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Marco Rubio impersonation ‘really a warning for everyone’ about new AI-powered threats

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Someone reportedly used artificial intelligence-powered software to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a series of voice and text messages to foreign ministers, a governor and a member of Congress, The Washington Post reported.

The newspaper cited an unnamed senior U.S. official and a State Department cable.

The Post said that officials haven’t identified the culprit but believe they were trying to gain access to information or accounts.

The Rubio impostor created a Signal account with a fake email address for the secretary of state.

“The actor left voicemails on Signal for at least two targeted individuals and in one instance, sent a text message inviting the individual to communicate on Signal,” said the cable, according to The Post’s story.

A senior State Department official told The National News Desk via an emailed statement that they are investigating the matter.

“The Department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously takes steps to improve the department’s cybersecurity posture to prevent future incidents,” the official said in the statement. “For security reasons, and due to our ongoing investigation, we are not in a position to offer further details at this time.”

AI expert Anton Dahbura said the Rubio impostor was using technology that has emerged over the last several years.

AI is now publicly available that can capture a person’s voice from a video or audio clip and then generate an impersonation.

And an even more dangerous form of that technology is emerging that could allow a scammer to impersonate someone else’s voice in real time.

“It’s an indicator of things to come,” said Dahbura, the co-director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Assured Autonomy. “It’s what we call reality hijacking.”

The FBI warned in May of bad actors using text messages and AI-generated voice messages to impersonate senior government officials.

The FBI said the scammers would send their victims a malicious link under the guise of transitioning the conversation to a separate messaging platform.

Dahbura said the Rubio impersonation involved hacking and social engineering efforts.

“It takes a bit of effort to fool high-ranking government officials in the U.S. or elsewhere. But it’s really a warning for everyone,” Dahbura said. “It’s not that difficult to get someone’s phone number and call them and say that you’re from their bank or the FBI or the sheriff’s office or anything and perpetrate scams. So, it’s taking scams to a whole new level.”

The platforms that allow people, often overseas, to generate an AI-powered voice impersonation work in just seconds.

And Dahbura said the safeguards on those sites aren’t enough.

He also said these incidents show the need for federal AI regulations.

A bad actor can make a fake recording with just a bit of audio they grab from social media, for example.

It’s even easier to impersonate a public figure like Rubio, with his voice on hours of video clips posted across the internet.

“It’s a pretty tall order to be able to counteract that,” said Dahbura, mentioning audio watermarks as one potential tool.

Dahbura said AI, like other technology, can be used for both good and bad.

But it might become increasingly difficult to keep a lid on malevolent uses.

“Seeing is believing. Hearing is believing. That’s our last bastion of defense for authenticating who we’re interacting with, and that’s pretty much gone,” Dahbura said.



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GPTBots.ai Showcases Business AI Agent Solutions at The

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HONG KONG, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As enterprises worldwide race to adopt AI, GPTBots.ai made its mark at The MarTech Summit Hong Kong, Asia’s premier marketing technology conference attended by world-renowned brands such as JPMorgan, Yahoo, Nike, and DBS, alongside leading Hong Kong enterprises including Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Disneyland, and The Hong Kong Jockey Club.

With 85% of enterprises prioritizing AI adoption in 2024 (Gartner), yet struggling with implementation gaps, GPTBots.ai demonstrated how its no-code AI Agent platform turns complex AI concepts into deployable solutions—without coding or data science teams.

Spotlight: Real-World AI in Action
At the summit, GPTBots.ai engaged with forward-thinking organizations, including:
A Top Hong Kong University: Their admissions team explored AI-powered chatbots to streamline student inquiries and application processes, aiming to:

  • Automate 80% of FAQs (e.g., program requirements, deadlines).
  • Guide applicants through form-filling with smart error detection.
  • Free staff to focus on students’ in-depth support.

A Leading Hong Kong Airline: Their tech team discussed internal efficiency AI Agents for:

  • AI search to make enterprise knowledge instantly accessible and empower every role.
  • Reducing IT helpdesk tickets by 50% via self-service troubleshooting.

Why GPTBots.ai Stood Out

  • Enterprise-Ready: Built to adapt to your business, no matter the size or complexity.
  • Proven at Scale: Powers AI Agents for financial services, healthcare, and retail giants.
  • End-to-End Capabilities: From strategy to deployment, we manage every step of your AI journey.

“The gap isn’t AI potential—it’s practical adoption,” said Tanya Quan, Marketing Director at GPTBots.ai. “We’re helping enterprises skip the lab and go straight to ROI.”

About GPTBots.ai
GPTBots.ai is an enterprise AI agent platform that empowers businesses to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth. Offering end-to-end AI solutions across customer service, knowledge search, data analysis, and lead generation, GPTBots enables enterprises to harness the full potential of AI with ease. With seamless integration into various systems, and support for scalable, secure deployments, GPTBots is dedicated to reducing costs, accelerating growth, and helping businesses thrive in the AI era.

To learn how GPTBots can accelerate your AI transformation, visit gptbots.ai.

Media Contact:
Contact: marketing@gptbots.ai
Website: www.gptbots.ai

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9039b0e4-6355-4e0c-83d2-ca91953120f9



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Exploring AI and Emerging Technologies: A Special Event for UK Schools for Girls

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This was the second edition of the annual ‘AI Educational Revolution’ event. This hybrid event is co-organised by UCL Computer Science, GSA (Girls School Association) and Guernsey Ladies’ College. The series was developed as a way of inspiring secondary school girls to explore AI and STEM opportunities and to consider how they can shape their own futures in these rapidly evolving fields.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries across the globe, influencing everything from global politics to creative sectors such as fashion. This year’s event offered students a unique opportunity to learn about the role of AI in shaping the future, with a focus on how AI is revolutionising careers and education.

 

Keynote Speakers and Topics

Leading experts from UCL, the government, and industry took to the stage to discuss AI’s impact on various sectors. The session covered everything from AI in geopolitics to its creative applications, with a particular emphasis on how these technologies are influencing education, career paths, and social inclusion.

Predicting Our Future: The Role of STEM

Insight on AI and Geopolitics
Ms. Jo Miller, Director of Technology at the UK Civil Service, kicked off the event with a thought-provoking talk about the vital role STEM and AI play in global geopolitics and technological futures.

The Power of Women in AI
Jo highlighted the importance of women and girls in shaping AI’s future. She posed the question, “What do you want the future to say?” and encouraged the audience to engage with AI to influence its direction.

Overcoming Barriers in Tech
Drawing from her own career in tech, Jo shared how her humanities background didn’t hinder her success. She urged students to pursue their ambitions in tech, regardless of their starting point.

AI in Education: Shaping the Future

AI and Career Paths
Daniele Harford-Fox, Principal of Guernsey Ladies’ College, discussed how AI is reshaping both education and the workforce. She highlighted the significant impact AI could have on professions like medicine, where many tasks may be automated.

The Importance of Human Skills in Some Fields
While AI may transform many areas, Daniele pointed out that certain roles, such as nursing, will still require human expertise and care, stressing the importance of these skills in the workforce of the future.

AI in Multisensory Experiences

Engaging the Senses
Prof. Marianna Obrist (Multi-Sensory Devices Lab at UCL Computer Science) introduced the concept of “AI in Multisensory Experiences.” She showcased how AI is enabling new ways to interact with the world through multiple senses, creating richer, more engaging experiences.

Humanising Technology
Her research focuses on incorporating more ‘humaness’ into technology. Prof. Obrist demonstrated how sensory experiences are being used in places like retail outlets and museums, as well as in therapeutic settings, such as using scent to enhance body image perception.

AI in Fashion and Beauty

AI’s Impact on Creative Industries
Prof. Philip Treleaven from UCL discussed how AI technologies, including ChatGPT, are transforming the fashion and beauty sectors. He highlighted the use of AI to create digital influencers, automate processes like dexterous sewing robots, and help brands like Shein to capitalise on trends and produce designs at an unprecedented pace.

AI for Social Inclusion

AI’s Potential for Education
Steve Grix, an expert in GENAIE and CAPTR, concluded the talks by discussing the use of AI for social inclusion. He introduced GENAIE, a generative AI platform designed to personalise education for disadvantaged communities.

AI Bridging Educational Gaps
Steve demonstrated how quickly GENAIE could generate lesson plans, showcasing its potential to bridge educational gaps and offer new learning opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.
 

UCAS Applications and Q&A Session

In addition to the expert talks, students were given guidance on making a UCAS application. The event concluded with a lively Q&A session, where students had the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the speakers. The students’ thoughtful and ethical questions impressed the expert panel, sparking deeper discussions about the future role of AI in shaping both careers and society.

When asked for final thoughts, some of the students concluded the concepts and predictions gave them cause to think, but they wouldn’t let it deter them from their career aspirations. 

As AI continues to revolutionise a broad range of industries, this event provides an invaluable platform for students to engage with the technologies that will shape their futures. It also highlighted the importance of diverse input into the development of AI and the opportunities for young women to drive change in this field.



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China’s first bachelor’s program in AI education to address teacher shortage-Xinhua

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A student operates an AI-powered VR device at Shenzhen Xiantian Foreign Language School in south China’s Guangdong Province, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) — Beijing Normal University (BNU) has launched China’s first undergraduate program dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) education, aiming to address a critical shortage of specialized teachers in the field.

The initiative aligns with government directives to boost AI education across primary and secondary schools nationwide, the Science and Technology Daily reported on Wednesday.

In late 2024, the Ministry of Education issued a directive calling for measures to advance AI education in primary and secondary schools.

This year, Beijing’s municipal authorities issued a dedicated AI education plan for 2025-2027, demanding the establishment of regular teaching systems and standardized curricula.

“The shortage of qualified instructors and the lack of specialized training remain major obstacles,” said an official from BNU’s Faculty of Education, adding that the program’s core mission is to train educators equipped with both advanced AI technical skills and strong pedagogical expertise.

“We are leveraging our unique interdisciplinary strengths to cultivate talent that supports the country’s strategic drive toward intelligent education,” the official said.

Unlike purely technical AI degrees, BNU’s AI Education program integrates two essential knowledge streams. The curriculum combines an AI technology module, covering generative AI, machine learning, natural language processing, and educational data mining, with a foundation in education science, including learning theory, psychology, curriculum design and assessment.

The program also plans to introduce practical innovation courses, such as the application of AI technologies in education.

In addition, compulsory courses cover topics such as AI ethics and data security, instilling in students a core philosophy of “technology serving education,” according to BNU.

Beyond theory, the program fosters practical skills through a unique “university-enterprise-school” collaborative training model, which helps immerse students in real-world teaching environments and technical development projects.

Career prospects in the AI education field are broad, with graduates well-prepared to become AI or information technology teachers, driving digital transformation in primary and secondary schools.

The booming educational technology sector also needs their expertise to develop and refine AI-driven learning platforms and courses. Further career paths include academic research, educational management, and shaping AI education policy, according to the BNU’s Faculty of Education.

“AI advancements are reshaping society at unprecedented rates, profoundly altering education,” said Yu Shengquan, executive director of BNU’s Advanced Innovation Center for Future Education.

“Developing ‘digital citizens’ equipped for this new reality is now a central educational imperative,” Yu added.

The center has previously partnered with Chinese tech giant Tencent to develop a comprehensive AI knowledge framework and curriculum spanning elementary, middle and high school levels, according to Yu. 



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