• Groom's X-Rated Antics at the Altar Turn Wedding Kiss into Scandal, Leaving Guests Stunned

  A video showing a groom's outrageous behavior at his own wedding has taken social media by storm. In a rather unconventional way of celebrating his big “I do,” the man skipped the traditional altar kiss, buried his face in his bride's cleavage and began shaking his head. His provocative stunt made the newlywed burst into laughter but left etiquette experts outraged...

• AI-Generated Singer Announces Pregnancy and Quits Band — Fans Didn’t Realize She Wasn’t Real

  Social media users were left confused after news broke that Mity, a member of the Chinese pop group Baby Queen, had announced her pregnancy and decided to take a temporary break from the band. Many fans only then discovered that the group and its members were entirely AI-generated, the Daily Mail reports...

• Three Hours for Makeup and Household Chores: Japanese Prime Minister’s Admission Sparks Public Debate

  Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said her daily schedule is significantly more demanding than those of her male predecessors. In addition to her official duties, she spends several hours a day on makeup, bathing, cooking and other household tasks. Her remarks have sparked a heated debate about gender stereotypes and the expectations placed on Japanese women, The New York Times reports...

• “Grandparents Now Need Permission to Hug”: Controversial Ad Pulled After Backlash

  A controversy has erupted in Ireland over a public awareness campaign urging grandparents to ask their grandchildren for permission before hugging them. The video, created by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and funded by the Department of Justice, sparked accusations of absurd political correctness, disrespect toward older people and the misuse of public funds. The justice minister eventually demanded that the video be taken down...

• The Pharaohs Forgot to Sign the Paperwork: Scottish Museum Removes Mummies Over Lack of Consent

  A scandal worthy of a museum exhibit of its own has erupted in Scotland: ancient Egyptian remains have been removed from a Glasgow museum because people who died thousands of years ago never gave permission for their bodies to be displayed in public. Visitors are now greeted by explanatory signs instead of mummies — apparently the safest exhibit in an era when even pharaohs have suddenly been found to have personal-boundary issues...

• Hermès Steps Up Boutique Security After Riots in France

  French luxury house Hermès has tightened security at its stores following widespread protests in France, during which one of the brand’s boutiques in Marseille was looted. The company is also facing a new challenge: demand for its products is slowing, and sales of clothing and accessories have declined for the first time in several years, Reuters reports...

• Outrage Over Inaccessible Luxury: Why Dior and Hermès Boutiques Were Looted in France

  Riots in France have led to the looting of boutiques belonging to Dior, Celine, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent. Images of ransacked stores have become some of the most widely discussed scenes from the protests sweeping the country. But, as The New York Times fashion critic Vanessa Friedman observes, the attacks on luxury brands may reflect not only street violence but also growing resentment over social inequality...

• Luxury Yachts, Secret Palaces and Private Hunting Grounds: How the World’s Most Brutal Dictators Spent Their Holidays

  While millions of North Koreans struggle with hardship, Kim Jong Un appears to spend his summers very differently — aboard a luxury yacht equipped with swimming pools and water slides, the Daily Mail reports...

People working in the artificial intelligence industry have reportedly taken up smoking to demonstrate just how strongly they believe AI will be able to save humanity from any threat — including the consequences of unhealthy habits. Palantir Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar described the phenomenon as “mass psychosis” and a “collective delusion.”

In a recent interview with CBS, Sankar said some AI researchers were using cigarettes as a kind of symbol of their faith in the technology.

“So many AI researchers have started smoking to show other AI researchers how much they believe in AI,” he said. The journalist responded by pointing out that the behavior made little sense.

Sankar explained the thinking behind it as a belief that AI would eventually be capable of solving even humanity’s most difficult problems.

“I believe so much in AI being able to cure cancer that I’m putting all my chips on it,” he said, describing the supposed reasoning behind the trend. He compared this attitude to “mass psychosis” and a “social delusion.”

According to the executive, people have a kind of “God-shaped hole” within them, and in Silicon Valley, artificial intelligence is increasingly filling that void.

His comments come amid fierce debate over the future of the technology. Last month, Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon resigned, warning that the development of AI could lead to the extinction of humanity.

“There is a substantial chance that this technology could kill everyone,” he told NBC News, stressing that he was neither exaggerating nor using a publicity stunt to make his point.

Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram