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Securing Tomorrow: Your Daily Dose of Cyber Safety, Tech Trends, National Defense News, and Inspiration.
“By far, the greatest danger of Artificial Intelligence is that people conclude too early that they understand it.”
—Eliezer Yudkowsky
I. National Defense: Key developments in national defense, particularly cyber and technological warfare.
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Applied Intuition acquires AI software firm EpiSci
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Applied Intuition has acquired Silicon Valley autonomy firm EpiSci, expanding its focus beyond land-based autonomous systems to include air, sea, and space domains. EpiSci, known for its AI software supporting defense applications such as surface warfare, maritime tracking, space-based missile detection, and autonomous dogfighting aircraft, aligns with Applied’s mission to integrate AI into military platforms. Applied, which already provides simulation and testing software for industries like defense and automotive, sees significant growth opportunities in the Pentagon’s push for uncrewed systems, particularly through the Replicator initiative. The acquisition positions Applied to play a key role in retrofitting legacy military systems with AI capabilities, complementing its recent $171 million contract with the Department of Defense for software development and testing. Click here to read more.
II. Tech Trends: Updates on emerging technology trends shaping the digital world.
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Super Bowl ads 2025: AI joins the big game, but will it drop the ball?
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Super Bowl 2025 is set to showcase AI-powered ads and AI-driven creative processes in a big way, as major brands like OpenAI, Google, Meta, GoDaddy, Salesforce, and Booking.com bet on the technology to stand out in a crowded advertising space. With ad slots costing $8 million for 30 seconds and total ad revenue expected to hit $700 million, companies are leveraging AI both as a subject and a tool, with some ads highlighting AI services while others use AI for scriptwriting and storyboarding. Google’s Gemini ad, despite requiring a factual adjustment about cheese consumption, aims to appeal to small businesses, while Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses take a bold niche approach. AI’s presence in this year’s Super Bowl ads signals its growing influence in marketing, but whether it resonates with viewers as a game-changing innovation or just another gimmick remains to be seen. Click here to read more.
III. Inspiration: Articles centered on faith that offer guidance and reflection.
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Trump to create commission to protect religious liberty, combat ‘anti-Christian bias’ in gov’t
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President Donald Trump announced the creation of a presidential commission on religious liberty and a federal task force to combat what he called “anti-Christian bias” in the government during the 73rd National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. The commission will work to protect religious freedoms, while the task force, led by newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, will focus on eliminating anti-Christian discrimination within federal agencies and prosecuting religiously motivated violence. Trump also revealed plans for a White House Faith Office, with megachurch pastor Paula White as its head. His speech emphasized his belief that religion is “starting to come back” in the U.S. and accused the Biden administration of persecuting Christians, citing the case of a pro-life activist imprisoned under the FACE Act. The announcement aligns with Trump’s broader commitment to faith-based initiatives, continuing a long-standing political and religious tradition at the National Prayer Breakfast. Click here to read more.
IV. Cyber Safety: A focus on the latest cybersecurity threats, tips, or breaches impacting individuals and organizations.
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House Lawmakers Push to Ban AI App DeepSeek From US Government Devices
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A bipartisan pair of U.S. lawmakers, Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), introduced the “No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act,” which would ban the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from federal devices, citing concerns over surveillance, misinformation, and national security risks posed by the Chinese Communist Party. The move follows similar restrictions on TikTok, which was banned from federal devices in 2023. DeepSeek, developed by the hedge fund High-Flyer, has drawn scrutiny after launching a highly competitive AI model at a fraction of the cost of its American counterparts. The bill would also restrict other AI applications from DeepSeek’s parent company but includes exemptions for national security and research. The proposal comes amid intensifying U.S.-China competition in technology, with efforts to curb Chinese access to advanced AI and semiconductor technologies. Meanwhile, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has proposed broader legislation to ban all AI technology imports and exports between the U.S. and China. Click here to read more.
V. Shield of Israel: Coverage from The Jerusalem Post, providing an Israeli perspective on ongoing conflicts.
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IAF strikes military sites in Lebanon citing presence of Hezbollah weaponry
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The Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted airstrikes on two Hezbollah military sites in Lebanon in response to ceasefire violations, including attempts to smuggle weapons through Syria and build new infrastructure. The strikes targeted locations near the Litani River, where Hezbollah had reportedly stored weaponry. The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah remains in effect until February 18, unless extended. The attacks come amid concerns from the Trump administration, which previously cautioned Israeli officials against allowing the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon to collapse. Click here to read more.
