AI CLONING
Indian organisations on edge as sites fail to Captcha AI intruders
Personal AI agents such as Instinct, Muse, Grokbot and OpenClaw have taken over the consumer internet in the US. But last month, major US banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley, reportedly flagged AI agents such as Meta’s Muse accessing customer accounts using login credentials voluntarily shared by users laying bare the risks of handing AI agents the keys to consumers’ digital lives.
AI-powered cyberattacks siphon ₹300 crore from small NBFCs in two months
Recent cyberattacks have inflicted an estimated loss of ₹300 crore on Indian NBFC, with around 150 fraud cases reported. Focus has shifted towards identifying Chinese hacking platforms and AI toolkit involvement in these incidents. Exploiting operational weaknesses, these cybercriminals persistently launch their attacks, leading to urgent calls for NBFCs to bolster their cybersecurity frameworks to fend off further threats and safeguard their operations.
Indian Army debunks manipulated video falsely claiming Chinese control over Arunachal border areas
The misleading clip, propagated across online platforms, falsely claimed that Lt Gen Kalia made a "leaked admission" stating China had taken control of Asaphila, Longjou, and Taksing Circle in Arunachal Pradesh, and that Indian Army troops deployed in the sector were denied essential supplies.
Meet Mahmoud Felfel and Hammad Syed, two Egyptian founders who built a text-to-speech tool; their voice AI startup was later acquired by Meta
Mahmoud Felfel and Hammad Syed are the founders of PlayAI. Both of them Egyptian entrepreneurs who had previously worked at Dubai-based classifieds platform Dubizzle. The idea for starting the company came when they got frustrated by limited access to regional content in audio formats. The aim was to make written content more available through speech technology.
PNB cautions customers of AI-led cyberattacks amid surging frauds
Punjab National Bank has alerted its customers about the escalating threat of AI-generated cyberattacks. These advanced phishing techniques employ AI voice cloning to trick individuals into hastily carrying out transactions. The bank strongly encourages customers to stay vigilant, ensuring they verify communications through reliable sources. Emphasizing the need for good digital practices, the bank reminds customers that cybersecurity is a joint effort.
In a first, AI helps UK lawmaker find her voice in parliament
A British lawmaker made history on Tuesday by becoming the first person to use an AI-generated voice to deliver a speech in the UK parliament. During a debate about health on Tuesday, AI software was used to recreate the sound of her voice, as it used to be, to read a speech she wrote herself.

China's new development plan includes AI safety goals: Xinhua
Xinhua said that the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee and the State Council had issued a set of guidelines "aimed at accelerating the development of new quality productive forces."

Mexico busts network that used AI to clone VIP voices
The security ministry said Thursday that the former treasurer of the state of Michoacan, his wife, children, and a bodyguard, were all arrested on suspicion of running a scheme that extorted "substantial amounts of money."

Tea Research Association launches TocklAI, the world's first AI model for tea
The Tea Research Association has launched TocklAI, an AI model designed specifically for the tea industry and trained on Tocklai Tea Research Institute’s verified research archive. The tool will help planters and small growers with pest control, soil health, climate adaptation, processing and compliance, using more than 2,000 digitised scientific publications.

US, China, EU: three paths to regulating AI
The United States, China and the European Union are taking different paths to govern artificial intelligence, as calls grow worldwide to rein in its most powerful systems. The same day, Trump ordered federal agencies to replace the term "artificial intelligence" with "super intelligence" in official communications.

Karnataka govt partners with ElevenLabs to explore voice AI for citizen services
The partnership will focus on developing a voice AI safety framework, exploring applications for government services and using AI-powered voice restoration for eligible citizens, the state government said in a statement.

Your phone says “spam” before you answer. How AI spots suspect calls
Telecom companies in India are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to detect and label potential spam calls and messages. By analyzing calling trends, AI has already flagged billions of suspicious communications. Major players like Airtel and Vodafone Idea implement effective spam warnings for their users, while apps like Truecaller and Google’s Phone enhance caller identification capabilities. Meanwhile, TRAI mandates operators to responsibly investigate flagged spam incidents.

Italy's Meloni follows pop stars like Taylor Swift in seeking to trademark her voice to combat AI deepfakes
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has applied to trademark her voice in the EU, submitting a four-second recording of herself saying “I am Giorgia Meloni” as protection against AI-generated deepfakes. While approval would not automatically block voice cloning, the trademark could give Meloni an additional legal tool to challenge unauthorised AI imitations.

AI cloning opens new monetisation route for celebrities, creators
Artificial intelligence is transforming the monetization landscape for film stars, cricketers, and digital creators. Licensing AI-generated versions of their identities allows celebrities to earn revenue without physical presence. Platforms like Studio Blo and Sparkonomy enable protection and control over digital identities for creators. The growing concern over unauthorized use of identities emphasizes the need for standard licensing and verifiable consent.

AI clones are turning celebrity likeness into a new business
Studio Blo is developing a platform for celebrities to license their digital likenesses for advertising purposes. This platform allows brands to use celebrity clones without requiring their physical presence at shoots. The company emphasises consent, ownership, and traceability in its cloning process.

Japan court rules human voice is protected in TikTok AI case
A Tokyo court ruled that human voices have legal protection in Japan after a notable lawsuit by Kenjiro Tsuda. The ruling concerns unauthorized use of voices and their imitation by artificial intelligence. Although Tsuda's request for video removal was denied, the decision signifies a victory for performers. This case represents Japan's first legal attempt to safeguard vocal identity against AI clones.

Why bringing back the woolly mammoth isn’t a simple cloning job — scientists are solving a massive genetic engineering puzzle
Colossal Biosciences is working to introduce woolly mammoth traits into Asian elephants through genetic modifications. Researchers are using ancient DNA fragments to identify relevant genetic changes linked to cold survival characteristics. Artificial intelligence is employed to analyze large genetic data sets and streamline the identification of significant mutations. The timeline for creating a mammoth-like calf has shifted to the early 2030s due to increasing complexity.

Scammers now don't want your money or password, they just want...: Financial advisor warns of new fraud that can drain your finances in 30 minutes
A viral social media warning claims scammers are approaching people in public places for help with their phones and using the interaction to steal biometric information. The post alleges that AI-generated identities could then be used to obtain loans within 30 minutes. However, the specific claims about instantly stealing fingerprints, faces and voices through such an interaction remain unverified.

IIT Bombay death case: Mumbai crime branch scans CCTVs, to reconstruct student's final hours
Sahil Wakode's mobile phone, recovered from his hostel room, has been sent for forensic examination, while a clone of the data on the device has been taken for investigation. The police are also examining CCTV footage to reconstruct the sequence of events, a senior police officer said.
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