Responses to artificial intelligence are coming thick and fast. The Pope, in his recent 42,000-word encyclical, ‘Magnifica Humanitas’, counsels caution, pointing out that AI lacks a moral conscience and shows no guiding concern for the greater human good. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair positions himself as an out and out proponent in the extended essay published by his institute – perhaps unsurprisingly given the large sums flowing to it from Larry Ellison, the multi-billionaire co-founder of the technology company, Oracle. Meanwhile, as this edition went to press, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) sought to protect publishers and the public from some of the most obviously detrimental effects of AI, with Will Hayter, the CMA’s Executive Director for Digital Markets, stating that it’s important that ‘people can trust what they’re reading.’

Those focused on the speed at which AI is developing emphasise the potential tipping point when recursive upgrade could mean machines elude human control – a concept known as ‘technological singularity’. Those focused on the damage being done to the climate, mental health, human rights, the rule of law and democracy also tend to have serious concerns about excessive concentrations of wealth and power in the hands of very few – the ‘technoligarchy’. The potential tipping point here is that governments and democratically elected representatives lose the ability to introduce meaningful control and protect the climate, people’s mental health, human rights and democracy itself, through the introduction of legislation in the public interest.

The articles in this edition – while also covering US President Donald Trump’s war in Iran and attempts to rebuild justice and rule of law in Syria, among other pressing issues − have something of a tech and AI focus. The feature, ‘Setting the standards for AI’, looks in depth at ongoing attempts around the world to make sense of the transformative effects of technology and AI. Our technology columnist looks at the ‘Gathering clouds over data centres’, including extreme harm to the environment. Our cover feature, ‘Defending democracy: Europe’s endeavours to resist big tech’, points out that the serious damage to democracy inflicted by tech companies has been significant for at least ten years, given former FBI chief Robert Mueller’s investigation concluded that Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election won by Trump was ‘sweeping and systemic’, including its social media ‘information warfare’. The need for concerted action is long overdue and increasingly urgent.

Read Global Insight's June-July 2026 edition