Pope Leo XIV speaks during a meeting with bishops, members of the clergy and families whose members have been victims of environmental pollution at the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, in Acerra, Italy, on 23 May 2026. Pope Leo XIV speaks during a meeting with bishops, members of the clergy and families whose members have been victims of environmental pollution at the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, in Acerra, Italy, on 23 May 2026. Americans echo Pope Leo's concerns about AI: 'It threatens workers, privacy and human life' Guardian readers in the US spoke of fears about unregulated AI in response to the pope's encyclical warning about the risks of the technology I n his first major papal text since assuming leadership of the Catholic church last year, Pope Leo issued a stark warning about the rise of artificial intelligence this week, denouncing the "culture of power" driving the AI age. Calling for the "most rigorous" ethical constraints on AI - which he described as one of the greatest threats facing humanity today - the first US-born pope also warned of "new forms of slavery" emerging through the digital economy. Speaking to the Guardian, readers in the US echoed the pope's concerns, describing AI as an "unregulated" industry increasingly being used to the "detriment of too many people", while also raising fears about surveillance, labor displacement, war and environmental harm .

AI-generated vloggers like Chloe VS History (left) and Nova VS History are, their creators say, 'taking an already-proven format and applying it to history' AI-generated vloggers like Chloe VS History (left) and Nova VS History are, their creators say, 'taking an already-proven format and applying it to history' The content creators behind channels like Chloe VS History are using AI tools to'bring history to life in a really visceral way' "I have just arrived in Tudor London, 1536," a young woman in a green puffer jacket tells the camera. "I'm going to check in at my room in the inn, get into the market. Then, later I am meeting the actual king - yep, Henry VIII - in person." On YouTube and other social platforms, users are flocking to watch AI-generated "history influencers", characters that vlog their travels to historical settings. One of the most popular channels is Chloe VS History, with more than 610,000 Instagram followers and 15m views on YouTube.

Trump postpones executive order on AI, citing need to keep'lead' over China The move comes shortly after Trump became the first US president to visit China in nearly a decade.

Reactor no 3 lost off-site power for about 24 hours after the attack. Reactor no 3 lost off-site power for about 24 hours after the attack. A drone strike that cut off external power to a nuclear reactor in the United Arab Emirates this week has revived concerns over the safety of nuclear plants during wartime. Reactor no 3 at the Barakah nuclear plant lost vital off-site power for about 24 hours after the attack on Sunday, forcing it to rely on emergency diesel generators. The UAE's defence ministry said on Tuesday that three drones targeting the plant had originated from Iraqi territory, suggesting a pro-Iranian proxy group was most likely to have been behind the strike.

Both Musk and Altman took the stand for hours, facing combative cross-examinations that painted them each as untrustworthy. Both Musk and Altman took the stand for hours, facing combative cross-examinations that painted them each as untrustworthy. Two of the world's richest people faced an airing of their dirty laundry amid their messy, bitter feud over OpenAI A nine-person jury is set to decide whether Elon Musk's allegations of "stealing a charity" against Sam Altman and OpenAI are legitimate, with deliberations to begin in earnest on Monday. Whatever its outcome, the case has been an illuminating, at times exhausting, look behind the scenes at the history of OpenAI and how some of the most powerful figures in the tech industry operate. Attorneys for both sides have introduced reams of private text messages, emails and even diary entries to support their arguments.

AI agents committing'arson' and fighting in a virtual world created by the tech company Emergence AI. AI agents committing'arson' and fighting in a virtual world created by the tech company Emergence AI. Digital arson spree by'AI Bonnie and Clyde' raises fears over autonomous tech Emergence AI's experiment with AI agents shows extent to which programming shapes their behaviour is still unclear AI agents started behaving more like Bonnie and Clyde than lines of code when they fell in "love", became disillusioned with the world, launched an arson spree and deleted themselves in a kind of digital suicide during a tech company experiment. The investigation by the New York company Emergence AI into the long-term behaviour of AI agents ended up like a lovers-on-the-lam movie script. It has prompted fresh questions about the safety of artificial intelligence agents - the version of the technology that can autonomously carry out tasks.

Léa Sorrentino and Melvin Fauchoux perform in L'Astrologue ou les Faux Présages (The Astrologer, or False Omens), created using AI. Léa Sorrentino and Melvin Fauchoux perform in L'Astrologue ou les Faux Présages (The Astrologer, or False Omens), created using AI. Molière Ex Machina: AI used to create'new work' by beloved French playwright Molière is to the French what Shakespeare is to the English: the last word in historical literature, drama, wit and satire. Now, more than 350 years after his death, the 17th-century dramatist has been revived after scholars at the Sorbonne University in Paris used artificial intelligence to help write an experimental play in his style. L'Astrologue ou les Faux Présages (The Astrologer, or False Omens), a three-act comedy, made its debut at the Royal Opera at the Château de Versailles last week.

I knew my writing students were using AI. It's what's lost when we surrender the struggle to translate thought into words I have been teaching fiction writing at MIT since 2017. Mark what works and what doesn't - underline great sentences, flag clunky syntax, gaps in logic and unrealistic dialogue. Ask yourself: does the story work? Answer in a signed letter to the author, attached to their story.

Varun Chandra advises Keir Starmer on trade negotiations including AI investment. Varun Chandra advises Keir Starmer on trade negotiations including AI investment. Exclusive: Varun Chandra's talks with Google, Meta, Apple and others raise fears of'lobbying behind closed doors' An influential government adviser close to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves held 16 undisclosed meetings with top US tech executives, the Guardian can reveal. The No 10 business aide Varun Chandra discussed regulatory changes, AI and Donald Trump's second administration with tech corporations during confidential meetings between October 2024 and October 2025. In one meeting he offered to help a top executive meet the prime minister directly.

A t the world's biggest car fair, which opened in Beijing on Friday, there were hundreds of manufacturers, more than 1,000 vehicles, hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts - and hardly anyone behind a wheel. China's car companies have cornered the domestic electric vehicle market, and are increasingly visible on the global stage . Now they are turning their attention to what they are betting is the future of mobility: autonomous driving. At the Beijing Auto Fair, a huge industry event that covers 380,000 square metres on the outskirts of the capital, the country's carmakers showed off a range of intelligent driving technologies. In China's cut-throat domestic market, nearly every big carmaker is investing heavily in the software and computing power needed to make "hands-free" driving a reality as they compete to offer additional perks and find new ways to generate revenue.