DoD taps Musk's xAI, OpenAI, Google for national security AI
The contracts, each with a ceiling of US$200 million, aim to develop agentic AI workflows to address critical national security challenges, according to the Department's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office.
"Establishing these partnerships will broaden DoD use of and experience in frontier AI capabilities and increase the ability of these companies to understand and address critical national security needs," the office said.
OpenAI was previously named as one of the first recipients in June. At the time, the Pentagon said the maker of ChatGPT would "develop prototype frontier AI capabilities" that could support both warfighting and enterprise domains.
These efforts align with a broader government strategy to foster a competitive and secure U.S. AI ecosystem. In April, the White House's Office of Management and Budget released new guidance directing federal agencies to ensure that the public benefits from a vibrant domestic AI market.
The contracts mark a significant expansion in federal engagement with cutting-edge AI firms, especially as geopolitical tensions and evolving battlefield technologies increase the demand for real-time, autonomous decision-making tools.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
10 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian researchers create tool to remove anti-deepfake watermarks from AI content
OTTAWA – University of Waterloo researchers have built a tool that can quickly remove watermarks identifying content as artificially generated — and they say it proves that global efforts to combat deepfakes are most likely on the wrong track. Academia and industry have focused on watermarking as the best way to fight deepfakes and 'basically abandoned all other approaches,' said Andre Kassis, a PhD candidate in computer science who led the research. At a White House event in 2023, the leading AI companies — including OpenAI, Meta, Google and Amazon — pledged to implement mechanisms such as watermarking to clearly identify AI-generated content. AI companies' systems embed a watermark, which is a hidden signature or pattern that isn't visible to a person but can be identified by another system, Kassis explained. He said the research shows the use of watermarks is most likely not a viable shield against the hazards posed by AI content. 'It tells us that the danger of deepfakes is something that we don't even have the tools to start tackling at this point,' he said. The tool developed at the University of Waterloo, called UnMarker, follows other academic research on removing watermarks. That includes work at the University of Maryland, a collaboration between researchers at the University of California and Carnegie Mellon, and work at ETH Zürich. Kassis said his research goes further than earlier efforts and is the 'first to expose a systemic vulnerability that undermines the very premise of watermarking as a defence against deepfakes.' In a follow-up email statement, he said that 'what sets UnMarker apart is that it requires no knowledge of the watermarking algorithm, no access to internal parameters, and no interaction with the detector at all.' When tested, the tool worked more than 50 per cent of the time on different AI models, a university press release said. AI systems can be misused to create deepfakes, spread misinformation and perpetrate scams — creating a need for a reliable way to identify content as AI-generated, Kassis said. After AI tools became too advanced for AI detectors to work well, attention turned to watermarking. The idea is that if we cannot 'post facto understand or detect what's real and what's not,' it's possible to inject 'some kind of hidden signature or some kind of hidden pattern' earlier on, when the content is created, Kassis said. The European Union's AI Act requires providers of systems that put out large quantities of synthetic content to implement techniques and methods to make AI-generated or manipulated content identifiable, such as watermarks. In Canada, a voluntary code of conduct launched by the federal government in 2023 requires those behind AI systems to develop and implement 'a reliable and freely available method to detect content generated by the system, with a near-term focus on audio-visual content (e.g., watermarking).' Kassis said UnMarker can remove watermarks without knowing anything about the system that generated it, or anything about the watermark itself. 'We can just apply this tool and within two minutes max, it will output an image that is visually identical to the watermark image' which can then be distributed, he said. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. 'It kind of is ironic that there's billions that are being poured into this technology and then, just with two buttons that you press, you can just get an image that is watermark-free.' Kassis said that while the major AI players are racing to implement watermarking technology, more effort should be put into finding alternative solutions. Watermarks have 'been declared as the de facto standard for future defence against these systems,' he said. 'I guess it's a call for everyone to take a step back and then try to think about this problem again.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
25 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Flurry of trade deals offers relief for some Asian countries, while others wait
BANGKOK (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump has announced trade deals with Japan and a handful of other Asian countries that will relieve some pressure on companies and consumers from sharply higher tariffs on their exports to the United States. A deal with China is under negotiation, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying an Aug. 12 deadline might be postponed again to allow more time for talks. Steep tariffs on U.S. imports of steel and aluminum remain, however, and many other countries, including South Korea and Thailand, have yet to clinch agreements. Overall, economists say the tariffs inevitably will dent growth in Asia and the world. The deals reached so far, ahead of Trump's Aug. 1 deadline Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced a deal Wednesday that will impose 15% tariffs on U.S. imports from Japan, down from Trump's proposed 25% 'reciprocal' tariffs. It was a huge relief for automakers like Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda, whose shares jumped by double digits in Tokyo. Trump also announced trade deals with the Philippines and Indonesia. After meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Trump said the import tax on products from his country would be subject to a 19% tariff, down just 1% from the earlier threat of a 20% tariff. Indonesia also will face a 19% tariff, down from the 32% rate Trump had recently said would apply, and it committed to eliminating nearly all of its trade barriers for imports of American goods. Earlier, Trump announced that Vietnam's exports would face a 20% tariff, with double that rate for goods transshipped from China, though there has been no formal announcement. Talks with China may be extended Negotiations with China are subject to an Aug. 12 deadline, but it's likely to be extended, Bessent told Fox Business on Tuesday. He said the two sides were due to hold another round of talks, this time in Sweden, early next week. Meanwhile, Trump said a trip to China may happen soon, hinting at efforts to stabilize U.S.-China trade relations. A preliminary agreement announced in June paved the way for China to lift some restrictions on its exports of rare earths, minerals critical for high technology and other manufacturing. In May, the U.S. agreed to drop Trump's 145% tariff rate on Chinese goods to 30% for 90 days, while China agreed to lower its 125% rate on U.S. goods to 10%. The reprieve allowed companies more time to rush to try to beat the potentially higher tariffs, giving a boost to Chinese exports and alleviating some of the pressure on its manufacturing sector. But prolonged uncertainty over what Trump might do has left companies wary about committing to further investment in China. No deals yet for South Korea and other Asian countries Pressure is mounting on some countries in Asia and elsewhere as the Aug. 1 deadline for striking deals approaches. Trump sent letters, posted on Truth Social, outlining higher tariffs some countries will face if they fail to reach agreements. He said they'd face even higher tariffs if they retaliate by raising their own import duties. South Korea's is set at 25%. Imports from Myanmar and Laos would be taxed at 40%, Cambodia and Thailand at 36%, Serbia and Bangladesh at 35%, South Africa and Bosnia and Herzegovina at 30% and Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Tunisia at 25%. The status of talks with India remains unclear but progress appears to hinge on the country's heavily protected farm sector. It faces a 26% tariff. Nearly every country has faced a minimum 10% levy on goods entering the U.S. since April, on top of other sectoral levies. Economists expect tariffs to sap growth even with trade deals Even after Trump has pulled back from the harshest of his threatened tariffs, the onslaught of uncertainty and higher costs for both manufacturers and consumers has raised risks for the regional and global economy. Economists have been downgrading their estimates for growth in 2025 and beyond. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. The Asian Development Bank said Wednesday it had cut its growth estimate for economies in developing Asia and the Pacific to 4.7% in 2025 and 4.6% in 2026, down 0.2 percentage points and 0.1 percentage points. The outlook for the region could be further dimmed by an escalation of tariffs and trade friction, it said. 'Other risks include conflicts and geopolitical tensions that could disrupt global supply chains and raise energy prices,' as well as a deterioration in China's ailing property market. Economists at AMRO were less optimistic, expecting growth for Southeast Asia and other major economies in Asia at 3.8% in 2025 and 3.6% next year. While countries in the region have moved to protect their economies from Trump's trade shock, they face significant uncertainties, said AMRO's chief economist, Dong He. 'Uneven progress in tariff negotiations and the potential expansion of tariffs to additional products could further disrupt trade activities and weigh on growth for the region,' he said.
Cision Canada
32 minutes ago
- Cision Canada
Getchell Gold Corp. Commences Drill Program at Fondaway Canyon, Nevada
VANCOUVER, BC, July 23, 2025 /CNW/ - Getchell Gold Corp. (CSE: GTCH) (OTCQB: GGLDF) (FWB: GGA1) ("Getchell" or the"Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced the 2025 drill program at the Company's 100% owned Fondaway Canyon gold project (" Project") in Nevada. Key Highlights Large gold mineral resource Robust preliminary economic assessment Mineralization open for expansion 10-hole 3,000m (10,000 ft) drill program Designed to extend gold mineralization and increase mineral resource Fondaway Canyon The Project is located 140 kilometers ("km") (87 miles) northeast of Reno, and 58 km (36 miles) northeast of Fallon, Nevada. The Project covers a total claim area of 4,623 acres (1,871 hectares) and extends 7 km east-west encompassing the entirety of the Fondaway Canyon gold corridor. Moreover, the extent of the claim package offers ample area to support resource growth and the infrastructure required for future development. The Project contains a large mineral resource (news release dated September 11, 2024) comprising an Indicated Mineral Resource of 13.5 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.49 g/t Au, totaling 648,000 ounces of gold and an Inferred Mineral Resource estimated at 44.8 million tonnes at 1.16 g/t Au, amounting to 1,670,100 ounces of gold ("MRE"). Notably, gold mineralization starts at surface and remains open in most directions for further expansion. Following the MRE, a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on the Project was completed and filed (news release dated February 7, 2025). The PEA outlined an open-pit mining operation coupled with a conventional 8,000 tonne per day milling process, projecting an initial mine life of approximately 10.5 years. The economic analysis highlighted robust project economics, with a pre-tax Net Present Value ("NPV") of US$ 546 million and 51.2% Internal Rate of Return ("IRR"), and after-tax NPV of US$ 474 million and 46.7% IRR, at a conservative 10% discount and gold price of US$ 2,250 per ounce. 2025 Drill Program Given that the mineral resource remains open in most directions, an initial 10-hole 3,000-metre (10,000 foot) drill program has been designed to further extend the mineralization, along strike and dip (Fig. 1), with the intent to increase the mineral resource, enlarge the open pit model, and substantially enhance the Project's overall value. For the first series of drill holes, the drill will be stationed in the Colorado Pit (Fig. 1) designed to expand the mineralization up-dip to the northeast, then progressing to test the northwestern strike extent, with the balance of the drilling designed to expand the mineralization down dip to the southwest (highlighted in Figure 2). Private Placement of Units The Company announces that it has issued an additional 1,000,000 units pursuant to its previously announced private placement financing of units (" Units") at a price of $0.20 per Unit. The additional subscription was not included in the original closing due to an administrative error. Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant is exercisable into one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.30 per share until July 22, 2028. Together with this additional subscription, the Company raised an aggregate of $4,200,000 under the private placement (the " Offering"), and the Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to spearhead the 2025 exploration program at the Fondaway Canyon gold project, as set out in greater detail in the Company's news release dated May 26, 2025. The additional securities issued under the Offering are subject to a four month hold period, expiring on November 23, 2025, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws." Notes on the PEA The PEA is preliminary in nature, includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that PEA results will be realized. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. All amounts are in United States dollars unless otherwise specified. Base case parameters assume a gold price of $2,250 per ounce. NPV is calculated as of the commencement of construction and excludes all pre-construction costs. All figures are displayed on a 100% ownership basis. (1) Operating costs consist of mining costs, processing costs and mine site G&A. (2) Cash costs consist of operating costs plus treatment and refining charges and royalties. The PEA was prepared by Forte Dynamics Inc., of Fort Collins, Colorado ("Forte Dynamics") as the lead consultant in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Forte Dynamics was the lead study manager for mine planning, design parameters, and operating and capital cost estimates. The PEA was supported by Forte Analytical Inc. (metallurgical studies, process design, process facilities, and plant site infrastructure) and APEX Geoscience Ltd. (mineral resource estimate). The effective date of the PEA is January 15, 2025, and a technical report titled "The Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Getchell Gold Corp. Fondaway Canyon Project, Nevada, USA" has been filed on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR). Notes on the Mineral Resource Estimate: Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. There has been insufficient exploration to define the Inferred Resources tabulated above as an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource; however, it is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. There is no guarantee that any part of the Mineral Resources discussed herein will be converted into a Mineral Reserve in the future. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, marketing, or other relevant issues. The Mineral Resources herein were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum standards on mineral resources and reserves, definitions, and guidelines prepared by the CIM standing committee on reserve definitions and adopted by the CIM council (CIM 2014 and 2019). The Mineral Resources Estimate is underpinned by data from 527 reverse circulation and diamond drillholes totaling 55,870m of drilling that intersected the mineralized domains. The mineral resource is reported at a lower cut-off of 0.3 g/t Au for the conceptual open pit and 1.75 g/t Au for the conceptual underground extraction scenario. The lower cut-off grades and potential mining scenarios were calculated using the following parameters: mining cost = US$2.70/t (open pit); G&A = US$2.00/t; processing cost = US$15.00/t; recoveries = 92%, gold price = US$1,950.00/oz; royalties = 1%; and minimum mining widths = 1.5 metres (underground) in order to meet the requirement that the reported Mineral Resources show "reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction". A density of 2.74 g/cm3 was used for the mineralized zones. The author is not aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political or marketing issues or any other relevant issue not reported in the technical report that could materially affect the mineral resource estimate. The Qualified Persons The independent and qualified person for the mineral resource estimate, as defined by NI 43-101, is Michael Dufresne, from APEX Geoscience Ltd. The qualified person overseeing the minable resource estimate used for the economic analysis is Jonathan R. Heiner, SME-RM, from Forte Dynamics, Inc. The qualified person overseeing the metallurgical testing and mineral processing is Deepak Malhotra, SME-RM, from Forte Dynamics, Inc. The qualified person overseeing the overall Preliminary Assessment and the economic analysis is Donald E. Hulse, SME-RM, from Forte Dynamics, Inc. The Qualified Person (as defined in NI 43-101) who reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in the news release is Patrick McLaughlin, Senior Project Manager at Getchell Gold Corp. and is non-independent. About Getchell Gold Corp. The Company is a Nevada focused gold exploration company trading on the CSE: GTCH, OTCQB: GGLDF, and FWB: GGA1. Getchell Gold Corp. is primarily directing its efforts on its most advanced stage asset, Fondaway Canyon, a past gold producer with a large mineral resource estimate and recently published Preliminary Economic Assessment. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the drill program, the mineralization extent and results, including statements respecting the ability of Getchell to extend the Project's gold mineralization and increase the mineral resource. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although management of Getchell have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE Getchell Gold Corp.
