Quote:Software company Accrete AI just showcased its powerful new Argus dual-use anomaly detection AI agent this week, which the Department of Defense (DoD) is already putting to use in helping it map illicit activity around the globe.

The public unveiling of the anomaly detection AI occurred recently at SOF Week 2023, an annual conference held jointly by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and industry leaders in Tampa, Florida.

At this year’s event, Accrete AI announced that its powerful AI will allow the U.S. military and Special Operations communities to go beyond human intelligence gathering capabilities and “gain the information advantage.”

“Argus is a highly configurable dual-use anomaly detection analytical AI Agent,” reads a statement on the company’s website, “that continuously analyzes the open-source web, in multiple languages, to predict anomalous and nefarious behavior hidden in plain sight.”

Capable of assessing and understanding large volumes of data available online, the learning capabilities of Argus allow it to search “everything from news and social media to company filings and microprocessor manuals,” allowing it to “predict supply chain influence, software vulnerabilities, logistics resilience, viral mis/disinformation, insider threats,” and other potential challenges to U.S. national security.

Prashant Bhuyan, founder and CEO of Accrete AI, said in a statement that his company is “thrilled to have successfully deployed Argus into production with the DoD.”

“We’re committed to advancing Argus’ capabilities to bolster national security,” Bhuyan added, “and empower our country to win in a new era of threats such as misinformation, deep fakes, and viral influence.”

Previously, Accrete AI had identified itself as a commercial partner of the DoD, as well as the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the U.S. Air Force on its website.

In its 2021 annual report, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) reported that it had partnered with an unnamed “leading AI firm” specializing in the use of natural language processing “to develop a custom threat detection platform that automates the collection and processing of more than 30 million pieces of open-source information to identify attempts by U.S. adversaries to infiltrate critical national security supply chains.”

The 2021 report stated that the capabilities enabled by the DIU’s integration of AI “has enabled DoD to identify, track, and map illicit activities at a speed and scale that is three times faster than what human analysts could perform,” while ensuring levels of accuracy consistent with past efforts carried out by DoD personnel.

“Armed with this new capability, DoD has already searched and analyzed millions of records and identified dozens of Chinese technology investment firms with illicit operations across the globe,” the report said, in addition to obtaining critical information on exposing the networks and methods utilized by those firms.

The Pentagon also said that several of these Chinese firms had “sought partnerships with U.S. companies while obscuring their real identities to escape U.S. sanctions and restrictions.”

The company’s presentation of Argus this week followed a recent announcement by the DoD that it had awarded $10 million for the establishment of a new institute that will promote “unified research in artificial natural intelligence” co-funded with the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Part of the new institute’s mission will involve the pursuit of “designs of more capable and trustworthy AI,” along with a more complete understanding of the human brain.

In recent days, many leaders in science and technology industries have warned about possible unforeseen consequences that could emerge from the misuse of AI or resulting from unpredictable outcomes that may emerge due to presently unforeseen intentions and motivations that a future autonomous AI system could possess.

Quote:Argus Reveals Global Trade Network with Significant Potential Spying Capability

As automation becomes increasingly prevalent to streamline global trade, Chinese companies have emerged as major players in the production and distribution of such technology. Some of these companies have come under scrutiny due to concerns that they could use their technology to gather sensitive information that could impact U.S. military operations.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the Pentagon had determined that Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC), a Chinese company that produces cranes used in commercial and military ports worldwide, and its relationship with Microsoft poses a cause for concern. The article cited that “some national-security and Pentagon officials have compared ship-to-shore cranes made by the China-based manufacturer, ZPMC, to a Trojan horse.”  This identified risk is due to ZPMC’s sophisticated sensors, which could be utilized to track and monitor shipping information and other kinds of data tied to  U.S. military operations. In addition, the article identified concerns that ZPMC’s technology could provide China with the ability to control and disrupt global shipping.

The problem could go much deeper than Microsoft or the United States. Using Argus, we were able to identify relationships of ZPMC with Swiss, Norwegian, and Finnish companies operating in Asia, Latin America, and other parts of the world.

ABB, a Swiss electrification and automation company, is an excellent example of how commercial partnerships can disseminate ZPMC’s technology globally. As recently as 2018, ABB integrated its remote supervision solutions and systems with ZPMC, providing its automated systems to ZPMC for cranes in South Korea and Colombia. Another example is Kongsberg Gruppen, a Norwegian defense contractor whose customers include the U.S. military. 

Kongsberg Gruppen was awarded a contract in 2014 to supply and integrate all telecom and control systems for a vessel built at ZPMC’s shipyard.

Argus also revealed that the Finnish company Cargotec partnered with ZPMC in 2019 to provide software and systems integration services for an intelligent container terminal project, with the potential to expand throughout India, Latin America, and elsewhere. Cargotec’s partnerships with Chinese companies also include a joint venture with the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). CSSC has been identified as a Chinese military company by the U.S. Department of Defense and other ZPMC partners, including the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).

There is a vast network of Chinese entities operating in strategic ports, many benefiting from partnerships with western companies. China Unicom, for example, partnered with Ericsson and ZPMC to integrate 5G technology into smart harbor solutions. The Qingdao-based project utilizes data from over 30 high-definition cameras.

Each of these partnerships - visualized in the knowledge graph in Argus - offer a glimpse into a network that has allowed Chinese companies such as ZPMC to develop automated cranes that are now at the center of global trade. It is plausible that these could allow Chinese companies to gather strategic information about other companies and foreign states. The irony is that many layers of ZPMC’s technology come from the states concerned about it.

By leveraging public documents through advanced AI tools like Argus, risk analysts and open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts can better understand the network of relationships between entities, enabling them to identify potential security risks and take proactive steps to mitigate them.

(05-11-2023, 03:27 AM)EndtheMadnessNow Wrote: Scanning for the "One" and sounds a little like Skynet.

Quote:Software company Accrete AI just showcased its powerful new Argus dual-use anomaly detection AI agent this week, which the Department of Defense (DoD) is already putting to use in helping it map illicit activity around the globe.

The public unveiling of the anomaly detection AI occurred recently at SOF Week 2023, an annual conference held jointly by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and industry leaders in Tampa, Florida.

At this year’s event, Accrete AI announced that its powerful AI will allow the U.S. military and Special Operations communities to go beyond human intelligence gathering capabilities and “gain the information advantage.”

“Argus is a highly configurable dual-use anomaly detection analytical AI Agent,” reads a statement on the company’s website, “that continuously analyzes the open-source web, in multiple languages, to predict anomalous and nefarious behavior hidden in plain sight.”

Capable of assessing and understanding large volumes of data available online, the learning capabilities of Argus allow it to search “everything from news and social media to company filings and microprocessor manuals,” allowing it to “predict supply chain influence, software vulnerabilities, logistics resilience, viral mis/disinformation, insider threats,” and other potential challenges to U.S. national security.

Prashant Bhuyan, founder and CEO of Accrete AI, said in a statement that his company is “thrilled to have successfully deployed Argus into production with the DoD.”

“We’re committed to advancing Argus’ capabilities to bolster national security,” Bhuyan added, “and empower our country to win in a new era of threats such as misinformation, deep fakes, and viral influence.”

Previously, Accrete AI had identified itself as a commercial partner of the DoD, as well as the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the U.S. Air Force on its website.

In its 2021 annual report, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) reported that it had partnered with an unnamed “leading AI firm” specializing in the use of natural language processing “to develop a custom threat detection platform that automates the collection and processing of more than 30 million pieces of open-source information to identify attempts by U.S. adversaries to infiltrate critical national security supply chains.”

The 2021 report stated that the capabilities enabled by the DIU’s integration of AI “has enabled DoD to identify, track, and map illicit activities at a speed and scale that is three times faster than what human analysts could perform,” while ensuring levels of accuracy consistent with past efforts carried out by DoD personnel.

“Armed with this new capability, DoD has already searched and analyzed millions of records and identified dozens of Chinese technology investment firms with illicit operations across the globe,” the report said, in addition to obtaining critical information on exposing the networks and methods utilized by those firms.

The Pentagon also said that several of these Chinese firms had “sought partnerships with U.S. companies while obscuring their real identities to escape U.S. sanctions and restrictions.”

The company’s presentation of Argus this week followed a recent announcement by the DoD that it had awarded $10 million for the establishment of a new institute that will promote “unified research in artificial natural intelligence” co-funded with the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Part of the new institute’s mission will involve the pursuit of “designs of more capable and trustworthy AI,” along with a more complete understanding of the human brain.

In recent days, many leaders in science and technology industries have warned about possible unforeseen consequences that could emerge from the misuse of AI or resulting from unpredictable outcomes that may emerge due to presently unforeseen intentions and motivations that a future autonomous AI system could possess.

Pentagon’s New Anomaly Detection AI Software Unveiled at U.S. Spec Ops Event

Quote:Argus Reveals Global Trade Network with Significant Potential Spying Capability

As automation becomes increasingly prevalent to streamline global trade, Chinese companies have emerged as major players in the production and distribution of such technology. Some of these companies have come under scrutiny due to concerns that they could use their technology to gather sensitive information that could impact U.S. military operations.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the Pentagon had determined that Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC), a Chinese company that produces cranes used in commercial and military ports worldwide, and its relationship with Microsoft poses a cause for concern. The article cited that “some national-security and Pentagon officials have compared ship-to-shore cranes made by the China-based manufacturer, ZPMC, to a Trojan horse.”  This identified risk is due to ZPMC’s sophisticated sensors, which could be utilized to track and monitor shipping information and other kinds of data tied to  U.S. military operations. In addition, the article identified concerns that ZPMC’s technology could provide China with the ability to control and disrupt global shipping.

The problem could go much deeper than Microsoft or the United States. Using Argus, we were able to identify relationships of ZPMC with Swiss, Norwegian, and Finnish companies operating in Asia, Latin America, and other parts of the world.

ABB, a Swiss electrification and automation company, is an excellent example of how commercial partnerships can disseminate ZPMC’s technology globally. As recently as 2018, ABB integrated its remote supervision solutions and systems with ZPMC, providing its automated systems to ZPMC for cranes in South Korea and Colombia. Another example is Kongsberg Gruppen, a Norwegian defense contractor whose customers include the U.S. military. 

Kongsberg Gruppen was awarded a contract in 2014 to supply and integrate all telecom and control systems for a vessel built at ZPMC’s shipyard.

Argus also revealed that the Finnish company Cargotec partnered with ZPMC in 2019 to provide software and systems integration services for an intelligent container terminal project, with the potential to expand throughout India, Latin America, and elsewhere. Cargotec’s partnerships with Chinese companies also include a joint venture with the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). CSSC has been identified as a Chinese military company by the U.S. Department of Defense and other ZPMC partners, including the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).

There is a vast network of Chinese entities operating in strategic ports, many benefiting from partnerships with western companies. China Unicom, for example, partnered with Ericsson and ZPMC to integrate 5G technology into smart harbor solutions. The Qingdao-based project utilizes data from over 30 high-definition cameras.

Each of these partnerships - visualized in the knowledge graph in Argus - offer a glimpse into a network that has allowed Chinese companies such as ZPMC to develop automated cranes that are now at the center of global trade. It is plausible that these could allow Chinese companies to gather strategic information about other companies and foreign states. The irony is that many layers of ZPMC’s technology come from the states concerned about it.

By leveraging public documents through advanced AI tools like Argus, risk analysts and open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts can better understand the network of relationships between entities, enabling them to identify potential security risks and take proactive steps to mitigate them.

I'd say it's lil more than "potential"



Anomaly Detection with MI & AI : An Introduction