AI is reshaping the battlefield in Ukraine, with both sides deploying autonomous drones. Yaroslav Azhnyuk's company, The Fourth Law, produces the Lupynis-10-TFL-1, an AI-powered drone that navigates independently during the final 500 meters of flight. Dozens of Ukrainian military units now use this technology, and Russia has also begun deploying AI-enabled drones. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that AI could lead to decisions on the battlefield as soon as next year.
On the business front, most companies are not seeing financial returns from their AI investments. A Gartner report published Oct. 29, 2026 found that 97% of organizations see no savings from AI spending, with 38% already over budget. Only 21% of time saved by AI actually gets redirected into more innovative work, and surveyed leaders say workers need better training to produce quality results.
Cybersecurity teams are also feeling the strain. A Barracuda survey of 2,000 IT and security leaders found that 94% of organizations face cybersecurity skills gaps as AI reshapes security operations. Sixty-seven percent reported difficulty scaling teams, and 32% said their organizations can only react to threats rather than prevent them proactively. Sixty-one% of respondents said senior security professionals need skills in strategic security leadership and AI governance.
In education, Stanford's Center for Teaching and Learning held a share-out series where 23 instructors presented AI tools used in their classrooms. Professors demonstrated an AI chemistry tutoring tool developed by Shima Salehi and an AI Q&A moderation tool by Amit Kaushal. The series aims to build a community where educators discuss AI in teaching and learning.
Consumer adoption of AI in shopping remains low. According to an AlixPartners report, only 10 percent of consumers currently start product searches using AI. Higher-income shoppers show more interest in AI shopping tools than lower-income shoppers. The report predicts AI use will grow, especially for everyday and replacement items, but retailers need better product data for AI systems to find and describe their items accurately.
Concerns about AI bias and representation are growing. Kansas City tech leaders say AI trained mainly on white male voices can fail to understand many people, and women and other underrepresented groups have less access to AI training and mentorship. Meanwhile, the UK Home Office faces criticism from the Open Rights Group for using AI in asylum decisions, with the report warning that AI could miss important details in applications and harm the process.
In the academic and health sectors, mathematicians are debating whether AI is helping or harming their field. One expert said AI could expand the range of problems humans can tackle, but another warned that students feel pressure to produce results as impressive as AI outputs. The panel agreed that asking the right questions is now the scarcest skill in mathematics. Separately, experts on global health warn that AI should not be viewed as a simple fix for healthcare problems in low-resource settings, citing concerns about data colonialism where data from poorer countries is used without proper representation.
Key Takeaways
- Ukrainian defense firms The Fourth Law and Odd Systems produce AI-powered drones like the Lupynis-10-TFL-1 used by dozens of military units
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned AI could lead to battlefield decisions as soon as next year
- 97% of organizations see no savings return on AI spending, per a Gartner report published Oct. 29, 2026
- 38% of companies are over budget on AI and 85% plan to spend even more next year
- 94% of organizations face cybersecurity skills gaps as AI reshapes security teams, according to Barracuda
- Only 10 percent of consumers start product searches using AI, per an AlixPartners report
- Stanford's Center for Teaching and Learning had 23 instructors present AI classroom tools over two academic years
- UK Home Office faces criticism from Open Rights Group for using AI in asylum decisions
- Kansas City tech leaders warn AI trained mainly on white male voices can fail to understand many people
- Mathematicians agree that asking the right questions is now the scarcest skill in mathematics
AI drones shape the Ukraine war as both sides deploy autonomous technology
Yaroslav Azhnyuk runs Ukrainian defense firms The Fourth Law and Odd Systems, which produce AI-powered drones like the Lupynis-10-TFL-1. Dozens of Ukrainian military units use this autonomous drone, which uses AI to navigate during the last 500 meters of flight. Russia is also deploying AI-enabled drones against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that AI could lead to decisions on the battlefield as soon as next year.
AI drones shape the Ukraine war as both sides deploy autonomous technology
Yaroslav Azhnyuk, a 37-year-old computer scientist, turned from making pet cameras to building drones that can autonomously attack targets. His company The Fourth Law named its autonomous drone after Ukrainian poet Anatoliy Lupynis, who survived Soviet persecution. The Lupynis TFL-1 combines a small FPV drone with an onboard AI system for terminal guidance. Azhnyuk says AI gives Ukraine an asymmetric advantage against a stronger opponent, though he believes humans still decide how weapons are used.
Gartner finds most companies not saving money on AI investments
A Gartner report published Oct. 29, 2026 found that 97% of organizations see no savings return on their AI spending. Thirty-eight percent of companies are over budget on AI, and 85% plan to spend even more next year. Only 21% of time saved by AI actually got redirected into more innovative work. Surveyed leaders said workers need better training to produce quality AI-enabled output.
Stanford instructors explore AI tools to enhance student learning
Stanford's Center for Teaching and Learning held a share-out series where 23 instructors presented AI tools used in their classrooms over two academic years. Professors demonstrated an AI chemistry tutoring tool developed by Shima Salehi and an AI Q&A moderation tool by Amit Kaushal. The series aims to build a community where educators discuss AI in teaching and learning. CTL plans to continue these events to share ideas and feedback.
Barracuda study finds 94% of organizations face cybersecurity skills gaps
A Barracuda survey of 2,000 IT and security leaders found that 94% of organizations face cybersecurity skills gaps as AI reshapes security teams. Sixty-seven percent reported difficulty scaling teams to meet changing business needs. Thirty-two percent said their organizations can only react to threats rather than prevent them proactively. Sixty-one% of respondents said senior security professionals need skills in strategic security leadership and AI governance.
UK Home Office faces criticism for using AI in asylum decisions
The UK Home Office is using artificial intelligence in migration and asylum procedures. A new report by the Open Rights Group warns that AI could miss important details in asylum applications. The group says this could harm the asylum process. The report highlights serious risks and weaknesses in how AI is being used.
Most shoppers are not yet using AI to find products
Only 10 percent of consumers currently start product searches using AI, according to an AlixPartners report. Higher-income shoppers show more interest in AI shopping tools than lower-income shoppers. The report predicts AI use will grow, especially for everyday and replacement items. Retailers need better product data so AI systems can find and describe their items accurately.
Kansas City leaders warn AI built without diverse voices can cause harm
Kansas City tech leaders say AI trained mainly on white male voices can fail to understand many people. Women and other underrepresented groups have less access to AI training and mentorship. Panelists say diverse input is needed throughout the entire AI development process. The Kansas City AI Club held its first Women in AI Awards to support more inclusion in the field.
Mathematicians debate whether AI is helping or harming mathematics
Three mathematicians recently discussed whether AI is solving mathematics or weakening it. One expert said AI could expand the range of problems humans can tackle. Another warned that students feel pressure to produce results as impressive as AI outputs. The panel agreed that asking the right questions is now the scarcest skill in mathematics.
Measuring AI's real impact requires testing in everyday life
A China Daily opinion piece argues that AI's social effects must be studied through real-world experiments. The Collingridge dilemma shows it is hard to predict problems before a technology spreads widely. AI systems that adapt to users make effects even harder to forecast. China has already launched pilot programs and experimental bases to guide AI governance through social testing.
Can AI improve global health or make inequities worse
Governments and technology companies are turning to AI to address clinician shortages and expand access to care in low-resource settings. However, experts warn that AI should not be viewed as a simple fix for global health problems. A key concern is data colonialism, where data from low-resource countries is used without proper representation. Reporters are encouraged to ask who developed the AI tools and whether they were tested on the populations they aim to serve. India and China show that AI can improve health outcomes in resource-limited areas when implemented thoughtfully.
Sources
- How AI drones are influencing the course of the Ukraine war
- How AI drones are influencing the course of the Ukraine war
- Companies are not saving money with AI, Gartner finds
- Stanford instructors tap AI for deeper learning
- Barracuda Research Finds 94% of Organizations Face Cybersecurity Skills Gaps as AI Reshapes Security Teams
- UK Home Office is under scrutiny for using Artificial Intelligence in asylum cases
- Most consumers aren’t using AI for product discovery, yet
- KC tech leaders: AI developed without women, diverse voices could bring real-world harm
- Mathematicians argue whether AI solved math or just spoiled it
- Assessing the impact of artificial intelligence requires social experimentation
- Can AI save global health or will it deepen inequities?
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