Millions of websites are now blocking AI bots from accessing their content under a new system from internet infrastructure company Cloudflare. The firm, which powers a significant portion of the web, has introduced tools to identify and restrict crawlers used by AI companies to scrape data for training purposes. The update arrives amid growing concern that work is being used without consent or compensation. Cloudflare has said that its system may eventually enable sites to charge AI firms for access.
Image Credit: Cloudflare
True Spies
Fair Game?
What happens when politics exposes a spy?
Valerie Plame had spent nearly two decades in the shadows—recruiting assets, tracking nuclear threats, and running covert operations for the CIA. Her expertise in counterproliferation took her from case officer to the head of operations for the Iraq Joint Task Force. Then, in 2003, her cover was blown.
The leak didn’t come from a foreign adversary. It came from Washington.
When her husband publicly challenged the government’s justification for the Iraq War, Valerie’s name appeared in a newspaper column, outing her as an undercover CIA agent. The fallout was immediate. Her career ended. Her safety, as well as that of her family and contacts, was in jeopardy!
Join former CIA operations officer Valerie Plame in this week’s podcast selection, 'Fair Game?', to uncover the moment her spy life ended with the turn of a page.
New mission location activated. Come test your skills.
After you complete your debrief you will receive 10 short missions to play on the streets of Covent Garden — time to put what you've learned into action.
China just hosted a match between fully autonomous, AI-powered humanoid soccer players. Each child-sized robot was equipped with visual sensors and onboard decision-making capabilities. The game featured two teams of three robots, each using custom AI strategies developed by university researchers. Tsinghua University’s squad claimed the win, beating China Agricultural University 5–3.
The players, built by startup Booster Robotics, were distributed to four universities, which trained them on formations, passing, and tactics. A warm-up for China’s upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games in August, where robots will compete in gymnastics, track, and more!
Image Credit: Booster Robotics
Articles
Spy Glossary
What’s the difference between a mole and a dangle?
From brush passes to cut-outs, spy lingo has continuously operated in the shadows. The right turn of phrase can conceal an entire operation... or expose it. And if you’ve ever wondered why agents use words like ‘legend,’ ‘dead drop,’ or ‘black op,’ why not step into the shoes of a spy and find out! SPYSCAPE’s field guide to espionage terms unpacks the hidden meanings behind the cloak-and-dagger of spy terminology!
Leverage CIA and MI6 expertise to develop your team.
Looking for a smarter way to bring your team together?
Your team will uncover their hidden strengths through interactive challenges and authentic personal profiles that celebrate what each team-member has to offer.
How do squids transform from invisible to iridescent?
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have discovered how squids regulate the shimmer of their skin. The secret lies in specialized cells packed with spiraling columns of protein platelets—structures that reflect and filter light like tiny mirrors. The protein, called reflectin, helps squids switch between transparency and vivid color in a flash!
By adjusting the spacing and structure of these platelets, the animals can fine-tune how light bounces off their bodies. The result? Dynamic camouflage that works in both sunlight and deep-sea shadows. The team hopes the discovery could lead to human applications, from adaptive clothing to next-gen optical materials.
Try brain-teasing challenges at SPYSCAPE and pulse-racing fun in SPYGAMES.
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