Arts and EntertainmentInnovation

AI Religion and Spiritual Guidance: How Artificial Intelligence is Reshaping Faith

From multilingual church robots to AI-powered spiritual companions, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing religious practices globally. Researchers document how people increasingly turn to AI for spiritual guidance, potentially reshaping faith traditions. This movement represents a significant shift in how technology intersects with sacred spaces.

In a surprising development that signals the emergence of AI religion, people worldwide are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence for spiritual guidance and religious experiences. This trend accelerated in fall 2024 when visitors to a prominent UK church encountered a tabletop social robot that initiated conversations about the church’s history the moment visitors made eye contact. The bust-like creation from Furhat Robotics, equipped with microphone and speakers, used a soft female voice to field questions in six different languages, fascinating tourists, delighting children, and astonishing those who never expected to find artificial intelligence in sacred spaces.

The Global Expansion of AI in Religious Settings

Arts and EntertainmentEnergy Policy

AI Weapons Accountability in Modern Warfare: Beyond the Killer Robot Debate

As AI transforms military operations worldwide, the debate around autonomous weapons systems intensifies. This examination reveals why focusing solely on AI accountability misses crucial aspects of how these technologies actually function in combat scenarios and who bears ultimate responsibility.

Artificial intelligence weapons represent one of the most contentious developments in modern warfare, raising fundamental questions about accountability, ethics, and the future of armed conflict. While AI weapons systems undoubtedly introduce new complexities to military operations, the prevailing narrative that these technologies cannot be held accountable fundamentally misunderstands both the nature of artificial intelligence and established principles of military responsibility. As nations worldwide accelerate their adoption of military AI applications, understanding the actual relationship between autonomous systems and human accountability becomes increasingly critical for policymakers and the public alike.

The Evolving Landscape of AI in Military Operations

Arts and EntertainmentAssistive Technology

AI Romantic Relationships Among High Schoolers Reach Alarming Levels, Study Reveals

A groundbreaking study from the Center for Democracy and Technology reveals nearly one in five high school students report romantic involvement with AI. The findings highlight growing concerns about AI’s impact on teen mental health and social development.

New research reveals an astonishing 19% of high school students report having romantic relationships with AI chatbots, signaling a dramatic shift in how teenagers form emotional connections. The study from the Center for Democracy and Technology surveyed 1,000 high school students alongside parents and teachers, uncovering widespread AI adoption in educational settings with concerning implications for mental health and social development.

The Rise of AI Companionship in Education

Arts and EntertainmentEnergy Policy

OpenAI Faces Intimidation Allegations from Small AI Policy Nonprofit Over California AI Safety Law

Encode Justice, a small AI policy nonprofit, publicly alleges OpenAI used intimidation tactics against critics of California’s AI transparency legislation. The organization’s general counsel claims OpenAI targeted them with subpoenas while implying secret funding from Elon Musk.

In a dramatic escalation of tensions within the artificial intelligence policy community, a three-person nonprofit organization that worked on California’s AI safety legislation is publicly accusing OpenAI of employing intimidation tactics against critics. Nathan Calvin, general counsel of Encode Justice, published a viral social media thread detailing what he describes as targeted legal pressure from the AI giant during debates over SB 53, the California Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act.

Allegations of Legal Intimidation Tactics

Arts and EntertainmentBusiness Acquisition

From JPMorgan to AI Investment Banking: Why I Took the Calculated Risk

Varun Agarwal left his secure investment banking career at JPMorgan to join OffDeal, an AI-native investment bank. He explains how artificial intelligence is transforming dealmaking and why he has no regrets about taking the calculated risk toward innovation.

When Varun Agarwal decided to leave his prestigious position at JPMorgan Chase to join an AI investment bank, many colleagues questioned his judgment. Yet for Agarwal, the move represented a strategic evolution in his investment banking career—one that has already provided more substantial dealmaking experience than his traditional banking role. “I get more dealmaking experience at OffDeal than at JPMorgan,” Agarwal confirms, highlighting how artificial intelligence is reshaping financial services.

The Traditional Banking Foundation