This week on 60 Minutes, correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi stepped into a new frontier of artistic expression: the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence-generated art. She profiled Refik Anadol, the 40-year-old Turkish American artist widely regarded as a pioneer of this emerging form. Anadol doesn’t mix acrylics or sculpt with stone. Instead, he paints with data. For one recent work, he fed an artificial intelligence model 200 million photographs of Earth, drawing heavily from archives provided by NASA. The result is a sweeping, immersive digital installation a living canvas of color and motion that feels at once cosmic and intimate. “When I think about data as a pigment,” Anadol told correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, “I think it doesn’t need to dry. It can move in any shape, in any form, any color, and texture.” It’s a poetic description of a process rooted in code. His installations, projected across walls and ceilings, envelop viewers in constantly shifting landscapes generated by machine learning systems trained on vast image libraries. The effect can feel, as Alfonsi put it, “a little trippy. It is trippy,” Anadol replied. “Because I think as artists we ask what is beyond reality.” The critics weigh in Anadol’s work has appeared in some of the world’s most prestigious museums. But as A. I. art moves from tech labs to galleries, the art world is grappling with a bigger question: How do these creations stack up? Jerry Saltz, the Pulitzer Prize-winning critic for New York Magazine, is both skeptical and curious. “Right now, AI art seems to be an average of averages,” Saltz told Alfonsi. Algorithms are trained on vast datasets of existing images, themselves products of countless influences. The result, he argues, risks becoming “vaster, and more average,” rather than more profound. For Saltz, great art emerges from something machines fundamentally lack: lived experience. “I want the algorithm to experience death,” he said. “I want the algorithm to know the feeling of feeling like you have a fat neck, or bad hair. I want to train the algorithm to experience carnality.” Without sex and death, Saltz suggests, there is no art. And yet, he doesn’t dismiss the technology. “I like to think of it as a material,” Saltz said. “Artists use materials. A digital file is a material.” To reject A. I. outright, he argued, would be like rejecting oil paint or the novel before engaging with them. “I wish it well. And I would never, ever ignore it.” Fear, replacement, and ethics Part of the anxiety surrounding A. I. art is existential. Artists, like professionals in many industries, fear replacement, Saltz said. “We all have a latent fear of being replaced by AI,” Saltz acknowledged. “I guess I think that we will be on some level.” His prescription isn’t retreat it’s reinvention. Artists must become “better, or more useful, or more unique at what we do in order to keep our jobs.” The ethical questions are thornier. Is it fair or legal to train an algorithm on the work of other artists? Saltz thinks so. Artists have always borrowed, referenced, and reinterpreted what came before them. “There are no laws in art,” Saltz said bluntly. “All art comes from other art.” Is it art? Last year, artist Refik Anadol brought his vision to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain. For that exhibition, he built a custom A. I. model trained on open-access photographs, sketches, and blueprints from the archive of Frank Gehry, the legendary architect who designed the museum itself. The system processed Gehry’s architectural legacy and reimagined it as a fluid, morphing, digital spectacle. Saltz once dismissed a similar installation at New York’s Museum of Modern Art as a “glorified lava lamp,” dazzling but ultimately decorative. Which raises the central question of this cultural moment: When a machine recombines humanity’s visual history into something new, is that art? Photos & Video courtesy of Refik Anadol Studio, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Tom Ross & Getty Images. The video above was edited by Scott Rosann.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/when-ai-becomes-a-paintbrush-is-it-art/
Month: February 2026
50 million under blizzard warnings, NYC issues travel ban as nor’easter arrives
More than 50 million people in the Northeast are under blizzard warnings as a dangerous, rapidly strengthening winter storm moves up the coast. Emergency declarations have been made in several states. Shanelle Kaul reports on the deteriorating conditions and Andrew Kozak has a look at the forecast.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/50-million-under-blizzard-warnings-nyc-issues-travel-ban-as-noreaster-arrives/
Blizzard conditions and high winds forecast for NYC, East coast
A powerful winter storm is expected to bring blizzard conditions and power outages along the Atlantic coast on Sunday, with some areas forecast to get more than a foot of snow. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued blizzard warnings for millions of residents in New Jersey, Delaware, Long Island, New York City, and southern Connecticut from Sunday morning through Monday afternoon. “Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening,” the blizzard warning reads. “The strong winds and weight of snow on tree limbs may down power lines and could cause sporadic power outages.” Up to 17 inches of snow is expected across New York City and in a worst-case scenario, there could be nearly two feet of accumulation, according to a social media post from NYC Emergency Management. The city’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, on Saturday morning advised residents to “stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. If you can stay home, stay home,” Mamdani wrote on social media. He added that residents should check for updates from the city and “please check in on your neighbors.” Parts of the Hudson Valley, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are also under winter storm warnings. On Saturday, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency effective midday Sunday. Parts of Virginia, Washington D. C., and Maryland are also expected to receive snow through Monday morning. Throughout the storm, the snow is expected to be heavy and wet, and could come down as quickly as 2 inches per hour for many hours, according to the NWS. The heaviest snow is expected Sunday night into Monday. High winds with gusts as strong as 40 to 70 mph are also expected, which increase the risk of power outages and coastal flooding. Widespread flight cancellations and delays may occur at airports in affected areas, NYC Emergency Management said. The conditions are likely to taper off late Monday morning into Monday afternoon. In New York City, the Monday morning commute will be “extremely hazardous,” according to the agency. Its agency also said that schools, medical offices and workplaces may close due to the impacts of the storm: “Peak snowfall rates and peak winds will coincide, creating slippery conditions, limited mobility, and near-zero visibility.”.
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/21/nx-s1-5722292/winter-storm-blizzard-conditions-northeast
NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission may not launch in March after all
Just one day after NASA said it was eyeing a potential March 6 launch date for the Artemis II lunar mission, the space agency said Saturday that complications with the rocket could delay all launch attempts in March from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Artemis II mission, which is set to carry four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon, would be the first time humans return to the vicinity of the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. In a blog post, NASA said it is “taking steps to potentially roll back the Artemis II rocket and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building,” after technicians observed an “interrupted flow of helium” to the rocket system. NASA says its teams are “actively reviewing data” and taking steps to “address the issue as soon as possible while engineers determine the best path forward.” NASA says a rollback from the pad to the nearby Vehicle Assembly Building would mean that the five potential launch dates in March would be off the table. NASA has six launch opportunities in April. NASA says it’s unclear why helium flow was interrupted. The space agency says it’s reviewing data from the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022 in which teams had to troubleshoot helium-related pressurization of the upper stage before launch. On Friday, following the completion of the second “wet dress rehearsal”, NASA managers were optimistic. “This is really getting real,” said Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator of NASA’s exploration systems development mission directorate. “It’s time to get serious and start getting excited.” A test of the rocket, earlier this month, revealed several issues. During the fueling, NASA encountered problems like a liquid hydrogen leak. Swapping out some seals and other work seems to have fixed those issues, according to officials who say that the latest countdown dress rehearsal went smoothly, despite glitches such as a loss of ground communications in the Launch Control Center that forced workers to temporarily use backups. NPR’s Nell Greenfieldboyce contributed reporting.
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/21/nx-s1-5722339/nasa-artemis-ii-march-launch-delay
U.S. defeats Slovakia in men’s hockey, setting up face-off with Canada for Olympic gold
Sunday’s gold medal match in men’s hockey is set: Team USA vs. Team Canada. CBS News’ Kelly O’Grady has the latest from the Winter Olympics in Milan.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/us-defeats-slovakia-mens-hockey-face-off-canada-olympic-gold/
Tensions flare as Trump surges military assets and Iran warns of retaliation
As President Trump continues to surge major U. S. military assets into the region, Iran is still insisting diplomacy is alive and that it will submit a written proposal to Washington within the next two to three days. But as Imtiaz Tyab reports, the core disputes remain unresolved.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/tensions-flare-as-trump-surges-military-assets-and-iran-warns-of-retaliation/
WATCH: What’s next for former Prince Andrew after his arrest?
What’s next for former Prince Andrew after his arrest? International attorney Ann Olivarius breaks down potential criminal pathways, jurisdictional hurdles and investigative next steps.
https://abcnews.com/International/video/whats-former-prince-andrew-after-arrest-130316202
Man admits plotting to bribe juror at ex-heavyweight boxer’s drug trafficking trial
NEW YORK — A man charged with trying to bribe a juror with up to $100,000 at the drug trafficking trial of a former heavyweight boxer pleaded guilty Thursday to obstructing justice. Mustafa Fteja entered the plea in Brooklyn federal court, where a plea agreement with the government called for him to serve roughly five to six years in prison when he is sentenced on June 23. He was among three men charged in Novembe r in the plot to corrupt the trial of boxer Goran Gogic. Gogic’s trial, originally set to begin in November, has not yet taken place. He has pleaded not guilty to violating and conspiring to violate the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act. If convicted, he faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison. Fteja has remained free on $150,000 bail since his arrest. According to court records, Fteja already knew a juror described in court papers as “John Doe #1” when he called him multiple times on his cellphone to get him to meet him on Staten Island. Over the span of two meetings over three days, Fteja told the juror that associates in the Bronx were willing to pay him between $50,000 and $100,000 to return a not guilty verdict, according to charging documents. Investigators said evidence included several recorded conversations of the defendants planning the bribery plot as they spoke in Albanian and English.
https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/man-admits-plotting-bribe-juror-heavyweight-boxers-drug-130320227
U2’s new music honors Renee Good and draws inspiration from world events
LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES (AP) U2 is returning with its first collection of new songs in nearly a decade, opening with a tribute to Renee Good, the Minnesota mom fatally shot by a federal agent during this winter’s massive immigration crackdown. The Irish rock band released the six-song EP “U2 Days of Ash” on Wednesday. Its first track, “American Obituary,” is dedicated to Good, who died Jan. 7 in Minneapolis during an encounter with a Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. The song is a call for peace and a dedication to Good’s life. “Renee didn’t just believe in kindness; she lived it, fully and fiercely,” said Becca Good, her partner, in a statement released with the project. “She believed every person deserved the same compassion, care and dignity regardless of who they were.” The band released the EP on Ash Wednesday, describing it as an immediate response to current events and inspired by the people “fighting on the front lines of freedom.” Frontman Bono has frequently incorporated social themes into U2’s music, and the new songs maintain that approach. Some tracks reference international tensions and humanitarian concerns, including the war in Ukraine, developments in the Middle East and immigration debates in the United States. One song also mentions Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen, whose death last year in the Israeli-occupied West Bank drew international attention. The project marks U2’s first major release of new original material since 2017’s “Songs of Experience,” although the band has remained active through touring and rerecorded projects in recent years. Antonio Romanucci, an attorney representing Good’s family in a civil case connected to her death, said the tribute reflects a broader message. “We certainly feel the urgency of the country’s situation reflected in the band’s powerful call for coming together,” he said in a statement. Throughout its career, U2 has used its platform to highlight issues ranging from global poverty initiatives to human rights advocacy. The EP was released alongside lyric videos for each track and is available on major streaming platforms. Good’s parents and siblings also described the song as an honor and said they hope it encourages reflection and unity. “It’s an incredible honor to have the talent and impact of U2 spreading the message of peace in Renee’s name,” the statement read. “We certainly feel the urgency of the country’s situation reflected in the band’s powerful call for change and coming together.”.
https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/wireStory/u2s-new-music-honors-renee-good-draws-inspiration-130282060
Bondi orders Justice Department to prioritize animal welfare enforcement
Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday ordered the Justice Department to prioritize animal welfare enforcement, in a move she said will entail stepping up prosecutions and even doling out grants to animal welfare groups, according to a new memo sent to all staff. As part of the plan, Bondi said the government would create a law enforcement “tiger team” to assist with the execution of search warrants and seizures. She also called for the creation of a strategy committee, which will oversee the creation of an animal welfare prosecution manual and implement a national strategy to combat “animal welfare crimes.” Her memo also requires the Office of Justice Programs to fund grants for animal welfare groups and local law enforcement. That plan comes at a time when that same grant-making office is struggling with unprecedented delays in soliciting and awarding awards that are traditionally given to local police, juvenile justice programs and victims of human trafficking and other violence. Last year, the department abruptly terminated some 350 grants that paid for everything from community-based crime prevention programs with local law enforcement, to services for victims of crime and sexual violence, and assistance for mental health and substance abuse. “Animals are part of our families: we will always fight to protect the pets we love,” said Bondi, who owns two rescue dogs that have sometimes been spotted being walked around the Justice Department by employees. “I have fought against animal abuse my entire career and will never stop working to prosecute the sick individuals who prey upon innocent animals,” she added in a statement. The announcement by Bondi comes several months after the Justice Department helped spearhead a roundtable with officials from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human Services and Lara Trump, who sits on the board of a nonprofit called Big Dog Ranch Rescue, according to a document seen by CBS News. At that meeting, they brainstormed many of the ideas laid out in Bondi’s memo on Wednesday, including the creation of a “tiger team.” Several other agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, also earlier on Wednesday announced efforts they would be taking to advance the initiative. The enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act is largely carried out by the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which sends employees to a variety of businesses, from dog breeders to zoos, to inspect them for compliance with the law. Most of the cases are handled administratively. Criminal animal welfare cases are typically handled by the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division or by U. S. Attorney’s offices. In the last few years, the bulk of the criminal cases involved animal fighting. In one case that stood out from most, the Justice Department during the Biden administration prosecuted animal research breeder Envigo over both animal welfare and environmental crimes after investigators discovered the mistreatment of thousands of beagles at one of its locations. In 2024, Envigo agreed to pay $22 million in fines $11 million of which represented the largest-ever Justice Department fine in an animal welfare case plus $13. 5 million more to support animal welfare and environmental projects, cover law enforcement expenses and improve its own facilities. Envigo in 2022 forfeited about 4, 000 beagles, some of which were adopted by celebrities including Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bondi-orders-justice-department-to-prioritize-animal-welfare-enforcement/