I dismissed this initially, thinking that no one would think the metaverse was real. Then I thought of all the people who think Trump’s version of a stolen election is real…

https://thenextweb.com/news/uae-ai-minister-wants-murder-metaverse-real-crime

The UAE’s AI minister wants ‘murder’ in the metaverse to be a real crime

Omar Sultan Al Olama, the United Arab Emirates minister of artificial intelligence, yesterday told an audience at the World Economic forum in Davos that it’s his belief that people who commit “serious crimes” in the metaverse should be punished with real-world criminal consequences.

Per an article by CNBC’s Sam Shead, the minister views this as a necessary measure to protect people’s mental health:

If I send you a text on WhatsApp, it’s text right? It might terrorize you but to a certain degree it will not create the memories that you will have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) from it.

But if I come into the metaverse and it’s a realistic world that we’re talking about in the future and I actually murder you, and you see it … it actually takes you to a certain extreme where you need to enforce aggressively across the world because everyone agrees that certain things are unacceptable.

Unintended consequence, but something to keep in mind going forward!

https://www.cpomagazine.com/cyber-security/nsa-sanctions-on-russia-having-a-positive-effect-on-ransomware-attacks-attempts-down-due-to-difficulty-collecting-ransom-payments/

NSA: Sanctions on Russia Having a Positive Effect on Ransomware Attacks, Attempts Down Due to Difficulty Collecting Ransom Payments

An automated navy?

https://seapowermagazine.org/us-5th-fleet-commander-explains-role-of-unmanned-ai-in-middle-east/

US 5th Fleet Commander Explains Role of Unmanned, AI in Middle East

The commander for U.S. naval forces in the Middle East discussed the role of unmanned systems and artificial intelligence in naval operations at an international security conference in the United Kingdom, May 24, NAVCENT Public Affairs said May 25.

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, spoke to an audience of nearly 800 international defense and industry leaders during the Combined Naval Event at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre.

“We are on a path to build the world’s first international unmanned surface vessel fleet,” Cooper said. “Three weeks ago, we surpassed 10,000 total sailing hours for unmanned surface vessels throughout the region. Additionally, two vessels each exceeded 100 consecutive operating days at sea.”