United News of Bangladesh

The Vatican is preparing to release the first encyclical of Pope Leo XIV, a major teaching document expected to call for an ethical approach to artificial intelligence (AI) that puts human dignity, social relationships and peace at the center. Vatican officials said the pope signed the document on Friday, exactly 135 years after Pope Leo XIII issued his landmark encyclical Rerum Novarum. That document addressed workers’ rights, the limits of capitalism and the responsibilities of governments and employers during the Industrial Revolution. The Vatican believes AI raises similar questions today about labor, justice and the future of society. Experts say the Catholic Church is well placed to contribute to the debate because of its long tradition of reflecting on what it means to be human. Shortly after becoming pope in 2025, Leo told cardinals that the Church should use its social teachings to help address the challenges AI poses to human dignity, justice and work. The pope is expected to return to the issue on Sunday during the Vatican’s World Communications Day, which this year focuses on the human consequences of the global race to develop AI. In a message released earlier, Leo warned that people must protect real human relationships as chatbots become more common. He also expressed concern over AI-generated music, videos and deepfakes that can spread false information. The encyclical, likely to be released in the coming weeks, could put the Vatican at odds with the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has strongly supported rapid AI development and opposed many international efforts to regulate the technology. Since the launch of ChatGPT, AI has advanced rapidly, bringing both promising applications and serious concerns. Experts have warned about risks ranging from biased hiring systems to autonomous weapons. The Vatican has been active in the debate for years. In 2020, it launched the Rome Call for AI Ethics, an initiative supported by companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Cisco Systems. The initiative promotes principles including accountability, fairness, privacy and inclusion. The late Pope Francis also called for an international treaty to regulate AI and urged governments to ensure that decisions involving weapons remain under human control. He advocated a ban on fully autonomous lethal weapons, often referred to as “killer robots.” Pope Leo has continued that message. While acknowledging AI’s contributions to medicine and scientific research, he has warned that the technology could undermine humanity’s connection to truth and beauty. The pope has also raised concerns about AI’s role in modern conflicts, including in Ukraine and the Middle East, where increasingly sophisticated drones and automated systems are being used. Speaking recently at Sapienza University of Rome, Leo said the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon and Iran show how new technologies are making warfare more destructive and less humane.

Amid constant drone noise, blackouts and damaged streets, some young tech workers in Gaza are still trying to earn a living by coding for clients abroad. Tarik Zaeem, a 44-year-old programmer, spends his days working on software for an app in Saudi Arabia, fixing issues in a barcode system while sitting at a laptop in Gaza City. He often walks through destroyed streets to reach a shared workspace where freelancers can charge devices and access more stable internet. Remote work has become both a vital income source and a mental escape for many in the war-hit territory. “When I work, I forget everything and focus on coding,” he said, adding that his wife and children are now in Egypt. “I stop thinking about airstrikes or searching for drinking water.” Zaeem is part of a growing community of freelancers in Gaza who work for international clients through platforms such as Upwork, Freelancer.com and Mostaql. Despite the ongoing war and widespread destruction, many continue to design websites, build apps and create digital services for clients in countries including Canada, Kuwait and Turkey. The digital freelancing sector in Gaza developed over the past decade, especially after traditional industries weakened following political changes and restrictions. High unemployment and widespread internet access helped push many graduates toward online work, while donors and NGOs supported training programs and tech hubs. One such initiative, Mercy Corps’ Gaza Sky Geeks, once ran busy coworking spaces before much of its infrastructure was destroyed during the war. The group is now helping revive remote work through smaller shared workspaces. However, the conflict has severely disrupted daily life. Telecommunications networks were heavily damaged, and frequent power cuts have made it difficult for freelancers to meet deadlines. Many have also lost homes, relatives and stable internet access due to airstrikes and displacement. Software engineer Sharif Naim, who runs a solar-powered coworking space called Taqat Gaza, said working conditions have slowly improved as new shared workspaces opened across the territory. His centre now supports hundreds of freelancers with internet access and training. Women have also increasingly relied on online work as households face growing financial pressure. Graphic designer Reem Alkhateeb said freelancing has become her family’s main income source after her husband lost his job and food and water shortages worsened. “Our dreams are now very basic,” she said. “We just want electricity, internet and a normal life where we can work.”Getting paid remains another major challenge. Many freelancers cannot access international banking services or payment platforms, forcing them to rely on relatives abroad or informal cash transfer systems with high fees. In response, local initiatives such as “Gaza Talents,” founded by Salsabil Bardawi after personal loss in the war, are helping connect freelancers with international clients and manage payments through partner financial services. The platform says it has helped generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in income for workers. Despite the hardships, many freelancers say they continue working not only for survival, but also to maintain a sense of normal life in the midst of destruction.

Americans continue to have a complex love-hate relationship with the iPhone, a device that has become deeply embedded in daily life while also raising concerns about overdependence. For many users, the iPhone feels almost essential, offering instant access to a wide range of services. People use it to take and share photos on social media, play games, watch videos, listen to music, send messages, check emails, browse the internet, follow news updates, get navigation directions and even make digital payments. Making or receiving phone calls, however, has become just one of many uses. At the same time, critics say the device often encourages excessive screen time. Constant notifications and alerts can pull users into endless scrolling, reducing attention spans and making it harder for people to disconnect. The debate reflects a broader paradox in American life as smartphones, including those powered by Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android systems, have become almost unavoidable in modern society. The iPhone was first introduced in 2007 by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who predicted it would transform everyday life. Since then, it has reshaped communication, entertainment and work habits in ways few could have fully anticipated. Some surveys even suggest that many people would choose to sleep beside their phones rather than their partners if forced to decide, highlighting how deeply integrated the devices have become in personal routines. Now, observers are questioning how society can balance the benefits of smartphones with their potential downsides, including whether their impact should be compared to addictive products such as cigarettes, alcohol or junk food. For now, however, the trend appears to continue toward greater digital dependence, as daily life becomes increasingly centered around glowing screens.

A human barista serves coffee, but an artificial intelligence agent is running operations at an experimental café in Stockholm, where almost all business decisions are handled by AI in a real-world test of automation. The Andon Café, operated by San Francisco-based startup Andon Labs, has placed an AI agent named “Mona” in charge of management tasks while human staff continue to prepare and serve drinks. Powered by Google’s Gemini, the system oversees hiring, contracts, inventory and day-to-day operations. International cyberattack disrupts universities and schools across three countries Since opening in mid-April, the café has earned over $5,700 in sales but remains below break-even, with less than $5,000 left from an initial budget exceeding $21,000. Organisers say most early spending went on setup costs and expect performance to stabilise over time. Customers have reacted with curiosity, with visitors able to call the AI via an in-café telephone. “It’s nice to see what happens if you push the boundary. The drink was good,” said customer Kajsa Norin. Andon Labs, founded in 2023, says it is stress-testing AI systems in real environments and has worked with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind and xAI. It envisions AI-run organisations in the future. Technical staff member Hanna Petersson said the café is a controlled experiment to study ethical questions in AI-led management. However, experts including KTH’s Emrah Karakaya warned of accountability risks, calling it “opening Pandora’s box.” Mona has made major errors, including over-ordering supplies and mismanaging bread deliveries. Barista Kajetan Grzelczak said jobs remain safe for now, but middle management could be affected.

China has unveiled a set of guidelines aimed at regulating and advancing the innovative development of artificial intelligence (AI) agents, as the country accelerates efforts under its “AI plus” initiative. The guidelines, jointly issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the National Development and Reform Commission(NDRC) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology(MIIT), are intended to support the implementation of the State Council’s “AI plus” action plan and promote the orderly growth of intelligent agents as key forms of AI products and services, according to an official statement. Instagram drops private messaging feature worldwide The document defines AI agents as intelligent systems capable of autonomous perception, memory, decision-making, interaction and execution, noting that they are increasingly integrating with cyberspace and the physical world with the advancement of technologies such as large language models. It outlines key principles for AI agent development, emphasizing safety and controllability,  standardization and order, innovation-driven growth, and application-oriented development. The guidelines identify four major areas of action. These include strengthening development foundations by improving technological infrastructure and establishing standards and protocols; ensuring safety and security; promoting application-driven development through 19 typical scenarios across scientific research, industrial development, consumption, public services and social governance; and fostering an innovation ecosystem through enhanced industrial collaboration and broader application promotion.

Instagram users around the world can no longer send highly private direct messages after parent company Meta disabled end-to-end encryption (E2EE) on the platform from Thursday. The move marks a major shift by Meta, which had earlier promoted the technology as the future standard for online privacy. End-to-end encryption is considered one of the safest forms of digital communication because only the sender and receiver can read messages. Critics, however, have long argued that it can also make it harder for authorities to detect crimes such as child abuse and online grooming. With the feature now removed, Instagram will be able to access the contents of direct messages, including photos, videos and voice notes. Meta had announced plans in 2019 to expand E2EE across Facebook and Instagram messaging services. While Facebook Messenger fully adopted the system in 2023, Instagram only offered it as an optional feature and had planned to make it standard later. The company has now abandoned those plans after seven years. Instead, Instagram will use standard encryption, a system commonly used by services such as Gmail, where providers can access data if necessary. Child safety organisations welcomed the decision. The NSPCC, a UK-based children’s charity, said the removal of E2EE would help prevent criminals from hiding abusive activities online. “We are really pleased,” said Rani Govender of the NSPCC, adding that encrypted messaging could allow child abuse and grooming to go undetected. Privacy campaigners strongly criticised the decision, calling it a setback for online security. Maya Thomas of privacy group Big Brother Watch said E2EE helps protect children’s personal data and warned that Meta may be responding to government pressure. Meta did not publicly announce the policy reversal but quietly updated Instagram’s terms and conditions in March, stating that end-to-end encrypted messaging would no longer be supported after May 8, 2026. The company said the decision was made because only a small number of users had enabled the feature. Cybersecurity experts, however, believe the move may also reflect Meta’s growing interest in using data for targeted advertising and artificial intelligence development. Victoria Baines, professor of information technology at Gresham College, said social media companies increasingly see user communications as valuable data for AI training and advertising purposes. Instagram previously said direct messages were not used to train AI systems. The decision could also affect the wider social media industry, where encrypted messaging had increasingly become common. Apps such as WhatsApp, Signal, Facebook Messenger, iMessage and Google Messages currently use E2EE by default. Meanwhile, Telegram offers the feature as optional, while TikTok recently said it has no plans to introduce end-to-end encryption for direct messages. Experts say Meta’s latest move could slow the wider expansion of encrypted messaging on social media platforms. With inputs from BBC.

Concerns over the risks posed by artificial intelligence have emerged as a major theme in the ongoing courtroom battle between billionaire Elon Musk and Sam Altman, even though the technology itself is not formally on trial. The federal trial in Oakland, California, centres on Musk’s lawsuit accusing Altman and fellow OpenAI leaders of abandoning the organisation’s original nonprofit mission. Musk claims the company betrayed its founding promise to develop artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity rather than private profit. OpenAI, however, argues that Musk is attempting to slow down the company to help his own AI venture, xAI. Although Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers warned lawyers not to turn the case into a debate over AI safety, discussions about the technology’s dangers have repeatedly surfaced during testimony. Witnesses and lawyers have raised concerns ranging from job losses and misinformation to discrimination and emotional dependency on AI chatbots. Some testimony also touched on Musk’s long-standing warnings that highly advanced AI could eventually threaten humanity itself. AI researcher Stuart Russell testified as an expert witness for Musk’s legal team, saying the intense competition among companies to dominate artificial intelligence could itself pose risks. Russell, a computer scientist at the University of California, Berkeley, told the court that whichever company first develops artificial general intelligence (AGI) could gain enormous power over competitors. He listed several concerns linked to AI, including racial and gender bias, job displacement, misinformation and psychological harm to some chatbot users. “Whichever company develops AGI first would have a very big advantage,” Russell told jurors. The trial focuses on the founding of OpenAI in 2015 as a nonprofit research organisation backed in part by Musk. Both Musk and Altman have publicly stated that OpenAI was created to safely develop advanced AI for humanity’s benefit, though each side now accuses the other of trying to gain control over the technology. A nine-member jury from the San Francisco Bay Area will decide whose claims are more credible. Before testimony began, Judge Gonzalez Rogers cautioned lawyers against broad discussions about whether AI is harmful to humanity. “This is not a trial on the safety risks of artificial intelligence. This is not a trial on whether or not AI has damaged humanity,” the judge said. Despite that warning, Musk used part of his testimony last week to discuss his concerns about the future of AI. He described AGI as a stage where AI becomes “as smart as any human” and claimed society is approaching that point rapidly. “We are getting close to that point,” Musk said, adding that AI could surpass human intelligence as early as next year. Musk said he had long viewed AI as “a double-edged sword” and was worried about the concentration of power within major technology firms such as Google. According to Musk, one of the reasons for helping establish OpenAI was to create a counterbalance to Google’s dominance in AI development. During testimony, Musk also said he intentionally helped create OpenAI as a nonprofit organisation rather than a profit-driven company. “I deliberately chose this for the public good,” he said. The judge questioned that argument, noting that Musk later launched his own AI company, xAI, which now operates in the same field. OpenAI co-founder and president Greg Brockman defended the organisation’s mission during his testimony this week. Brockman said OpenAI’s work was always intended to serve humanity rather than any single corporation or individual. “It was about humanity as a whole,” he said. He also claimed Musk sought personal control over the company in its early days. According to Brockman, Musk initially appeared supportive of Altman becoming OpenAI’s chief executive but later insisted people needed to know “he was in charge.” Musk is seeking damages in the case and also wants Altman removed from OpenAI’s board. Legal experts say a victory for Musk could complicate OpenAI’s plans for a future stock market listing.

South Korea’s KOSPI surged nearly 7% to an all-time high on Wednesday, led by a sharp rally in tech shares as optimism grows over artificial intelligence expansion and easing geopolitical tensions. Shares of Samsung Electronics jumped almost 13%, while SK Hynix rose about 10% in early trading. Both firms are key producers of advanced chips essential for AI technologies. Investor sentiment improved further following reports that Iranian officials were heading to China ahead of a planned meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The development also helped stabilize oil market fluctuations. After remaining closed Tuesday for a public holiday, South Korea’s market reopened strongly, with the KOSPI climbing 6.7% early in the session to 7,398.34. Elsewhere in Asia, stock markets mostly moved higher, though trading in Tokyo was shut due to a holiday. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 advanced nearly 1% to 8,766.80, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.7% to 26,081.52. China’s Shanghai Composite also gained 1% to 4,152.68. In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude fell $1.37 to $100.90 per barrel, and Brent crude dropped $1.50 to $108.37. Despite recent declines, prices remain significantly higher than pre-war levels near $70. U.S. military officials said a ceasefire with Iran is in place, though uncertainty persists. Efforts are ongoing to secure shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global oil transport. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 0.8% to a record close of 7,259.22. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7% to 49,298.25, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1% to a new high of 25,326.13. U.S. economic data offered mixed signals. One report indicated slower-than-expected growth in the services sector, partly attributed to the war’s impact on spending. Another showed job openings were slightly higher than forecast at the end of March, suggesting continued resilience in the labor market. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar edged down to 157.88 Japanese yen, while the euro strengthened to $1.1720.

Asian stock markets mostly declined on Tuesday, following losses on Wall Street where U.S. equities pulled back from recent record highs. Oil prices, which had surged earlier due to rising tensions between the United States and Iran, retreated slightly. Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures posted modest gains of about 0.1%. Trading activity across the region remained subdued, with markets in Japan, South Korea and mainland China closed for public holidays. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index dropped 1.3% to 25,757.56, while Taiwan’s Taiex index rose 0.3%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.4% to 8,659.90 after the Reserve Bank of Australia increased its key interest rate to 4.35% in response to inflation pressures driven by rising fuel and commodity costs linked to Middle East instability. This marked the central bank’s third rate hike of 0.25 percentage points this year. The bank reported Australia’s annual inflation rate stood at 4.6% through March, above its target range of 2% to 3%. Elsewhere, India’s Sensex index declined 0.7%. Geopolitical tensions remained a key concern. A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared to weaken after the U.S. military said it had sunk six Iranian boats allegedly targeting civilian vessels. Despite two U.S.-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial route for global oil and gas shipments remains largely restricted. The United States has also imposed a maritime blockade on Iranian ports, while President Donald Trump launched “Project Freedom,” aimed at escorting stranded vessels through the strait. Global oil benchmarks declined after recent gains. Brent crude fell $1.13 to $113.31 per barrel after briefly exceeding $114, while U.S. crude dropped $2.04 to $104.38 per barrel. Prices had been near $70 before the conflict escalated in late February. Efforts to reach a lasting peace have stalled, with tensions rising further after the United Arab Emirates reported an Iranian attack — the first since last month’s ceasefire. Analysts warned that the situation could deteriorate further, noting that ongoing maritime operations may heighten risks in the Persian Gulf region. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 fell 0.4% to 7,200.75, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.1% to 48,941.90. The Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.2% to 25,067.80. Shares of GameStop plunged 10.1% after it announced plans to acquire eBay, a firm with a market value roughly four times larger. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar edged up slightly against the Japanese yen, while the euro weakened marginally against the dollar.  

New Mexico prosecutors are calling for major changes to Meta’s social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, to better protect children, as the second phase of a landmark court trial begins. Opening arguments are set for Monday in a three-week bench trial that will decide whether Meta’s platforms create a public nuisance under state law by harming users, especially children. In the first phase of the case, a jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties. It found that the company knowingly harmed children’s mental health and hid information about child sexual exploitation on its platforms. Now, prosecutors are asking the court to force Meta to redesign key features of its apps. Their proposals include limiting addictive design tools, improving age verification systems, strengthening privacy settings for minors, and increasing safeguards against child exploitation. They also want changes to how content is recommended, arguing that current algorithms push users toward endless engagement. Features such as infinite scrolling, push notifications, and visible “like” counts are also being targeted as drivers of compulsive use. Another proposal would require child accounts to be linked with a parent or guardian and introduce a court-supervised monitor to track Meta’s compliance with safety improvements over time. Meta has said it will appeal the jury’s verdict and warned it may suspend Facebook and Instagram services in New Mexico if forced to follow what it calls unrealistic requirements. Legal experts say the case is unusual in how it challenges long-standing protections for internet companies. Eric Goldman of Santa Clara University said the legal theory of “public nuisance” is rarely applied to online platforms and may not fit well in this context. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the verdict in the first phase weakened the protection tech companies have long relied on under Section 230 of the U.S. Communications Decency Act, which limits liability for user-generated content. The case comes amid growing scrutiny of Big Tech, with another jury in Los Angeles also recently finding Meta and YouTube responsible for harms to children. Prosecutors argue the court order could force a broader rethink of how social media companies operate, not just Meta. They say the goal is to address what they describe as a youth mental health crisis linked to platform design. Meta, however, says it already invests heavily in child safety and claims many of the proposed measures are unnecessary or unworkable. The company also argues it is being unfairly singled out while many other apps used by teenagers face less regulation. It has invoked free speech protections, saying the proposed rules could restrict expression and interfere with parental authority. “The state’s proposed mandates infringe on parental rights and stifle free expression for all New Mexicans,” Meta said in a statement. The trial is the first to reach court among more than 40 similar lawsuits filed by U.S. state attorneys general against Meta over youth mental health concerns. Many of those cases are being handled in federal courts. Experts say the outcome could have wider implications for how social media companies are regulated in the future, especially if courts approve stricter requirements such as mandatory age verification. The first phase of the trial included six weeks of testimony from educators, mental health experts, investigators, Meta executives and former employees.