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This Happened

This Happened - February 8: Nasdaq Opens

On this day in 1971, NASDAQ, the world's first electronic stock market was created in New York City.

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What is NASDAQ? 

The NASDAQ (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) is an American stock exchange. The NASDAQ is operated and owned by the Nasdaq, Inc. and it is home to many technology-based companies and startups.

How did the NASDAQ differ from traditional stock markets?

The NASDAQ was the first market to use electronic trading systems, as opposed to the traditional open outcry system used by other stock markets. This allowed for faster and more efficient trading.

How has the NASDAQ evolved over the years?

Over the years, NASDAQ became more robust by adding automated trading systems, and in 1998, became the first stock market in the United States to trade online, using the slogan "the stock market for the next hundred years".

What is the current role of the NASDAQ in the global financial market?

The NASDAQ is currently one of the world's largest stock markets, with a wide range of companies listed on it, including technology giants like Apple and Microsoft. It plays a significant role in the global financial market.


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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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