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This Happened

This Happened - February 20: Rihanna Was Born

Rihanna was born on this day in 1988 on the island of Barbados. One of the most popular singers of the 21st century, she is also a very successful businesswoman.


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Who is Rihanna?

Rihanna is a singer, actress, fashion designer, and entrepreneur from Saint-Michael, Barbados in the Caribbean . She first gained international fame in 2005 with her debut single "Pon de Replay".

What has Rihanna done outside of music?

Rihanna has acted in several films, including "Battleship" and "Ocean's 8." She is also a successful entrepreneur, with her Fenty Beauty cosmetics line. She has also launched a lingerie line called Savage X Fenty and a luxury fashion line in partnership with LVMH called Fenty.

How many awards has Rihanna won?

Rihanna has won 9 Grammy Awards, 13 Billboard Music Awards, and 8 American Music Awards.

Has Rihanna done any charity work?

Rihanna has also been recognized for her philanthropic work, including being named Harvard University's Humanitarian of the Year in 2017. She established the Clara Lionel Foundation in 2012, which supports education, health, and emergency response programs. She also supports various other organizations such as Global Partnership for Education, Unicef, and the World Health Organization.

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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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