Sunday, June 7Sunday, June 7The Czech religionist Zuzana Marie Kostićová has challenged the assumption that technological progress pushes faith to the margins, arguing instead that spirituality is thriving even in the age of artificial intelligence. Speaking on the public broadcaster’s *Leonardo Plus* program on 7 June 2026, she contended that “religion, faith and spirituality continue to shape individuals and society precisely where no one expected them to.”
Her remarks came as the Spanish actor Antonio Banderas used a high-profile audience with Pope Leo XIV at Madrid’s Movistar Arena on the same day to urge artists and technologists to place human dignity at the center of AI development. Banderas described art as “the antidote to simplification, violence and the risk that technology ends up dominating rather than serving humanity.”
The juxtaposition underscores a widening debate across Europe and beyond. In the Netherlands, public broadcaster NOS reported that Meta has quietly embedded facial-recognition code in updates to the companion app for its smart-glass project, prompting privacy advocates to warn of a “surveillance machine” waiting to be activated.
Meanwhile, the German daily *Die Welt* quoted AI researcher Stuart Russell, who told a Munich audience that every safety test is sounding alarms yet society “simply ignores the sirens.” He invoked the Nazi era to argue that unchecked AI could strip humanity of agency.
Cultural observers note a parallel surge in interest in religious imagery. The German weekly *Die Zeit* traced a TikTok-era fascination with nuns and convent life, arguing that the trend reflects a longing for community and identity rather than a revival of traditional faith.
Across the Atlantic, Dutch Pokémon Go players inadvertently contributed to U.S. military drone development after their public scans of urban environments were repurposed for 3-D mapping, *NL Times* reported on 6 June.
From stadiums to chatbots, the collision of technology, spirituality and surveillance is reshaping public life. In Austria, *Die Presse* argued that football has become a modern ersatz religion, filling the spiritual void left by emptying pews. Dutch clinicians, meanwhile, warned that AI chatbots can exacerbate psychosis by reinforcing delusional beliefs among vulnerable teenagers.
As the week opened, the message from scientists, artists and faith leaders alike was clear: the age of AI demands not just technical safeguards, but a renewed commitment to what it means to be human.
Psychotische jongeren raken door AI-chatbots soms nog verwarder: Die gaan mee in hun waanideeën
parool · about 3 hours ago
"Überwachungsmaschine": Meta hinterlegt Code für Gesichtserkennung bei smarten Brillen Still und leise wurden der App, die es für die KI-Funktionen der Smart Glasses braucht, neue Updates hinzugefügt
der standard · about 3 hours ago
Nonnen: Nur ein Tinder-Date vom Kloster entfernt Es gibt einen Hype um Nonnen, religiöse Ästhetik und den Katholizismus. Jesus, woher kommt das? Eine Rückkehr des reinen Glaubens ist es nicht. Es geht um: Girlhood.
die zeit · about 3 hours ago
Gold-Plated Earrings Reveal Elite Womans Life on Medieval Siberian Steppe A pair of gold-plated earrings discovered in a burial is offering archaeologists a rare glimpse into the lives of elite women on the medieval Eurasian steppe in southern Siberia. The burial, found in southern Siberias Sayan Mountains, contained a remarkable collection of objects that point to wealth, social status, and long-distance cultural connections stretching across […]
greek reporter · about 3 hours ago
Scans by Dutch Pokémon Go players may have helped U.S. develop military drone technology
gdeltproject.org · about 3 hours ago
AI spasitel? Náboženství k nám patří, myslíme tak i tam, kde by to nikdo nečekal, míní religionistka Náboženství, víra a spiritualita ovlivňují jednotlivce i celou společnost. V takzvaném duchovnu hledají lidé odpovědi i v době všudypřítomných technologií a umělé inteligence. „Ono to vypadá, že tím, že dochází k technologickému pokroku, se náboženství dostává na druhou kolej. Právě naopak, objasňuje v pořadu Leonardo Plus religionistka Zuzana Marie Kostićová z Husitské teologické fakulty Univerzity Karlovy.
irozhlas.cz · about 4 hours ago
Lintelligenza artificiale sia al servizio delluomo, larte ci restituisce anima e profondità, lappello di Antonio Banderas a Papa Leone XIV Larte come antidoto alla semplificazione, alla violenza e al rischio che la tecnologia finisca per dominare luomo anziché servirlo. È il messaggio lanciato da Antonio Banderas durante lincontro con Papa Leone XIV e i rappresentanti del mondo della cultura, dellarte, delleconomia e dello sport che si è svolto alla Movistar Arena. Lattore e regista spagnolo […] Larticolo Lintelligenza artificiale sia al servizio delluomo, larte ci restituisce anima e profondità, lappello di Antonio Banderas a Papa Leone XIV proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.
il fatto quotidiano · about 4 hours ago
A kormány visszaállítja az elektronikus építéshatósági rendszer nyilvános elérhetőségét Lázár Jánosék közel két évvel ezelőtt szüntették meg ezt a lehetőséget.
hvg.hu · about 4 hours ago
Meta denkt na over gezichtsherkenning, maar heeft het wel alvast klaargezet op miljoenen telefoons
de volkskrant · about 4 hours ago
„Youll Never Walk Alone: Fußball, eine moderne Religion? [premium] Während Kirchen leer bleiben, »pilgern« Zehntausende in Stadien, beten für das »erlösende« Tor, stehen »in guten wie in schlechten Zeiten« zusammen: Fußball ist zu einer Art Ersatzreligion geworden, die Antworten gibt, Werte vermittelt, Identität schafft – auf dem Rasen und abseits. Wie kam es dazu? Eine Sinnsuche.
die presse · about 4 hours ago
Social Media: Das bringen Handyverbote wirklich Die Deutschen würden ihren Kindern Smartphones und Social Media am liebsten verbieten. Die Erfahrung anderer Länder zeigt: Das nützt weniger als erhofft.
faz · about 4 hours ago
Une nouvelle vitrine pour le site et lapplication du « Monde » Nous avons récemment fait évoluer les pages daccueil du « Monde.fr » et de lapplication mobile « Le Monde », pour les enrichir de nouvelles propositions et améliorer le confort de lecture. Voici le détail de ces évolutions.
le monde · about 4 hours ago
Religion 102: Human sacrifice and high-status burials
gdeltproject.org · about 4 hours ago
KI-Forscher warnt – „Alle Tests schlagen Alarm, die Sirenen heulen. Und wir ignorieren das einfach Der KI-Forscher und Informatiker Stuart Russell hält künstliche Intelligenz für eine existenzielle Gefahr für die Menschheit. Er befürchtet, Menschen könnten irgendwann kein „Mitspracherecht mehr haben – und wagt dann einen Vergleich mit der NS-Zeit.
welt.de · about 5 hours ago