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OpenAI Says Its Own AI Model Broke Loose and Hacked Hugging Face in ‘Unprecedented’ Cyber Incident

OpenAI said two of its AI models breached AI platform Hugging Face after escaping a restricted testing environment during a cybersecurity evaluation.

The models, including GPT-5.6 Sol and an unreleased system, allegedly bypassed safeguards, accessed the internet, and used stolen credentials and zero-day vulnerabilities to gain entry to Hugging Face servers. It remains unclear whether OpenAI could face legal consequences, though experts said the incident may raise concerns under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. (Read More)

How the World's Smallest Country Is Shaping the AI Debate

Vatican City, the world's smallest country, is making a bid to guide the AI debate. In his first encyclical, Pope Leo XIV frames artificial intelligence as a tool that takes on the aims of whoever builds it, neither savior nor threat.

The push builds on a decade of Vatican outreach to Silicon Valley, including its Rome Call for AI Ethics. Its leverage is less about doctrine than reach, with 1.4 billion Catholics who carry the church's thinking into policy. (Read More)

Ukrainian F-16 Downs Russian Su-35 in First Air-to-Air Kill

A Ukrainian F-16 shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter in a dogfight, marking the first air-to-air kill by the U.S.-made jets in Ukrainian service, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said during a Senate hearing.

Caine did not provide details, but analysts said the engagement likely refers to the July 8 downing of a Russian Su-35S on the eastern front, a loss reported by the Ukrainian Air Force and also acknowledged by Russian military bloggers. (Read More)

Modern missions demand more than standalone solutions. They require seamless integration across systems, teams, domains, and decision points. Parsons helps national security customers connect advanced technologies with mission needs, delivering integrated capabilities that are ready when and where they matter most.

From digital engineering and cyber resilience to command-and-control systems, critical infrastructure protection, and operational technology, our teams bring together the tools, expertise, and mission understanding needed to accelerate outcomes in complex environments. We work alongside our customers to solve today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow’s threats.

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CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ The Trump administration is weighing military strikes in Mali against JNIM, the al-Qaeda affiliate that has grown into the Sahel's most powerful militant group. Officials reportedly remain divided over a plan that could pit U.S. forces against the Russian troops already fighting there. (Read More)

➤ Bulgaria approved a U.S. request to base refueling tankers on its territory for operations against Iran despite warnings from Tehran that the move could make Sofia complicit in what it called “aggression and war crimes.” (Read More)

➤ Iran claimed it destroyed Amazon’s main data center in Bahrain with cruise missiles in retaliation for U.S. strikes. Bahrain said air raid sirens were activated Tuesday and that its forces intercepted a wave of Iranian attacks, though officials have not disclosed whether any material damage occurred. Amazon has not yet confirmed any damage to its facilities. (Read More)

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ California residents will soon be able to remove their personal data from hundreds of data brokers with a single request. Starting Aug. 1, the state’s DROP (Delete Request and Opt-out Platform) tool will require more than 600 registered brokers to delete users’ information within 45 days. (Read More)

➤ Anthropic has received final approval for a $1.5 billion settlement with authors and publishers over claims that it used copyrighted books without permission to train its AI models. The payout will cover roughly 500,000 works, with eligible authors expected to receive about $3,000 per work. (Read More)

➤ French model recruiter Daniel Siad, who was linked to Jeffrey Epstein, was found dead at his home in Colombes, France. The 69-year-old had been under investigation over allegations that he helped Epstein recruit women. His lawyer said Siad died of a suspected heart attack, while an autopsy was ordered to determine the official cause of death. (Read More)

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ Russia has added a $2 compass to its low-cost Molniya attack drones to help them navigate when satellite signals are disrupted by electronic warfare. Ukrainian defense advisor Serhii Beskrestnov said the drones use an onboard camera that periodically looks down at the compass to maintain their course. (Read More)

➤ The U.S. Air Force wants a passive system to spot drones over RAF Mildenhall, one that detects small aircraft without emitting radar or radio signals. A solicitation seeks four networked acoustic sensors, naming Squarehead's Discovair as the preferred option. Bids are due August 4. (Read More)

➤ The Pentagon’s $1.1 billion “Drone Dominance” contest drew 49 firms, mostly small, privately held drone startups, with 19 advancing after tests of performance, usability and production capacity. Further testing is scheduled to begin in August. (Read More)

Achieving mission advantage requires secure, connected, and data-driven capabilities designed for speed, resilience, and scale. Parsons delivers solutions that help customers strengthen readiness, defend critical systems, accelerate decision-making, and operate with confidence across complex environments.

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SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ Saudi Arabia would be allowed to enrich uranium under a 30-year nuclear deal with the U.S. that could involve American companies. The agreement has drawn controversy as Washington seeks to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

➤ Michigan police warned drivers about a fuel pump tampering scheme after finding a modified pump designed to bypass safety systems and potentially charge the next customer’s fuel purchase to a previous transaction. Authorities urged drivers to check pumps for signs of tampering and report suspicious equipment.

➤ A new study found that monkeys can recognize geometric patterns at levels comparable to young children before formal math education. Tests on rhesus macaques, olive baboons, preschoolers, and adults showed that basic geometric intuition is shared across primates, while formal education helps humans develop more advanced symbolic understanding of shapes.

On this day in history: On July 23, 1914, Austria-Hungary handed Serbia a list of harsh demands over the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The deliberately unacceptable ultimatum escalated the July Crisis past the point of no return, and within weeks the great powers of Europe were at war.

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

Would you want the government to be able to shut down a company's AI with an emergency ‘Kill Switch’?

Yes

Unsure

Yesterday’s Results:

Is Google's plan to release lab-bred mosquitoes to wipe out disease a good idea?

No: (42.6%)
Yes: (35.8%)
Unsure: (21.6%)

n=798

Have your own question that you would like polled? Email us at editor@sofx.com.

Speed matters when national security priorities are on the line. Parsons brings together advanced technology, digital solutions, and mission expertise to accelerate data-driven decisions that help customers move faster from challenge to capability and from concept to deployment.

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About SOFX: We are an independent media and communications technology company reporting on the conflicts, security, and technology issues impacting your lives and businesses. SOFX was founded by former special operations & intelligence professionals, not career journalists or Big Tech / Big Media.

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OpenAI Admits Rogue Model Attacked Another Company

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

OpenAI Says Its Own AI Model Broke Loose and Hacked Hugging Face in ‘Unprecedented’ Cyber Incident

How the World's Smallest Country Is Shaping the AI Debate

Ukrainian F-16 Downs Russian Su-35 in First Air-to-Air Kill

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SPECIAL CATEGORY

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

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UKR Drones Airlifting Ground Robots into Battle

Jihadi Ambush kills 50 Russian Mercenaries and Malian Soldiers

AI Hacks Hugging Face, Is Detected, Launches Re-attack with self generated AI.