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Florida International University researchers reveal how altered images can bypass AI safeguards

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MIAMI, June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — It may look like a picture of a panda bear to you, but to your business’s AI agent, it can act like a skeleton key, bypassing safety safeguards and potentially causing the model to generate harmful, misleading or policy-violating outputs.

That risk is the focus of new research from Hadi Amini, associate professor at Florida International University’s Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences. Together with graduate assistant Md Jueal Mia, he is studying how manipulated images can “jailbreak” certain AI systems, pushing them beyond their built-in safeguards.  

“AI models don’t see images the same way humans do,” Amini said. “They see patterns of numbers and pixels. By carefully manipulating those pixels, we can influence how the AI interprets the image and responds.” 

The team’s research demonstrated how small-language AI models – the kind frequently employed by small businesses to execute routine tasks like accounting or customer service – have become particularly susceptible to image-based hacks. As shown in research presented at the 2025 International Conference on Machine Learning and Applications (ICMLA), the team found that by introducing microscopic pixel-level changes called “perturbations” into an image, they could trick these AI systems into generating responses that they would normally block.  

“The manipulated image is like the face of a stranger,” Amini said. “The AI has to learn when a request should be treated with caution before it answers. In order to protect AI systems from attacks, we try to break them ourselves, identify potential vulnerabilities and design defense mechanisms.” 

The researchers then set out to probe the system’s defenses. The more successfully they penetrated the models’ guardrails, the more the systems could be trained to resist future threats. To do this, Amini and his team developed a method called JaiLIP (Jailbreaking with Loss-guided Image Perturbation), which uses an algorithm to determine the optimal degree of pixel-level manipulation.

In tests using BLIP-2, a multimodal AI model used by researchers and developers, Amini and his team found that images modified with JaiLIP significantly increased the likelihood that the system would generate harmful or unsafe responses. In one example, a JaiLIP-altered version of a stoplight tricked the AI model into divulging detailed instructions on how to run the light while avoiding a traffic ticket. Overall, the use of JaiLIP images nearly doubled the number of harmful responses generated by AI models. 

The risk extends beyond users simply prompting AI systems for instructions on illegal activity. As businesses increasingly adopt AI-powered customer service agents, chatbots and automated workflows, vulnerabilities in open-source or lightly protected systems could negatively impact users’ trust or create new avenues for cyberattacks.

“Small businesses and companies can benefit from AI to enhance their efficiency, but they have to be aware of the potential vulnerabilities,” Amini said. “They must make sure they’re deploying sufficient guardrails to maintain the safety and integrity of their AI tools.” 

Amini said there are some basic precautions that everyone should use before integrating AI into their business or workplace, including limiting the sensitive information they provide to AI systems (especially images), restricting who can access those systems and carefully evaluating the security measures built into AI tools before deployment.  

Because safety is paramount, Amini and his team are working to stay one step ahead of potential bad actors in the AI sphere. The more vulnerabilities he and his team can find, the quicker the AI will learn to repair them. The challenge, he said, is ensuring that AI can recognize threats hidden in plain sight — even when humans cannot. 

Photos and videos of Amini’s AI research, including interviews and b-roll, are available for media use via Dropbox. 

Media Contact:
Brian Zimmerman
305-348-8448
bzimmerm@fiu.edu 
news.fiu.edu
@FIU

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SOURCE Florida International University

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Medmovie’s Hx Heart Video Library Powers Patient Education at Cardiovascular Practices Worldwide

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41 minutes ago

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June 22, 2026

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Physician-validated, privately branded HD video helps heart patients understand their care.

BERKELEY, Calif., June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Medmovie, Inc., a leader in cardiovascular medical visualization, today highlighted the global reach of its Hx Heart Video Library (HVL), a hosted patient-education solution licensed to clinics and hospital systems for more than a decade.

The HVL turns the cardiovascular conditions, diagnostic tests, procedures, and medications heart patients encounter into concise, accurate HD videos — helping clinicians spend less time explaining and more time connecting with their patients.

The HVL is a curated collection of clinician-reviewed cardiovascular videos. Practices and hospitals can license, brand, and embed it directly on their websites.

Users to-date span multiple continents, including hospitals in Australia and Germany, a national trade association, and cardiology practices in the United States and around the world.

Every video is reviewed and validated by Medmovie’s MD editorial board. The Hx Heart library is brought to you by the same creative developers of the CardioSmart Heart Explorer App, which was created and produced by Medmovie and distributed by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) through 2024.

Cardiovascular specialists who rely on Medmovie’s visual content have seen its impact firsthand.

“Over the past year, my clinic’s website, www.sukruakyuz.com, has attracted more than 100,000 unique visitors per month, and my YouTube videos have generated nearly 7 million views,” said Dr. Sukru Akyuz, interventional cardiologist in Turkey. “This level of reach and engagement would not have been possible without Medmovie’s exceptional medical animations and support. Thanks to their contributions, I have achieved my goal of becoming one of Turkey’s most recognized interventional cardiologists.”

From the point of care to a clinic’s online presence, Medmovie’s trusted visual content helps patients see and understand their own care. The Hx Heart Video Library is available now to cardiovascular practices, hospitals, and health systems worldwide.

See the library in action at medmovie.com/cvl — the same branded player can be customized with a practice’s or hospital’s logo and embedded on its website in a matter of days. Watch a sample, the CAD video on the hidden risks of coronary artery disease, at https://youtube.com/shorts/0Tt-k8XkrTk

Healthcare organizations and practices interested in licensing the Hx Heart Video Library can contact Medmovie at medmovie.com/contact.

About Medmovie, Inc.

Medmovie translates complex medical and life science information into accurate, easy-to-understand, strategically focused visual media. Our clients leverage our experience, validated animations, and interactive media to create cost-effective, innovative tools to help tell their stories. We are a team of trained Medical Illustrators and Animators who love our work and are passionate about our simple goal: we want our clients’ stories to be fully understood.

Media Contact

Sarrah Hussain
Director of Communications
Medmovie, Inc.
sarrah@medmovie.com

© 2026 Medmovie, Inc. All rights reserved. Medmovie is a registered trademark of Medmovie, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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SOURCE Medmovie, Inc.

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Kevin Wheeler to Retire as Executive Chairman; President and CEO Stephen Shafer Named Chairman

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41 minutes ago

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June 22, 2026

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MILWAUKEE, June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS), a global leader in water technology, announced today that Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire effective July 1. The company’s board of directors has elected Stephen Shafer, president and chief executive officer (CEO), as chairman upon Wheeler’s retirement. Wheeler will remain a member of the company’s board of directors.

“Kevin’s impact on A. O. Smith spans three decades,” said Chris Mapes, lead director of the board. “During his tenure, the company expanded its global footprint, strengthened its portfolio through multiple acquisitions and successfully navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining strong operational performance.”

Wheeler joined A. O. Smith in 1994 as a regional sales manager for the former Water Products Company and held various senior leadership roles across the business before becoming president and CEO in 2018 and chairman in 2020.

Shafer, who has served as president and CEO since July 2025, becomes the 11th CEO to assume the role of chairman in the company’s history. He joined A. O. Smith in 2024 as president and chief operating officer. As chairman, Shafer will lead the board of directors and continue to oversee the company’s global operations, strategic direction, profitability and shareholder return.

“Steve has demonstrated strong, strategic leadership and a deep understanding of our business and growth opportunities,” said Mapes. “His combined role as chairman and CEO will further strengthen alignment across our strategy, operations and long-term value creation.”

Before joining A. O. Smith, Shafer held roles of increasing responsibility at 3M Company across multiple business units in the U.S. and China. Earlier in his career, he worked at McKinsey & Co. and Ford Motor Company. Shafer serves on the boards of the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, as well as the Executive Advisory Board for WorkBoard Inc.

“As chairman, I will continue leading this outstanding company and team with focus and discipline,” said Shafer. “We remain committed to driving innovation, serving our customers and advancing our purpose to find a better way. I would also like to thank Kevin for his leadership and continued support through this transition and look forward to benefiting from his continued guidance as a member of our board going forward.”

About A. O. Smith

A. O. Smith Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AOS), the company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment and water management products. For more information, visit www.aosmith.com.

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SOURCE A. O. Smith Corporation

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Technology

S&P Global Declares Third Quarter Dividend

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2 hours ago

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June 22, 2026

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NEW YORK, June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Board of Directors of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) has approved a cash dividend on the Company’s common stock for the third quarter of 2026. The dividend of $0.97 is payable on September 10, 2026, to shareholders of record on August 26, 2026. The annualized dividend rate is $3.88 per share.

The Company has paid a dividend each year since 1937 and is one of fewer than 30 companies in the S&P 500® that has increased its dividend annually for more than 50 years.

About S&P Global:

S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) enables businesses, governments, and individuals with trusted data, expertise and technology to make decisions with conviction. We are Advancing Essential Intelligence through world-leading benchmarks, data, and insights that customers need in order to plan confidently, act decisively, and thrive economically in a rapidly changing global landscape. 

From helping our customers assess new investments across the capital and commodities markets to guiding them through the energy expansion, acceleration of artificial intelligence, and evolution of public and private markets, we enable the world’s leading organizations to unlock opportunities, solve challenges, and plan for tomorrow – today.

Contacts:

Investor Relations:
Mark Grant
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer
Tel:  + 1 347 640 1521

Media:
April Kabahar
Global Head of Corporate Communications
Tel:  +1 212 438 7530

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sp-global-declares-third-quarter-dividend-302806889.html

SOURCE S&P Global

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