robust and inclusive public engagement program, in accordance with the EPA’s 2023 ACO amendment. The plan represents the Navy’s commitment to a continued interactive relationship with the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) community, both on and off base, with regards to the safe and deliberate closure of the RHBFSF and enhanced water resiliency at JBPHH. The plan is available for viewing on the Commander Navy Region Hawaii website (https://cnrh.cnic.navy.mil/).

    Engagements: In December and January, NCTF-RH leadership and staff participated in or attended the following engagement events:

    INDOPACOM Hawaii State Legislature brief
    Red Hill Water Alliance Initiative (WAI) meeting
    Governor’s Water Committee meeting
    Military Affairs Council (MAC) meeting
    Biannual Military Affairs Council State of the Indo-Pacific
    Hawaii State Legislature Opening Day 2025
    Governor Josh Green’s State of the State Address 2025
    Participated in seven neighborhood boards
    Held eight drinking water information booths

    Additionally, Deputy Commander of NCTF-RH Rear Adm. Marc Williams, met with Honolulu City Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam and his staff during a site visit to the RHBFSF. During the visit, they discussed environmental assessments, water monitoring initiatives, and the Navy’s commitment to safely and deliberately close the RHBFSF.

    NCTF-RH is committed to working with all government agencies and community stakeholders to safely and deliberately close the RHBFSF underground storage tanks and associated piping system, conduct long-term environmental remediation, and ensure continued access to safe drinking water in compliance with all Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.

    For more information about NCTF-RH, visit https://www.navyclosuretaskforce.navy.mil/ or download our free mobile app by searching for “NCTF-Red Hill” in the Apple App store or Google Play store. For imagery, video and other digital media please visit our DVIDS site here: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/NCTF-RH.
    SAFE. DELIBERATE. ENGAGED. COMMITTED. – NCTF – RH –

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes the 2024 Article IV Consultation with Qatar

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    February 11, 2025

    Washington, DC: On January 27, 2025, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with Qatar.

    Growth normalization after the 2022 FIFA World Cup continued, with signs of strengthening activities more recently. Real GDP growth is projected to improve gradually to 2 percent in 2024–25 supported by public investment, spillovers from the ongoing LNG expansion project, and strong tourism. Medium-term growth is expected to accelerate to 4¾ percent on average, boosted by the significant LNG production expansion and initial gains from implementing reforms guided by the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3). Headline inflation will likely ease to 1 percent in 2024 and converge to around 2 percent over the medium term.

    With lower hydrocarbon prices, both the current account and fiscal surpluses narrowed in 2023, to 17 percent of GDP and 5½ percent of GDP, respectively. The twin surpluses moderated further in 2024. Over the medium, as Qatar’s LNG production expands massively, both the current and fiscal accounts will likely remain in surpluses, albeit declining as a share of GDP, as hydrocarbon prices are projected to fall.

    Banks are well-capitalized, liquid, and profitable, with the capital adequacy ratio of close to 20 percent and return on equity of 14½ percent, respectively, in the third quarter of 2024. Since the implementation of QCB measures to reduce banks’ net short-term foreign liabilities, banks’ non-resident deposits declined significantly, and banks have lengthened the average maturity and diversified further the sources of foreign funding. The sector-wide NPL ratio remained broadly unchanged at slightly below 4 percent and the provisioning coverage ratio is relatively high at above 80 percent.   

    Qatar has started to implement the ambitious Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) to build a more diversified, knowledge-based and private sector-driven economy. Guided by NDS3, reform momentum has strengthened significantly, including to attract and retain high-skilled expatriate workers, foster innovation, promote public-private partnerships, and further improve the business efficiency. Qatar is well positioned to leverage digitalization and AI for productivity gains, and the nation’s climate agenda is advancing.

    Risks to the outlook are broadly balanced. Main downside risks stem from the global headwinds, including a sharper-than-expected global growth slowdown, increased volatility in global financial conditions and commodity prices, and further worsening of geopolitical tensions. The regional conflict has had limited impact on Qatar but adds further to the downside risks through lower tourism and capital inflows, and more volatile hydrocarbon prices. Domestic downside risk stems mainly from further weaknesses in the real estate sector, although strong tourism and policy measures introduced in 2023 could mitigate the risk. Over the medium and long term, supply in the global natural gas market is expected to expand significantly, potentially putting downward pressure on prices. On the upside, sustained high hydrocarbon prices and accelerated NDS3 reforms would strengthen the outlook. However, if ambitious NDS3 initiatives lead to resource misallocation, both the public finance and growth prospect would be affected.

    Executive Board Assessment[2]

    Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They welcomed Qatar’s continued resilience to external shocks and its favorable medium-term outlook, driven by significant increases in LNG production and the reforms under the Third National Development Strategy. Directors agreed that maintaining prudent macroeconomic policies and accelerating reform efforts would further solidify macroeconomic stability and resilience to shocks while boosting prosperity.

    Directors commended the authorities’ commitment to continued fiscal prudence and called for accelerating fiscal reforms. They recommended adopting a medium-term fiscal anchor to help ensure intergenerational equity, and reiterated the need to accelerate revenue diversification, particularly by introducing the value-added tax. Directors highlighted the importance of improving spending efficiency and composition, particularly by enhancing public investment management. They welcomed the ongoing efforts to strengthen fiscal institutions and adopt a full-fledged medium-term fiscal framework with enhanced fiscal risk management.

    Directors supported the authorities’ efforts to maintain financial stability and deepen domestic financial markets, while encouraging them to consider undertaking a Financial Sector Assessment Program update. They welcomed the newly introduced risk-based supervision and recommended formalizing the financial safety net and continuing to adjust macroprudential policies to mitigate potential macro-financial risks. Directors encouraged the authorities to sustain their progress in fighting financial crimes.

    Directors agreed that the exchange rate peg continues to serve Qatar well. They concurred that, as conditions allow, strengthening the operational framework would further enhance monetary policy transmission.

    Directors supported the authorities’ strategy to build a more diversified, private sector-led, and knowledge-based economy. They recommended fostering innovation and business efficiency and enhancing human capital by attracting and retaining more high-skilled expatriate workers, improving Qatari nationals’ employment in the private sector, and further increasing female labor force participation. Directors agreed that aligning domestic energy prices with export prices would benefit public finances and support climate goals. They also encouraged the authorities to close remaining data gaps, with the help of IMF capacity development.

    It is expected that the next Article IV consultation with Qatar will be held on the standard 12-month cycle.

    Qatar: Selected Macroeconomic Indicators, 2021-25
    (Quota: 735.1 million SDRs, November 2024)
    (Per capita income: U.S.$69,541, 2023)
    (Life expectancy at birth: 81.6 years, 2022)
    (Population: 3.1 million, 2023)
    Projections
    2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
    Production and prices (percent change)
    Real GDP (2018 prices) 1.6 4.2 1.2 1.7 2.4
    Hydrocarbon 1/ -0.3 1.7 1.4 1.4 3.0
    Nonhydrocarbon 2.8 5.7 1.1 1.9 2.1
    CPI inflation (average) 2.3 5.0 3.0 1.0 1.4
    Public finances (percent of GDP)
    Revenue 29.6 34.7 32.8 26.2 28.7
    Expenditure 29.4 24.3 27.3 25.9 26.2
    Current 18.3 15.6 17.5 17.2 17.5
    Capital 11.1 8.8 9.7 8.7 8.7
    Central government fiscal balance 0.2 10.4 5.6 0.3 2.5
    Money (percent change)
    Broad money 1.4 17.4 1.1 4.1 5.6
    Credit to private sector 9.5 7.4 4.9 5.5 6.1
    External sector (percent of GDP unless otherwise noted)
    Exports 58.7 68.6 60.4 58.7 60.1
    Imports 34.1 31.6 33.9 33.4 35.1
    Current account balance 14.6 26.8 17.1 16.6 15.5
    in billions of U.S. dollars 26.3 63.1 36.5 37.0 35.2
    External debt 161.4 115.5 123.2 118.1 116.8
    Central Bank’s reserves 23.5 20.1 24.2 24.5 25.4
    in months of next year’s imports 6.6 7.7 8.1 8.0 7.9
    Exchange rate (per U.S. dollar) 2/ 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6
    Real effective exchange rate (percent change) 3/ -2.6 6.5 0.2 -0.5 …
    Sources: Qatari authorities; and IMF staff estimates and projections.
    1/ Includes crude oil, natural gas, propane, butane, and condensates.
    2/ January 6, 2025
    3/ November 2024.

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

    [2] At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chair of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summing up can be found here: http://www.IMF.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Angham Al Shami

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/02/11/pr25034-qatar-imf-executive-board-concludes-the-2024-article-iv-consultation

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ‘Know Your Status’, Take a Quick and Easy HIV Test

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Liverpool City Council and its partners are calling on people across the city to take an HIV test and ‘know your status.’ This National HIV Testing Week (10th–16th February) is the perfect time to get checked.  

    The completely confidential process is quick, free, and has never been easier with multiple access points across the city with and discreet online self-tests also available. 

    Early diagnosis and treatment are key to reducing transmissions, as many people can live with the virus for years without symptoms.

    Liverpool is making huge strides as a Fast-Track City, a global initiative committed to ending HIV and AIDS. Since 2021, the number of undiagnosed cases in Liverpool has fallen from 115 to an estimated 50. 

    But to reach zero new transmissions, regular testing is essential. If you test negative, you can take steps to stay that way, such as using PrEP or condoms. If you test positive, early detection means you can access treatment and live a long, healthy life.

    People on effective HIV treatment cannot pass the virus on to their partners, a breakthrough known as U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable). 

    Services and partners across the city are co-ordinating testing events and offering prevention advice. 

    Axess Sexual Health Testing: 

    • Axess website for information on clinic sites, and online testing: 

    https://www.axess.clinic

    • See Axess social media channels, including X, Facebook and Instagram for information throughout the week (Axess X)
    • Condom distribution scheme available all over the city (online ordering) – and with QR code on ‘testing week adverts’ 

    Liverpool PaSH Drop In Testing: 

    • Condom scheme available to at risk groups via website https://www.lpash.org.uk/ 
    • 11th Feb – Central Library (2pm-4pm, William Brown Street) L3 8EW 
    • 12th Feb – Kuumba Imani (11am-2pm), 4 Princes Road, L8 
    • 14th Feb – Yemi’s Barber Shop (4pm-6pm), 40 Smithdown Road, L7 4JG 

    Sahir 

    Information stalls, events and engaging in other related engagement activity at the following locations (with advice around how to test): 

    • The Brink – 15-21 Parr St, Liverpool L1 4JN

          Tuesday 11th February 2025, 11.30am – 2.00pm 

    • RISE YMCA – 15 Leeds St, Liverpool L3 6HU

           Friday 14th February 2025 1.00pm – 2.00pm 

    Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing said: “HIV testing week provides a vital opportunity to get tested. In Liverpool we are making testing easier to access than ever before, either through Axess clinics, community outreach, or online approaches.  

    We also have fantastic HIV treatment and care services and know that with effective treatment, with a positive diagnosis you can lead a long and healthy life. Our HIV support services provided by George House Trust and Sahir House are also there to help with advice and information if you need it”. 

    Director of Public Health Professor Matthew Ashton said: “We are proud of the progress we have made in relation to HIV testing and treatment in recent years. Having redesigned our services to make contraception, and STI and HIV testing more accessible, we saw a record number of residents test for STIs and HIV last year. 

    “We want more people to do the same. Please ensure you test and know your status and help us achieve our goal of ending all new HIV transmissions by 2030”. 

    Axess Sexual Health Clinical Outreach lead, Chris Higgins, said “We will be delivering a range of outreach testing during the week, and our mobile bus. Testing is the only way to know if you have HIV and worth doing because people can live with HIV for a long time without any symptoms. 

    “We encourage you to access our services across the city to get tested, access PrEP and use condoms as a vital approach to HIV prevention”. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Andesite Raises Additional $23 Million and Announces General Availability of the Bionic SOC

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MCLEAN, Va., Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Andesite AI (Andesite) today announced the General Availability of the bionic Security Operations Center (SOC), its human-AI collaboration product empowering cyber defense teams. Additionally, Andesite revealed that it secured an additional $23 million in capital as a second tranche of seed funding from General Catalyst and Red Cell Partners. The investment brings Andesite’s total funding to $38.25 million and is the result of the company’s ahead-of-schedule achievement of technology, customer acquisition, and revenue milestones.

    Despite ballooning cybersecurity spending, security teams are overwhelmed. Analysts are drowning in alerts, struggling to interpret, prioritize, and act on neverending indicators while bouncing between fragmented tools and portals. SOC leaders face mounting pressure to prove ROI on ever-growing spending, while the rise of AI-powered threats leaves CISOs wondering if their teams will be able to meet the challenge.

    Andesite’s bionic SOC is a breakthrough in human-AI collaboration for cybersecurity that elevates human insights and enables SOC teams to shift from reactively triaging alerts to proactively hunting threats in their networks. By connecting data silos, platforms, and tools across a SOC’s ecosystem, Andesite delivers analysts the context and visibility they need to make informed decisions, in an actionable output. This accelerates investigations and transforms security outcomes by empowering those who protect others to more effectively safeguard their organizations’ assets, people, and customers.

    “At Andesite, we recognize that an organization’s competitive advantage lies in unleashing the full potential of its people,” said Andesite Co-Founder and CEO Brian Carbaugh, former Director of the CIA’s Special Activities Center. “Security analysts are irreplaceable: their intuitive pattern recognition, creative thinking, and ability to turn insights into action are crucial. Our promise to them is clear: Your expertise will be amplified. You will be focused on what matters. Your potential will be unleashed.”

    Key product features include:

    • Context-aware AI unifies scattered data across organizational silos, delivering actionable insights to analysts
    • Evidentiary AI ensures complete visibility and auditability of machine-assisted decisions – no black boxes
    • Adaptive automation streamlines workflows from threat intelligence to automated response, optimizing security operations
    • Safe AI architecture gives teams confidence that sensitive data stays within predefined boundaries and isn’t used to train external AI models
    • Built-in enterprise-ready compliance, aligned with SOC 2 Type 1, NIST 800-53 (High), and NIST CSF requirements, enables smooth deployment in regulated environments

    “Andesite’s technology frees up analysts from toggling between tools and learning countless query languages, so they can focus on hunting down threat actors,” said Chief Product Officer William MacMillan, former CIA CISO and former Senior Vice President of Infosec at Salesforce. “Our vision for the SOC is a symbiotic relationship between human and AI that elevates analysts of every skill level. For CISOs, this means not just better outcomes faster, but the ability to buy down more risk with the team they already have.”

    “The convergence of human expertise and AI in cybersecurity operations represents a critical evolution in how enterprises approach threat defense,” said Andrew Braunberg, Principal Analyst at Omdia. “Solutions that decrease the time, complexity, and cost of integrating with existing security infrastructure, and avoid lengthy implementation projects, are key to realizing better ROI and transformative security outcomes, ultimately achieving the promise of AI.”

    Andesite’s innovative approach has gained traction with partners across the national security, financial services, and healthcare sectors. Andesite will use the new funding to accelerate product development and scale its go-to-market initiatives.

    “Analysts have expressed frustration that existing SOC tools don’t actually make their job easier,” added Alex Thaman, Chief Technology Officer. “We bring insights, scattered across data islands and buried in unstructured PDFs and wikis, to the edge of action. Andesite keeps the human in control, but upgraded – delivering the right data they need, when they need it, in a human-actionable format.”

    To learn more about Andesite and schedule a demo, visit andesite.ai.

    About Andesite: Andesite is delivering sustained advantage to cyber defense teams through technology and community. We spent decades defending our nation against sophisticated adversaries and founded Andesite to build products that empower those who protect others. Visit us at andesite.ai and follow us on LinkedIn.

    Contact:
    press@andesite.ai

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LCX Strengthens Ties with Cardano Ecosystem, Launches Token Sale for Profila’s $ZEKE Token

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Vaduz, Liechtenstein, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LCX, a regulated and compliant crypto exchange, continues to expand its presence within the Cardano ecosystem by launching the token sale for Profila’s native token, $ZEKE. This collaboration underscores LCX’s commitment to supporting innovative blockchain projects and driving adoption within the Cardano community.

    Profila, a privacy-focused Web3 platform, empowers users with full control over their personal data while enabling brands to build direct, transparent relationships with their customers. Built on the Cardano blockchain, Profila leverages advanced privacy tools and AI-driven insights to redefine digital marketing and customer engagement. The $ZEKE token plays a central role in this ecosystem, rewarding users for sharing their data on their own terms and facilitating personalized interactions with businesses.

    LCX’s strategic involvement in the Cardano ecosystem has been further solidified by supporting projects like Profila, offering a seamless and compliant platform for token sales. As a registered exchange under Liechtenstein’s Blockchain Act, LCX ensures a secure and transparent environment for participants looking to acquire $ZEKE tokens.

    Key Highlights of the $ZEKE Token Sale:

    • Platform: LCX Token Sale Launchpad
    • Blockchain: Cardano
    • Utility: Rewards users for sharing data, facilitates personalized brand interactions, and enhances digital privacy.
    • Compliance: Conducted in accordance with regulatory standards to ensure security and transparency.

    With this launch, LCX continues to position itself as the go-to platform for compliant token sales within the Cardano ecosystem, offering projects like Profila the infrastructure needed to scale securely.

    Participate in Profila’s ZEKE Token Sale. 

    About LCX
    LCX is the largest crypto exchange in Liechtenstein and one of the leading exchanges in Europe. As a regulated cryptocurrency exchange LCX.com has become one of the fastest growing digital asset spot exchanges for Euro (EUR), Bitcoin, Ethereum and hundreds of other cryptocurrencies. LCX was founded in 2018 and is offering solutions for compliant token issuance and RWA tokenization. LCX’s mission is to empower individuals and businesses with secure, innovative crypto solutions, revolutionizing finance through blockchain and enabling ‘Freedom of Wealth’. Learn more at www.LCX.com.

    About Profila
    Profila is a Web3-based privacy and marketing platform built on the Cardano blockchain. It enables individuals to regain control of their personal data and engage with brands on their own terms, ensuring transparency, privacy, and fair compensation. Learn more at www.profila.com.

    For more information, please contact:

    LCX Media Relations
    Email: pr(at)LCX.com
    Website: LCX.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. LCX AG is registered as Trusted Technology Service Provider in Liechtenstein. No representation or warranty, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with professional advisors before making any decisions regarding digital assets or related investments.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: IMF Executive Board Concludes the 2024 Article IV Consultation with Qatar

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    February 11, 2025

    Washington, DC: On January 27, 2025, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with Qatar.

    Growth normalization after the 2022 FIFA World Cup continued, with signs of strengthening activities more recently. Real GDP growth is projected to improve gradually to 2 percent in 2024–25 supported by public investment, spillovers from the ongoing LNG expansion project, and strong tourism. Medium-term growth is expected to accelerate to 4¾ percent on average, boosted by the significant LNG production expansion and initial gains from implementing reforms guided by the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3). Headline inflation will likely ease to 1 percent in 2024 and converge to around 2 percent over the medium term.

    With lower hydrocarbon prices, both the current account and fiscal surpluses narrowed in 2023, to 17 percent of GDP and 5½ percent of GDP, respectively. The twin surpluses moderated further in 2024. Over the medium, as Qatar’s LNG production expands massively, both the current and fiscal accounts will likely remain in surpluses, albeit declining as a share of GDP, as hydrocarbon prices are projected to fall.

    Banks are well-capitalized, liquid, and profitable, with the capital adequacy ratio of close to 20 percent and return on equity of 14½ percent, respectively, in the third quarter of 2024. Since the implementation of QCB measures to reduce banks’ net short-term foreign liabilities, banks’ non-resident deposits declined significantly, and banks have lengthened the average maturity and diversified further the sources of foreign funding. The sector-wide NPL ratio remained broadly unchanged at slightly below 4 percent and the provisioning coverage ratio is relatively high at above 80 percent.   

    Qatar has started to implement the ambitious Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) to build a more diversified, knowledge-based and private sector-driven economy. Guided by NDS3, reform momentum has strengthened significantly, including to attract and retain high-skilled expatriate workers, foster innovation, promote public-private partnerships, and further improve the business efficiency. Qatar is well positioned to leverage digitalization and AI for productivity gains, and the nation’s climate agenda is advancing.

    Risks to the outlook are broadly balanced. Main downside risks stem from the global headwinds, including a sharper-than-expected global growth slowdown, increased volatility in global financial conditions and commodity prices, and further worsening of geopolitical tensions. The regional conflict has had limited impact on Qatar but adds further to the downside risks through lower tourism and capital inflows, and more volatile hydrocarbon prices. Domestic downside risk stems mainly from further weaknesses in the real estate sector, although strong tourism and policy measures introduced in 2023 could mitigate the risk. Over the medium and long term, supply in the global natural gas market is expected to expand significantly, potentially putting downward pressure on prices. On the upside, sustained high hydrocarbon prices and accelerated NDS3 reforms would strengthen the outlook. However, if ambitious NDS3 initiatives lead to resource misallocation, both the public finance and growth prospect would be affected.

    Executive Board Assessment[2]

    Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They welcomed Qatar’s continued resilience to external shocks and its favorable medium-term outlook, driven by significant increases in LNG production and the reforms under the Third National Development Strategy. Directors agreed that maintaining prudent macroeconomic policies and accelerating reform efforts would further solidify macroeconomic stability and resilience to shocks while boosting prosperity.

    Directors commended the authorities’ commitment to continued fiscal prudence and called for accelerating fiscal reforms. They recommended adopting a medium-term fiscal anchor to help ensure intergenerational equity, and reiterated the need to accelerate revenue diversification, particularly by introducing the value-added tax. Directors highlighted the importance of improving spending efficiency and composition, particularly by enhancing public investment management. They welcomed the ongoing efforts to strengthen fiscal institutions and adopt a full-fledged medium-term fiscal framework with enhanced fiscal risk management.

    Directors supported the authorities’ efforts to maintain financial stability and deepen domestic financial markets, while encouraging them to consider undertaking a Financial Sector Assessment Program update. They welcomed the newly introduced risk-based supervision and recommended formalizing the financial safety net and continuing to adjust macroprudential policies to mitigate potential macro-financial risks. Directors encouraged the authorities to sustain their progress in fighting financial crimes.

    Directors agreed that the exchange rate peg continues to serve Qatar well. They concurred that, as conditions allow, strengthening the operational framework would further enhance monetary policy transmission.

    Directors supported the authorities’ strategy to build a more diversified, private sector-led, and knowledge-based economy. They recommended fostering innovation and business efficiency and enhancing human capital by attracting and retaining more high-skilled expatriate workers, improving Qatari nationals’ employment in the private sector, and further increasing female labor force participation. Directors agreed that aligning domestic energy prices with export prices would benefit public finances and support climate goals. They also encouraged the authorities to close remaining data gaps, with the help of IMF capacity development.

    It is expected that the next Article IV consultation with Qatar will be held on the standard 12-month cycle.

    Qatar: Selected Macroeconomic Indicators, 2021-25
    (Quota: 735.1 million SDRs, November 2024)
    (Per capita income: U.S.$69,541, 2023)
    (Life expectancy at birth: 81.6 years, 2022)
    (Population: 3.1 million, 2023)
    Projections
    2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
    Production and prices (percent change)
    Real GDP (2018 prices) 1.6 4.2 1.2 1.7 2.4
    Hydrocarbon 1/ -0.3 1.7 1.4 1.4 3.0
    Nonhydrocarbon 2.8 5.7 1.1 1.9 2.1
    CPI inflation (average) 2.3 5.0 3.0 1.0 1.4
    Public finances (percent of GDP)
    Revenue 29.6 34.7 32.8 26.2 28.7
    Expenditure 29.4 24.3 27.3 25.9 26.2
    Current 18.3 15.6 17.5 17.2 17.5
    Capital 11.1 8.8 9.7 8.7 8.7
    Central government fiscal balance 0.2 10.4 5.6 0.3 2.5
    Money (percent change)
    Broad money 1.4 17.4 1.1 4.1 5.6
    Credit to private sector 9.5 7.4 4.9 5.5 6.1
    External sector (percent of GDP unless otherwise noted)
    Exports 58.7 68.6 60.4 58.7 60.1
    Imports 34.1 31.6 33.9 33.4 35.1
    Current account balance 14.6 26.8 17.1 16.6 15.5
    in billions of U.S. dollars 26.3 63.1 36.5 37.0 35.2
    External debt 161.4 115.5 123.2 118.1 116.8
    Central Bank’s reserves 23.5 20.1 24.2 24.5 25.4
    in months of next year’s imports 6.6 7.7 8.1 8.0 7.9
    Exchange rate (per U.S. dollar) 2/ 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6
    Real effective exchange rate (percent change) 3/ -2.6 6.5 0.2 -0.5 …
    Sources: Qatari authorities; and IMF staff estimates and projections.
    1/ Includes crude oil, natural gas, propane, butane, and condensates.
    2/ January 6, 2025
    3/ November 2024.

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

    [2] At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chair of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summing up can be found here: http://www.IMF.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Angham Al Shami

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Fullstory Becomes First In Behavioral Data Analytics To Achieve ISO/IEC 42001 Certification

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fullstory, a leading behavioral data company, today announced that it has received ISO/IEC 42001 certification for the artificial intelligence (AI) tools built into the company’s behavioral data analytics platform. Fullstory is the first behavioral data analytics company to receive this certification, underscoring its commitment to rigorous security and privacy standards. This news comes as Fullstory is making significant strides in AI, recently launching solutions that include AI Trim, Suggested Elements, and Session Summary Notes.

    “We are honored to be not only the first in our industry but also amongst some of the largest and most trusted companies in the world to receive ISO/IEC 42001 certification,” said Mark Stanislav, vice president of security engineering & governance, risk, and compliance at Fullstory. “The combination of our security program and product organization’s innovation ensures that customers will remain confident in our offerings that comply with the latest industry standards. The power of AI must be matched with responsible, early security diligence to allow exciting new solutions to meet the expectations that customers should place on their vendors.”

    ISO/IEC 42001 is the world’s first international standard that specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, and maintaining an Artificial Intelligence Management System within an organization. It is designed to provide a structured framework for businesses to manage AI technologies responsibly, focusing on ethical considerations, transparency, and risk management. To achieve certification, organizations must conduct rigorous auditing and monitoring to ensure their AI systems function as intended and proactively address potential issues.

    Fullstory’s certification was issued by A-LIGN, a leading provider of high-quality, efficient cybersecurity compliance programs. In addition to its newly awarded ISO 42001 certification, the company has received annual ISO 27001, ISO 27701, ISO 27017, and ISO 27018 certifications and SOC 2 attestation.

    To learn more about ISO 42001, visit the blog. To view or download Fullstory’s SOC 2 report or ISO certifications, please visit the Trust Center.

    About Fullstory

    Fullstory is on a mission to help technology leaders make better, more informed decisions by injecting behavioral data into their analytics stack. The company’s patented technology unlocks the power of quality behavioral data at scale by transforming every digital visit into actionable data and insights. With Fullstory, enterprises can get closer to their customers’ true sentiments and intentions to predict what they want, create personalized experiences, and drive conversion, loyalty, and revenue. Fullstory is headquartered in Atlanta, USA, with regional teams across North America, EMEA, and APAC. For more information, visit www.fullstory.com.

    Fullstory Media Relations
    Alexandra King
    Director of Communications
    pr@fullstory.com

    The MIL Network –