text: NAVY AI ADOPTION INCREASES TO MEET 2025 GOAL: The U.S. Navy is using artificial intelligence (AI) for basic tasks, autonomous systems, and decision aids. The Navy’s Chief AI Officer, Brett Vaughan, stated that AI-related activities now exceed 1,000 in the Navy. The three categories of current use are the first step moving towards “AI that fuels some level of autonomy in an unmanned system,” according to Vaughan. To meet the AI readiness goal of 2025, Vaugh said AI adoption and integration need to include human interface competency in training, education, expertise, and software practices. The statement comes after budget challenges have limited the Navy’s adoption of unmanned platforms. The Navy’s Large Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (LDUUV) program, “Snakehead,” was cut after developing its first prototype this year. Budget constraints and priority spending may make it unrealistic to reach the 2025 timeline. – D.F. GEOPOLITICSPOLAND: NO PLANS TO RECOGNIZE RUSSIAN GAINS: Polish Ambassador to the United States Marek Magierowski said his country would not recognize Russian territorial gains in Ukraine. (AC: The Poles believe they are one of the next countries to draw the ire of Russia. Poland is likely to continue updating its military with U.S. weapons like the F-35 and M1 Abrams. – D.M.)AUSTRIA SAYS NO TO UKRAINE IN EU: Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said he doesn’t support Ukraine joining the European Union. He believes Ukraine and several Balkan states should be in a separate category for economic cooperation. (AC: This course change comes after Austria’s leadership spoke with Russia’s Putin last week. EU expansion requires unanimous support, which makes Austria’s position on Ukraine clear. – D.M.)NATIONAL SECURITYINFOSEC COMPANY MANDIANT WARNS OF EVOLVED CHINESE CYBER THREAT: In a report on Chinese cyber threats released this week by Mandiant corporation, its M-Trends report stated Chinese espionage groups have refocused their efforts into a more professionalized and sophisticated cyber threat. Analysts at Mandiant stated although Chinese hacking groups had consolidated from 244 separate threat actors to 36 over the past five years, they have retooled and pivoted their strategies to align with espionage operations against economic development and national defense targets. (AC: The refined focus on national-level priorities indicates a likely increase in attacks against intellectual property targets in the West. – M.M.)ECONOMICTRUCKING SLOWDOWN: The demand for spot market trucking jobs is slowing down. An indicator of economic health, the decrease in labor demand points to an overall falloff in demand for goods. Also contributing to the slowdown in trucking is the increase in operating costs. The average price of operating a truck has climbed from nearly $1.40 per mile to $2.20 since April of 2020. Compared to 2021, however, this year is $0.10 cheaper, declining consistently since January and accelerating its decline since the beginning of March. (AC: Unparalleled demand created by the recovery throughout 2021 resulted in long lead times and order backlogs. As a reaction, trucking companies sent trucks to their final destinations before filling them completely to deliver sooner. Now, diesel prices are driving trucking companies to completely fill those trucks before sending them, leading to a decrease in the number of truckers each company requires. Despite compounding factors, an overall decrease in the demand for trucking jobs means that the economy may be falling too. – T.W.)LOW INTENSITY CONFLICT INTSUMFar Left Activity Rollup & OutlookPACIFICSeattle, WashingtonSize: 12+Activity: PipSqueak Gallery, a far left promoting facility, held a Gunshot Wound Treatment Class at its location. PipSqueak gallery has previously held three other training classes for Gunshot Wound Treatment, which were all filled due to high demand. Further classes may be required if demand is still high.Location: 173 16th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122Time: 1500 PST; Sunday, 24 APR— END REPORT