Bulava, the Ukrainian drone that challenges Russian dominance
It is a medium-range attack drone and Ukraine’s direct response to the feared Russian Lancet, which in the first months of the invasion was used on a large scale and destroyed a significant amount of Ukrainian military equipment.
“Now it’s our turn”, the phrase is used by Ukrainian soldiers when they launch the new Bulava. The drones are built with the support of foreign partners and technology from Ukraine. Developed in secret and presented only at closed exhibitions, they have now reached the front line. They are financed by partners from a northern European country. Each of these kamikaze drones costs around 30 thousand dollars and is capable of hitting targets in Crimea.
This technological advance comes at a critical moment, with intense fighting in the direction of Pokrovsk. In response, Ukrainian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) units operate together with the Leleka, a modified reconnaissance drone that can now fly up to 100 kilometers beyond the demarcation line.
During one operation, Ukrainian soldiers used the Leleka to locate enemy equipment and launched the Bulava from a catapult. The initial target escaped, but a new one was quickly identified: a truck with supplies.
“It’s not bad, it’s important to cut off supplies to Russian troops, who face difficulties with food and water in the trenches.”
With the Bulava, Ukraine now has a weapon capable of reaching retreating positions, which forces the Russians to camouflage the weapons far from the combat line.
Drones are the new gateway for drugs to enter prisons
The use of drones to introduce drugs, weapons and other prohibited objects into British prisons is reaching alarming levels. An investigation by Sky News revealed unprecedented images that show how these devices are being used in an increasingly bold and organized way, with almost daily deliveries to prison establishments.
The use of drones to introduce drugs, weapons and other prohibited objects into British prisons is reaching alarming levels. An investigation by Sky News revealed unprecedented images that show how these devices are being used in an increasingly bold and organized way, with almost daily deliveries to prison establishments.
During a clear night in London, it is possible to see some drones flying over Wandsworth prison, where some of the most dangerous criminals in the United Kingdom are held. Anyone who lives near the prison is already familiar with the noise.
“It’s an intense buzzing sound, like a swarm of wasps.”
The drones, with suspended packages, are maneuvered with precision to deliver drugs and cell phones directly to inmates’ windows, who use brooms or improvised hooks to collect the items.
Despite the introduction of 400-metre restricted flying zones around prisons in England and Wales in January last year, criminals continue to adapt. Charlie Taylor, chief inspector of prisons, warned of basic security failures.
“We saw nets lying in courtyards, broken windows and inoperative surveillance cameras in high-security prisons.”
The threat is not limited to smuggling. Tom Wheatley, president of an association of guards, recalls that there are large agricultural drones capable of carrying up to 80 kilos, enough to lift a person.
“There is a real risk that a drone will be able to remove someone from prison.”
In July, counter-drone operations in Wandsworth and Manchester resulted in nine arrests. One of the seized drones was worth more than 6 thousand euros, had a flight range of 40 minutes and the capacity to transport four loads simultaneously.
British authorities have elevated the drone threat to a national priority, a status previously reserved for cases of child sexual exploitation and illegal crossings of the English Channel. But despite efforts, the numbers continue to be worrying. Last year, there were 1,712 drone incidents in British prisons, an increase of 43%. Since 2021, growth is 1,140%.
Artificial but aware of uncertainty, the new generation of Artificial Intelligence
A new generation of Artificial Intelligence, capable of indicating the degree of confidence in its responses, is being tested in demanding environments such as maritime navigation. The technology, known as “uncertainty-aware” AI, aims to make algorithms more reliable and accelerate their adoption in critical areas such as maritime security, energy and health.
Unlike traditional systems, which can generate fictitious responses when faced with incomplete or contradictory data, hallucinations, this AI presents its best assessment and signals when it is unsure. The goal is to allow human operators to better weigh decisions and seek additional information when necessary. Tim Dodwell is the founder of the company responsible for developing technology.
“As we embrace AI in transformative areas like energy, maritime security and healthcare, uncertainty becomes a crucial factor. I don’t see a future for AI without solving this question: Can we trust it? There are human lives at stake and someone has to take responsibility for what the algorithms do.”
“Uncertainty-aware” AI is being tested on high-performance yachts to plan faster, safer routes. It cannot yet be used in official competitions, but the Next Step Racing team believes that it has already managed to optimize the vessel’s performance. Joss Creswell is a co-skipper on the team and highlights the role of AI in analyzing large volumes of data:
“We receive a lot of information on the screen, about the wind, the state of the sea, the performance of the boat and the position of the opponents. Quantifying all of this and translating it into something we can understand and react to is very difficult. AI is extremely useful in this process.”
According to Joss Creswell, as in Formula 1, offshore racing depends on minimal margins, and the ability to extract an advantage through precise adjustments can be decisive. The technology is still in the testing phase, but experts believe it could revolutionize the way decisions are made in complex and high-risk environments.
How AI-generated videos are defying reality
Gone are the days when videos generated by artificial intelligence (AI) revealed obvious flaws, extra fingers, limbs in unlikely locations, robotic expressions. With the launch of tools like Sora 2, this reality has changed radically. Now, all it takes is a few simple commands, a voice recording and a facial scan to create hyper-realistic avatars capable of starring in videos that look authentic.
The quality of the videos has surprised and unsettled. Among the examples that circulated on social media are recreations of figures such as Stephen Hawking behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car, Martin Luther King Jr. as a DJ, or even the character SpongeBob SquarePants in unexpected contexts. The repercussion was immediate, with several organizations expressing concern.
According to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, despite efforts, it may not be possible to prevent all cases of intellectual property abuse. The issue of veracity and content manipulation is at the center of the debate.
“Sora 2 feels like an entry into a new world whose rules we still don’t fully understand. A world where it may become increasingly difficult to separate truth from fiction.”
Miloslav Lujka is a cybersecurity specialist and remembers that the technological leap is a huge challenge to regulation.
“Sora 2 is an absolute leap forward, I would say a decade. Before, you needed an extensive model to learn gestures. Now, anyone can create videos with a quality that is almost indistinguishable from reality.”
The democratization of AI is seen as a creative opportunity but also a risk. Lukáš Benzl, president of the Czech Artificial Intelligence Association, warns of the risks when personal data is shared.
“Each of us can become a creator, even without being creative. But we must think carefully before sharing our identity. Others can use it to create content on our behalf.”
The possibility of sharing avatars and disseminating videos to other social networks such as Facebook and Instagram worsens the problem of misinformation.
“When we have voice and image combined, we believe in what we see. And with Sora 2, we are practically in reality.”
Experts say the solution involves critical education and international regulation.
“If governments invest in explaining the power of these tools and teaching critical thinking from primary school onwards, it can prevent many mistakes.”
Lukáš Benzl adds that it is up to users to choose credible sources and pay for authentic content.
shows the different perspectives and cultural diversity in reports from more than 40 SIC partner television stations. Saturday, at 3:30 pm, on SIC Notícias.
