Smiley Sabotage: Emojis Are Becoming AI’s Weakest Link in Cybersecurity
In an era where AI drives key functions in healthcare, finance, and government, even everyday emojis can become a hidden threat. This article uncovers how covert commands embedded in these familiar icons bypass AI safety checks, creating unexpected cybersecurity risks.
In the fast-paced digital era of 2025, where artificial intelligence underpins critical applications across healthcare, finance, and government, even the most innocuous symbols have the potential to disrupt robust security systems. Emojis—the colorful icons we use to add personality and emotion to our conversations—are now in the crosshairs of cyber attackers. What started as an innocuous way to express laughter, or approval has evolved into a surprising vulnerability that researchers are calling an “invisible jailbreak” of AI systems.
This article explores how hidden commands within emojis can manipulate AI behavior, the technical underpinnings of the exploit, the real-world implications of such vulnerabilities, and the steps needed to mitigate this emerging threat.
OpenAI introduces mandatory ID verification for developers amid concerns of misuse, IP theft
OpenAI will soon require developers to submit to an ID verification process in order to access its most advanced AI models via API in the future.
Developers with ‘Verified Organisation’ status will be able to “unlock access to the most advanced models and capabilities on the OpenAI Platform,” the Microsoft-backed AI startup said on its support page that was reportedly updated last week.
As part of the verification process, developers would have to furnish a government-issued ID from one of the countries supported by OpenAI’s API. Each ID can only verify one organisation every 90 days and not all organisations will be eligible for verification, the company said.
IPL 2025 advertising sees growth with new categories and brands
TAM has released another sports’ IPL 2025 advertising report, which analysed the first 22 matches, indicating significant indexed growth in advertising activity compared to the previous season, IPL 2024.
The report highlights the increasing diversity of advertisers leveraging the IPL’s massive reach. A notable 24 new advertising categories have emerged this season, alongside 84 new brands making their debut on the IPL advertising stage. This influx underscores the league’s enduring appeal as a prime platform for brands seeking high visibility.
Interestingly, the advertising landscape is also dynamic, with 23 categories that were present in IPL 2024 not returning this season. This shift reflects the evolving marketing strategies of companies and their responsiveness to changing consumer preferences.
Meta Tightens Teen Safety Rules On Instagram In India, Adds New Parental Controls
Meta has introduced new safety measures for teens on Instagram in India. Users under 16 will now require parental permission to livestream or disable a feature that blurs suspected nudity in direct messages. These changes aim to enhance protections for young users on the platform.
Additionally, Meta is extending these safeguards to Facebook and Messenger, introducing “Teen Accounts” with default private settings, restrictions on interactions, and parental controls. These updates are part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to address concerns about teen safety and mental health related to social media use.
The platform will also alert teens if someone tries to message them too often or behaves suspiciously. Strangers will not be able to send messages to teens unless they choose to receive message requests. Parents will get more tools to supervise how their teens are using Messenger, such as seeing usage patterns and adjusting settings to suit their needs.
New Aadhaar App With Face ID and QR Code
The Government of India launched a new Aadhaar app on 8th April 2025 to make Aadhaar more accessible and secure. This app comes with Face ID and QR code authentication to provide convenience to customers. Read on to know more about:
- Features of the new Aadhaar app
- How to download the new Aadhaar app?
- What is the Face ID and QR code verification in the new Aadhaar app?
What is New Aadhaar App?
On 8th April 2025, the Union Minister announced the launch of the beta version of the new Aadhaar app. This app is built in collaboration with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It contains various new features with enhanced security. Users can digitally verify and share their Aadhaar details while ensuring their privacy. Aadhaar verification will become as simple as making a UPI payment.
This will eliminate the need for users to carry their physical Aadhaar card or its photocopies. The digital innovation in the Aadhaar app will make Aadhaar verification easier, faster, and more secure.
Google Pays AI Techies To Do Nothing Amid Industry Talent War
In a striking move underscoring the intensity of the global AI talent war, Google is reportedly paying some of its top AI engineers in the UK to remain inactive for up to a year after they leave the company, according to a report by Business Insider. The tech giant is enforcing strict non-compete agreements that prevent these professionals from joining rival firms during this period — a strategy that has raised eyebrows across the industry.
The report cites four former employees of DeepMind, Google’s AI subsidiary, who say they were placed on what’s known as “extended garden leave.” Under this arrangement, the engineers stop working for Google but continue to receive their salaries — on the condition that they do not take up employment with any competing AI firm during the duration of their non-compete clause.
While non-compete agreements are common in the tech sector to protect proprietary knowledge, the extent of these restrictions at Google DeepMind appears unusual.
Instagram tests a feature that offers a monthly summary of account performance
Instagram is testing a monthly performance summary that provides insights into content performance. This new feature, reported by Social Media Today, delivers a snapshot of key metrics such as total views, top posts, and engagement trends directly through notifications.
Social Media Today shared a sample of the notification from a Threads post. Instagram already shows performance metrics in the app’s existing Insights tab. This new update is another way to give creators and marketers content insights. Brands will now get a monthly roundup pushed to them automatically, instead of having to find content data from the Insight tab. They could quickly access stats without going into the backend.
What the monthly recap includes and how it works
According to Social Media Today, the monthly summary covers various key performance indicators. These include the total number of views on your Reels and feed posts for the month, how those numbers compare to the previous month, and how much of that reach came from non-followers.
The “non-follower reach” metric could be important for brands and advertisers trying to expand beyond their existing audience. If a piece of content performs well with people who don’t already follow a brand, that could be a sign it’s hitting the algorithm right.
Instagram tests ‘lockable’ posts
Instagram is trialling a new feature that allows creators and brands to share content that can only be accessed by entering a secret code, adding a new layer of exclusivity and engagement to the platform.
The feature was spotted on the official Instagram Design profile, where posts displayed a lock icon and the prompt ‘Enter secret code’ in place of regular content. The posts remain hidden until a user inputs the correct code.
The test suggests Instagram is exploring new ways for creators and brands to engage specific segments of their audience, such as superfans, customers, or regional groups. Possible applications include offering exclusive content, limited-time discounts, or targeted updates linked to external customer data.
That’s it today.
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