News/Policy
India bans ChatGPT and DeepSeek for finance ministry staff
India's finance ministry has issued an internal advisory prohibiting employees from using AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official work, citing data security concerns. Key policy details: The January 29 directive specifically addresses the use of AI applications on office computers and devices, emphasizing the potential risks to government data confidentiality. The advisory explicitly names ChatGPT and DeepSeek as examples of AI tools that pose potential security risks Three finance ministry officials have confirmed the authenticity of the internal note It remains unclear whether similar directives have been issued to other Indian government ministries International context: India's move aligns...
read Feb 5, 2025Benefits, non-competes and AI policy: Navigating employment law in 2025
The fragmented U.S. employment law landscape in 2025 will create significant challenges for businesses operating across multiple states, particularly around noncompete agreements, paid leave, pay transparency, and AI regulation. The policy vacuum: With congressional gridlock and limited federal regulatory action, states are increasingly taking the lead on employment law creation and enforcement, resulting in a patchwork of varying and sometimes conflicting requirements. Republican control of Washington suggests reduced federal oversight and regulation of employment matters This regulatory void at the federal level has prompted increased state-level policy making The resulting inconsistencies create compliance challenges for multi-state employers Key regulatory focus...
read Feb 4, 2025Resignation of US AI Safety Institute chief throws policy direction in question
Elizabeth Kelly, director of the US AI Safety Institute and a key figure in US artificial intelligence policy, is departing her role amid potential shifts in the organization's direction under the Trump administration. Leadership transition details: Elizabeth Kelly's imminent departure from the US AI Safety Institute marks a significant change in leadership for one of the government's primary artificial intelligence oversight bodies. Kelly, who has served as the institute's director and represented US AI policy internationally, will step down by the end of the week The timing of her exit coincides with broader changes in the organization under the current...
read Feb 4, 2025JD Vance to join Paris AI summit, French official confirms
Newly appointed US Vice President JD Vance is set to make his first international trip, attending both an AI summit in Paris and the Munich Security Conference. Key details of the upcoming visits: The dual-stop European tour marks Vance's first venture into international diplomacy since taking office on January 20th under the new Trump administration. The AI Action Summit, scheduled for February 10-11 in Paris, will bring together global leaders, government officials, and tech industry executives The annual Munich Security Conference will follow, focusing on international security matters, particularly in light of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict The Paris summit will...
read Feb 4, 2025Meta challenges EU’s regulatory AI pushback
Meta's head of global affairs Joel Kaplan has indicated the company will not participate in the European Union's AI Code of Practice, creating potential regulatory tensions as Meta advances its AI initiatives. Key development: Meta Platforms Inc. has taken a firm stance against the European Union's proposed AI industry regulations through public comments from its top policy executive. Joel Kaplan, Meta's new head of global affairs, described the EU's AI Code of Practice as "unworkable and infeasible" during his virtual appearance at Meta's EU Innovation Day event in Brussels The Code aims to establish standardized rules for AI development and...
read Feb 4, 2025AI accelerates breast cancer screening for 700,000 women
The NHS has launched a major AI trial to accelerate breast cancer screening. Key development: The UK's National Health Service is initiating a groundbreaking trial using artificial intelligence to enhance breast cancer screening efficiency across 30 testing sites, potentially benefiting nearly 700,000 women. Trial specifics and scope: The Early Detection using Information Technology in Health (EDITH) trial represents a £11 million investment by the National Institute for Health and Care Research to streamline mammogram analysis. The AI technology will support radiologists in analyzing mammograms, potentially reducing the current requirement of two specialists to one The system aims to maintain screening...
read Feb 4, 2025California proposes new AI chatbot legislation to protect kids
Newly proposed California legislation aims to protect children from AI chatbot risks by requiring companies to implement safety measures and provide transparency about their artificial intelligence systems. Key provisions of the bill: California Senate Bill 243, introduced by Senator Steve Padilla, focuses on safeguarding children from potentially harmful interactions with AI chatbots. Companies would need to regularly remind young users that they are interacting with artificial intelligence, not human beings The legislation prohibits the use of "addictive engagement patterns" in AI interactions with children AI companies must submit annual reports to the State Department of Health Care Services documenting instances...
read Feb 4, 2025Australian government bans DeepSeek AI over security risks
Australia has banned DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, from government devices due to national security concerns, marking another significant restriction on Chinese technology in Aussie government systems. Key development: Australia's Department of Home Affairs has issued a mandatory directive requiring all government entities to remove and prevent the installation of DeepSeek products, applications, and web services. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke cited "unacceptable risk" to government technology as the primary reason for the immediate ban The restriction applies only to government systems and devices, not to private citizens' use The directive requires the removal of all existing DeepSeek installations from...
read Feb 4, 2025Senator Hawley just proposed jail time as a potential penalty for DeepSeek users
Senator Josh Hawley has introduced legislation that would criminalize importing or exporting AI technology between the United States and China, potentially subjecting individuals who download Chinese AI models like DeepSeek to severe penalties. Key provisions of the bill: The Decoupling America's Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act proposes strict measures to separate U.S. and Chinese AI development. The legislation would make downloading Chinese AI models punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, or both Companies violating the prohibition on U.S.-China AI collaboration could face fines up to $100 million The bill aims to prohibit U.S....
read Feb 3, 2025Policy and the missing links in AI governance
Policy gaps and governance models for artificial intelligence require careful attention from stakeholders across the regulatory landscape, as demonstrated by comparative analysis of existing frameworks. Key context and overview; The article examines how voluntary governance frameworks in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and AI domains can complement each other to build more robust AI governance systems. A comparison between ISO 26000 (CSR framework) and NIST AI Risk Management Framework reveals critical gaps in current AI governance approaches Unlike CSR frameworks, AI governance lacks standardized reporting mechanisms and metrics for risk assessment Framework effectiveness depends heavily on ecosystem integration rather than isolated...
read Feb 3, 2025Millions of people have downloaded DeepSeek — why deleting it may be next
The Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek briefly claimed the top spot as the most downloaded free app, prompting swift security concerns and governmental actions. National security implications; The rapid rise of DeepSeek has triggered immediate responses from multiple government agencies and cybersecurity experts due to Chinese data sharing laws. NASA, the U.S. Navy, Texas state government, Taiwan, and Italy have implemented bans on the application Cybersecurity researchers have identified vulnerabilities in the app that could lead to data breaches The app's data collection capabilities exceed typical search engine tracking, posing heightened privacy risks Privacy concerns; DeepSeek's privacy policy offers minimal protection...
read Feb 3, 2025Why AI copyright reform is crucial for US national security
Copyright reform advocate Anna's Archive, which hosts over 140 million copyrighted texts, reveals that Chinese AI companies are extensively using their illegal collection to train large language models (LLMs), highlighting urgent needs for Western copyright reform. The current landscape: Anna's Archive emerged as the world's largest shadow library following challenges faced by previous platforms like Sci-Hub and Z-Library. The platform hosts over 140 million copyrighted texts, including books, academic papers, magazines, and newspapers Created as a preservation effort when other shadow libraries faced legal challenges and shutdowns Team operates based on ideological beliefs about preserving humanity's cultural heritage, citing concerns...
read Feb 2, 2025Texas bans DeepSeek and RedNote AI apps on state devices
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an executive order prohibiting state officials from using Chinese-owned applications DeepSeek and RedNote, along with several other apps, on government devices. Key policy details: The ban specifically targets Chinese-owned technology that could potentially harvest data through AI and social media applications on Texas government devices. The order extends to multiple Chinese-owned applications, including Webull, Tiger Brokers, Moomoo, and Lemon8 This action follows Abbott's previous ban of TikTok on government devices in 2022 The restriction specifically applies to state agencies and employees handling critical infrastructure, intellectual property, and personal information Rising concerns: DeepSeek and RedNote...
read Feb 2, 2025Texas will become the first US state to ban Deepseek and other Chinese-affiliated AI apps
Key development: Texas has become the first U.S. state to ban Chinese-affiliated AI and social media apps beyond TikTok on government devices, targeting six specific applications. Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order prohibiting DeepSeek (an AI model), Lemon8 and RedNote (social media apps), and three stock trading apps (Moomoo, Tiger Brokers, and Webull) Abbott cited data harvesting concerns and potential risks to state infrastructure as key motivations behind the ban This move extends beyond the existing TikTok bans already in place across more than 30 states Market impact and user trends: The banned applications had been experiencing significant growth...
read Feb 2, 2025Merely possessing these AI tools may land you up to 5 years in prison now
The U.K. is set to become the first nation to criminalize AI tools designed for creating child sexual abuse material (CSAM), with offenders facing up to five years in prison. Key legislation details: The U.K. Home Office is introducing four new laws specifically targeting AI-generated child sexual abuse material. Possession, creation, or distribution of AI tools designed to create CSAM will become illegal, carrying a maximum five-year prison sentence Operating websites that share AI-generated CSAM will be punishable by up to 10 years in prison Possession of AI manuals explaining how to use AI for sexual abuse will carry up...
read Feb 2, 2025Organization of American States: Inside the initiative to establish a unified AI governance framework
The United States is expanding its international collaboration on artificial intelligence policy through a new partnership with the Organization of American States, marking a significant step in developing regional AI governance frameworks. Project Overview: The U.S. Mission to the Organization of American States has launched a $1.1 million initiative called "Developing an Artificial Intelligence Policy Framework for the Americas." The project was officially announced at the OAS VII Meeting of Ministers and High-Level Authorities of Science and Technology on December 12, 2024 The OAS Executive Secretariat for Integral Development will lead the implementation of this hemispheric initiative The framework aims...
read Jan 31, 2025The first EU AI Act deadline has arrived: How can businesses simply compliance?
Enterprises now have access to the AI Pact, a new European Commission initiative designed to help companies implement the EU's upcoming artificial intelligence regulations. Key framework and timing: The EU AI Act will be implemented in phases, beginning February 2025 and reaching full implementation by August 2026. Over 130 companies have already joined the AI Pact initiative The program focuses particularly on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises The European Commission created this initiative specifically to help organizations navigate complex compliance requirements Core components: The AI Pact operates through two primary mechanisms aimed at fostering collaboration and standardization. A network facilitating...
read Jan 31, 2025US Copyright Office allows AI-assisted art copyright
The US Copyright Office has determined that artists can copyright works created with AI assistance, while maintaining that purely AI-generated content remains ineligible for protection. Key policy framework: The Copyright Office's new report establishes guidelines for determining copyright eligibility of AI-assisted creative works, drawing from over 10,000 public comments and previous rulings. The report affirms that using AI as an assistive tool in the creative process does not impact copyright eligibility Works entirely generated by AI cannot receive copyright protection Copyright eligibility for works combining human and AI contributions must be evaluated case-by-case Practical examples and boundaries: The Copyright Office...
read Jan 31, 2025DeepSeek’s innovation may be partly owed to US export controls
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, has demonstrated remarkable efficiency in training large language models with reportedly minimal computing resources, challenging assumptions about AI development requirements and U.S. export control effectiveness. Key development; DeepSeek's recent release of open-source language models, including DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1, claims to achieve high performance while using significantly less computing power than U.S. competitors. Marc Andreesen described DeepSeek R1 as "one of the most amazing and impressive breakthroughs" and "AI's Sputnik moment" on social media The announcement impacted financial markets, with the NASDAQ dropping over 3% on January 27 Some observers have questioned whether DeepSeek had access...
read Jan 30, 2025AI copyright clarity and new model releases reshape digital content creation
Recent updates in AI copyright law and new AI model releases are reshaping the landscape of AI-generated content creation, particularly in film and entertainment. Copyright clarity and industry impact: The U.S. Copyright Office has established clear guidelines for AI-generated content protection, marking a significant shift in how creative works using AI are legally protected. AI-generated material now qualifies for copyright protection when it demonstrates human creative input and direction Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter emphasized that protection extends to human creativity expressed through AI systems, but not to machine-determined content This clarification addresses a two-year period of legal uncertainty that had...
read Jan 30, 2025California AG warns AI firms that most of what they’re doing is illegal
California's Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued legal advisories highlighting potential illegal practices in the artificial intelligence industry, particularly focusing on deception, false advertising, and discrimination. Key developments: The California Attorney General's office released two legal advisories on January 13th that outline various ways AI companies may be violating state laws. The advisories specifically address concerns about AI systems being used for deceptive purposes, including the creation of deepfakes and misleading chatbots Companies making false claims about AI capabilities or misrepresenting human involvement in AI systems could violate false advertising laws The guidance warns against AI systems that discriminate against...
read Jan 30, 2025Why Trump’s new science advisor isn’t actually a scientist
President Trump has nominated Michael Kratsios, a technology policy expert without traditional scientific credentials, as his science adviser, marking a departure from historical precedent. Key appointment details; Michael Kratsios, who previously served in the Trump administration and Defense Department, brings experience in technology policy and artificial intelligence rather than traditional scientific credentials. Kratsios played a central role in federal initiatives to accelerate AI development and compete with China His nomination represents the first time a presidential science adviser lacks advanced degrees in science or engineering He will join other White House advisers focused on AI-related matters Historical context; Presidential science...
read Jan 30, 2025The geopolitics of generative AI
Generative AI is rapidly emerging as a key factor in global power dynamics, with different nations adopting distinct regulatory and implementation approaches that are reshaping international relations and economic competition. The global landscape: The development and regulation of generative AI has created distinct digital spheres dominated by major powers including the United States, European Union, China, and Russia. The U.S. maintains a relatively permissive regulatory environment that prioritizes innovation and business growth, supported by measured oversight through initiatives like the AI Executive Order The EU has implemented structured regulations through the AI Act, emphasizing ethical governance and consumer protection China...
read Jan 29, 2025Trump’s Commerce nominee slams China: ‘Stop using our tools to compete’
DeepSeek's rapid emergence as an AI competitor has sparked concerns from Trump's Commerce nominee Howard Lutnick about China's use of U.S. technology in artificial intelligence development. Key concerns about Chinese AI development: Lutnick has raised alarms about China's alleged exploitation of American technology to build competitive AI systems, particularly pointing to DeepSeek's recent achievements. Lutnick criticized open platforms like Meta for enabling Chinese companies to access and leverage U.S. technology He specifically highlighted concerns about DeepSeek's use of Nvidia chips in their AI development The Commerce nominee expressed skepticism about DeepSeek's claims of developing their AI model with limited computational...
read