Nuclear technology

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Still ahead, what our guest thinks about the comparison between AI and nuclear technology and how the race with China complicates any efforts to slow down, plus what everyday people can actually do if they're worried about where this is headed.

But first, a break for our sponsors.

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That's rosettastone.com/newsworthy.

Now back to my conversation with Neil Thompson.

[upbeat music] I think it was when ChatGPT first came out, we interviewed someone who compared AI to nuclear technology, saying, "You know, this can be used for extraordinary good, but also potentially catastrophic harm." And this was years ago, saying nuclear weapons already can kill us all if humans choose to use them in that way.

So do you think that's a useful comparison today, or does AI at this point create even a fundamentally different kind of danger?

Pope Leo's reflections on the legacy of Saint Augustine, delivered when he was head of the Augustinians, have been published in a new book today.

The Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations calls for the responsible use of nuc- nuclear technology.

And the East Asian Pastoral Institute, committed to offering ongoing formation in pastoral ministry, celebrates its 60th anniversary.

From the Vatican, I'm Christopher Wells.

I'm Devin Watkins.

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In remarks at the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Commit-- Agency, IAEA, currently underway in Vienna, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher has called for the responsible use of nuclear technology, which he said is inseparable from the commitments and responsibilities that accompany it.

The Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations also expressed concern regarding the protection of nuclear facilities in situations of armed conflict.

I wanted to read that paragraph there.

In a recent IEEE Spectrum article, a new NASA-designed turbochargers nuclear spacecraft by Kurt Polzin, chief engineer of NASA's Space Nuclear Propulsion Project at the Marshall Space Flight Center, and Robert Schleicher, Chief Engineer for Nuclear Technologies and Materials at General Atomics.

They describe a synchronal bimodal nuclear rocket that uses both nuclear thermal propulsion and nuclear electric propulsion.

Damn.