Artificial Intelligence never sleeps. While the big headlines go to ChatGPT updates and AI startups raising billions, some of the most fascinating, bizarre, and boundary-pushing developments in AI are flying under the radar. Here’s a round-up of recent stories that you may have missed, but definitely deserve your attention. From AI-generated films and spiritual influencers to resurrected voices and political propaganda machines, welcome to the AI multiverse you didn’t know you were living in.
1. Cinema from the Cloud: AI-Generated Film Debuts at Berlin Film Festival
At the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, a film unlike any other made its debut: What’s Next? by Chinese director Cao Yiwen. Clocking in at 72 minutes, the film is made entirely of AI-generated video clips, cobbled together using tools like Runway and Discord-based image generators. The narrative digs into themes of feminism, capitalism, and post-pandemic existentialism.
What sets this film apart isn’t just its method of production, but the philosophical questions it raises. Can AI-generated media be considered art? Does the director, who carefully engineered the prompts and edited the final cut, retain creative ownership? Critics and fans are divided. Some see it as the democratization of filmmaking—a way to bypass traditional gatekeepers. Others worry about copyright, originality, and what this means for human storytellers.
Still, What’s Next? sold out screenings and generated buzz. It’s less a movie and more of a manifesto for the future of art: curated by humans, rendered by machines.
2. AI Jesus is Taking Calls (and Peddling Products)
Yes, you read that correctly. At www.aijesus.live, you can now have a one-on-one video call with a talking AI representation of Jesus Christ. Developed by creatives Ben Polkinghorne, Zach Bishop, and Chris Chapman, this real-time deepfake merges gospel teachings with tongue-in-cheek consumerism, offering both spiritual guidance and product recommendations.
The project launched around Easter and walks the tightrope between satire and sacrilege. According to its creators, it aims to critique the commercialization of religious holidays, not religion itself. The AI Jesus doesn’t just quote scripture; he drops product mentions mid-sermon, and his benevolent tone adds a surreal touch to what feels like a virtual Sunday morning infomercial.
While many see it as a bold (and hilarious) statement about the state of consumer culture, others have raised concerns about the potential misuse of religious imagery and the ethics of simulating sacred figures.
3. The Resurrection Will Be Digitized: Stephen Fry’s AI Voice at Hay Festival
Imagine Stephen Fry mentoring you through a voice acting session—except it’s not actually him. That’s the premise behind “Vocalize,” an upcoming installation at the Hay Festival from May 22 to June 1, 2025.
The project uses an AI-generated model of Fry’s voice to conduct what feels like a real-time coaching session. Festival-goers will get the opportunity to create their own voice reels with guidance from the synthetic Fry, all while reflecting on the nature of authenticity and voice.
The installation doesn’t shy away from the ethical implications. It actively encourages visitors to think about the risks of voice cloning, misinformation, and consent. In a world where anyone’s voice can be mimicked with stunning accuracy, the line between real and fake is blurrier than ever.
4. Political Propaganda by Prompt: AI Books Swarm Amazon Ahead of Canadian Election
Amazon Canada is seeing a flood of AI-generated political books, many of which are centered around Prime Minister Mark Carney. At least 16 titles were published in March alone, with five appearing on a single day.
These books, often generic and repetitive, are believed to be generated by large language models. While they may not be bestsellers, their sheer volume creates an illusion of discourse, potentially influencing public opinion.
This development has sparked serious concerns about the role of AI in shaping political narratives. With elections looming, the line between legitimate discourse and algorithmically generated propaganda is becoming dangerously thin.
What’s particularly troubling is the lack of oversight. There are few (if any) regulations to prevent this kind of content from being published, especially if it adheres to Amazon’s basic content policies. In the age of generative AI, it’s not just fake news you have to worry about—it’s fake books too.
5. A Voice Returns: AI Helps Journalist with ALS Get Back on Air
Moshe Nussbaum, a veteran Israeli journalist, was forced to step back from his role at Channel 12 News after being diagnosed with ALS. But thanks to AI voice technology, he’s back.
The channel has created an AI-generated version of his voice, enabling him to continue his work as a commentator and analyst. The technology captures the essence of his unique vocal tone and cadence, allowing viewers to hear “him” even though he can no longer speak.
This isn’t just a heartwarming story—it’s a glimpse into how AI can empower people with disabilities. For many, it also opens the door to new career possibilities, where voice and expression aren’t lost to disease or injury.
Of course, ethical questions remain. Should networks disclose when a voice is AI-generated? How do we preserve the dignity of those being replicated? But for Nussbaum, it’s a second chance to be heard.
Final Thoughts: Welcome to the AI Multiverse
From the sacred to the satirical, from politics to personal empowerment, AI is touching every facet of modern life. These stories are more than just curiosities; they’re signals of seismic shifts in how we create, consume, and connect.
We’re entering an era where the boundaries between human and machine-made blur beyond recognition. Whether that inspires awe, anxiety, or a bit of both, one thing’s clear: the AI frontier is as strange as it is unstoppable.
So next time you scroll through the news, don’t just look for the big AI headlines. Dig deeper. Because in the margins, you’ll find the stories that reveal not just where AI is going—but where it’s already arrived.
Have you stumbled upon an obscure or offbeat AI story? Share it with us, and we might feature it in our next ICYMI roundup!
📚 References
- Polygon – “What’s Next? AI-generated movie at Berlin film festival sparks debate”
https://www.polygon.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/563883/whats-next-ai-generated-movie-interview-ethics - New York Post – “Jesus resurrected as an AI influencer who you can make video calls to”
https://nypost.com/2025/04/21/lifestyle/jesus-resurrected-as-an-ai-influencer-who-you-can-make-video-calls - The Guardian – “Stephen Fry vocal double to be used in AI installation at Hay festival”
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/24/stephen-fry-vocal-double-to-be-used-in-ai-installation-at-hay-festival - Bloomberg – “AI floods Amazon with strange political books before Canadian election”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-22/ai-floods-amazon-with-strange-political-books-before-canadian-election - Associated Press (AP) – “AI brings back voice of Israeli journalist with ALS”
https://apnews.com/article/9a207784f0fe0287a25aa80256c50102
🔍 Additional Resources
- Runway ML – Creative platform used for AI filmmaking
https://runwayml.com - Hay Festival 2025 – Official festival page for upcoming events
https://www.hayfestival.com - OpenAI’s Voice Cloning Ethics Guidelines (for context on voice replication)
https://openai.com/research - AI and Politics Toolkit by the Center for Democracy & Technology
https://cdt.org
📖 Suggested Further Reading
- “The Age of AI” by Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt & Daniel Huttenlocher
A sweeping overview of the philosophical and political implications of AI. - “You Look Like a Thing and I Love You” by Janelle Shane
A hilarious, insightful look into how AI really (doesn’t) think. - “New Laws of Robotics” by Frank Pasquale
Explores regulation and ethics for automation in modern life. - “Deepfakes and the Infocalypse” by Nina Schick
Great primer on AI misinformation and synthetic media threats.