Quick Hits

*** The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved the Developing and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act, which would establish a task force to tackle policy issues around the Internet of Things. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), would also direct the Federal Communications Commission to develop a report on spectrum needs for anticipated IoT device growth in future years.

***The Navy launched its first prize challenge in which competitors develop technical solutions for cybersecurity using artificial intelligence and machine learning. The Artificial Intelligence Applications to Autonomous Cybersecurity Challenge prize challenge aims to solicit the best technology available from nontraditional defense vendors, teams, and individuals in developing endpoint security products that can detect and quash compromise indicators from various advanced malware strains using machine learning and AI models. The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command and Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence are sponsoring the challenge that launched July 8. Winners will get $100,000 and $50,000 for first and second place respectively.