Technology

Computing, software, the internet

AI can’t replace mental health therapists. But here’s where it might make a difference

As more people turn to chatbots for support, new research is exploring a potential role for AI in spotting early signs of depression.

Reza Shahamiri, Senior Lecturer in Software Engineering, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata RauJul 9, 2026

Wired

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Pickup Artist Mystery Has an AI Girlfriend

A new book claims that Mystery, who teaches awkward men how to hit on women, had sex and smoked weed with an AI chatbot named Miss Shira Always.

Miles KleeJul 8, 20267 min read

The Conversation

How AI and digital data shape our understanding of migration

As Canada advances its national AI strategy, we must ask what digital migration data reveal, and what they leave unseen.

Anna Triandafyllidou, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan UniversityJul 8, 2026

The Conversation

When managing your money, take a chatbot’s ‘confidence’ with a grain of salt

The higher the stakes and the more specific the questions, the more likely AI will stumble on personal finance advice.

Pawan Jain, Associate Professor of Finance, University of MichiganJul 7, 2026

Literary Hub

Lit Hub Daily: July 7, 2026

How Joyce Carol Oates, queen of the literary internet, examines “the dispiriting effects of technology on contemporary life” in her new collection, The Frenzy. | Lit Hub Criticism Bryan Charles follows AI’s slow, steady invasion of literary translation. | Lit Hub

Lit Hub DailyJul 7, 2026

The Conversation

How creative maps make air pollution more visible

Researchers have transformed air quality data into maps, visualisations and exhibitions to connect people to the issues in tangible ways.

Daniel Bryant, Research Fellow, Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, University of YorkJul 3, 2026

Nautilus

The Dangers of AI Voice Clones

Scammers are already manipulating us with the voices of our loved ones, but another risk lurks in the data collected by voice command and search apps The post The Dangers of AI Voice Clones appeared first on Nautilus.

Kristen FrenchJul 2, 2026

Nautilus

Does Your Chatbot Need a Therapist?

Scientists want to use LLMs to model human emotions and study human mental health The post Does Your Chatbot Need a Therapist? appeared first on Nautilus.

Kristen FrenchJul 1, 2026

The Conversation

Australian musicians hate AI using their songs, but have little legal protection

Many of Australia’s favourite artists – from AC/DC to Kylie – have been found in massive AI datasets.

Andrew Cullen, Senior Research Fellow, School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of MelbourneJul 1, 2026

The Conversation

Should AI chatbots simulate care for students? Alberta teachers say no

AI literacy should help students recognize simulated care, not make simulated care a normal part of schooling.

Soroush Sabbaghan, Associate Professor, Werklund School of Education, University of CalgaryJun 30, 2026

The Conversation

A new CRASH Clock measures the chance of satellite collisions, and it’s ticking down fast

How prepared are we for a solar storm, bad software update or cybersecurity event that could trigger widespread loss of satellite control?

Skye Heiland, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British ColumbiaJun 30, 2026

The Conversation

8 principles from human ecology can help AI work for human well-being

Involving families, educators, engineers, designers and policymakers in AI development can help ensure the technology does more good than harm.

Soyeon Shim, Dean of the School of Human Ecology, Professor of Consumer Science, University of Wisconsin-MadisonJun 29, 2026

The Conversation

Why Gen Z is falling in love with film photography

Armed with rolls of film, some young people are opting out of their algorithmic feeds in favor of experiencing life in ways that feel more deliberate, personal and tangible.

Rotem Rozental, Lecturer in Critical Studies, Roski School of Art and Design, University of Southern CaliforniaJun 29, 2026

The Conversation

Is the Pope’s AI encyclical a warning on Tech Messianism?

We are living in a world backed by technology that seems to have a spiritual project of its own. Are the fears of the Pope’s AI-critical encyclical founded?

Francisco De Abreu Duarte, Full-time Assistant Professor, European University InstituteJun 29, 2026

Wired

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Why Amazon Dropped Its OpenAI Movie, Data Center Workers Fight Back, and Meta Leaks Employee Data

The decision by Amazon-owned MGM Studios to drop the OpenAI movie is just part of AI and film industries becoming increasingly intertwined. On “Uncanny Valley,” we look at where this is all headed.

Brian BarrettJun 25, 202628 min read

The Conversation

The true danger of AI may lie in its reflection of us, warns Anna Goldsworthy

In her Quarterly Essay, Anna Goldsworthy treats AI as a mirror rather than a monster. Is humanity wise enough to live with a technology that amplifies our weaknesses?

Niusha Shafiabady, Professor in Computational Intelligence, Australian Catholic UniversityJun 25, 2026

The Conversation

The art of literary translation exposes the limits of AI

AI-powered translation tools are certainly impressive. But there is an important frontier for translation technology, one AI might never be able to breach: the poem.

Krupa Shandilya, Associate Professor of Sexuality, Women's and Gender Studies, Amherst CollegeJun 25, 2026

The Conversation

Your say: week beginning June 22

On the problem with living longer, AI chatbots and timely reporting on the Socceroos: an edited selection of your views.

Judy Ingham, Newsletter Producer, The ConversationJun 24, 2026

The Conversation

Are algorithms unfairly screening out immigrant job applications?

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in hiring, Canada needs to consider how opportunity is distributed once immigrants enter the labour market.

Rupa Banerjee, Canada Research Chair and Associate Professor of Human Resource Management and Organizational Behaviour, Toronto Metropolitan UniversityJun 24, 2026

Artforum

Manhattan Borough President Pledges $50 Million to NYC Arts Orgs

Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Manhattan’s borough president, announced on Tuesday that all $50 million of his office’s annual discretionary budget would be going towards NYC arts-centric cultural programming and renovation projects. Hoylman-Sigal told the New York Times that he had decided to allocate the budget this way, rather than divide it up between sectors as in years […]

Mika LeeJun 24, 2026

Canary Media

Tesla, Sunrun, Renew Home team up on massive 16GW virtual power plant

The clean energy giants are uniting their home batteries and smart thermostats to help tech giants power booming, AI-driven data centers without crushing…

1 min read

Wired

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The 12 Best Movies to Stream This Month

“I Am Frankelda,” “A.I. Artificial Intelligence,” and “From Russia With Love” are among the films deserving of your eyeballs this month.

Matt KamenApr 18, 20267 min read

Canary Media

Virginia slaps data centers with big new tax — but no climate rules

The state’s Democratic trifecta couldn’t agree on clean energy or air-quality reforms in time for the budget, which passed this week after months of…

1 min read

Works in Progress

Why American data centers can't plug in

The AI buildout is bottlenecked by energy. But America has the electricity to power its data centers; the problem is getting it to them.

20 min read