Your round-up of the latest, greatest data stories

Hello ODI Supporter,

Pope Leo has used the first major teaching of his papacy to warn that AI needs to be “disarmed”. While papal encyclicals are technically letters to Catholic bishops, they have been used in recent decades as messages to the world. Pope Leo took the unusual step of presenting the encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, not by himself, but alongside AI experts, including Christopher Olah, the atheist co-founder of Anthropic. The 42,000 word document lists the daunting challenges posed by AI, and urges political leaders to safeguard people as new technologies develop at a pace that outruns ethical regulation and control. It also examines the ethics of autonomous warfare, a topic that brought Olah into the firing line of the Trump administration at the beginning of the war with Iran in February. And how did the pope’s call for "robust legal frameworks, independent oversight, informed users and a political system that does not abdicate its responsibility" go down with the Trump administration? Let’s just say it was ‘mixed’.

As the UK government’s consultation of social media closed this week, the former Health Secretary (or current backbencher, if you want to look at it that way) Wes Streeting said that social media companies should be treated like the tobacco industry, and called for a ban on the technology for under-16s. His words echoes a report by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges that said social media and smartphone use “ranks alongside smoking and wearing seatbelts in cars as a unifying force for the medical profession”. Many campaigners and experts have voiced their opinions during the consultation, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met families who insist their children died as a result of social media use on Tuesday. Following the meeting, the PM vowed to take “decisive” action…and measures are expected within weeks. These could include age limits, or changes to design features that make the platforms addictive, such as infinite scrolling. While measures could be introduced by the end of the year, there is concern inside the government that they could be hit by legal challenges if the consultation process is not properly adhered to. More than 42,000 parents and 14,000 young people responded to the consultation, which had 81,000 responses in all…and is using AI to help sift through them. There has also been extensive lobbying by social media firms, who oppose any changes to their algorithms.

We’re delighted to announce that we’re an official partner of DigiGov Expo 2026. Registration opened this week, and complimentary tickets are available for the public sector for a limited time, so if that’s you, sign up for your pass now! The event takes place on 23 and 24 September at Excel London and we’ll be taking part in panel discussions across the event. Closer to home, tickets are still available for our webinar looking at the next generation of data sharing in the energy sector on Wednesday 10 June, 12:00-13:00. And don’t forget, our Executive Chair Prof Sir Nigel Shadbolt joins us on Thursday 16 July, 16:00-17:00 to cut through some of the critical issues in the field.

And finally… The Prince of Darkness is coming back!! Well, an AI avatar of him anyway. Less than a year after he died aged 76, Ozzy Osbourne will return as an AI avatar that can perform and have conversations with fans. And while fans have criticised the decision, saying it’s disrespectful and distasteful, his son revealed it’s totally something he talked to his dad about before the rock legend died. Wonder what Pope Leo makes of it…

Until next time. 

David and Jo

From the outside world

Pope Leo says AI must be 'disarmed' in first major teaching

BBC

Pope Leo has presented the first major teaching document of his papacy, warning that artificial intelligence needs to be "disarmed".

The Guardian view on the Pope and Claude: Leo XIV’s encyclical on AI is right to put humanity first

The Guardian

In calling for regulation of the digital revolution, and foregrounding human dignity, the pontiff has contributed to a crucial ethical debate.

Pope Leo warns about AI and calls for regulation as he quotes from The Lord Of The Rings

Sky news

It comes after Leo said days after his election that he considered AI to be the biggest challenge facing humanity.

Trump officials split over Pope Leo’s AI warning as Vatican feud enters new front

CNBC

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum dismissed Pope Leo XIV’s AI warning, opening a new front in the Trump administration’s feud with the Vatican, Vice President JD Vance praised the same message, exposing a split inside the administration as Trump pushes AI deregulation.

‘Like tobacco’: Wes Streeting calls for partial social media ban for under-16s

The Guardian

Exclusive: Former health secretary’s intervention comes as government closes consultation on age limits for platforms.

Mother of boy who may have died in TikTok challenge urges No 10 to ban social media

The Guardian

Ellen Roome, whose son, Jools Sweeney, was 14 when he died, wants a ban put in place for under-16s.

‘A tsunami of harm’: views on tackling online safety for under-16s in the UK

The Guardian

Campaigners, teenagers, legislators and experts give their opinions on the government’s social media consultation

Starmer vows to act on social media after meeting bereaved parents

BBC

The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to take "decisive" action to tackle the impact of social media on UK children, as the government's consultation on the matter draws to a close.

Labour set to announce crackdown on social media for children within weeks

The Guardian

Age limits and changes to allegedly addictive design features could be in place by the end of the year.

DigiGov Expo ‘26

The UK’s leading public sector tech event.

AI-powered version of Ozzy to appear in city

BBC

A new AI-powered avatar of Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne could make its first UK appearance in Birmingham.

Ozzy Osbourne AI avatar will be ‘so tasteful’, Jack Osbourne says after fan backlash

The Guardian

Lifesize avatar of former Black Sabbath frontman will be created by tech companies Hyperreal and Proto Hologram.

From the ODI

Next-generation data sharing in the energy sector

Free webinar, Wednesday 10 June 12-1pm BST, book now

Discover the key challenges and opportunities in improving data sharing in the energy sector.

In conversation with Sir Nigel Shadbolt

Free webinar, Thursday 16 July 4-5pm BST, book now

Join us for an exclusive event with Sir Nigel Shadbolt, one of the world’s leading authorities on artificial intelligence and open data.

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