{"id":1140,"date":"2026-06-03T23:10:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T23:10:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=1140"},"modified":"2026-06-03T23:10:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T23:10:27","slug":"letters-pope-leos-concerns-about-ai-are-well-founded","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=1140","title":{"rendered":"Letters: Pope Leo’s concerns about AI are well-founded"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Pope Leo\u2019s AI concerns are well-founded<\/h4>\n

Re: \u201cPope Leo takes issue with AI\u2019s rampant ascent\u201d (Page A1, May 26).<\/p>\n

Although I am not a Catholic, I agree with Pope Leo that humans are more important than technology and profit. What will it cost us in the long term if AI, power and money are the priority for the few billionaires that benefit? Who or what loses in this race to be the top dog? Our humanity loses.<\/p>\n

Read more Review: \u2018The Lunchbox\u2019 world premiere is a poignant pleasure at Berkeley Rep<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s too bad that this industry is dominated by men because women in tech are more likely to prioritize\u00a0our environment, our water, our wildlife, our mental health, our livelihoods and our families without sacrificing smart ideas and profit.<\/p>\n

All of us could learn something from Pope Leo because he cares very much about our future here in the U.S. and the rest of the world.<\/p>\n

Patricia Marquez Rutt<\/strong>
\nRedwood City<\/em><\/p>\n

AI letters lack the human touch<\/h4>\n

I met AI this week while writing a note to a friend, and it wasn\u2019t good.<\/p>\n

AI didn\u2019t like my words and substituted its own. I deleted its choice and re-entered my words, but AI wouldn\u2019t accept mine. I deleted and entered again. And again. I asked my husband for help, and he turned off some computer settings, but AI was undeterred \u2014 it kept substituting its words for mine.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

I taught English years ago and vary my sentences, even use fragments. No one has told me they didn\u2019t understand what I wrote, though they disagree with my message. My husband said this is the new way. But if I am still annoyed at being unable to use my own words, I can use a browser that doesn\u2019t help by using AI\u2019s words instead of mine. This morning, I installed it and sent a note of my own words to my friend.<\/p>\n

Jean Ricket<\/strong>
\nSaratoga<\/em><\/p>\n

Shelter leaders focus on care and community<\/h4>\n

Last week, the Santa Clara County Grand Jury released a highly critical \u00a0of the city of San Jose and the operations of its animal shelter under the supervision of Public Works Director Matt Loesch.<\/p>\n

The grand jury report added to two previous audits and a current lawsuit filed this year, all highlighting a familiar pattern of top city administrators mismanaging the shelter, making poor hiring decisions, lacking standard protocols, transparency, consistent data and training, ignoring repeated community concerns and a declining capacity to care while the budget has roughly doubled to $17.2 million in five years.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

For the shelter to succeed, the report says the city \u201cmust not only focus on housing and treating animals under its care, but also fully embrace the community it serves \u2014 including foster and rescue organizations, volunteers, and its critics \u2014 as essential partners in improving outcomes for animals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michael Wagner<\/strong>
\nMorgan Hill<\/em><\/p>\n

Base usage fee hurts low-volume users<\/h4>\n

AB 205 harms low-volume PG&E users<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a PG&E user. My average electricity usage is about 125 kWh a month.<\/p>\n

Since the passage of AB 205, my bill has gone up about 50%, even though my usage has stayed the same.\u00a0This bill significantly harms low-volume users like me.<\/p>\n

Read more Swiss forward Embolo goes to US embassy for urgent World Cup visa after travel denied<\/a><\/p>\n

Thanks to AB 205, PG&E now charges folks a base charge, regardless of usage, which harms low-volume users like renters, seniors, folks who live alone, etc.<\/p>\n

Lawmakers need to realize that they made a mistake with AB 205, and they need to pass legislation waiving the fixed customer charge for low-volume users and revert to the previous billing model.<\/p>\n

AB205 is a \u201cuse less, pay more\u201d bill, the exact opposite of what California needs when it comes to energy consumption.<\/p>\n

Christopher Saleh<\/strong>
\nMountain View<\/em><\/p>\n

Trump family\u2019s crypto business is corrupt<\/h4>\n

The Trump family\u2019s growing involvement in cryptocurrency and online betting is fueling accusations of corruption disguised as \u201cderegulation.\u201d Donald Trump Jr.\u2019s reported ties to companies like Polymarket and Crypto.com come as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission reportedly scales back investigations, weakens enforcement and sidelines officials overseeing the crypto industry.<\/p>\n

Critics say this looks less like free-market reform and more like politically connected insiders clearing the way for personal profit. Agencies meant to protect the public and ensure fair financial markets appear to be retreating while wealthy allies cash in on risky, lightly regulated industries. Former regulators warn that accountability is fading, public trust is eroding and the line between government power and private enrichment is becoming dangerously blurred.<\/p>\n

Paul Osborn<\/strong>
\nMorgan Hill<\/em><\/p>\n

Support a day to rally against gun violence<\/h4>\n

National Gun Violence Awareness Day is June 5. People across the United States are coming together for Wear Orange Weekend\u00a0to honor lives impacted by gun violence and call for safer communities.<\/p>\n

Preventing gun violence matters to me because, as a school counselor, I have lost students and friends due to suicide by gun. These tragedies impact me, my family, my students and children in our school communities. I want to prevent more grief and trauma for children by working to prevent gun violence and suicide.<\/p>\n

This is a call for all of us to store and secure guns safely. Please urge lawmakers to support common-sense gun safety measures. Wear orange on Friday, June 5 \u2014 Wear Orange Weekend \u2014 to demand a future free from gun violence and to remind our communities that everyone has a role to play in keeping one another safe.<\/p>\n

Read more After 60 years of hurt England turns to a German coach to end World Cup title drought<\/a><\/p>\n

Erica Cosgrove<\/strong>
\nLos Gatos<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Also: Human touch | Care, community | Base usage | Crypto corruption | Gun violence. Mercury News reader letters to the editor for June 4, 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion"],"yoast_head":"\nLetters: Pope Leo’s concerns about AI are well-founded - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=1140\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Letters: Pope Leo’s concerns about AI are well-founded - Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Also: Human touch | Care, community | Base usage | Crypto corruption | Gun violence. 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