This week, we’re previewing the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, unpacking what’s at stake for the US, Russia, Ukraine, and Europe, and what pursuing peace looks like spiritually. Then, we analyze AI talent wars across Silicon Valley where tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg are battling it out with eye-popping 9 to 10 digit salaries to snatch up top AI researchers as they race to be the first to achieve “superintelligence”...what does that even mean? We’ll tell you!

Plus a few more national, pop-culture, and sports headlines, including this week’s big Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce news. Get caught up on culture with a fresh Christian perspective!

• (00:56): US-Russia summit: Stakes and implications
• (05:49): Human cost and historical context of the Ukraine War
• (14:42): Spiritual and moral reflections on the conflict
• (17:40): AI talent wars: The race for superintelligence
• (25:34): Meta's AI ambitions
• (27:47): The concept of superintelligence
• (30:06): AI and human purpose
• (34:03): Listener responses to top fast-food burger list
• (36:23): Trump and pop culture headlines

• Mailbag: [email protected]
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Links mentioned in this episode:

• Thanks for Your $1 Billion Job Offer, Mark Zuckerberg. I’m Gonna Pass. - WSJ
• Mark Zuckerberg Says ‘Superintelligence’ Is Imminent. What Is It?
• We're building personal superintelligence for everyone. Stay tuned 🚀 | Mark Zuckerberg | Facebook
• Biblical clarity on climate change, Ten Commandments in the classroom, and AI companions -Faith & Clarity Podcast 

Other articles on this week’s top headlines:

• What to know about the Putin-Trump summit in Alaska | AP News
• White House confirms Trump-Putin summit in Anchorage, calling it 'listening exercise'
• Russian forces advance in Ukraine as Trump tempers outlook for Alaska summit - The Washington Post
• Vladimir Putin and the problem of autocratic power- Denison Forum
• President Trump will meet with Vladimir Putin this week- Denison Forum
• Is Ukraine now willing to trade land for peace?
• One million and counting: Russian casualties hit milestone in Ukraine war | Russia | The Guardian
• Is Anyone Worth a Billion Dollars? - by Tyler Cowen
• Zuckerberg says AI superintelligence is 'in sight,' touts 'new era of personal empowerment'
• OpenAI gives some employees a ‘special’ multimillion-dollar bonus | The Verge

Conner Jones is the Director of Performance Marketing at Denison Ministries and Co-Hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2019 with a degree in Business Management. Conner passionately follows politics, sports, pop-culture, entertainment, and current events. He enjoys fishing, movie-going, and traveling the world with his wife and son.

Micah Tomasella is the Senior Advancement Officer at Denison Ministries and co-hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. A graduate of Dallas Baptist University, Micah is married to Emily, and together they are the proud parents of two daughters. With an extensive background in nonprofit work, finance, and real estate, Micah also brings experience from his years in pastoral church ministry.

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.