Australia’s Big Four banks including Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, NAB and Westpac have been hit by a major cybercrime wave. Over 31,000 customer credentials were stolen using infostealer malware, prompting urgent upgrades in bank security, fraud detection and digital protection.
The Magnificent Seven faced off in Q1 2025 earnings season, revealing sharp AI-fueled growth for Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Apple. Tesla faltered amid political distractions. With tariff fears looming, all eyes turn to NVIDIA’s May 28 report.
Unitree’s G1 is China’s answer to the humanoid revolution. With AI agility, viral demos, and open-source innovation, it’s winning over crowds at expos and online. From search missions to assembly lines, the G1 is no gimmick—it’s Beijing’s bold play for robotics dominance.
Google is investing $1 billion in Thailand to expand AI and cloud infrastructure, while Meta is setting up manufacturing for its Quest 3S in Vietnam. Both moves position Southeast Asia as a key player in the global AI arms race, with tech giants racing to dominate the region’s digital economy.
Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 1047, which would have enforced strict safety measures for AI models with over $100M in funding. He argued the bill’s focus was too broad and advocated for more targeted AI regulations that address risks from smaller, less costly systems.
Sam Altman’s essay The Intelligence Age predicts superintelligence emerging within years, sparking debates on AI’s potential. While Altman envisions AI driving global prosperity, critics argue that it could worsen inequality. The race for AI dominance raises questions of access and ethics.
Sam Altman's op-ed calls for U.S. leadership in AI to uphold democratic values, emphasizing security, infrastructure, and global norms. Critics argue his view is American-centric.
Australia has launched a federal inquiry into AI use in the public sector, addressing governance gaps in rapidly adopting AI technologies.
The 1970s oil crisis revealed the dangers of reliance on a few suppliers, a scenario now echoed in the control of AI by tech giants. Like OPEC’s hold on oil, companies like Google and Meta dominate AI, raising concerns about economic dependence and geopolitical power imbalances.
The global push to regulate AI is accelerating, but without a unified framework, efforts risk stifling innovation and AI creativity while causing legal confusion.
California’s SB 1047 and the EU AI Act mark a pivotal clash in AI regulation. As Elon Musk backs tighter controls, critics warn of stifled innovation and strategic power plays.
As AI accelerates, platforms like Grok expose vulnerabilities in governance. Billionaires like Elon Musk and Sam Altman, leading trillion-dollar companies, now wield power rivalling nations.
As Grok-2 pushes boundaries with minimal safeguards, the debate centres on whether current governance structures can manage the rapid evolution of AI technology, or if we've inadvertently created a digital reality that surpasses democratic oversight.
Welcome back to the AI Diplomat Insight Series. This year, AI has become a key investment for businesses, with spending on AI vendors up 375% year-over-year, according to RAMP's latest report.
End-of-Week Roundup: AI competition intensifies as global powers race for dominance. OpenAI’s 2023 hack exposes security vulnerabilities. China’s SenseTime makes breakthroughs with AI model SenseNova 5.5. Geopolitical tensions rise as OpenAI blocks API access in China, fueling domestic AI growth.
