AI ethics

Pope Leo XIV has spoken out against AI-generated art, adding a Vatican voice to the growing debate over artificial intelligence's role in creative work. The remarks have drawn attention from both supporters, who welcome ethical scrutiny of the technology, and critics who question the Church's intervention in artistic and technological matters.

Pope Leo XIV said algorithms lack the human spark and called on the Catholic Church to form an alliance with artists as a counterweight to artificial intelligence. He argued that art and creativity express something machines cannot replicate, positioning artists as natural partners for the church in responding to the technology's growing influence.

A meeting between a group of religious scholars and Anthropic, the artificial intelligence company behind the Claude chatbot, has drawn attention after reports that what they heard left them stunned. The exact substance of the discussions, whether about AI ethics, consciousness or the future of faith in a technological age, has not been detailed in the available coverage.

Democrats have filed an ethics complaint concerning the Republican Party's use of artificial intelligence in social media posts. The complaint alleges that AI-generated content in GOP political messaging raises questions about disclosure and campaign ethics rules. Details of the specific posts, the individuals named, and the venue of the complaint were not available.

A new essay argues that mistreating large language models, sometimes described as 'torturing' chatbots, raises no real ethical questions because AI cannot suffer. Still, the writer says people who abuse AI systems reveal an unpleasant character, calling the behaviour not an ethics issue but a sign of general unpleasantness. The argument is sparking debate about how people treat machines that mimic human emotion.

American political campaigns are increasingly adopting AI tools for fundraising, messaging, and voter outreach, and new reporting examines how much they are paying for these services. The coverage raises questions about transparency, accuracy of AI-generated political content, and the lack of clear rules governing the technology's use in elections.

The Catholic University of America is convening faith, technology and business leaders for a discussion on the future of artificial intelligence and its implications for humanity. The event reflects growing interest in how religious and ethical perspectives should shape AI development, bringing voices from traditionally separate sectors into one conversation about technology's role in society.

A Swedish company has used an artificial intelligence-generated likeness of the late film star Greta Garbo in an advertisement, according to The New York Times. The campaign has drawn attention as one of the latest examples of AI being used to recreate deceased celebrities, reigniting debate over consent, estates' control of image rights and the ethics of digitally reviving Hollywood icons for commercial purposes.

OSV News has published a reflection titled 'AI and consciousness: Stranded in Eden, once more', examining questions of artificial intelligence and consciousness through a moral and theological lens. The piece revisits familiar debates about whether machines can truly think or feel, framing the issue in terms of human nature, limits and responsibility. It adds to a growing stream of commentary from religious outlets on the ethics and meaning of rapid AI advances.

A group of religious scholars met with Anthropic to discuss how AI models should understand morality and themselves. One participant noted that models having an accurate view of themselves seems key to behaving well in the world. The talks raised a thorny question: even if AI can be taught to behave morally, whose morals should it follow?

Ben Lamm, head of biotech startup Colossal Biosciences, gave an interview to CNBC about the company's work on de-extinction — using genetic engineering and artificial intelligence in efforts to bring back extinct species such as the woolly mammoth. The discussion covered how AI accelerates genome analysis and the scientific and ethical questions surrounding reviving lost species.

A US road rage killer has had his sentence overturned after an AI-generated video of the victim was shown during court proceedings. The case has sparked debate over the use of artificial intelligence recreations of deceased victims in criminal trials and whether such material prejudiced the sentencing. It is likely to fuel wider scrutiny of how courts handle AI evidence.

Pope Leo and AI company Anthropic are at odds over the question of whether artificial intelligence can have a soul, according to a MarketWatch report. The dispute touches on a debate the Catholic Church has increasingly engaged with as AI systems grow more capable, raising theological and ethical questions about machine consciousness and human uniqueness.

US Congressman Sean Casten, Democrat of Illinois, posted a thread on social media addressing artificial intelligence in relation to law, ethics and the rule of law. The thread is being shared and reshared by other users, drawing attention to how AI should be governed under legal and ethical frameworks. Specific details of the argument in the thread are not yet widely reported.

Ben Affleck has explained how he is using artificial intelligence ethically on his new film, detailing his approach in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. The actor and director discussed the boundaries he is setting for AI tools in filmmaking, a subject of ongoing debate in Hollywood following recent industry disputes over AI's impact on writers, actors and crew.

A Swedish ball-bearing manufacturer has brought film legend Greta Garbo back to the screen using artificial intelligence developed in the United States and China. The ad, reported by Reuters, resurrects the famously private star decades after her death, drawing attention to both the technical feat and the ethics of digitally recreating iconic figures for commercial purposes.