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‘Love my woke pope': Why Leo’s first encyclical went viral and how it speaks to his papal approach

Pope Leo XIV has issued a manifesto calling for robust regulation of artificial intelligence. His first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” has sparked widespread online reactions.

 

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Amy Grant reflects on her new album, resisting labels and writing dark songs

Amy Grant’s new album, “The Me That Remains,” reflects her journey of healing after a serious bicycle accident in 2022.

 

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Tech is turning increasingly to religion in a quest to create ethical AI

Tech companies are increasingly seeking guidance from faith leaders to shape artificial intelligence.

 

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Cosmetic interventions are booming. Many say ethical conversations are lagging

Technological advancements have made cosmetic procedures more accessible but have also lead many to grapple with the philosophical and ethical implications.

 

Inside ‘Scientology speedruns,’ the viral trend prompting the church to bolster security

A social media trend has people “speedrunning” through Church of Scientology buildings. Participants film themselves entering properties and trying to gather information quickly.

 

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Music Review: Jessie Ware’s ‘Superbloom’ dives deep into disco, but the drama runs cool

Jessie Ware’s sixth album, “Superbloom,” takes listeners on a playful journey. The Associated Press’ Krysta Fauria writes in her review that Ware, once known for ethereal love ballads, further shifts to sexy, soulful tracks on her new album.

 

From ‘BuddhaBot’ to $1.99 chats with AI Jesus, the faith-based tech boom is here

The faith-based AI market is expanding, with tools for various religions. For example, there’s an AI Jesus that — for $1.99 per minute — will offer words of prayer and encouragement.

 

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‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ cast aren’t the only influencers sowing curiosity about the church

Latter-day Saint influencers have found an enthusiastic audience across the country, curious about their faith and family, but they are often imperfect and unofficial representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

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Music Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea realizes lifelong dream with solo jazz album, ‘Honora’

After decades with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, bassist Flea introduces a jazz-heavy solo debut in “Honora.”

 

3 Democratic pastors in Iowa are running for Congress, a snapshot of a national trend

More Democrats are openly running on faith, as progressive clergy and other religious candidates push back on the idea that Christianity belongs to the right.

 

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Music Review: Joyce Manor delivers nostalgia, polished and punk, in ‘I Used to Go to This Bar’

California pop-punk stalwarts Joyce Manor’s seventh album embraces their signature millennial nostalgia with a sound reminiscent of the early 2000s.

 

Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge

Faith-based films are gaining traction in Hollywood, with recent successes sparking renewed interest.

 

Converts are finding Eastern Orthodoxy online. The church wants to help them commune face-to-face

Eastern Orthodoxy in the U.S. is experiencing a surge in converts, partly due to online content. The Very Rev.

 

Nicolas Cage’s ‘The Carpenter’s Son’ turns an apocryphal text about Jesus’ youth into a horror film

Filmmaker Lotfy Nathan has turned the apocryphal Infancy Gospel of Thomas into a supernatural thriller called “The Carpenter’s Son,” starring Nicolas Cage.

 

Music Review: Florence + the Machine’s ‘Everybody Scream’ wrestles with greatness and mortality

Florence Welch explores her desire for greatness and the constraints she faces as a female artist in Florence + the Machine’s sixth album, “Everybody Scream.”

 

Following meteoric success — and some criticism — ‘Nobody Wants This’ evolves in Season 2

Netflix’s “Nobody Wants This” became a surprise hit last year, topping charts and drawing millions of viewers.

 

Music Review: Geese’s ‘Getting Killed’ is the inventive Brooklyn band’s most accessible album yet

Geese’s third studio album, “Getting Killed,” showcases a shift from their previous lo-fi post-punk style to a more accessible sound.

 

Jordan Peele’s ‘Him’ delves into Faustian bargains. What are you willing to sacrifice?

F.W. Murnau’s 1926 film “Faust” is hailed as one of the greatest silent films ever made. Its core plot element of a deal with the devil has become a lasting cinematic trope.

 

Music Review: King Princess scoffs at heartbreak on ‘Girl Violence’

King Princess showcases a return to their playful and irreverent style in “Girl Violence.” Their third album contrasts with their previous record, “Hold On Baby,” by embracing a more upbeat tone despite themes of heartbreak and longing.

 

How Silicon Valley is using religious language to talk about AI

As the rapid, unregulated development of artificial intelligence continues, the language people in Silicon Valley use to describe it is becoming increasingly religious.

 

AI Apocalypse? Why language surrounding tech is sounding increasingly religious

Geoffrey Hinton is sounding the alarm about the risks of artificial intelligence. He believes AI could become a superintelligent entity that might threaten humanity.

 

Music Review: Cult hero Alex G’s ‘Headlights’ is an introspective meditation on fame

Influential indie rock Alex G’s major label debut album is called “Headlights.” Releasing Friday, the album is an introspective meditation on fame, The Associated Press’ Krysta Fauria writes in her review.

 

Sean Baker reflects on becoming a ‘weird spokesperson’ for theatergoing

Sean Baker used his acceptance speech for best director at this year’s Academy Awards to make a pitch for seeing movies in cinemas.

 

Sen. Padilla is forcefully removed from Noem’s news conference on immigration raids and handcuffed

Democratic U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla of California has been forcefully removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s news conference in Los Angeles and handcuffed by officers as he tried to speak up about immigration raids that have led to protests in California and elsewhere.

 

Homeland Security secretary pledges to carry on with Trump’s immigration crackdown

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is promising to move forward with the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Los Angeles despite the waves of unrest.

 

For Sharon Van Etten, making her latest album was both spiritual and psychological

Sharon Van Etten’s bandmates had one stipulation when she told them her idea for the name of her seventh album.

 

Movie Review: Mr. Miyagi’s absence is felt in ‘Karate Kid: Legends’

Mr. Miyagi was known for waxing poetic. So the fact that “Karate Kid: Legends” has nothing to say is all the more disappointing.

 

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‘Hannah Montana’ fans, rejoice: Miley Cyrus’ ‘Something Beautiful’ is a return to form

For longtime Miley Cyrus fans, the singer’s ninth studio album is bound to live up to its name. It truly is “Something Beautiful.”

 

Music Review: Virtuosic guitarist Ty Segall finds a new sweet spot on his laid-back ‘Possession’

Much of Ty Segall’s prolific career has been characterized by a sludgy intensity. But his 16th LP, “Possession,’' crystalizes a new, less-aggressive era for the indie rocker, The Associated Press’ Krysta Fauria writes in her review.

 

Sparks has been making music for more than half a century. They see no reason to retire

They’ve spent more than half a century together as bandmates and put out dozens of records. But the brothers behind the art-pop band Sparks have no intention of retiring anytime soon.

 

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