#FactCheck - Digitally Altered Video of Olympic Medalist, Arshad Nadeem’s Independence Day Message

A report by MarketsandMarkets in 2024 showed that the global AI market size is estimated to grow from USD 214.6 billion in 2024 to USD 1,339.1 billion in 2030, at a CAGR of 35.7%. AI has become an enabler of productivity and innovation. A Forbes Advisor survey conducted in 2023 reported that 56% of businesses use AI to optimise their operations and drive efficiency. Further, 51% use AI for cybersecurity and fraud management, 47% employ AI-powered digital assistants to enhance productivity and 46% use AI to manage customer relationships.

AI has revolutionised business functions. According to a Forbes survey, 40% of businesses rely on AI for inventory management, 35% harness AI for content production and optimisation and 33% deploy AI-driven product recommendation systems for enhanced customer engagement.  This blog addresses the opportunities and challenges posed by integrating AI into operational efficiency.

Artificial Intelligence and its resultant Operational Efficiency

AI has exemplary optimisation or efficiency capabilities and is widely used to do repetitive tasks. These tasks include payroll processing, data entry, inventory management, patient registration, invoicing, claims processing, and others. AI use has been incorporated into such tasks as it can uncover complex patterns using NLP, machine learning, and deep learning beyond human capabilities. It has also shown promise in improving the decision-making process for businesses in time-critical, high-pressure situations. 

AI-driven efficiency is visible in industries such as the manufacturing industry for predictive maintenance, in the healthcare industry for streamlining diagnostics and in logistics for route optimisation. Some of the most common real-world examples of AI increasing operational efficiency are self-driving cars (Tesla), facial recognition (Apple Face ID), language translation (Google Translate), and medical diagnosis (IBM Watson Health)

Harnessing AI has advantages as it helps optimise the supply chain, extend product life cycles, and ultimately conserve resources and cut operational costs. 

Policy Implications for AI Deployment 

Some of the policy implications for development for AI deployment are as follows:

1. Develop clear and adaptable regulatory frameworks for the ongoing and future developments in AI. The frameworks need to ensure that innovation is not hindered while managing the potential risks. 
2. As AI systems rely on high-quality data that is accessible and interoperable to function effectively and without proper data governance, these systems may produce results that are biased, inaccurate and unreliable. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure data privacy as it is essential to maintain trust and prevent harm to individuals and organisations.
3. Policy developers need to focus on creating policies that upskill the workforce which complements AI development and therefore job displacement. 
4. To ensure cross-border applicability and efficiency of standardising AI policies, the policy-makers need to ensure that international cooperation is achieved when developing the policies.

Addressing Challenges and Risks 

Some of the main challenges that emerge with the development of AI are algorithmic bias, cybersecurity threats and the dependence on exclusive AI solutions or where the company retains exclusive control over the source codes. Some policy approaches that can be taken to mitigate these challenges are:

1. Having a robust accountability mechanism. 
2. Establishing identity and access management policies that have technical controls like authentication and authorisation mechanisms. 
3. Ensure that the learning data that AI systems use follows ethical considerations such as data privacy, fairness in decision-making, transparency, and the interpretability of AI models.

Conclusion 

AI can contribute and provide opportunities to drive operational efficiency in businesses. It can be an optimiser for productivity and costs and foster innovation for different industries. But this power of AI comes with its own considerations and therefore, it must be balanced with proactive policies that address the challenges that emerge such as the need for data governance, algorithmic bias and risks associated with cybersecurity. A solution to overcome these challenges is establishing an adaptable regulatory framework, fostering workforce upskilling and promoting international collaborations. As businesses integrate AI into core functions, it becomes necessary to leverage its potential while safeguarding fairness, transparency, and trust. AI is not just an efficiency tool, it has become a stimulant for organisations operating in a rapidly evolving digital world.

References

• https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/artificial-intelligence/ai-indian-businesses-long-term-gain-operational-efficiency-9717072/ 
• https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/artificial-intelligence-market-74851580.html
• https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2024/08/06/smart-automation-ais-impact-on-operational-efficiency/ 
• https://www.processexcellencenetwork.com/ai/articles/ai-operational-excellence 
• https://www.leewayhertz.com/ai-for-operational-efficiency/ 
• https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2024/11/04/bringing-ai-to-the-enterprise-challenges-and-considerations/  

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Introduction

“GPS Spoofing” though formerly was confined to conflict zones as a consequence, has lately become a growing hazard for pilots and aircraft operators across the world, and several countries have been facing such issues. This definition stems from the US Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics, which delivers specialized advice for government regulatory authorities. Global Positioning System (GPS) is considered an emergent part of aviation infrastructure as it supersedes traditional radio beams used to direct planes towards the landing. “GPS spoofing” occurs when a double-dealing radio signal overrides a legitimate GPS satellite alert where the receiver gets false location information. In the present times, this is the first time civilian passenger flights have faced such a significant danger, though GPS signal interference of this character has existed for over a decade. According to the Agency France-Presse (AFP), false GPS signals mislead onboard plane procedures and problematise the job of airline pilots that are surging around conflict areas. GPS spoofing may also be the outcome of military electronic warfare systems that have been deployed in zones combating regional tension. GPS spoofing can further lead to significant upheavals in commercial aviation, which include arrivals and departures of passengers apart from safety.

Spoofing might likewise involve one country’s military sending false GPS signals to an enemy plane or drone to impede its capability to operate, which has a collateral impact on airliners operating at a near distance. Collateral impairment in commercial aircraft can occur as confrontations escalate and militaries send faulty GPS signals to attempt to thwart drones and other aircraft. It could, therefore, lead to a global crisis, leading to the loss of civilian aircraft in an area already at a high-risk zone close to an operational battle area. Furthermore, GPS jamming is different from GPS Spoofing. While jamming is when the GPS signals are jammed or obstructed, spoofing is very distinct and way more threatening. 

Global Reporting

An International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assessment released in 2019 indicated that there were 65 spoofing incidents across the Middle East in the preceding two years, according to the C4ADS report. At the beginning of 2018, Euro control received more than 800 reports of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference in Europe. Also, GPS spoofing in Eastern Europe and the Middle East has resulted in up to 80nm divergence from the flight route and aircraft impacted have had to depend on radar vectors from Air Traffic Control (ATC). According to Forbes, flight data intelligence website OPSGROUP, constituted of 8,000 members including pilots and controllers, has been reporting spoofing incidents since September 2023. Similarly, over 20 airlines and corporate jets flying over Iran diverted from their planned path after they were directed off the pathway by misleading GPS signals transmitted from the ground, subjugating the navigation systems of the aircraft.  

In this context, vicious hackers, however at large, have lately realized how to override the critical Inertial Reference Systems (IRS) of an airplane, which is the essential element of technology and is known by the manufacturers as the “brains” of an aircraft. However, the current IRS is not prepared to counter this kind of attack. IRS uses accelerometers, gyroscopes and electronics to deliver accurate attitude, speed, and navigation data so that a plane can decide how it is moving through the airspace. GPS spoofing occurrences make the IRS ineffective, and in numerous cases, all navigation power is lost.

Red Flag from Agencies

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) correspondingly hosted a workshop on incidents where people have spoofed and obstructed satellite navigation systems and inferred that these direct a considerable challenge to security. IATA and EASA have further taken measures to communicate information about GPS tampering so that crew and pilots can make sure to determine when it is transpiring. The EASA had further pre-cautioned about an upsurge in reports of GPS spoofing and jamming happenings in the Baltic Sea area, around the Black Sea, and regions near Russia and Finland in 2022 and 2023. According to industry officials, empowering the latest technologies for civil aircraft can take several years, and while GPS spoofing incidents have been increasing, there is no time to dawdle. Experts have noted critical navigation failures on airplanes, as there have been several recent reports of alarming cyber attacks that have changed planes' in-flight GPS. As per experts, GPS spoofing could affect commercial airlines and cause further disarray. Due to this, there are possibilities that pilots can divert from the flight route, further flying into a no-fly zone or any unauthorized zone, putting them at risk.

According to OpsGroup, a global group of pilots and technicians first brought awareness and warning to the following issue when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a forewarning on the security of flight risk to civil aviation operations over the spate of attacks. In addition, as per the civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), a forewarning circular on spoofing threats to planes' GPS signals when flying over parts of the Middle East was issued. DGCA advisory further notes the aviation industry is scuffling with uncertainties considering the contemporary dangers and information of GNSS jamming and spoofing. 

Conclusion

As the aviation industry continues to grapple with GPS spoofing problems, it is entirely unprepared to combat this, although the industry should consider discovering attainable technologies to prevent them. As International conflicts become convoluted, technological solutions are unrestricted and can be pricey, intricate and not always efficacious depending on what sort of spoofing is used.

As GPS interference attacks become more complex, specialized resolutions should be invariably contemporized. Improving education and training (to increase awareness among pilots, air traffic controllers and other aviation experts), receiver technology (Creating and enforcing more state-of-the-art GPS receiver technology), ameliorating monitoring and reporting (Installing robust monitoring systems), cooperation (collaboration among stakeholders like government bodies, aviation organisations etc.), data/information sharing, regulatory measures (regulations and guidelines by regulatory and government bodies) can help in averting GPS spoofing.

References

• https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/false-gps-signal-surge-makes-life-hard-for-pilots/articleshow/108363076.cms?from=mdr
• https://nypost.com/2023/11/20/lifestyle/hackers-are-taking-over-planes-gps-experts-are-lost-on-how-to-fix-it/
• https://www.timesnownews.com/india/planes-losing-gps-signal-over-middle-east-dgca-flags-spoofing-threat-article-105475388
• https://www.firstpost.com/world/gps-spoofing-deceptive-gps-lead-over-20-planes-astray-in-iran-13190902.html
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2024/01/31/gps-spoofing-is-now-affecting-airplanes-in-parts-of-europe/?sh=48fbe725c550
• https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2024/01/30/758635.htm
• https://airwaysmag.com/gps-spoofing-commercial-aviation/
• https://www.wsj.com/articles/aviation-industry-to-tackle-gps-security-concerns-c11a917f
• https://www.deccanherald.com/world/explained-what-is-gps-spoofing-that-has-misguided-around-20-planes-near-iran-iraq-border-and-how-dangerous-is-this-2708342

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Introduction

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The recent cyber-attack on Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), one of the world's best-known car makers, has revealed extensive weaknesses in the interlinked character of international supply chains. The incident highlights the increasing cybersecurity issues of industries going through digital transformation. With its production stopped in several UK factories, supply chain disruptions, and service delays to its customers worldwide, this cyber-attack shows how cyber events can ripple into operation, finance, and reputation risks for large businesses.

The Anatomy of a Breakdown

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Jaguar Land Rover, a Tata Motors subsidiary, was forced to disable its IT infrastructure because of a cyber-attack over the weekend. This shut down was already an emergency shut down to mitigate damage and the disruption to business was serious. 

• No Production - The car plants at Halewood (Merseyside) and Solihull (West Midlands) and the engine plant (Wolverhampton) were all completely shut down.
• Sales and Distribution: Car sales were significantly impaired during a high-volume registration period in September, although certain transactions still passed through manual procedures.
• Global Effect: The breakdown did not reach only the UK, dealers and fix experts across the world, including in Australia, suffered with inaccessible parts databases.

JLR called the recovery process "extremely complex" as it involved a controlled recovery of systems and implementing alternative workarounds for offline services. The overall effects include the immediate and massive impact to their suppliers and customers, and has raised larger questions regarding the sustainability of digital ecosystems in the automobile value chain.

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The Human Impact: Beyond JLR's Factories

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The implications of the cyber-attack have extended beyond the production lines of JLR:

• Independent Garages: Repair centres such as Nyewood Express of West Sussex indicated that they could not use vital parts databases, which brought repair activities to a standstill and left clients waiting indefinitely.
• Global Dealers: Land Rover experts as distant as Tasmania indicated total system crashes, highlighting global dependency on centralized IT systems.
• Customer Frustration: Regular customers in need of urgent repairs were stranded by the inability to order replacement parts from original manufacturers.

This attack is an example of the cascading effect of cyber disruptions among interconnected industries, a single point of failure paralyzing complete ecosystems.

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The Culprit: The Hacker Collective

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The hack is justifiably claimed by a so-called hacker collective "Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters." The so-called hacking collective says that it consists of young English-speaking hackers and has previously targeted blue-chip brands like Marks & Spencer. While the attackers seem not to have publicly declared whether they exfiltrated sensitive information or deployed ransomware, they went ahead and posted screenshots of internal JLR documents-the kind of documents that probably are not supposed to see the light of day, including troubleshooting guides and system logs-implicating what can only be described as grossly unauthorized access into some of Jaguar Land Rover's core IT systems.

Jaguar Land Rover had gone on record to claim with no apropos proof or evidence that it probably did not see anyone getting into customer data; however, the very occurrence of this attack raises some very serious questions on insider threats, social engineering concepts, and how efficient cybersecurity governance architectures really are.

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Cybersecurity Weaknesses and Lessons Learned

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The JLR attack depicts some of the common weaknesses associated with large-scale manufacturing organizations:

1. Centralized IT Dependencies: Today's auto firms are based on worldwide IT systems for operations, logistics, and customer care. Compromise can lead to broad outages.
2. Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Tier-2 and Tier-1 suppliers use OEM systems for placing and tracing components. Interrupting at the OEM level automatically stops their processes.
3. Inadequate Incident Visibility: Several suppliers complained about no clear information from JLR, which increased uncertainty and financial loss.
4. Rise of Youth Hacking Groups: Involvement of youth hacker groups highlight the necessity for active monitoring and community-level cybersecurity awareness initiatives.

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Broader Industry Context

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With ever-increasing cyber-attacks on the automotive industry, an area currently being rapidly digitalised through connected cars, IoT-based factories, and cloud-based operations, this series of incidents falls within such a context. In 2023, JLR awarded an £800 million contract to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for services in support of the company's digital transformation and cybersecurity enhancement. This attack shows that, no matter how much is spent, poorly conceptualised security programs can never stand up to ever-changing cyber threats.

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What Can Organizations Do? – Cyberpeace Recommendations

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To contain risks and develop a resilience against such events, organizations need to implement a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity:

1. Adopt Zero Trust Architecture - Presume breach as the new normal. Verify each user, device, and application before access is given, even inside the internal network.
2. Enhance Supply Chain Security - Perform targeted assessments on a routine basis to identify risk factors in diminishing suppliers. Include rigorous cybersecurity provisions in the agreements with suppliers, namely disclosure of vulnerabilities and the agreed period for incident response.
3. Durable Backups and Their Restoration - Backward hampers are kept isolated and encrypted to continue operations in case of ransomware incidents or any other occur in system compromise.
4. Periodic Red Team Exercises - Simulate cyber-attacks on IT and OT systems to examine if vulnerabilities exist and evaluate current incident response measures.
5. Employee Training and Insider Threat Monitoring - Social engineering being the forefront of attack vectors, continuous training and behavioural monitoring will have to be done to avoid credential disposal.
6. Public-Private Partnership - Interact with several government agencies and cybersecurity groups for sharing threat intelligence and enforcing best practices complementary to ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST Cybersecurity Framework.

Conclusion

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The hacking at Jaguar Land Rover is perhaps one of a thousand reminders that cybersecurity can no longer be seen as a back-office job but rather as an issue of business continuity at the very core of the organization. In the process of digital transformation, the attack surface grows, making the entities targeted by cybercriminals. Operation security demands that cybersecurity be ensured on a proactive basis through resilient supply chains and stakeholders working together. The JLR attack is not an isolated event; it is a warning for the entire automobile sector to maintain security at every level of digitalization.

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References

• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1jzl1lw4y1o
• https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/sep/07/disruption-to-jaguar-land-rover-after-cyber-attack-may-last-until-october
• https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/jaguar-factory-workers-told-stay-073458122.html

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