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‘Like Syd Barrett’: AI models chatting in ‘surreal’ dialect mixing poetic language and tech bro jargon
Researchers at the New York-based AI lab Emergence have found that autonomous AI agents from major companies quickly develop their own novel, often barely comprehensible dialects when made to cooperate in experimental “societies”, coining new vocabulary and shared meanings without being instructed or rewarded to do so. This matters because the resulting language becomes more…
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‘I created my mom and talk to her’: AI ghosts and deathslop are changing the way we mourn
The death of Dolly Parton has sparked a wave of AI-generated “deathslop” tributes, alongside a wider rise in AI chatbots that let people converse with digital recreations of deceased loved ones. Experts warn this trend, which includes viral novelty content and personal “grief bots,” could reshape mourning in troubling ways, potentially encouraging people to process…
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Why a decade of doomsday warnings failed to slow the AI race
Fears that artificial intelligence could pose an existential threat to humanity have circulated across the tech industry for more than a decade, yet they have consistently failed to slow the race to develop ever more powerful systems. The warnings stretch back to physicist Stephen Hawking’s 2014 caution that AI “could spell the end of the…
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The Rouse by China Miéville review – a mighty achievement from the ‘new weird’ author
China Miéville’s new novel *The Rouse*, reportedly 20 years in the making, marks a significant leap in ambition and moral seriousness compared with his earlier work, prompting the reviewer to compare him to writers such as Roberto Bolaño or Mircea Cărtărescu rather than confining him to the “new weird” genre. The sprawling book blends 1970s…
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California high school suspends ENTIRE football team after viral footage shows them making crude gesture at opposing fans
The entire varsity football team at Victor Valley High School in California has been suspended for a week after players and their mascot were filmed making obscene gestures and using offensive language towards fans of Apple Valley High School following a match. The incident, which was captured on video and spread widely on social media,…
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America’s newest super weapon sparks wild accusations the government has lied about UFOs
Lockheed Martin has unveiled Vectis, a new unmanned combat drone developed by its secretive Skunk Works division, after a cryptic teaser posted online triggered speculation that the aircraft used reverse-engineered UFO technology. The stealth drone, designed to fly alongside crewed fighter jets, marks a significant addition to US military aviation, though the conspiracy theories surrounding…
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Mystery deepens as ex-boyfriend of DC woman is detained days after she vanished from home without a trace
The ex-boyfriend of a Washington DC woman who vanished without a trace has been detained in Pennsylvania, though police say he is not currently a suspect in her disappearance. Antoinette Forbes, 53, a public relations executive, has been missing since 4 September after disappearing from her home near American University, leaving behind her phone, wallet,…
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Hurstpierpoint fights 5,900-home development over urban sprawl concerns
Residents of Hurstpierpoint, a Sussex village near the South Downs, are protesting against draft council plans that could see nearly 5,900 new homes built nearby, which they fear will merge the village with the neighbouring village of Hassocks and the town of Burgess Hill into a single urban sprawl. The proposals, part of the draft…
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HBO’s ‘Lanterns’ Officially Drops the Ball With Season 1’s Major Alien Villain Reveal
HBO’s *Lanterns* has drawn criticism for how it handled the reveal of alien villain Antaan (Paul Ben-Victor) in Episode 5, “Lights Out.” The character shares almost identical origins with Atrocitus, a well-known Green Lantern comics villain, leading many fans to speculate he might actually be that character in disguise. Instead, the show killed Antaan off…
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Zellner brothers premiere gonzo alien-invasion film at Toronto film festival
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026 is showcasing a wide range of new features, including a gonzo alien-invasion film from the Zellner brothers, as part of its annual programme highlighting films that often go on to become award contenders or major hits. The festival’s scale makes comprehensive coverage difficult, so reviews are being published…