Microsoft Blocks Israeli Military, Google Gemini Aids Meta

The artificial intelligence landscape is rapidly evolving, with significant developments across major tech players and emerging threats. Microsoft has taken action to block the Israeli military's Unit 8200 from accessing certain cloud and AI services, citing violations of its terms of service related to the alleged mass surveillance of Palestinian civilians. This decision follows reports and employee pressure, though Microsoft maintains it does not provide technology for mass surveillance. Meanwhile, the risks associated with AI are becoming more apparent. Proofpoint is introducing new defenses against AI-powered email attacks, as cybercriminals leverage tools like Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini for malicious purposes. Similarly, Obsidian Security is enhancing security for AI agents accessing SaaS platforms like Salesforce, following recent attacks that exploited compromised AI integrations. Generative AI tools, including Microsoft Copilot, are also exposing vast amounts of sensitive data, with one report indicating access to nearly three million sensitive records per organization on average. The sophistication of AI-driven phishing attacks is increasing, with attackers mimicking CAPTCHA pages to steal credentials. On the innovation front, MIT researchers have developed CRESt, an AI system that discovers new materials, already identifying a record-setting catalyst for fuel cells. Samsung has launched TRUEBench to better measure enterprise AI productivity across multiple languages. In the AI infrastructure market, AMD is gaining traction with its EPYC processors and Instinct GPUs, securing partnerships with companies like Cohere and Oracle, and reporting record revenues. Meta is reportedly considering using Google's Gemini AI for its advertising efforts, signaling a potential collaboration in the competitive digital advertising space. Separately, some artists are protesting Spotify CEO Daniel Ek's venture capital firm's investment in Helsing, a defense technology company, highlighting ethical concerns surrounding AI in military applications. The US, at the UN Security Council, is emphasizing its commitment to leading AI innovation for economic and national security, advocating for responsible development and diffusion rather than centralized global control.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft has disabled certain cloud and AI services for the Israeli military's Unit 8200 due to alleged violations of its terms of service related to mass surveillance of Palestinians.
  • Proofpoint is launching new tools to combat AI-driven email attacks that exploit AI assistants like Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini.
  • Obsidian Security is offering new features to secure AI agents accessing SaaS applications, addressing risks highlighted by recent attacks on platforms like Salesforce.
  • A report indicates that generative AI tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, are exposing millions of sensitive data records per organization on average.
  • Cybercriminals are employing AI to create more sophisticated phishing attacks, including fake CAPTCHA pages designed to steal credentials.
  • MIT researchers have developed CRESt, an AI system that accelerates the discovery of new materials, including a record-setting catalyst for fuel cells.
  • AMD is expanding its presence in the AI infrastructure market with its processors and GPUs, reporting record revenues and forming partnerships with companies like Cohere.
  • Meta is reportedly in discussions with Google to potentially use Gemini AI for its advertising operations.
  • Artists are protesting Spotify CEO Daniel Ek's investment in Helsing, a defense technology company, raising ethical concerns about AI in military applications.
  • The US is advocating for responsible AI innovation and diffusion at the UN Security Council, opposing centralized global control and emphasizing market-driven development.

Microsoft blocks Israeli military from some cloud and AI services

Microsoft is stopping the Israeli military from using certain cloud and AI services. This decision comes after reports that these services were used to surveil Palestinian civilians. Microsoft stated that they do not provide technology for mass surveillance. This action does not affect other contracts Microsoft has with the Israeli government. The company continues to work on cybersecurity for Israel and other Middle Eastern countries.

Microsoft cuts off Israeli military's surveillance tech access

Microsoft has stopped the Israeli military's Unit 8200 from using its cloud and AI services. These services were reportedly used to collect data on millions of Palestinian phone calls. The company decided to cut access after an investigation found violations of its terms of service. This move follows reports by The Guardian and pressure from employees. Microsoft stated it does not provide technology for mass surveillance of civilians.

Microsoft limits Israeli military access to AI and cloud tools

Microsoft has disabled services for an Israeli military unit after finding its AI and cloud products were used for mass surveillance of Palestinians. This action follows reports detailing how the Israeli Ministry of Defense used Microsoft's Azure platform. Microsoft's president stated the company is enforcing its terms of service. The company did not specify the unit affected but confirmed the action was taken after a review found evidence of terms of service violations. Activists called the move a win but noted it was only a partial step.

Proofpoint launches new defenses against AI-powered email attacks

Proofpoint has introduced new tools to protect businesses from AI-driven email attacks. Cybercriminals are using malicious prompts to trick AI assistants like Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini. These attacks can lead to data loss and system compromise. Proofpoint's new solutions focus on protecting AI assistants, enhancing data loss prevention, and governing generative AI use. The company aims to help businesses safely adopt AI technologies while defending against emerging threats.

Obsidian offers AI agent security for SaaS threats

Obsidian Security has launched new features to manage how AI agents access data in SaaS applications. Recent attacks on platforms like Salesforce show the risks of compromised AI integrations. Obsidian's new capabilities aim to secure autonomous AI agents, which often have broad permissions and operate without direct oversight. The system detects issues in real-time, allowing security teams to contain threats before they spread. This helps businesses use AI safely while maintaining security and governance.

Artists protest Spotify CEO's AI investments

Some artists are leaving Spotify to protest investments made by CEO Daniel Ek's venture capital firm, Prima Materia. The firm invested in Helsing, a German defense technology company. This investment in military AI technology has led to backlash from artists. The protests highlight concerns about the ethical implications of AI in defense and its connection to major tech platforms.

MIT AI system CRESt discovers new materials

MIT researchers have developed a new platform called CRESt that uses AI to discover new materials. CRESt learns from various scientific data, including literature, chemical compositions, and images. It then runs experiments using robotic equipment to test and optimize materials. Researchers can interact with CRESt using natural language. The system has already discovered a new catalyst material for fuel cells, setting a record for power density.

Generative AI exposes sensitive data widely

A new report from Concentric AI reveals that generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot are exposing sensitive data at scale. On average, Copilot accessed nearly three million sensitive data records per organization in early 2025. The report also highlights issues like duplicate files, risky sharing practices, and oversharing of data. Unsanctioned use of GenAI tools adds further risk as organizations may not know where their data is going. These issues increase costs and make data management more difficult.

AI powers sophisticated phishing attacks

Cybercriminals are using AI to create more convincing phishing attacks, often mimicking 'I'm Not a Robot' CAPTCHA pages. Attackers use platforms like Vercel and Netlify to quickly set up fake pages that steal passwords and sensitive information. Experts warn these AI-driven scams are harder to detect than traditional ones. Users are advised to verify sender details, use official websites directly, enable two-factor authentication, and never share sensitive information on suspicious pages.

Samsung launches TRUEBench for enterprise AI productivity

Samsung has launched TRUEBench, a new system to measure the real-world productivity of AI models in business settings. Existing benchmarks often focus on general knowledge and struggle with multilingual tasks. TRUEBench evaluates AI models on tasks like content creation, data analysis, and summarization across 12 languages. It uses a collaborative process between humans and AI to set scoring criteria, ensuring accurate and reliable performance assessments for enterprise AI.

US emphasizes AI innovation at UN Security Council

The United States is committed to leading in AI innovation for economic growth and national security. At a UN Security Council debate, the US stressed responsible AI development and deployment. The US rejects centralized global control of AI, advocating for responsible diffusion and innovation through free markets. They believe overregulation can stifle progress and increase risks of misuse. The US aims to establish American AI as the global standard and support allies in building their own AI ecosystems.

AMD gains ground in AI infrastructure market

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is increasing its presence in the AI infrastructure market with its EPYC processors and Instinct GPUs. The company reported record revenues in the second quarter of 2025, driven by demand for its AI hardware. AMD has formed partnerships with companies like Oracle and Cohere to expand its reach. While facing competition from NVIDIA and Intel, AMD's growing product portfolio and strategic collaborations position it as a significant player in the AI hardware space.

Meta may use Google's Gemini AI for ads

Meta is reportedly in discussions with Google about using Gemini AI technology to improve its advertising efforts. This move highlights Meta's ongoing efforts to boost its AI capabilities amid competition from major tech rivals. If the talks are successful, it would affirm Google's strong position in the AI market. The potential collaboration underscores the critical role of AI in the digital advertising landscape.

Sources

NOTE:

This news brief was generated using AI technology (including, but not limited to, Google Gemini API, Llama, Grok, and Mistral) from aggregated news articles, with minimal to no human editing/review. It is provided for informational purposes only and may contain inaccuracies or biases. This is not financial, investment, or professional advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please verify all information with the linked original articles in the Sources section below.

AI security AI ethics AI regulation AI innovation AI hardware AI applications AI development AI services AI technology AI market AI tools AI attacks AI models AI productivity AI infrastructure AI agents AI assistants AI defense AI materials discovery AI data privacy AI surveillance Generative AI Cloud computing Cybersecurity Phishing Microsoft Google Meta AMD Samsung Proofpoint Obsidian Security MIT Concentric AI Spotify Israeli military Palestinian civilians UN Security Council SaaS threats Email attacks Data loss Enterprise AI National security Economic growth Venture capital Defense technology

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