Pope Leo’s A.I. Vision Might Not Be Strange Enough
He is both a critic and a normalizer of the technology.
The Guardian AI·
I draw the old way – with my hand. Doing it with AI would not make me more creative, it would drain the colour out of my existence Last week I went to a gig by myself for the first time. I sat myself down in my single seat, possibly the youngest person in the room and one of thousands excited to see Split Enz. I loved it – I felt joy and heartache as the lyrics spoke of human experiences, really lived. I happily realised that I did not have to wonder whether Split Enz had used AI in their work (as I so often do nowadays) as these bangers were created long before it was even dreamed of. As a visual artist and writer myself, when I see AI generated images, music or words presented as “art”, I see red. It’s boring, it’s theft, it’s soulless, sterile and it’s killing the planet through energy and water-guzzling datacentres. Someone suggested AI “visual art” should be called “Computer Rendered Artificial Pictures” (CRAP). Continue reading...
Read full articleHe is both a critic and a normalizer of the technology.
Universal Music Group and TikTok have renewed their global licensing agreement, placing AI governance at the centre of the partnership. The deal commits both companies to removing unauthorised AI-generated music from the platform while strengthening attribution systems for artists and songwriters. The agreement marks a significant thaw after a public falling-out in 2024, when UMG […]
The technology opens the door for smaller, well-funded challengers to take market share from the Big Four and others
Critics of platform’s proposed new feature say it could accelerate the spread of machine-generated music Spotify’s chief executive has said the company’s move into AI-generated music offers users and creators a better alternative to unregulated AI slop. Last week, the platform announced a new feature in which premium users will be allowed to create their own, AI-generated remixes and song covers using music from participating artists. Continue reading...
Recent college grads are not very fond of commencement speakers hyping up a technology they see as a threat to their career prospects When Jacob Pagel graduated from Middle Tennessee State University this spring, predictions about artificial intelligence already had him questioning the value of his degree. Then a music executive started preaching about AI’s transformative power during a commencement speech. “This industry will change on you in a heartbeat. It has already changed more in the last 10 years than in the 50 years prior … AI is rewriting production as we sit here,” said Scott Borchetta, CEO of the record label Big Machine. After a few stray boos from graduates, he doubled down: “Deal with it.” Continue reading...
Exercising our own judgment when it comes to quality is something we should not outsource to machines
Pope Leo XIV presented his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” in which he outlined his desire to protect human dignity and agency in an age when technology threatens to replace people in many professional and social roles.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong identified eight finance priorities, including tokenization, stablecoins, AI, and capital formation. He said the system still needs technology and policy work to broaden access and modernize markets. Finance Still Needs These 8 Core Upgrades, Coinbase CEO Says Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong identified eight finance priorities on May 24, placing tokenization, global […]