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This Happened

This Happened - February 9: The Invasion Of Benin

The invasion of Benin, also known as the Punitive Expedition, took place on this day in 1897 by an expeditionary force sent by the British government.

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What was the reason for the invasion of Benin?

The invasion was carried out as a punishment for the killing of a British consul and other European officials by the forces of the Kingdom of Benin. It was led by British naval officer, Vice-Admiral Harry Rawson.

How did the Benin invasion end?

The invasion ended with the capture of the city of Benin, and the installation of a British protectorate over the kingdom.

What were the consequences of the Benin invasion?

The invasion resulted in the looting of the royal palace and the destruction of many of the kingdom's historical artifacts. It also led to the depopulation of the city, and the imposition of British colonial rule over the Kingdom of Benin. To make up for costs of the invasion, many of the objects were auctioned off by the British, much of it ending up in museums around the world.

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Future

AI As God? How Artificial Intelligence Could Spark Religious Devotion

We may be about to see the emergence of a new kind of religion, where flocks worship — literally — at the altar of Artificial Intelligence.

Image of artificial intelligence as an artificial being

Artificial intelligence generated picture of AI as a god

Neil McArthur

The latest generation of AI-powered chatbots, trained on large language models, have left their early users awestruck —and sometimes terrified — by their power. These are the same sublime emotions that lie at the heart of our experience of the divine.

People already seek religious meaning from very diverse sources. There are, for instance, multiple religions that worship extra-terrestrials or their teachings.

As these chatbots come to be used by billions of people, it is inevitable that some of these users will see the AIs as higher beings. We must prepare for the implications.

There are several pathways by which AI religions will emerge. First, some people will come to see AI as a higher power.

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