  Artificial intelligence

In his first encyclical, presented in the Vatican at the weekend, Pope Leo XIV focuses on the risks posed by artificial intelligence. Titled Magnifica Humanitas, the document warns of the consequences of uncontrolled use of AI. Commentators praise the relevance of his analysis and call for more such clear positioning.

A US court has dismissed Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman – on the grounds that he had taken too long to sue. Musk took legal action because, as a former OpenAI investor, he claimed that he had not been informed of plans to transform the foundation – initially non-profit – into a for-profit corporation. Musk was demanding 114 billion euros, Altman's removal and a return to non-profit status.

The US tech company Palantir has published a 'manifesto' by CEO Alex Karp on X which has sparked a furore. The development of AI weapons is inevitable and the US must secure dominance in AI-based deterrence, it states. It also mentions the need to address the fact that different cultures have different levels of success. Critics are calling it the dawn of technofascism.

AI is penetrating more and more areas of our lives and the economy – along with robot and drone technologies that were just science fiction until recently. The media takes a look at what is being created and what is being destroyed.

School starts again on 1 September in many European countries after the summer holidays. But education is not the same with each passing year, and nowadays the rapid development of artificial intelligence inevitably affects both teachers and pupils. Commentators assess the potential harm and benefits of AI in the classroom, and the tasks now facing educators.

They're always available for a chat, they're empathetic and they don't talk back: for some people AI chatbots are more than just machines. According to a new survey 370,000 people in Ireland have pursued a romantic relationship with an AI. Commentators discuss the consequences, especially for lonely people.

Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has said in an interview with the business newspaper Dagens Industri that he seeks advice from AIs - using them to get a second opinion, so to speak. The national press sees pros and cons.

Many observers are concerned about the harmful effects of artificial intelligence on humanity. A new study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is now fuelling fears that AI is slowing down human development progress. Commentators make suggestions as to how governments and leaders can steer the influence of AI in the right direction.

Just over two and a half years after the launch of ChatGPT, using chatbots and other AI tools has become routine for many people. Some users, however, go well beyond what can be described as healthy, commentators observe with concern.