AI news story

What can 160-million-year-old clay tell us about AI and ethics? Inside Es Devlin’s tech and pottery summit

The great artist and designer has summoned spiritual leaders, AI researchers and academics to try their hands at ceramics…

  • AI
  • Source: The Guardian AI
  • Published: 2026-04-06

Editor's take

Artist Es Devlin convened a summit bringing together AI researchers, spiritual leaders, and academics to explore the ethical implications of artificial intelligence through the tactile medium of pottery.

This initiative highlights a growing concern among diverse thinkers about the societal impact of AI, moving beyond purely technical discussions to consider philosophical and ethical dimensions. By engaging disparate disciplines, Devlin seeks to foster a more holistic understanding of AI's trajectory, potentially influencing how future AI development is perceived and guided.

Future attention should focus on whether these interdisciplinary dialogues can translate into concrete ethical frameworks or policy recommendations that effectively address AI's evolving challenges, or if they remain abstract philosophical exercises. The practical integration of these discussions into AI development processes will be a key indicator of their lasting significance.