Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
China Factory PMI Seen Returning to Growth in June as AI Export Demand Supports Economy 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Gold Price Falls as Fed Rate Hike Fears and U.S.-Iran Tensions Weigh on Bullion 
Canada Grants C$7 Million to Greenland Molybdenum Mine to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply 
Asian Currencies Stay Range-Bound as Investors Eye China Data, RBNZ Outlook and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
China Sets 1.25% Overnight Reverse Repo Rate Below Market Expectations 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Asian Stocks Slip as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Lift Oil, Dollar Strength Persists 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
US Stock Futures Rise as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Market Sentiment 
China’s PLA Researchers Tap Meta’s AI Model for Military Purposes
Top Chinese research institutions, including those linked to the People's Liberation Army (PLA), are reportedly adapting Meta’s Llama AI model for military applications, according to a June academic paper. Researchers from the PLA’s Academy of Military Science (AMS) and other Chinese institutions developed “ChatBIT,” an AI tool that harnesses Meta’s Llama 2 model to aid military decision-making, intelligence analysis, and operational planning.
Development of ChatBIT Using the Llama Model
ChatBIT was built on the Llama 2 13B model released by Meta in February 2023, with additional parameters focused on military applications. Optimized for dialogue and intelligence tasks, this tool reportedly outperformed several existing models, achieving about 90% of ChatGPT-4's performance. The researchers highlight ChatBIT’s potential use in intelligence, planning, and command strategies, though its exact capabilities and deployment remain unverified.
Meta’s Open-Source Policy Under Scrutiny
Meta allows open access to many of its AI models, though its usage policy restricts applications in warfare, espionage, and other sensitive areas. Meta’s public policy director, Molly Montgomery, reaffirmed that any military use by the PLA violates these terms, adding that the company actively enforces its acceptable use policy.
Security Implications of Open-Source AI in Military
China’s use of Llama for military purposes stirs security debates, especially as the U.S. implements measures to curb China’s access to advanced technologies. In 2023, the U.S. government proposed regulations to oversee AI and other tech investments in China, highlighting the complex balance between innovation and security.
