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During a <keyword id="20036897" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jonas-Brothers" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Jonas Brothers" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Jonas Brothers">Jonas Brothers</keyword> concert in Prague, singer <keyword id="19996491" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nick-Jonas" source="keywords">Nick Jonas</keyword> had to abruptly leave the stage due to a concerning incident. A laser was reportedly aimed at him from the audience, as captured in fan videos circulating on social media. The incident occurred on Tuesday as the Jonas Brothers, consisting of Nick, Kevin, and <keyword id="19909509" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="joe-jonas" source="keywords">Joe Jonas</keyword>, performed as part of their world tour. In one video, Nick is seen looking toward the audience before quickly exiting the stage, signalling to a security guard for assistance. According to a fan page, @jonasdailynews_, the laser was directed at Nick's forehead, prompting the brief interruption. The individual responsible was reportedly removed from the venue, and the concert resumed shortly after.<div type="twitter" handle="PopBase" handlename="PopBase" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1846413283529793570"></div>Fans took to social media to express their relief that Nick was unharmed, with one commenting, "I'm glad Nick and the rest of the band are safe." Many also questioned the <keyword id="19926439" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="security-measures" source="keywords">security measures</keyword> at the event, asking how someone could bring a laser into the venue undetected. The Jonas Brothers have not yet issued an official statement about the incident. This occurred shortly after Nick's return to social media, where he shared photos from Paris and announced he was taking time for himself. The band is scheduled to continue their tour with a performance in Krakow, Poland.

Nick Jonas runs off stage after audience member points laser at his forehead!

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US says <keyword id="23601409" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="North-Korean-troops" source="keywords">North Korean troops</keyword> are in Russia, possibly bound for the war in Ukraine.</li><li>The soldiers face strict measures to prevent their desertion, <keyword id="19910206" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="North-Korea" source="keywords">North Korea</keyword> experts told BI.</li></ul>Any North Korean troops sent to fight in Ukraine would be subject to harsh measures to ensure they don't desert, observers have told Business Insider. There are growing reports of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-troops-aid-russia-what-means-for-ukraine-war-2024-10">a mass North Korean deployment</a> in support of <keyword id="20021739" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Russian-troops" source="keywords">Russian troops</keyword>. On Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said "there is evidence" that North Korean troops were training in Russia. Scattered reports have claimed that smaller numbers of North Korean troops are already in Ukraine. Ukrainian outlets <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://suspilne.media/858583-vijskovi-kndr-vze-tikaut-z-pozicij-na-kordoni-iz-branskou-ta-kurskou-oblastami-dzerela/">Suspilne</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://hromadske.ua/viyna/233244-rosiiany-zlovyly-soldativ-z-kndr-iaki-vtekly-z-pozytsiy-na-kurshchyni-yikh-mozut-kynuty-na-shturm-rozvidka">Hromadske</a> reported some early desertions, citing anonymous sources. Business Insider could not independently confirm the reports, and Ukraine's military-defense agency did not respond to a request for comment. <h2>A tight leash</h2>Committing large numbers of troops abroad is risky for <keyword id="19916006" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kim-Jong-Un" source="keywords">Kim Jong Un</keyword>, who oversees a totalitarian state that rarely lets people out. But the prize for cooperating with Russia is great — <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-military-officials-helping-russia-ukraine-win-for-kim-2024-10">technological advancement and help for North Korea's cash-strapped economy</a>. Joseph S. Bermudez Jr, an expert in North Korean defense at the Center for International and Strategic Studies, told BI that those sent abroad would quickly see that even a life of poverty in Russia and Ukraine is better than what's at home. "It's hard to imagine how tightly controlled North Korean society is," he said. <div type="image" title="This image released by South Korea's spy agency the National Intelligence service shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un watches numerous shirtless North Korean troops in combat training, according to the agency." height="413" width="636" msid="114545263" hostid="261"></div>North Korea operates a complex social hierarchy in which citizens are tracked and classed according to perceived loyalty. It's often inherited from the actions of your parents or even grandparents, and has been described as effectively a form of caste system. According to a <a href="https://www.hrnk.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/publications/eng/HRNK_Songbun_Web.pdf" target="_blank">landmark work</a> on the subject by Robert Collins, an expert on North Korean security, only those classed as most loyal can become army officers. Kim is likely to only send "politically reliable people" to fight, Bermudez said. Those sent to aid Russia are likely accompanied by officials from the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, he added. "They file reports on everybody." "Are they drinking too much? Are they trying to acquire goods that they can't get in North Korea and send them home?" They're also likely to have to undergo <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-31/welcome-to-north-koreas-self-criticism-classes/10936152">self-criticism sessions</a>, Bermudez said — an intense group practice of confessing one's shortcomings. They might berate themselves by saying something like: "'I didn't think of the Kim family 20 times today," said Bermudez. "'I only did 15.'" He said soldiers would be sent to a re-indoctrination camp on their return to North Korea to reaffirm their loyalty. Those who return would likely be honored and given greater privileges, such as a better job. Families of those who die in battle also gain immense social respect and advantages, he said. <div type="image" title="North Korean leader Kim Jong Un peers through a pair of binoculars during a military demonstration in North Korea." height="1930" width="2965" msid="114545259" hostid="261"></div>The North Korean state also has harshermeans to keep its citizens abroad in check. According to Bruce W. Bennett, a defense researcher and North Korea specialist at RAND, those who leave, like diplomats, are almost never allowed to bring their whole family with them. "It is very typical for the Kims to insist that at least one member of any family operating overseas remain in Pyongyang as a hostage," he told BI. And anyone who does defect ensures that their whole family suffers, Bermudez said. "North Korea believes in generational punishment." In interviews with escapees and defectors, he said, "one of the greatest sorrows that they have is that they've left family." That's because their extended family would likely be sent to brutal work camps — described by Bermudez described as similar to a Nazi work camp or a Soviet gulag. <h2>An opportunity for the West?</h2>Kim is"scared to death" of information being brought back to North Korea from abroad, Bennett said. The leader rails against culture from the outside world — like in 2021, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kim-jon-un-called-k-pop-vicious-cancer-framed-threat-2021-6">when he called K-Pop a "vicious cancer"</a> — because he perceives it as a major threat, Bennett said. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/korea-watch/kim-jong-uns-fears-could-be-exploited-211224">An earlier assessment in The National Interest</a> argued that South Korea, in particular, is well-positioned to exploit this anxiety. On Tuesday, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kim-yo-jong-kim-jong-un-sister-life-bio-photos-2018-2">Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong</a>, who has been called his de facto second-in-command, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://global.espreso.tv/world-about-ukraine-north-koreas-kim-yo-jong-calls-ukraine-bad-dog-bred-by-us">lashed out</a> at both Ukraine and South Korea, comparing them to "bad dogs bred by the US." Bennett said that the presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine could offer a rare opportunity to reach high-placed North Korean citizens. "The question we've eventually got to ask is, why isn't the US and the Western countries trying to use this situation more to our advantage?" he said. Correction: October 24, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated the name of the author of the landmark work on North Korea's social hierarchy. It's Robert Collins, not Mark Collins.

North Korea knows its troops could desert in Ukraine. It has chilling ways to keep them in line.

New Delhi: Steel companies in the country are likely to face margin pressure in the third quarter of FY25 as muted steel prices compress spreads, according to a report by Axis Securities. The report stated that the weak demand in China and higher exports from the country have been identified as key factors behind the decline in steel prices. The report highlighted that <keyword id="24048830" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chinese-steel-exports" source="keywords">Chinese steel exports</keyword> reached 92 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) between January and October 2024, marking a 22 per cent year-on-year increase. This has led to an oversupply in the global market, weighing down prices domestically. It said "Weak Chinese domestic demand along with higher Chinese exports has led to a decline in steel prices in India. Chinese steel exports from Jan'24 to Oct'24 stood at 92 MTPA, up 22 per cent YoY" In India, the average price of hot-rolled coil (HRC) steel in the trader's market in Mumbai fell by 8 per cent year-on-year and 6 per cent quarter-on-quarter to Rs 51,802 per tonne in the second quarter of FY25. Spot prices have further declined to Rs 49,000 per tonne, 5 per cent lower than the Q2FY25 average. The report also noted some signs of recovery in China's residential property sector, with increased transactions in major cities following policy measures aimed at boosting demand. However, challenges remain, as the three-month moving average of year-to-date floor space declined by 19 per cent year-on-year in September 2024, remaining in negative territory. It said "China's residential property sector is showing some signs of improvement with the transactions in major cities rising after recent policy measures introduced to boost demand". On the global front, the report noted that the probability of a 25-basis point rate cut by the US Federal Reserve in its December 2024 meeting has fallen to 58.9 per cent, down from 76.8 per cent in October 2024, owing to strong economic data from the US. Additionally, China has removed a 13 per cent export rebate on aluminum and copper, effective December 1, 2024, in response to anticipated tariff measures by the new US administration. These developments highlight the ongoing challenges and potential shifts in the global and domestic steel and metals markets.

Falling steel prices amid Chinese export surge, to reduce profits of companies in Q3 FY25: Report

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Some American workers are encountering an unpleasant surprise when they reach <keyword id="25452" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="retirement" source="Orion">retirement</keyword>.</li><li>Murky provisions slash <keyword id="19966945" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="social-security" source="keywords">Social Security</keyword> for people who work in both the government and private sector throughout their careers.</li></ul>Patrice Earnest, 66, expected to have much more money for retirement. But after her husband died, she checked her <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-savings-social-security-baby-boomers-without-savings-401k-poverty-2024-8">Social Security survivor benefits</a>. The total: $0. "It's absolutely stunning," Earnest said. "My husband worked all his life since he was 16 bagging groceries, and that Social Security was something we had planned to have in our retirement." Earnest won't see a penny of the benefits her husband worked for — and it's due to her work history, not his. She's one of a few million Americans who see cuts to either their own Social Security benefits or to their <keyword id="44080" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="survivor" source="Orion">survivor</keyword> benefits when a spouse dies because they have a career history that includes both government and private sector jobs. The idea is to ensure public servants with pensions don't get overly generous retirement benefits, keeping people like Earnest from receiving full benefits from both a government pension and Social Security. But like many people affected by this, Earnest was caught by surprise — throwing her retirement budget for a loop. The two provisions at play here are the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, or <keyword id="19921812" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wep" source="keywords">WEP</keyword> and GPO for short. They typically affect middle-class workers in select states who spent some time in a public-sector job, such as teachers, firefighters, and police officers, with government pensions and no Social Security taxes. The measures reduce Social Security benefits accrued during private-sector work to compensate for the state or local government pension benefits. Even a short time with a pension can trigger cuts to Social Security that workers might have earned in a private sector role. WEP reduces a worker's own Social Security benefits, while GPO applies to spousal or widower benefits like those Earnest expected to collect. "Certainly, I could use the extra money owed to me to pay the bills that I thought we could with a two-income household," she said. Right now, the provisions are part of a political firestorm over how the US should care for its older workers, with Social Security <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-will-social-security-benefits-run-out-retirement-crisis-boomers-2024-5">already imperiled</a> and many retirees struggling to pay their bills. On September 19, a bipartisan bill to eliminate WEP and GPO received the number of signatures needed for a vote in the <keyword id="19910021" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="house" source="keywords">House</keyword>. While supporters of WEP and GPO say they're necessary for ensuring equity, critics say they're applied unevenly across states and professions, sometimes resulting in benefit calculation mistakes. Those advocating for eliminating the provisions say they also hurt middle-class government workers the most. <h2>Unpredictable cuts to Social Security benefits make it impossible to plan for retirement</h2>The provisions can end up slashing your Social Security payments by up to half if you have a government pension, whether you were planning on survivor and spousal payouts or your own checks from time spent in the private sector. Workers with a private-sector 401(k), on the other hand, are not barred from collecting full Social Security. <keyword id="23551078" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jane-roth" source="keywords">Jane Roth</keyword>, 74, a widow in New Haven, said she may have reconsidered becoming an educator if she had known about the provisions. <keyword id="20163067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="roth" source="keywords">Roth</keyword> worked in the private sector before becoming a teacher. Because she pulled money out of her teacher retirement fund after six years of teaching to help finance life with a child, she said she has to work six extra years before cashing out her full pension. She's still teaching and has another 14 years before she can receive her full pension. In the meantime, she can't afford to live off the $32,000 she gets annually through her late husband's Social Security survivor benefits. If she retired now and started receiving her partial pension, she'd get even less because the GPO would kick in and zero out her survivor benefits. "What are my choices? Do I retire with a partial pension and lose 100% of my Social Security survivor benefits, or do I work until I am 88?" Roth said. "We are not asking for a handout. This is our money. They took our money and said this will be waiting for you upon retirement, and it's not." WEP and GPO were instituted in the 1980s to make retirement income more equitable, as many believed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-retirement-of-peak-boomers-could-affect-economy-social-security-2024-4">workers with governmentpensions</a> had an advantage over Social Security recipients. But even pensions have become less of a sure economic bet, with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/teacher-pensions-systems-are-increasingly-underfunded-making-teachers-vulnerable-and-salaries-less-attractive/">returns less funded</a> and many states <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/101700/how_have_teacher_pensions_changed_since_the_great_recession_0.pdf">cutting back the benefits</a> they offer to teachers. "Essentially, it's a substitute," <keyword id="23551077" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="karen-smith" source="keywords">Karen Smith</keyword>, a senior fellow at the Income and Benefits Policy Center at the Urban Institute, said. "The reason they don't pay Social Security is because they have this alternate pension." Today, however, major criticisms center on the uneven application, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://oig.ssa.gov/assets/uploads/a-13-20-50970.pdf">rampant errors</a>, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.aft.org/news/retirees-advocate-fairness-retirement-benefits">poor communication</a> with those impacted. WEP and GPO impact teachers in 15 states, while state, county, and municipal employees are penalized in 26 states. An audit by the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://oig.ssa.gov/assets/uploads/a-13-20-50970.pdf">found</a> that WEP and GPO were two of the "leading causes of improper payments" in the system. According to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://scottweisbenner.web.illinois.edu/RESEARCH/PAPERS/JPEF_Brown_Weisbenner.pdf">a 2013 paper,</a> the WEP reduces benefits disproportionately for lower-earning households in some<a target="_blank" href="https://scottweisbenner.web.illinois.edu/RESEARCH/PAPERS/JPEF_Brown_Weisbenner.pdf"> cases</a>. The Bipartisan Policy Center wrote in a July paper that limitations to WEP calculations resulted in "an imprecise approach to adjusting Social Security benefits." Many who support WEP and GPO, whether in their current or modified forms, say the math still has merit, as those affected by the provisions tend to be better off. The Social Security Administration reported the average monthly check as of July 2024 is about $1,783. Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RS/98-35/60">nearly half</a> of WEP-affected Social Security beneficiaries had pensions above $3,000 a month in 2023. Proponents of the provisions argue that because of how Social Security <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/investing/what-is-social-security">calculates benefits</a>, a worker who spent a short period of time in the private sector and the rest of their career working toward a public pension <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/getting-rid-social-security-offsets-teachers-flunks-equity-test">could end up</a> getting a proportionally larger Social Security benefit than a worker making the same amount of money in the private sector for their whole career. Additionally, canceling WEP and GPO could worsen Social Security's financing, moving the depletion date for funds from 2035 to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-will-social-security-run-out-pay-full-benefits-plan-2023-3">2034 or sooner</a>. According to the Urban Institute, this could disproportionately benefit those with higher incomes who have 401(k)s or other private retirement accounts. But some of those workers on the other end of the provision disagree. "I had a 76-year-old lady call me up. She taught for 40 years and retired, but recently her husband passed away. She lost all his earned benefits, and she's going to wind up either selling her house or lookfor a part-time job," said Janis Hernandez, a retired teacher in Louisiana, who sits on the communications committee for The National Task Force to Repeal the WEP and GPO. <h2>The future of WEP and GPO</h2>The Task Force <a target="_blank" href="https://ssfairness.org/gpo-wep-faq/">notes</a> that 83% of those penalized by the GPO are women, many of whom took time away from their careers to raise children and thus have less in Social Security than their spouses. Many impacted by the GPO also can't fully calculate their reductions until their spouse dies, like Earnest. Critics of the programs also note that there is no similar means testing for private-sector retirement plans. "If somebody is in the private sector and they've got a good 401(k), you don't tell them, 'Oh, we're not going to give you your Social Security,'" Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican who's focused on Social Security solvency, told BI. WEP and GPO are front and center in Congress this month when the House of Representatives votes on the bipartisan <a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/82">Social Security Fairness Act</a>, which aims to eliminate both provisions. An alternative to eliminating the provisions completely is simplifying the formula for calculating Social Security benefits, which the Bipartisan Policy Center found would be less costly over time. As the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities finds, there's "widespread support" for a more proportional formula to calculate the amount these provisions shave off. But right now, any action on Social Security or altering those provisions may be a long shot, especially with the presidential election looming. Anne <keyword id="20223028" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mcleod" source="keywords">McLeod</keyword>, 68, said the provisions can be punitive. In her 20s, McLeod worked various part-time and lower-paying clerical roles, all of which paid into Social Security. She then taught in New Orleans for 28 years and worked part-time jobs after school hours. She's retired now and gets $67 monthly in Social Security — $500 less than she would've gotten sans WEP. She gets $2,910 monthly in state retirement, and she creates and sells artwork for extra income. While she and her husband are up to date on their bills, they simplified their lives by selling their house and renting because it's cheaper. "It's almost like a punishment in a way because we chose to be educators or firemen or policemen," McLeod said. "They said you get a good enough retirement from the state, so you'll be OK not getting all your Social Security." Correction: October 1, 2024 — An earlier version of this article provided the wrong figure for Jane Roth's Social Security survivor benefits.

The Social Security curveballs making retirement even more confusing

<ul><li><keyword id="19899640" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AI" source="keywords">AI</keyword> will replace 50% of <keyword id="21771459" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="middle-management" source="keywords">middle management</keyword> roles in 20% of organisations by 2026.</li><li>By 2029, AI's influence is set to extend into the boardroom, with 10% of global boards predicted to use AI-generated insight.</li><li>This strategy aims to cut labour costs while boosting productivity.</li></ul>As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve alongside human usage, it is reshaping organisational structures, decision-making processes, and even the boundaries of technology's impact on daily life, according to <keyword id="19955158" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gartner" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Gartner" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Gartner">Gartner</keyword>. By 2026, 20% of organisations will use AI to reduce more than half of their current middle management roles. "Through 2026, 20% of organisations will use AI to flatten their <keyword id="21339348" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="organisational-structure" source="keywords">organisational structure</keyword>, eliminating more than half of current middle management positions," said the report. This strategy aims to cut labor costs while boosting productivity, as AI takes over tasks like scheduling, reporting, and performance monitoring. However, the shift could disrupt traditional mentoring pathways and leave junior employees with fewer development opportunities. Concerns over <keyword id="19999151" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="job-security" source="keywords">job security</keyword> and increased management responsibilities for remaining staff may also pose significant challenges. By 2029, AI's influence is set to extend into the boardroom, with 10% of global boards predicted to use AI-generated insights to challenge executive decisions. This development will empower board members to rely on data-driven guidance, thereby reshaping leadership dynamics and reducing the influence of maverick executives. While AI insights may initially seem at odds with the traditional views of board members, their growing effectiveness will likely lead to broader acceptance. By 2028, <keyword id="19896272" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="generative-AI" source="keywords">generative AI</keyword> is expected to play a key role in corporate branding, with 30% of S&amp;P companies likely to use AI-specific labels, such as "xxGPT," to distinguish their products and create new revenue streams. As the GenAI landscape becomes more competitive, companies will need to adopt specialized models tailored to their industry to maintain a competitive edge. Security concerns surrounding AI agents will grow in the coming years, with Gartner predicting that 25% of enterprise breaches will be linked to AI agent abuse by 2028. As AI agents expand rapidly into more complex use cases, businesses will need to enhance their security measures to protect against both external threats and malicious internal actions. To address these security challenges, "Guardian Agents" will emerge as a solution. By 2028, 40% of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are expected to demand autonomous agents that can track and oversee AI activities, ensuring compliance with security, ethics, and data management standards. Finally, the shift to microgrids is set to accelerate, with Fortune 500 companies expected to invest $500 billion by 2027 to mitigate chronic energy risks and support the growing energy demands of AI. Microgrids offer a more sustainable and cost-effective energy solution, enabling companies to reduce their reliance on traditional power grids and better manage day-to-day operations. With inputs from ANI. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/afcons-infrastructure-ipo-gmp-risk-factors-and-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/114490954.cms">Afcons Infrastructure IPO – GMP, risk factors and all you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/upi-refund-scam-to-digital-arrest-scam-here-are-most-common-online-scams-in-india/articleshow/114428011.cms">UPI refund to digital arrest scam, here are some online scams you need to be aware of</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/waaree-energies-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-ipo-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/114508632.cms">Waaree Energies IPO allotment – How to check allotment, IPO GMP, listing date and more</a>

By 2026, 20% of organisations will use AI to reduce 50% of middle management roles: Gartner

<keyword id="19897919" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="social-media" source="keywords">Social media</keyword> platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook have established safeguards to combat <keyword id="23571068" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bot-accounts" source="keywords">bot accounts</keyword>, including policies and technical mechanisms. However, the effectiveness of these measures is increasingly being questioned as AI-driven bots evolve and find ways to bypass restrictions. <h2>AI bot evolution</h2>While <keyword id="21559036" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AI-bots" source="keywords">AI bots</keyword> can serve legitimate purposes like marketing and customer service, some are designed to manipulate public discussions, incite hate speech, and spread <keyword id="19933162" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="misinformation" source="keywords">misinformation</keyword>. Research from the University of Notre Dame investigated the bot policies of platforms like LinkedIn, <keyword id="19932634" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tiktok" source="keywords">TikTok</keyword>, and X, testing how well these platforms enforced their rules. The findings were troubling. "Despite what their policy says or the technical bot mechanisms they have, it was very easy to get a bot up and working on X. They aren't effectively enforcing their policies," said Paul Brenner, a Director at Notre Dame. Even interns, who had only a high school-level education and minimal training, were able to launch the test bots using technology that is readily available to the public, Brenner explained. Their bots were created using commonly-available AI tools such as <keyword id="19918823" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="OpenAI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="OpenAI" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="OpenAI">OpenAI</keyword>'s GPT-4o and DALL-E 3, and the tests were run on LinkedIn, Mastodon, Reddit, TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram and Threads. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114283439" title="Security threats to AI models are giving rise to a new crop of startups" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>As per the tests, none of these platforms had sufficient safeguards to keep the bots out. Researchers successfully published benign test posts from bots across all platforms, with X and Reddit posing minimal challenges. While <keyword id="19911549" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="meta" source="keywords">Meta</keyword> platforms proved somewhat more challenging due to stronger enforcement mechanisms, they ultimately could still be bypassed — even by relatively inexperienced folk. <h2>Why does it matter?</h2>In India — and the rest of the world, for that matter — the rise of AI-driven bots has significant implications for public discourse, particularly in the political arena. Research has indicated that a substantial portion of misinformation circulating during electoral periods can often be traced back to automated accounts. Many experts emphasise that the pervasive influence of these accounts can negatively shape public perception and discussion, and is often used to target certain sensitive groups and stoke communal tension. As platforms struggle to keep pace with the evolving tactics of malicious bots, the need for stronger regulations becomes increasingly evident. Considering that AI is evolving at a rapid pace that makes it supremely difficult to tell bots apart from real human accounts — even for the tech-savvy — Brenner argues for US legislation that mandates platforms to identify human versus bot accounts. Similar measures are needed in India, where the lack of accountability for social media platforms allows harmful bot activity to proliferate. <h2>What needs to be done?</h2>Addressing the bot problem requires a multitude of different solutions. For starters, enhanced technology, such as more sophisticated AI detection systems, could help platforms identify and mitigate bot activity more effectively. Recent advancements in machine learning are paving the way for tools that can better analyse user behavior and detect anomalies that indicate bot activity. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114250696" title="AI labs are fragmenting because of ego clashes and commercial pressures. It&amp;#39;s about to drive a wave of new startups." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>However, it is almost just as necessary to educate users about identifying bots and understanding online discourse. To platforms can implement user-friendly tools that highlight potentially automated accounts, empowering users to make more informed decisions about whom to engage with. Legislation could also play a pivotal role in shaping how social media platforms handle bot accounts. By requiring transparency about bot activity and holding companies accountable for enforcement, policymakers can create an environment where genuine discourse thrives and misinformation is curtailed. In India, the proposed <keyword id="19955205" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Digital-India-Act" source="keywords">Digital India Act</keyword> could be an avenue for strengthening regulations around <keyword id="19979951" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-platforms" source="keywords">digital platforms</keyword> and enhancing user safety. While platforms like X and Facebook have made strides in developing detection methods, the sophistication of AI-driven bots continues to outpace current safeguards. This situation requires urgent attention from both tech companies and policymakers to ensure a safer social media environment. The findings of this research has been published on a pre-print server and can be accessed <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.18931">here</a>.

Even high school interns were able to use common AI tools to bypass security and launch bots on X, Facebook and other social media: report

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Security and privacy is a growing concern as companies adopt AI.</li><li>Companies strive to protect against malicious attacks and follow strict data compliance standards.</li></ul>As more companies <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-ai-changing-business-telecommunications-giants-mwc-2024-10">adopt using AI</a>, it has brought to light issues regarding security and privacy.AI models get trained on massive datasets that can include <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-companies-can-respond-to-cybersecurity-risks-after-layoffs-2024-9">personal or sensitive information</a>, making it critical for companies — particularly those in highly regulated industries like finance and healthcare with strict data compliance rules — to ensure that AI systems are safe from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/data-breach">potential threats</a> like leaked or poisoned data.The hazards against AI models and the data that train them are growing in the age of large language models. "It's so easy for an employee to take something that's confidential and share it with an LLM," said Ashish Kakran of Thomvest Ventures. "LLMs do not have, as of right now, a forget it kind of button…You need safeguards and controls around all of this in the way these LLMs are deployed in production."What's emerged is a growing group of startups aimed at tackling security threats related to AI. "This is actually a gap," Kakran added. "But that's also an opportunity for startups."Thomvest-backed Opaque Systems, for instance, enables companies to share private data through a confidential computing platform to accelerate AI adoption. Credo AI, which has raised $41.3 million in total funding, is an AI governance platform that helps companies adopt AI responsibly by measuring and monitoring its risks.Another startup, Zendata, has raised over $3.5 million and focuses on preventing leakage of sensitive data when integrating AI into enterprise systems and workflows. Companies can be vulnerable to attacks through a compromised third-party AI vendor if attackers gain unauthorized access to confidential data. Companies "don't really know if some shadow AI applications are in place and a bunch of user information is being sent to that," said Zendata CEO Narayana Pappu.Pappu added that customers may not be aware that the shared information may also be used to train broader AI models. "There's a cross-use of information. There's information leakage, all of that. And that's a huge concern with the foundation models or even copilots."Startups like Glean, an enterprise AI startup valued at $4.6 billion, are incorporating security principles, such as strict permissioning control, into their core products. "Glean's AI assistant is fully permissions-aware and personalized, only sourcing information the user has explicit access to," said CEO Arvind Jain. This ensures that users only access the information they are authorized to see, preventing any unintended access or misuse of the data.Adversarial attacks are also a growing concern when it comes to deploying AI. Attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in a system for malicious purposes, leading to harmful or flawed results.Bessemer Venture Partners' Lauri Moore noted that when evaluating AI tools, many security leaders often ask whether it will introduce a critical vulnerability or trap door that a bad actor could use.A nightmare scenario could be a coding agent introducing code with security vulnerabilities, Moore said. She highlighted an instance when a developer took control of an open-source project after gaining increasing credibility, only to hijack it.Another threat known as prompt injections has become increasingly popular with the rise of prompt-based language models. These attacks trick a model into producing a harmful output based on harmful instructions. Haize Labs, which raised a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vc-clamor-invest-ai-safety-startup-haize-labs-2024-6">hot investment round</a> this summer, tackles this problem through AI red-teaming, which involves stress-testing large language models for any vulnerabilities based on system guardrails.To address the growing number of security concerns in AI, startups are now applying continuous monitoring to the space. Continuous monitoring systems assess model behavior, monitor for security breaches, and score models based on their performance and safety, said Arvind Ayyala, partner at Geodesic Capital.Protect AI, which raised a $60 million Series B from Evolution Equity in August, focuses on continuously monitoring and managing security across the AI supply chain to minimize the risk of attacks. Hidden Layer, which automatically detects and responds to threats, raised a $50 million Series A from M12 and Moore Strategic Ventures last year."This shift towards automated, continuous evaluation represents a significant evolution in AI safety practices, moving beyond periodic manual assessments to a more proactive and comprehensive approach," Ayyala said.

Security threats to AI models are giving rise to a new crop of startups 

The recent PayTM saga exposed how <keyword id="19912054" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-institutions" source="keywords">financial institutions</keyword> are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain sufficient security measures to ensure user authenticity and identity. Now, many fintech platforms are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to address these challenges. A leading voice in this conversation is <keyword id="23488603" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Ayyappan" source="keywords">Rahul Ayyappan</keyword>, the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of <keyword id="23488605" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finacus-Solutions" source="keywords">Finacus Solutions</keyword> Pvt. Ltd. With over a decade of experience in shaping digital solutions for over 200 banks and financial institutions, Rahul sheds light on how AI can play a transformative role in addressing the issue of deepfakes and even strengthening eKYC (electronic Know Your Customer) systems. <h2><keyword id="20095213" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="facial-recognition" source="keywords">Facial recognition</keyword> technology </h2>AI algorithms can analyse facial features in-depth, detecting subtle inconsistencies that are often overlooked by human eyes. By examining dermal texture, facial feature depth, and lighting uniformity, AI can identify discrepancies indicative of deepfakes. Furthermore, AI can analyse the temporal consistency of facial movements in videos, identifying irregularities that may signal tampering. <h2>Behavioural analysis </h2>AI's ability to analyse micro-expressions, those brief, involuntary facial expressions that reveal genuine emotions, is crucial in detecting deepfakes. These expressions are difficult to replicate in fabricated media, making them a reliable indicator of authenticity. Additionally, AI can evaluate gait and gesture analysis, identifying inconsistencies that may suggest deepfake manipulations. <h2>Consistency checks </h2>AI can cross-reference data from various sources, such as document scans and live video KYC sessions, to identify inconsistencies in age, gender, or other demographic information. Geospatial validation can also be used to verify if the location of the eKYC session aligns with the user's stated address. <h2><keyword id="19897671" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="machine-learning" source="keywords">Machine learning</keyword> models </h2>AI models can be trained on vast datasets of real and fake images and videos to learn to identify patterns and anomalies associated with deepfakes. These models can continuously adapt and improve their accuracy as new deepfake techniques emerge. <h2>Integration with ancillary technologies </h2>Combining AI with other technologies, such as blockchain and thermal imaging, can further enhance <keyword id="22209857" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="deepfake-detection" source="keywords">deepfake detection</keyword> capabilities. Blockchain provides an immutable ledger of verified data, while thermal imaging can detect heat patterns on the face that are difficult to replicate in synthetic media. By leveraging these advanced AI techniques, <keyword id="23488602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="eKYC-systems" source="keywords">eKYC systems</keyword> can significantly improve their ability to detect deepfakes and protect against identity theft and other fraudulent activities. As deepfake technology continues to evolve, AI will play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and security of digital <keyword id="20470058" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="identity-verification" source="keywords">identity verification</keyword> processes. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="99803720" title="Aadhaar authentication rose to 2.31 billion in March 2023: IT Ministry data" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

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