# Time to stop suggesting AI is conscious? Saudi Arabia calls for help, Russia votes

https://mins.news/en/item/64767

- France 24, 2026-09-18 19:20 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-world-this-week/20260918-time-to-stop-suggesting-ai-is-conscious-riyadh-calling-saudi-s-hour-of-news-russian-elections

> Saudi Arabia has sought military backing from allies as Iran-backed Houthi rebels tighten control over Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab el Mandeb shipping chokepoint. Drone strikes on Saudi oil infrastructure are worsening an emerging energy crisis. Russia is holding a tightly controlled parliamentary election with little meaningful opposition, while Vladimir Putin says there will be no new mobilisation. Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman warns against treating AI models as human and raises the prospect of a competing “silicon species.” In Britain, Buckingham Palace responds unusually sharply to new claims by Earl Spencer about Princess Diana’s funeral.

## Stories

- [Houthi Saudi Red Sea Conflict](https://mins.news/en/topic/houthi-yemen-saudi-red-sea-conflict-2026-08) — Markdown: https://mins.news/en/topic/houthi-yemen-saudi-red-sea-conflict-2026-08.md

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- [Time to stop suggesting AI is conscious? Riyadh calling, Russian elections](https://mins.news/en/video/64777) — France 24 English, 2026-09-18
- [Microsoft AI CEO says AI threats are real, and Anthropic is making it worse](https://mins.news/en/item/62742) — The Verge, 2026-09-17