Technological advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have significantly increased lobbying activity in recent years, affecting a broad range of industries beyond just technology. Public Citizen's analysis of five years of House lobbying disclosure data (2019-2023) shows a sharp rise in AI-related lobbying, with more than 3,400 lobbyists engaging in AI issues in 2023 alone—an increase of 120% from the previous year. Lobbying efforts have not been limited to technology firms but have also involved industries such as financial services, healthcare, and defense. The White House was the most targeted entity, attracting more than 1,100 lobbyists in 2023, reflecting heightened interest following the Biden administration's executive order on AI. Although 85% of the lobbyists represented corporate interests, discussions also included various non-corporate stakeholders, illustrating extensive efforts to shape AI regulations across federal agencies.

Artificial Intelligence Lobbyists Descend on Washington DC Public Citizen

UCSF Health, in collaboration with the UCSF Division of Clinical Informatics and Digital Transformation, has received a $5 million donation from Ken and Kathy Hao to develop the Impact Monitoring Platform for AI in Clinical Care (IMPACC). This platform aims to continuously evaluate the efficacy and safety of AI tools used in clinical settings, ensuring they meet intended outcomes and addressing potential risks such as increased health disparities. Led by Julia Adler-Milstein and Dr. Sara Murray, the initiative will initially test IMPACC on current AI tools to provide real-time performance insights. This project addresses the critical need for ongoing AI monitoring protocols in healthcare, offering a scalable solution for assessing the real-world impact of these technologies.

UCSF to build novel continuous AI monitoring platform Healthcare IT News

Senators Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) have voiced serious concerns regarding the Pentagon's planned investment in upgrading Microsoft products, arguing that the Department of Defense should consider a multi-vendor approach to enhance competition, reduce costs, and improve cybersecurity outcomes. Their letter to Pentagon CIO John Sherman questions the reliance on Microsoft, especially in the wake of recent cyberattacks linked to nation-states. The plan, which involves upgrading to Microsoft's E5 license as part of a zero-trust strategy, is under scrutiny for possibly perpetuating a "failed strategy." The senators seek detailed responses from the Pentagon and readiness for upcoming legislative reviews.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has received unexpected mentorship from former Speaker John Boehner, a figure from a previous era of Republican leadership, to navigate the complexities of passing critical aid packages for Israel and Ukraine despite opposition from the party's far-right faction. This rare alliance highlights a bridge between current hard-right GOP members and the more traditional, pre-Trump Republican leadership.

Hunter Biden is set to begin trial on Monday for three felony gun charges, carrying a potential maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. This case, one of two trials Biden faces this year, is

Exclusive: Senators have "serious concern" with Pentagon's proposed Microsoft upgrade Axios

Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden has called on the Federal Trade Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate UnitedHealth Group's cybersecurity shortcomings, following a significant ransomware attack on Change Healthcare. The attack has been linked to UnitedHealth Group's hiring of Steven Martin as chief information security officer, a position he assumed without full-time cybersecurity experience. Wyden emphasized that UnitedHealth Group's CEO and board of directors should be accountable for this decision and the company's inadequate cyber defenses, as opposed to solely blaming Martin.

Fastly has identified vulnerabilities in three WordPress plugins that could expose nearly 6 million sites to unauthenticated cross-site scripting (XXS) attacks, enabling threat actors to inject malicious scripts.

Everbridge, a U.S. enterprise risk intelligence and crisis management software provider, confirmed a security breach of its corporate systems caused by an attack exploiting information from an earlier phishing campaign targeting its employees.

A cyberattack in October 2023 affected more than 600,000 internet routers across several Midwest states by distributing malicious firmware, leading to significant disruptions for an unnamed U.S. telecommunications firm.

Federal investigation into UnitedHealth urged after Change Healthcare attack SC Magazine