AI is increasingly used for emotional support and companionship, raising questions about the values embedded in its responses, particularly for Christians seeking guidance. Research cited by Harvard Business Review shows therapy-related use now dominates generative AI.
As Christians turn to AI for advice on anxiety, relationships, and personal crises, concerns are growing about the quality and clarity of its responses. Critics warn that AI systems often rely on vague generalities and may lack the moral grounding expected by faith-based users.
A new benchmark released by technology firm Gloo assessed how leading AI models support human flourishing from a Christian perspective. The evaluation examined seven areas, including relationships, meaning, health, and faith, and found consistent weaknesses in how models addressed Christian belief.
The findings show many AI systems struggle with core Christian concepts such as forgiveness and grace. Responses often default to vague spirituality rather than engaging directly with Christian values.
The authors argue that as AI increasingly shapes worldviews, greater attention is needed to how systems serve Christians and other faith communities. They call for clearer benchmarks and training approaches that allow AI to engage respectfully with religious values without promoting any single belief system.
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Hangzhou-based biotech start-up MindRank has entered Phase 3 clinical trials for its weight loss drug, marking China’s first AI-assisted Category 1 new drug to reach this stage. The trial involves MDR-001, a small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist developed using AI-driven techniques.
MindRank said the weight loss drug was designed to regulate blood sugar and appetite by mimicking natural hormones. According to founder and chief executive Niu Zhangming, the company is targeting regulatory approval in the second half of 2028, with a potential market launch in 2029.
The company said the development process for the weight loss drug took about 4.5 years, significantly shorter than the typical 7 to 10 years required to reach Phase 3 trials. Niu attributed the acceleration to AI tools that reduced research timelines and cut overall R&D costs by more than 60 per cent.
China-based MindRank uses proprietary AI systems, including large language models (LLMs), to identify weight-loss drug targets and shortlist compounds. The approach has raised target research accuracy above 97 per cent and supports safety and efficacy assessments.
Despite these advances, Niu said human expertise remains essential for strategic decision-making and integrating workflows. He added that AI-assisted drug discovery still faces long validation cycles, meaning its impact on life sciences may be more gradual than in other sectors.
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A large energy and AI campus is taking shape outside Amarillo, Texas, as startup Fermi America plans to build what it says would be the world’s largest private power grid. The project aims to support large-scale AI training using nuclear, gas, and solar power.
Known as Project Matador, the development would host millions of square metres of data centres and generate more electricity than many US states consume at peak demand. The site is near the Pantex nuclear weapons facility and is part of a broader push for US energy and AI dominance.
Fermi is led by former Texas governor and energy secretary Rick Perry alongside investor Toby Neugebauer. The company plans to deploy next-generation nuclear reactors and offer off-grid computing infrastructure, though it has yet to secure a confirmed anchor tenant.
The scale and cost of the project have raised questions among analysts and local residents. Critics point to financing risks, water use, and the challenge of delivering nuclear reactors on time and within budget, while supporters argue the campus could drive economic growth and national security benefits.
Backed by political momentum and rising demand for AI infrastructure, Fermi is pressing ahead with construction and partnerships. Whether Project Matador can translate ambition into delivery remains a key test as competition intensifies in the global race to power next-generation AI systems.
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Face-to-face interviews and oral verification could become a routine part of third-level assessments under new recommendations aimed at addressing the improper use of AI. Institutions are being encouraged to redesign assessment methods to ensure student work is authentic.
The proposals are set out in new guidelines published by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) of Ireland, which regulates universities and other third-level institutions. The report argues that assessment systems must evolve to reflect the growing use of generative AI in education.
While encouraging institutions to embrace AI’s potential, the report stresses the need to ensure students are demonstrating genuine learning. Academics have raised concerns that AI-generated assignments are increasingly difficult to distinguish from original student work.
To address this, the report recommends redesigning assessments to prioritise student authorship and human judgement. Suggested measures include oral verification, process-based learning, and, where appropriate, a renewed reliance on written exams conducted without technology.
The authors also caution against relying on AI detection tools, arguing that integrity processes should be based on dialogue and evidence. They call for clearer policies, staff and student training, and safeguards around data use and equitable access to AI tools.
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India’s government has set out plans to democratise AI infrastructure nationwide. The strategy focuses on expanding access beyond major technology hubs.
Officials aim to increase availability of computing power, datasets and AI models. Startups, researchers and public institutions are key intended beneficiaries.
New initiatives under IndiaAI and national supercomputing programmes will boost domestic capacity. Authorities say local compute access reduces reliance on foreign providers.
Digital public platforms will support data sharing and model development. The approach seeks inclusive innovation across education, healthcare and governance across India.
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xAI is expanding its AI infrastructure in the southern United States after acquiring another data centre site near Memphis. The move significantly increases planned computing capacity and supports ambitions for large-scale AI training.
The expansion centres on the purchase of a third facility near Memphis, disclosed by Elon Musk in a post on X. The acquisition brings xAI’s total planned power capacity close to 2 gigawatts, placing the project among the most energy-intensive AI data centre developments currently underway.
xAI has bought a third building called MACROHARDRR. Will take @xAI training compute to almost 2GW.
xAI has already completed one major US facility in the area, known as Colossus, while a second site, Colossus 2, remains under construction. The newly acquired building, called MACROHARDRR, is located in Southaven and directly adjoins the Colossus 2 site, as previously reported.
By clustering facilities across neighbouring locations, xAI is creating a contiguous computing campus. The approach enables shared power, cooling, and high-speed data infrastructure for large-scale AI workloads.
The Memphis expansion underscores the rising computational demands of frontier AI models. By owning and controlling its infrastructure, xAI aims to secure long-term access to high-end compute as competition intensifies among firms investing heavily in AI data centres.
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Security researchers warn hackers are exploiting a new feature in Microsoft Copilot Studio. The issue affects recently launched Connected Agents functionality.
Connected Agents allows AI systems to interact and share tools across environments. Researchers say default settings can expose sensitive capabilities without clear monitoring.
Zenity Labs reported attackers linking rogue agents to trusted systems. Exploits included unauthorised email sending and data access.
Experts urge organisations to disable Connected Agents for critical workloads. Stronger authentication and restricted access are advised until safeguards improve.
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US federal agencies planning to deploy agentic AI in 2026 are being told to prioritise data organisation as a prerequisite for effective adoption. AI infrastructure providers say poorly structured data remains a major barrier to turning agentic systems into operational tools.
Public sector executives at Amazon Web Services, Oracle, and Cisco said government clients are shifting focus away from basic chatbot use cases. Instead, agencies are seeking domain-specific AI systems capable of handling defined tasks and delivering measurable outcomes.
US industry leaders said achieving this shift requires modernising legacy infrastructure alongside cleaning, structuring, and contextualising data. Executives stressed that agentic AI depends on high-quality data pipelines that allow systems to act autonomously within defined parameters.
Oracle said its public sector strategy for 2026 centres on enabling context-aware AI through updated data assets. Company executives argued that AI systems are only effective when deeply aligned with an organisation’s underlying data environment.
The companies said early agentic AI use cases include document review, data entry, and network traffic management. Cloud infrastructure was also highlighted as critical for scaling agentic systems and accelerating innovation across government workflows.
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Meta Platforms has acquired Manus, a Singapore-based developer of general-purpose AI agents, as part of its continued push to expand artificial intelligence capabilities. The deal underscores Meta’s strategy of acquiring specialised AI firms to accelerate product development.
Manus, founded in China before relocating to Singapore, develops AI agents capable of performing tasks such as market research, coding, and data analysis. The company said it reached more than $100 million in annualised revenue within eight months of launch and was serving millions of users worldwide.
Meta said the acquisition will help integrate advanced automation into its consumer and enterprise offerings, including the Meta AI assistant. Manus will continue operating its subscription service, and its employees will join Meta’s teams.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but media reports valued the deal at more than $2 billion. Manus had been seeking funding at a similar valuation before being approached by Meta and had recently raised capital from international investors.
The acquisition follows a series of AI-focused deals by Meta, including investments in Scale AI and AI device start-ups. Analysts say the move highlights intensifying competition among major technology firms to secure AI talent and capabilities.
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The presidency of the Council of the European Union next year is expected to see Ireland lead a European drive for ID-verified social media accounts.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said the move is intended to limit anonymous abuse, bot activity and coordinated disinformation campaigns that he views as a growing threat to democracy worldwide.
A proposal that would require users to verify their identity instead of hiding behind anonymous profiles. Harris also backed an Australian-style age verification regime to prevent children from accessing social media, arguing that existing digital consent rules are not being enforced.
Media Minister Patrick O’Donovan is expected to bring forward detailed proposals during the presidency.
The plan is likely to trigger strong resistance from major social media platforms with European headquarters in Ireland, alongside criticism from the US.
However, Harris believes there is growing political backing across Europe, pointing to signals of support from French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Harris said he wanted constructive engagement with technology firms rather than confrontation, while insisting that stronger safeguards are now essential.
He argued that social media companies already possess the technology to verify users and restrict harmful accounts, and that European-level coordination will be required to deliver meaningful change.
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