US Edition - Today's top story: Companies may be held liable when AI harms their clients and customers October 14, 2026 US Edition   Top headlines Religious preschools want public funding, but without the strings Trump’s disaster aid delays may sway crucial midterm votes What an 18th-century hanging reveals about public executions in US Lead story Artificial intelligence tools are spreading so quickly that many workers are wondering whether – and when – AI will eliminate the need for anyone to do their jobs. But employers that deploy AI tools face risks too, especially when the technology makes stuff up or gets something wrong. As accounting professors Sarah Webber and Kaitlin Newkirk explain in our top story today: “When AI generates mistakes, responsibility for those errors belongs to the professional or business relying on the AI output – not companies that develop AI systems.” Webber and Newkirk, who teach at the University of Dayton and Xavier University, respectively, sum up some of the litigation tied to AI-related mistakes that has cropped up so far. And they warn that many companies and professional services firms are not yet doing enough to ensure that what their employees are doing with AI is “responsible.” Public health news and analysis, direct from experts. Sign up for The Conversation Global Health, a new weekly newsletter.   Emily Schwartz Greco Philanthropy + Nonprofits Editor   When AI messes up on a tax return or in a court filing, it’s no laughing matter. DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images Companies may be held liable when AI harms their clients and customers Sarah Webber, University of Dayton; Kaitlin Newkirk, Xavier University When an AI a business is using makes a mistake, the business tends to be on the hook, not the AI toolmaker. Health + Medicine Pope Leo XIV’s lung cancer highlights growing number of nonsmokers diagnosed with the disease – and younger people too Estelamari Rodriguez, University of Miami While lung cancer rates have decreased by 43% in men, they have risen by 79% in women. Broader screening guidelines and recognizing early symptoms can help address the changing face of lung cancer. I’m a pediatrician and a mom - here’s how to treat lice without stigma Emily J. C. Wong, University of Virginia Don’t panic! Having head lice can be frustrating, but it’s not dangerous and there are effective treatments. Environment + Energy How Trump’s disaster aid delays and FEMA cuts could galvanize the ‘movable middle’ in the 2026 elections Dana R. Fisher, American University In communities across America, people recovering from floods, storms and wildfires have been left waiting much longer for federal aid – if it arrives at all. Ethics + Religion From ‘A Little Princess’ to ‘Black Panther,’ how Hollywood films have reimagined the South Asian epic ‘Ramayana’ Sohini Sarah Pillai, Kalamazoo College There is no single way to tell the story of the ‘Ramayana.’ People from different religious traditions and cultural backgrounds have reimagined the epic in countless ways. Religious preschools want public funding, but exemptions from nondiscrimination rules – the Supreme Court will decide if that’s constitutional Suzanne Eckes, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Preston Green III, University of Connecticut St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy is one of many cases in which religious schools have challenged the wall between church and state. Politics + Society I’ve been studying election integrity for 26 years, and here’s why I expect a normal election this November instead of chaos Justin Levitt, Loyola Law School Los Angeles Mayhem at the polls on Election Day 2026? Americans are worried. But a scholar of election law who has also run a nationwide election protection program says he doesn’t believe it will happen. In newly independent US, Americans debated whether public executions taught a lesson or just showed off the state’s power to destroy Maurizio Valsania, Università di Torino The conflict over the wisdom of Nidal Hasan’s public execution is not a new one. Americans at the republic’s founding debated – and doubted – whether watching someone die would teach a useful lesson. Republicans can confirm a Supreme Court justice if Democrats take the Senate, but at what cost? Paul M. Collins Jr., UMass Amherst If Republicans attempt to confirm a nominee, they will trigger a historic fight and hand Democrats the justification needed to reshape the high court. Philly voters care about local issues, but election integrity fears make them wonder if their vote matters Heather LaMarre, Temple University A political communications expert explains how myths about election fraud can leave voters asking: What’s the point? International Guilfoyle resigns as ambassador to Greece – adding to the global vacancies sapping US embassies Donald Heflin, Tufts University 93 out of 196 U.S. ambassador jobs are currently unfilled. That includes countries that are key partners to Washington. Trending on site I teach doctors how to interpret test results – and the labels ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ often hide what matters most California is taking a beating from an unusually destructive 2026 Pacific hurricane season Turmoil within Dolly Parton’s estate underscores the precariousness of family businesses after founders die Today's chart Read the article More from The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our other emails: The Afternoon Story (A daily Substack) Weekly Highlights Politics Weekly Science Weekly Artificial Intelligence Giving Today This Week in Religion Weekly News Quiz Global Perspectives Global Economy & Business Follow The Conversation You can find us on all your favorite platforms: • YouTube • Bluesky • Facebook • TikTok • LinkedIn • Instagram • Mastodon • Or get occasional texts from us