LOGOS, a digital tool developed by the Metropolis of Nea Ionia, Filadelfia, Iraklio and Halkidona alongside the University of the Aegean, has marked the Church of Greece’s entry into the age of AI.
The tool gathers information on questions of Christian faith and provides clear, practical answers instead of replacing human guidance.
Metropolitan Gabriel, who initiated the project, emphasised that LOGOS does not substitute priests but acts as a guide, bringing believers closer to the Church. He said the Church must engage the digital world, insisting that technology should serve humanity instead of the other way around.
An AI tool that also supports younger users, allowing them to safely access accurate information on Orthodox teachings and counter misleading or harmful content found online. While it cannot receive confessions, it offers prayers and guidance to prepare believers spiritually.
The Church views LOGOS as part of a broader strategy to embrace digital tools responsibly, ensuring that faith remains accessible and meaningful in the modern technological landscape.
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OpenAI has announced significant enhancements to its text-to-video app Sora. The update introduces new features including pet and object ‘cameos’ in AI-generated videos, expanded video editing tools, social sharing elements and a forthcoming Android version of the app.
Using the new pet cameo feature, users will be able to upload photos of their pets or objects and then incorporate them into animated video scenes generated by Sora. The objective is to deepen personalisation and creative expression by letting users centre their own non-human characters.
Sora is also gaining editing capabilities that simplify the creation process. Users can remix existing videos, apply stylistic changes, and integrate social-type features like feeds where others’ creations can be viewed and shared. The Android app is noted as ‘coming soon’ which expands Sora’s accessibility beyond the iOS/web initial release.
The move reflects OpenAI’s strategy to transition Sora from an experimental novelty into a more fully featured social video product. By enabling user-owned content (pets/objects), expanding sharing functionality and broadening platform reach, Sora is positioned to compete in the generative video and social media landscape.
At the same time, the update raises questions around content use, copyright (especially when user-owned pets or objects are included), deepfake risks, and moderation. Given Sora’s prior scrutiny over synthetic media, the expansion into more personalised video may prompt further regulatory or ethical review.
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Albania’s AI minister Diella will ‘give birth’ to 83 virtual assistants for ruling-party MPs, Prime Minister Edi Rama said, framing a quirky rollout of parliamentary copilots that record debates and propose responses.
Diella began in January as a public-service chatbot on e-Albania, then ‘Diella 2.0’ added voice and an avatar in traditional dress. Built with Microsoft by the National Agency for Information Society, it now oversees specific state tech contracts.
The legality is murky: the constitution of Albania requires ministers to be natural persons. A presidential decree left Rama’s responsibility to establish the role and set up likely court tests from opposition lawmakers.
Rama says the ‘children’ will brief MPs, summarise absences, and suggest counterarguments through 2026, experimenting with automating the day-to-day legislative grind without replacing elected officials.
Reactions range from table-thumping scepticism to cautious curiosity, as other governments debate AI personhood and limits; Diella could become a template, or a cautionary tale for ‘ministerial’ bots.
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Deepfake videos created by AI platforms like OpenAI’s Sora have gone viral, generating hyper-realistic clips of deceased celebrities and historical figures in often offensive scenarios.
Families of figures like Dr Martin Luther King Jr have publicly appealed to AI firms to prevent using their loved ones’ likenesses, highlighting ethical concerns around the technology.
Beyond the emotional impact, Dr Kevin Grecksch of Oxford University warns that producing deepfakes carries a significant environmental footprint. Instead of occurring on phones, video generation happens in data centres that consume vast amounts of electricity and water for cooling, often at industrial scales.
The surge in deepfake content has been rapid, with Sora downloaded over a million times in five days. Dr Grecksch urges users to consider the environmental cost, suggesting more integrated thinking about where data centres are built and how they are cooled to minimise their impact.
As governments promote AI growth areas like South Oxfordshire, questions remain over sustainable infrastructure. Users are encouraged to balance technological enthusiasm with environmental mindfulness, recognising the hidden costs behind creating and sharing AI-generated media.
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The European Commission has accused Meta and TikTok of breaching the Digital Services Act (DSA), highlighting failures in handling illegal content and providing researchers access to public data.
Meta’s Facebook and Instagram were found to make it too difficult for users to report illegal content or receive responses to complaints, the Commission said in its preliminary findings.
Investigations began after complaints to Ireland’s content regulator, where Meta’s EU base is located. The Commission’s inquiry, which has been ongoing since last year, aims to ensure that large platforms protect users and meet EU safety obligations.
Meta and TikTok can submit counterarguments before penalties of up to six percent of global annual turnover are imposed.
Both companies face separate concerns about denying researchers adequate access to platform data and preventing oversight of systemic online risks. TikTok is under further examination for minor protection and advertising transparency issues.
The Commission has launched 14 such DSA-related proceedings, none concluded.
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Instagram is rolling out generative AI editing for Stories, expanding June’s tools with smarter prompts and broader effects. Type what you want removed or changed, and Meta AI does it. Think conversational edits, similar to Google Photos.
New controls include an Add Yours sticker for sharing your custom look with friends. A Presets browser shows available styles at a glance. Seasonal effects launch for Halloween, Diwali, and more.
Restyle Video brings preset effects to short clips, with options to add flair or remove objects. Edits aim to be fast, fun, and reversible. Creativity first, heavy lifting handled by AI.
Text gets a glow-up: Instagram is testing AI restyle for captions. Pick built-ins like ‘chrome’ or ‘balloon,’ or prompt Meta AI for custom styles.
Meta AI hasn’t wowed Instagram users, but this could change sentiment. The pitch: fewer taps, better results, and shareable looks. If it sticks, creating Stories becomes meaningfully easier.
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OpenAI acquired Software Applications Incorporated, the maker of Sky, to accelerate the development of interfaces that understand context, adapt to intent, and act across apps. Sky’s macOS layer sees what’s on screen and executes tasks. Its team joins OpenAI to bake these capabilities into ChatGPT.
Sky turns the Mac into a cooperative workspace for writing, planning, coding, and daily tasks. It can control native apps, invoke workflows, and ground actions in on-screen context. That tight integration now becomes a core pillar of ChatGPT’s product roadmap.
OpenAI says the goal is capability plus usability: not just answers, but actions completed in your tools. VP Nick Turley framed it as moving from prompts to productivity. Expect ChatGPT features that feel ambient, proactive, and native on desktop.
Sky’s founders say large language models finally enable intuitive, customizable computing. CEO Ari Weinstein described Sky as a layer that ‘floats’ over your desktop, helping you think and create. OpenAI plans to bring that experience to hundreds of millions of users.
A disclosure notes that a fund associated with Sam Altman held a passive stake in Software Applications Incorporated. Nick Turley and Fidji Simo led the deal. OpenAI’s independent Transaction and Audit Committees reviewed and approved the acquisition.
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Edge says the browser should work with you, not just wait for clicks. Copilot Mode adds chat-first tabs, multi-tab reasoning, and a dynamic pane for in-context help. Plan trips, compare options, and generate schedules without tab chaos.
Microsoft Copilot now resumes past sessions, so projects pick up exactly where you stopped. It can execute multi-step actions, like building walking tours, end-to-end. Optional history signals improve suggestions and speed up research-heavy tasks.
Voice controls handle quick actions and deeper chores with conversational prompts. Ask Copilot to open pages, summarise threads, or unsubscribe you from promo emails. Reservations and other multi-step chores are rolling out next.
Journeys groups past browsing into topic timelines for fast re-entry, with explicit opt-in. Privacy controls are prominent: clear cues when Copilot listens, acts, or views. You can toggle Copilot Mode off anytime.
Security features round things out: local AI blocks scareware overlays by default. Built-in password tools continuously create, store, and monitor credentials. Copilot Mode is in all Copilot markets on Edge desktop and mobile and is coming soon.
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Microsoft has unveiled a new AI companion called Mico, designed to replace the infamous Clippy as the friendly face of its Copilot assistant. The animated avatar, shaped like a glowing flame or blob, reacts emotionally and visually during conversations with users.
Executives said Mico aims to balance warmth and utility, offering human-like cues without becoming intrusive. Unlike Clippy, the character can easily be switched off and is intended to feel supportive rather than persistent or overly personal.
Mico’s launch reflects growing debate about personality in AI assistants as tech firms navigate ethical concerns. Microsoft stressed that its focus remains on productivity and safety, distancing itself from flirtatious or emotionally manipulative AI designs seen elsewhere.
The character will first appear in US versions of Copilot on laptops and mobile apps. Microsoft also revealed an AI tutoring mode for students, reinforcing its efforts to create more educational and responsibly designed AI experiences.
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Meta has announced new AI safety tools to give parents greater control over how teenagers use its AI features. The update will first launch on Instagram, allowing parents to disable one-on-one chats between teens and AI characters.
Parents will be able to block specific AI assistants and see topics teens discuss with them. Meta said the goal is to encourage transparency and support families as young users learn to navigate AI responsibly.
Teen protections already include PG-13-guided responses and restrictions on sensitive discussions, such as self-harm or eating disorders. The company said it also uses AI detection systems to apply safeguards when suspected minors misreport their age.
The new parental controls will roll out in English early next year across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Meta said it will continue updating features to address parents’ concerns about privacy, safety, and teen wellbeing online.
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