News — 2026-05-25

Google has added Omni Flash, the inaugural model of its new Omni family, to the Flow video‑generation platform. The tool promises to turn any combination of photo, video or text into fresh video content and to keep characters more consistent. Early testing shows noticeable gains over the previous Veo model, but the system still produces occasional glitches and can be costly to operate, with each clip and edit consuming credits from the AI Pro subscription. Read more

Renowned evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins renamed Anthropic’s chatbot Claude ‘Claudia’ after a recent conversation and began questioning whether the system could be conscious. His reaction, while surprising to some, underscores a growing tendency for users to attribute mind-like qualities to increasingly conversational AI. Experts warn that such impressions can blur the line between sophisticated language prediction and genuine awareness, sparking debate over the ethical and psychological implications of treating chatbots as sentient beings. Read more

Eurostat reports that 20% of EU firms with at least ten employees used artificial intelligence in 2023, up from 13.5% a year earlier. The surge masks stark regional differences, with Denmark at 42% and Romania below 6%. Analysts point to uneven access to capital, skills shortages, and reliance on U.S. cloud providers as core obstacles, while regulatory uncertainty under the AI Act adds a layer of complexity. Large enterprises adopt AI at roughly 55%, but small firms lag at 17%, underscoring a divide that policymakers must address. Read more

On May 15, Pope Leo XIV signed 'Magnifica Humanitas,' the Vatican's first encyclical dedicated to artificial intelligence and the protection of human dignity. Published ten days later, the document arrives exactly 135 years after Leo XIII released 'Rerum Novarum,' which framed the industrial revolution’s moral questions. In the encyclical, the Pope calls for a values‑based framework to guide AI development, warning that current decisions will shape generations. The Vatican’s initiative coincides with a recent Faith‑AI Covenant roundtable that brought together AI leaders from OpenAI, Anthropic and DeepMind with senior religious figures. Read more

At its annual I/O developers conference in May 2026, Google announced a sweeping overhaul of its search experience, centering on Gemini-powered AI agents, a chatbot‑style search bar, and automated shopping tools. The new features aim to handle repetitive tasks like price tracking, reservation booking, and real‑time web monitoring. While executives tout faster, more personalized results, researchers warn the shift could erode critical thinking skills and diminish the serendipitous nature of web discovery. Read more