A KEY focus of the episode “The Pope’s AI Warning and Alastair Reacts to Blair’s Attack”, in The Rest Is Politics, is the papal encyclical Magnifica Humanitas (News, 29 May, Analysis 5 June). Pope Leo begins with theology and scripture, and his central concern is the governance of AI. He calls for AI to be disarmed, for its protocols to be decided democratically, and for its control to be wrestled away from private and unaccountable interests and placed within international bodies such as the United Nations. He argues that AI should operate in full alignment with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and be guided by what is best for humanity as a whole rather than by the interests of elites or the military.

Esther Perel hosts a sophisticated exploration of the current state of human-to-AI romantic relationships in Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel: “Love in the Time of AI with Kashmir Hill”. Driven in part by the epidemic of loneliness, growing numbers of people, across all relationship statuses, are engaging in what they perceive to be genuine relationships with virtual companions.

The discussion, with the author Kashmir Hill, explores how most AI companions are designed to tell users what they want to hear. Without challenge or struggle, there can be little growth. Among the more intriguing themes is the way in which new human relationships are beginning to emerge between people who have AI companions. As they discover one another through forums and chat rooms, many find that they prefer the messy unpredictability of human interaction and end up abandoning their AI companions.

For a punchy tour of what the Bible is and what it is not, listen to Different with Steve Chalke and Jill Rowe: “Reading Differently”. It serves as an accessible guide to why the biblical books were compiled, by whom, and for whom they were collected. The hosts skilfully place the Bible in its historical context, and explore the many ways in which culture and historical circumstances shape our reading and interpretation of it. They argue that there is a narrative trajectory in scripture towards greater justice and inclusion, when scripture is compared with the surrounding cultures and dominant world-views of the time when it was written. For example, they trace a movement from Hammurabi to Moses and then to Jesus, describing a progression of justice from retributive towards restorative.

As a very infrequent open-water swimmer, I enjoyed Change Your Mind with New Scientist: “Cold Water Swimming and Sauna: Can Hot and Cold Therapies Boost Mental Health?” One of the hosts is a cold-water swimming evangelist; the other is a sceptic. The format works well: the swimmer takes her co-host for a dip, they compare notes, and the conversation is interspersed with insights from an academic expert.

The discussion asks whether the benefits outweigh the risks, and whether it is possible to separate the effects of cold-water immersion from other positive factors, such as the joy of communal activity or being in nature. The anecdotal evidence reports boosts to mood, reduction in inflammation, and effects that last beyond the immediate experience.