RSnake Report 20250216

Hello, and thanks for reading! I hope you had a nice Valentine's Day with your significant other or your AI LLM equivalent. Love is in the air! 🥰 

The Russian/Ukraine war is entering another phase of technological escalation, with Britain introducing its Gravehawk missile system to bolster Ukraine’s dwindling air defenses. Developed in just 18 months, this containerized system repurposes Soviet-era R-73 air-to-air missiles. These containerized weapons are a real mixed blessing in my mind. It’s great that they are easy to transport and difficult to recognize, but awful in that they make every civilian vehicle that looks truck-like a potential target now. Not a fan of that.

Reports suggest that Ukrainian drone dominance is forcing Russian forces to operate blind. With Ukrainian FPV drones now controlling entire roadways around Pokrovsk, Russian commanders are resorting to absurd measures like ordering troops to keep their vehicle roofs closed to avoid aerial detection. But the interesting part of this for me was that the glide bombing proved to be the most effective weapon the Russians had for suppressing the Ukrainians, and it is no longer working because they don’t have enough. Does that mean they can’t get enough aloft because of issues with the bomb trucks due to the destruction of airfields and equipment, or that they simply don’t have enough for the airframes they are operating? Either way, it’s interesting.

But electronic warfare, or the lack thereof, is becoming a glaring Russian weakness. A Russian volunteer's frustrated admission, "Their EW jams everything; our drones are not flying!" There are rumors that Russians are begging people to volunteer to give them homemade EW kits. Wow.

One quick point about the ambush drones that have gotten more popular (that video just shows how fast and lethal they are). I saw a unique video about how they have an experimental drone that can get completely submerged - think a pond, or river, or even something larger like the ocean, perhaps? This would make maritime operations a nightmare. Mines are bad enough, but a mine that can fly a few miles to find you? So, so much worse. Check out the video.

We still see attacks against local infrastructure, like a paint/varnish factory in St. Petersburg. Paint is imperative for military functions to prevent rusting and to add camo to military vehicles.

Russian forces have reportedly extracted sensitive flight log data from a captured Ukrainian drone, revealing training locations. This is why proper security protocols, like rolling encryption keys and not storing logs in an unencrypted local drive, are a battlefield necessity.

Btw, I had to really think about this one, but Ukraine has two weapon systems named Vampire. It was kinda breaking my brain at first. The first one is that heavy drone you see above. The other is a small rocket launcher with which you can strap to your Hilux and shoot down drones. So, one is a drone, and another kills drones. No wonder I was confused!

For all the battlefield losses, Moscow is clinging to political lifelines, and Trump’s recent call with Putin has sent the Russian stock market into a rally. That means the market feels very bullish on a peace deal and a return to some semblance of normalcy in the Russian markets. Let’s hope the traders got that one right.

The former U.S. president’s claim that Putin is open to peace talks has rattled the chessboard, with the White House dispatching a high-profile delegation to explore negotiations.

Ukrainian intelligence managed to obliterate two of Russia’s prized "Valdai" radar systems outside Moscow, a humiliating breach of Russian air defense. Not only does this show that the radars didn’t operate in a regime that was capable of defending itself, but it also shows that Moscow no longer even has that broken system to rely on. 🫠 

And just to show how stupid the war really is, there is now footage showing a purported Russian drone striking the containment structure around Reactor No. 4 at Chernobyl. Yes, the same reactor number 4 that melted down and killed tons of people in the attempt of containment. The same reactor meltdown caused tons of Russians to get radiation poisoning earlier in the war when they were digging radioactive trenches around the area. So far, no word on leaks, but not for lack of trying! If Moscow wanted to remind the world of its unique talent for reckless nuclear disasters, mission accomplished. Seriously, can we stop tickling the dragon’s tail, Putin? ☢️ 

In Europe, any hope of a backroom peace deal is already dead on arrival, with European leaders making it clear that Ukraine’s fate will not be decided without Ukraine. NATO ministers are signaling that security guarantees for Kyiv must be on the table. The funny part is that Zelenskyy was called immediately after Trump called Putin. This is how mediation works - you talk with one side and then the other, and the belligerents have to be dealt with on whatever terms they think will be tolerable, then walk backward from there until you hit ZOPA (zone of potential agreement). Here is a graphic I made a while back trying to illustrate this basic negotiation principle in business terms. In the Russian/Ukraine context, think of it as territory/land/agreements instead of money. BATNA, in case you are wondering, is the “best alternative to a negotiated deal,” - which means more war but other strategic utility, like alliances, for instance.

So, it’s really not clear what Kaja Kallas is talking about here since Zalenskyy is obviously very key to the negotiated peace deal. Even so much so that Trump is personally calling him to discuss the terms. 🤔 Feels like political posturing, and they don’t want to be left out of the deal since it will necessarily impact Europe. But since Europe has been completely unable to negotiate anything thus far, it stands to reason that they don’t make much sense at the negotiating table.

That said, at the same time, Pete Hegseth formally told the Europeans that the US isn’t capable of playing world cop for them and they’re not on their own, but we have bigger fish to fry in Southeast Asia. I am sure that worries Europe a lot, and it should. But Pete’s right - Europe is a wealthy enough place with enough brain power and resources that they should be able to take care of themselves at this point, 70+ years after World War 2.

Speaking of Southeast Asia, Trump is escalating his economic war with Beijing, reportedly telling Xi that China "owes" $10 trillion for COVID-19 and can start working it off with tariffs. Think about that for a minute - if China agrees to this, or even doesn’t complain loudly about the tariffs, it is tacit admittance of culpability. Would I have traded the life of my friend and 20-year NAVY SEAL veteran, Scott Brauer, for $10 trillion? No. But I might, for one actual public acknowledgment, that the CCP let this virus loose on purpose or on accident - or at minimum, lied about its danger significantly.

On a personal note as to why I feel this way; I have never told all the details of the story publicly, but I was once courted by Taiwan to go and work for them. They wanted me to write weaponized malware, and as part of their pitch, they told me that the CCP had intentionally released SARS-CoV-1 into Taiwan. The reason they knew that is because they hacked into Chinese servers and found out that the SARS release was related to understanding adversarial pandemic response. This conversation happened over a decade before COVID-19 - also known as SARS-CoV-2. I have no reason to disbelieve the story because I would have had access to whatever files I wanted to if I agreed to join the Taiwanese military against China.

Am I to believe the CCP would release a virus once but not twice? Even if they didn’t do it the second time, am I to believe COVID-19 wasn’t a covered-up lab leak? The CCP is just too full of corruption and self-dealing and blatantly lie too often to believe anything they say on military matters. While tacit agreement to pay the $10T is great, and I think we should take what we can get, it doesn’t make up for even one Scott Brauer if the bulk of the world still believes the CCP’s innocence.

I did not join Taiwan’s military, but it certainly made me grow up in a hurry and realize how important computer security is to geopolitics. Now you have a small sense of why I write this newsletter. For Scott. For freedom seekers. For the US.

Meanwhile, Taiwan Semiconductor is already getting the tariff memo, eyeing a partnership with Intel to shift more chip production to the U.S. to avoid these looming tariffs. When the tariffs haven’t even hit yet, but companies are already repositioning, that’s a sign that the hardball tactic is indeed working - for now, anyway.

That comes at the same time we removed a single line from our doctrine, basically saying that “we do not support Taiwan independence,” implying we DO support its independence. I am not sure this is a fight we want to get into, especially once we diversify our semiconductor sourcing, but I am glad we haven’t just rolled over on the matter either. It’s a stronger negotiating position, at least.

In the Middle East, the psychological warfare between Israel and Hamas continues. Three hostages, including an American, were released after nearly 500 days in captivity, but their condition is raising questions about what they endured. Netanyahu, however, is done playing waiting games, issuing a Saturday deadline: if Hamas doesn’t return the remaining hostages, Israel’s ceasefire is over, and the IDF will resume its offensive. That said, apparently, there are some backroom dealings taking place where peacekeepers are trying to find a way to say that 2 or 3 hostages are enough… for now, anyway. So, was that enough? Hard to say, but it might be at the moment.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has just shipped Israel a significant batch of Mk.84 2000-pound bombs, the kind of firepower that can level Hamas tunnels or, if needed, take a bite out of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Those conversions take time - so a ceasefire might be helpful while the bomb conversions take place, even if the intent is to go back at it soon.

Shifting gears to North America, the economic and political restructuring continues. In Canada, Chrystia Freeland is threatening to retaliate against Trump’s trade policies with an all-out tariff war, explicitly targeting industries in Trump’s key voter bases. With Tesla and Wisconsin dairy farmers directly in the crosshairs, expect this fight to escalate quickly. That said, the Canadians don’t have a great hand to play here, aside from the fact that they do spy on US citizens a lot. Maybe someday I’ll tell that crazy story too but for another day…

Meanwhile, the U.S. military isn’t having a great week. A Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jet went down in San Diego Bay, with both aviators ejecting just before impact. And, in the Mediterranean, the USS Harry S. Truman limped back to Greece for repairs after a serious collision with a tanker. While officials assess whether it needs to head to a full shipyard, this incident raises questions about operational readiness in an era where the U.S. military is expected to do more with less. How did this happen?! Someone’s going to the stockade over this or swabbing toilets for the rest of their lives.

Meanwhile, the fallout from Washington’s federal downsizing of over a quarter million people and going is already wreaking havoc in D.C.’s housing market. Nearly 4,000 homes have been listed in just 30 days, and property values are cratering - losing around $140k of value in a month. And with layoffs hitting every corner of the federal bureaucracy, agencies that barely survived Trump’s first term are now being hollowed out entirely. The Department of Energy alone has lost 2,000 employees, including key personnel from its nuclear security division. There was a lot of controversy already about this, and it likely forced them to hire some of those same workers back. Move fast and break stuff, I guess!? I heard a rumor that one set of people moving a nuclear device had their gas cards shut off mid-transit and had to do other things to get back on the road - not sure if I believe that one, but weird things like this happening is not impossible and somewhat inevitable when you aren’t focused on the details and just moving as fast as possible to reduce federal spending. ☢️ 

Back in tech, DOGE’s own website was left so vulnerable that random users could push updates to it. And that they did - signing it “-roro”. It’s not clear if that was meant to be a false flag due to one of the guys at DDS being “RoRo” or something else. Either way, yeah, if you move this fast, you’ll make mistakes. This is just a good public example of an easy one to fix.

OpenAI is simplifying its product lineup with the upcoming release of GPT-4.5 and the eventual launch of GPT-5, which aims to integrate every major AI tool into one seamless system. No more model-picking, just a single, unified intelligence. The important thing to think about here is that GPT-5 will know when to think for a long time but also, more importantly, when not to. This is exactly how the human mind thinks. If a deer jumps out at you on the road, you don’t want to have some big philosophical debate in your head solving existential trolly problems, etc. You just need to react.

Finally, in the latest reminder that history repeats itself, researchers just made the SolarWinds supply chain attack look like child’s play by uncovering a massive security lapse in old S3 buckets. If you thought companies learned their lesson about unsecured cloud storage, think again. This is a long read, but it just shows how broken the Internet is in many ways. By re-registering these old buckets, they got access to all kinds of awful things, like the ability to infect computers, load up crypto miners, or whatever they wanted. It's an old trick, but they took it to another level - it’s worth a read if you’re into that kind of thing.

Okay, onto the articles!

In Gaza, despite a declared ceasefire, Israel has continued to demolish homes and construct military fortifications in Rafah. Satellite imagery shows that dozens of buildings have been destroyed, leaving approximately 200,000 residents displaced and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.

• Israel has razed around 64 buildings in Rafah, contradicting ceasefire terms.

• The Israeli military has constructed defensive fortifications, limiting civilian access to their homes.

[RSnake: I wonder how the IDF justifies that action. If no rounds are fired, does that break the peace treaty?]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/15/despite-ceasefire-israel-still-destroying-homes-in-gaza?traffic_source=rss

The recent freeze on USAID funding implemented by the Trump administration has severely impacted HIV treatment programs in Uganda and Malawi, causing disruptions in access to essential medication for many individuals living with HIV. Health facilities and NGOs reliant on this funding have halted operations, leading to concerns about increased health risks and treatment disruptions for vulnerable populations.

• USAID's funding freeze has halted critical support for HIV treatment programs in Uganda and Malawi.

• The disruption in healthcare funding could lead to millions of additional AIDS-related deaths and infections in the coming years.

[RSnake: We can add services back in that the US taxpayers agree to. But I suspect the number of programs the average US citizen wants to pay for is far smaller than what USAID was floating.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8xlxx58l4o

Israel has released 369 Palestinian prisoners following a series of hostage releases by Hamas as part of a ceasefire agreement. Meanwhile, significant political changes are occurring in Syria as rebel groups celebrate the end of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, marking a shift in government control after years of conflict.

• 369 Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel.

• Hamas has released multiple hostages, indicating progress in the ceasefire.

• Rebel groups in Syria are celebrating the collapse of the Assad regime.

[RSnake: And we still don’t have all our hostages back. I don’t know what the actual count is. I’m not sure anyone does, given the conditions they were housed in and the amount of destruction that has happened in Gaza that might have ended up being friendly fire.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cp3je7xq3jgo

Russia's military budget has surpassed the combined budgets of European nations, reaching $462 billion as US defense commitments to Europe diminish. European countries are facing increased pressure to strengthen their defense strategies amid these growing military expenditures from Russia, which have surged significantly despite international sanctions. Global defense spending has also reached record levels, with notable increases in various regions, reflecting rising security threats across the world.

• Russia's military budget now exceeds that of all European countries combined.

• European nations must reevaluate their defense strategies due to diminished US support.

• Global defense spending has hit a record high, indicating escalating security challenges worldwide.

[RSnake: Totally unsustainable. I remember once a buddy of mine said, “Why are we afraid of Russia when they barely have the GDP of one of our states?” We are just getting started with our cost-cutting while Russia ramps up its spending. I suspect a lot of that is doing whatever they can to get as much territory as possible leading up to the ceasefire.]

Source: https://euromaidanpress.com/?p=322010

The White House has issued a warning to migrants seeking to enter the United States illegally, with President Trump's administration pushing ahead with its pledge to launch the largest deportation campaign in US history.

• US President Donald Trump’s administration is planning the largest deportation campaign in US history.

• The White House has issued a warning to migrants seeking to enter the United States illegally.

[RSnake: We shall see. I am still trying to figure out how we actually do this logistically. We need a place to put all of them in the short term and a way to transport them.]

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/come-here-illegally-and-well-deport-you-white-house-valentines-message-warns-migrants/articleshow/118264090.cms

At the Munich Security Conference, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko emphasized that NATO membership is essential for Ukraine's security, particularly in light of ongoing threats from Russia. The conference, attended by numerous global leaders, focuses on discussions regarding the war in Ukraine and potential security guarantees. Key speeches and dialogues aim to shape the future of NATO and Europe's security landscape amid differing views on Ukraine's NATO membership prospects.

• Vitali Klitschko asserts NATO membership as a crucial security guarantee for Ukraine against Russian aggression.

• The Munich Security Conference includes high-level discussions on the war in Ukraine and the future of international security arrangements.

[RSnake: We’ll see, but I think that’s extremely unlikely until after the peace treaty is signed. Triggering article-V day, one might not sit well with most NATO countries, especially when their military budgets are still far too small to handle a sustained conflict, and we are considering pulling troops out of Europe.]

Source: https://euromaidanpress.com/?p=321977

US Senate confirms Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence in a 52-48 vote, installing a controversial figure with Russian narratives about Ukraine into America's top intelligence position.

• The confirmation raises immediate concerns for Ukraine’s security interests, as Gabbard will oversee crucial US intelligence operations supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.

• Gabbard has a documented history of positions that align with Russian narratives about the war in Ukraine and NATO expansion.

[RSnake: I know she got a lot of flak, but I honestly think she was one of the best people running. I think the Democrats could have run her instead of Kamala and made a serious dent. I don’t know if she would have won, but I suspect it would have been closer than Kamala. She did attempt to run for President as a Democrat if you recall. This is yet another one of Trump’s cabinet that used to be a Democrat and then turned Republican - Trump included.]

Source: https://euromaidanpress.com/?p=321562

Qatar has been identified as a major financial supporter of Hamas, with allegations of billions of dollars in aid provided over the years. The country's role in regional conflicts and its support for Islamist groups have raised questions about its position as a mediator in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Additionally, the U.S. administration's approach to Qatar has faced criticism regarding the lack of pressure on Doha to influence Hamas to release hostages following the recent escalation in violence.

• Qatar is the main financial backer of Hamas, providing approximately $1.8 billion over two decades.

• The U.S. administration has been criticized for not pressuring Qatar to use its influence to secure the release of Israeli hostages.

[RSnake: I was not aware of that. And shame on Qatar.]

Source: https://www.jewishpress.com/?p=727425

By 2035, China has emerged as the dominant global power, reshaping international relations and multilateral institutions to its advantage while the United States has retreated from its leadership role, resulting in weakened alliances. Climate change has exacerbated global instability, leading to increased migration and conflict, while efforts to combat environmental issues are ongoing but insufficient. The landscape of global governance is characterized by a reluctant international order that struggles to address the myriad challenges posed by geopolitical shifts and environmental crises.

• By 2035, China's influence on global affairs has eclipsed that of the United States, marking a significant shift in power dynamics.

• Climate change is worsening geopolitical tensions and causing large-scale migration, creating numerous challenges for global governance.

[RSnake: This is one of three outcomes in a thought piece about where things could end up with China.]

Source: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/?p=821694

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has faced significant staff reductions and shuttering of operations following actions from the Trump administration and Elon Musk, jeopardizing protections for service members and veterans against predatory lending and financial fraud. The agency, which has played a critical role in safeguarding consumer financial rights since its creation in 2010, is now at risk of losing its ability to oversee and enforce the Military Lending Act as its functions are being dismantled.

• CFPB has been crucial in protecting military families from financial abuses.

• The dismantling of CFPB could lead to increased predatory lending targeting service members and veterans.

[RSnake: I am surprised they are doing cuts against the military this early. I figured they would come but much later. Like next year or maybe even after the next election cycle.]

Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/02/13/watchdog-agency-shielded-troops-and-veterans-fraud-musk-and-trump-just-gutted-it.html

A car attack occurred in Munich, Germany, injuring at least 30 people, including children, and a suspect, Farhad N, was identified as a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker.

• The suspect, Farhad N, is a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker who resides in Munich and had his asylum application rejected.

• At least 30 people were injured in the attack, including children, and some were left in a life-threatening condition.

[RSnake: This is what happens when you get the two different religions in such close proximity. Their values simply are not in alignment for sustained peace. The Christians have been at war on and off with Muslims for over a millennia… for a reason.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdry8xd47ylo

Hackers are exploiting a vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS firewalls, allowing them to bypass authentication and potentially gain access to sensitive data. Attackers are targeting unpatched devices and have already compromised over 4,400 exposed management interfaces online. Users are strongly advised to apply available patches and restrict access to firewall management interfaces to defend against ongoing exploitation activity.

• Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS firewalls have been compromised by exploiting a recently fixed vulnerability (CVE-2025-0108) that allows bypassing authentication.

• The exploit leverages a path confusion between Nginx and Apache in PAN-OS that allows bypassing authentication, potentially allowing attackers to gather intelligence or modify settings within the firewall configuration.

[RSnake: They are one of the big four, like Cisco, Juniper and SonicWall… speaking of them…]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-exploit-authentication-bypass-in-palo-alto-networks-pan-os/

SonicWall firewalls are facing increased exploitation attempts due to a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that allows remote attackers to hijack SSL VPN sessions. This vulnerability affects multiple SonicOS versions and has been confirmed to be actively exploited shortly after the public release of proof-of-concept exploit code. Users are urged to update their firmware immediately or disable SSL VPN access if an update is not possible.

• An authentication bypass vulnerability in SonicWall firewalls allows unauthorized access to networks.

• Cybersecurity experts recommend immediate firmware updates to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

[RSnake: What year is this? How can we still not make public facing network devices secure?]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/sonicwall-firewall-bug-leveraged-in-attacks-after-poc-exploit-release/

A new ransomware operation named Sarcoma has claimed responsibility for an attack against Unimicron, a Taiwanese printed circuit boards manufacturer, and threatens to leak stolen files if a ransom is not paid.

• Sarcoma launched its first attacks on October 2024, and has since become one of the most active and prolific ransomware gangs, employing phishing emails, n-day vulnerabilities exploitation, and supply chain attacks to gain initial access.

• Unimicron suffered a ransomware attack in January 2025, but the company claims the impact is limited and has engaged an external cyber forensic team to conduct incident analysis and implement defense measures.

[RSnake: I don’t believe this was a nation state targeting them, despite most attacks against Taiwan having a clear source in the CCP.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/sarcoma-ransomware-claims-breach-at-giant-pcb-maker-unimicron/

Microsoft has released its February 2025 Patch Tuesday security update, fixing 55 security flaws in Windows, including four zero-day vulnerabilities.

• Four zero-day vulnerabilities were fixed in the latest Patch Tuesday update, two of which have not been actively exploited.

• Two of the zero-day vulnerabilities could allow bad actors to compromise the program powering virtual machines on Windows or access a user's plain-text password.

[RSnake: If you’re using Microsoft, time to patch up.]

Source: https://lifehacker.com/tech/you-should-install-this-windows-security-patch-right-away?utm_medium=RSS

The U.K. government is pressuring Apple to implement a backdoor in its iCloud encryption system, allowing law enforcement access to encrypted data. This demand reflects broader ongoing tensions between government surveillance and data privacy concerns, as well as historical attempts by state actors to weaken encryption for security purposes. This situation highlights the ongoing debate about the risks of governmental access to private data and the implications for cybersecurity.

• The U.K. government is trying to compel Apple to allow state access to encrypted iCloud data.

• The push for backdoors in encryption raises concerns about privacy and security vulnerabilities.

[RSnake: This is one of the reasons we will win - if you need to make sure you aren’t being monitored for whatever reason you cannot rely on being in the UK. Btw, I firmly believe such a backdoor system already exists in Apple products, and is rolled out at least in China, or the CCP wouldn’t allow them to operate there.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=2964768

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has halted its election security efforts and is reviewing all related activities due to pressure stemming from claims of election fraud. This review, ordered by CISA's acting director, will assess past and current programs while cutting off funding for election security initiatives.

• CISA is pausing all election security activities until a comprehensive review is completed.

• This move aligns with the Trump administration's focus on addressing alleged online censorship and misinformation.

[RSnake: As much as I think CISA has done some good, I never did trust any government agency to know truth enough to “just” call social media companies and threaten them if they don’t take content down. I really don’t care how just they think that call is.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/cisa-election-security-freeze-memo/

Google has announced changes to its data collection policies that allow fingerprinting, enabling advertisers to gather more user information, including IP addresses and device details. Critics argue that this move compromises user privacy and limits individual control over personal data, as fingerprinting is harder for users to manage compared to traditional cookie consent methods. The UK's Information Commissioner's Office has expressed concerns about the implications of this technology for consumer rights and privacy.

• Google's new policies permit fingerprinting for online advertising.

• Opponents claim this technique undermines user privacy and control over personal data.

• The UK's data watchdog has critiqued the policy change as irresponsible.

[RSnake: Google has been doing this for years. Now they are allowing the advertisers to do it too. So much for their old motto “Don’t be evil.”]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm21g0052dno

DeepSeek has developed an innovative AI model utilizing a 'mixture of experts' approach, allowing it to operate more efficiently with significantly less computing power than its competitors. By specializing in smaller networks for specific tasks and optimizing resource usage, DeepSeek has reduced the computing cost to $6 million, demonstrating a potential shift in AI development strategies within the industry.

• DeepSeek's model is based on a 'mixture of experts' approach, which improves efficiency.

• The company has significantly lowered AI development costs compared to larger competitors.

[RSnake: I had to explain this to a guy a few different ways last night but there is no fixing these models. You can’t add anything to them to fix them. It’s baked into the training data. No matter how good they get, you’ll never unwind the bad training data without a totally new model.]

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/mixture-of-experts-the-method-behind-deepseeks-frugal-success/articleshow/118295285.cms

The United States is focused on maintaining its leadership in artificial intelligence technology amid competition from China. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has emphasized the importance of winning the AI race to ensure democracy prevails over authoritarian practices. The Trump administration has announced a significant investment project aimed at bolstering U.S. infrastructure for AI development.

• The U.S. must maintain its technological leadership in AI against competition from China.

• A $500 billion AI infrastructure project called Stargate has been announced to enhance AI capabilities in the U.S.

[RSnake: Go Condy!]

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/media/america-has-win-ai-race-against-great-competitor-china-condoleezza-rice-warns

The aviation industry has seen over 100 fatalities in air crashes in early 2025, including notable incidents involving commercial airliners and helicopters. With the majority of aviation accidents attributed to human error, there is increasing interest in utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance safety and reduce the risk of accidents. Innovations in AI aim to improve situational awareness, predictive maintenance, and collaboration between automated systems and human operators in aviation.

• Over 100 people have died in aviation accidents in early 2025.

• AI has the potential to improve aviation safety by addressing issues related to human error.

• The air-taxi market is predicted to grow significantly, driven by technology advancements and traffic congestion issues.

[RSnake: And still more safe than cars.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/14/can-ai-and-automated-planes-help-prevent-plane-crashes?traffic_source=rss

Meta has paused negotiations with book publishers for licensing deals related to training data for generative AI models due to logistical challenges and a lack of engagement from publishers. Ongoing legal cases involve disputes over the use of copyrighted material for AI training, with accusations that Meta may have utilized pirated content in its AI projects.

• Meta has faced difficulties in securing licensing deals with publishers for AI training data.

• Legal battles continue between AI companies and copyright holders regarding the use of copyrighted materials.

[RSnake: In light of the Thompson Reuters lawsuit, this is quite interesting. In the case of Thompson Reuters, the reason the judge sided with them was because the LLM aimed to be a “market substitute,” which is a unique angle most LLMs aren’t aiming for.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=2966734

Mobile data growth is slowing, with demand expected to peak below 1 gigabit per second in the near future, challenging the telecom industry's long-held assumption of continuous bandwidth expansion. Current trends suggest that existing 5G and broadband networks may be sufficient to meet consumer needs, leading to potential shifts in research and investment strategies in telecommunications.

• Mobile data growth has decreased, with a projected peak in demand below 1 Gbps.

• Telecom companies may need to shift focus from expanding bandwidth to improving existing service reliability and cost efficiency.

[RSnake: This is interesting, in part because I think we have gotten better at optimization of images and video, and in part because I think people are spending more time with raw text, like LLMs.]

Source: https://spectrum.ieee.org/5g-bandwidth

A Microsoft study suggests that the use of generative AI is negatively impacting individuals' cognitive and critical thinking abilities. There are also ongoing issues regarding the surveillance of U.S. military personnel through commercial data brokers, indicating a blend of technology and privacy concerns. Additionally, motivational videos generated by AI voices of high-profile figures are gaining significant attention on social media platforms like TikTok.

• A Microsoft study reports generative AI usage may be diminishing critical thinking skills.

• A Florida data broker reveals it accessed sensitive data on U.S. military personnel.

[RSnake: Especially if you don’t check the output and verify that it’s accurate.]

Source: https://www.404media.co/podcast-ai-is-breaking-our-brains/

Ford CEO Jim Farley warns that impending 25% tariffs on U.S. imports from Mexico and Canada, as well as on steel and aluminum, could severely harm the U.S. auto industry. He expresses concern that these tariffs may benefit foreign car manufacturers, leading to significant job risks in the domestic market.

• 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada could devastate the U.S. auto industry.

• Foreign car manufacturers may gain a competitive advantage due to these tariffs.

[RSnake: It could - I think economics professors years in the future will be studying the effects.]

Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/41206-tariffs-would-blow-a-hole-in-us-auto-industry-says-ford-ceo

Countries are enacting stricter tariffs and regulations on low-value imports, primarily affecting China's e-commerce industry, which has seen a rise in duty-free shipments. These measures could lead to increased tariffs on a range of products, impacting global trade dynamics. Major e-commerce platforms are adjusting to these changes as governments cite concerns over illicit goods entering through these channels.

• China's e-commerce sector has benefited from minimal tariffs and inspections, driving growth in low-cost goods exports.

• Countries like the US, South Africa, and Thailand are implementing stricter import rules, which could significantly impact global shipping and retail.

[RSnake: Hope you got your low-quality Chinesium products already. That said, I think the focus on consumer spending has never been a good habit for the average American who can barely afford rent.]

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/chinas-export-hubs-stare-at-beginning-of-the-end-of-de-minimis/articleshow/118292017.cms

Iran’s oil sales to China have dropped sharply due to increased sanctions from the Biden administration, leading to a significant decline in export revenues. The cost of transporting Iranian oil has increased as a result of the sanctions, making it difficult for Iran to find non-sanctioned tankers to transport its oil to Chinese ports. This has resulted in a sharp decline in Iran's oil revenue, with some estimates suggesting that it has plummeted by over 50%.

• Iran’s oil deliveries to China fell below 850,000 barrels per day in January, compared to over 1.8 million barrels per day in October last year.

• Iran’s oil export revenue has plunged from $3.83 billion in the first half of the fiscal year (March-September), to just $1.75 billion over the past four months.

[RSnake: There are around 500 ships in the Iranian oil and gas fleet, of which only a little over half are being sanctioned.]

Source: https://www.iranintl.com/en/202502150560

Quinn, an audio erotica platform, has gained significant traction, appealing primarily to female listeners with creator-driven, romantic audio stories. The company has successfully raised $10 million in funding and is generating over $12 million annually, driven by increasing demand for romance content during the pandemic and the growth of self-publishing. The app features a variety of content from creator-driven narratives to celebrity-voiced originals, contributing to its 440% year-over-year revenue growth.

• Quinn focuses on female-centric audio erotica and has rapidly grown its audience.

• The company has successfully raised significant venture capital and generates substantial revenue.

[RSnake: I will be checking my wife’s phone for this nonsense post haste. 😆 ]

Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91279497/quinn-audio-erotica-r

There is a surge of protests occurring at Tesla showrooms globally, initiated by citizens aiming to connect negative perceptions of CEO Elon Musk’s activities with the company's stock performance. The protests come amid declining Tesla sales and increasing competition in the electric vehicle market, with discontent stemming from Musk's influence on company policies and public sentiment against him.

• Protests at Tesla showrooms are being organized in response to CEO Elon Musk's controversial actions.

• Tesla sales have been declining due to competition and negative public perception linked to Musk's politics.

[RSnake: Funny - these cars used to be the left’s ideal car. Electric vehicles that weren’t overpriced and still sporty. So much for the environment, I guess?]

Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91279578/tesla-showrooms-are-being-hit-by-a-wave-of-anti-doge-protests

Cocoa stockpiles in Western markets have reached record lows, leading to significant price increases for consumers as Valentine's Day approaches. Supply issues have been attributed to adverse weather conditions in West Africa and high global demand, causing prices to triple since the beginning of 2023.

• Cocoa inventories in London have dropped from 100,000 tons to 21,000 tons within a year.

• Hershey is seeking approval to buy large quantities of cocoa to manage rising costs.

[RSnake: Maybe buy a few extra bars for that someone special in your life. 💘 ]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/were-very-tight-western-cocoa-stockpiles-record-low-valentines-day-arrives