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This Happened

This Happened - February 18: Maidan Revolution Begins

On this day nine years ago, the Maidan revolution, also known as the Revolution of Dignity, began in Kyiv, and spread throughout Ukraine.


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What were the causes of the Maidan Revolution?

The main cause of the Revolution of Dignity was widespread dissatisfaction with the corruption and authoritarianism of President Viktor Yanukovych and his government. Many Ukrainians also wanted closer ties with the European Union and saw the rejection of the trade agreement as a step away from that goal.

What was the outcome of the Ukrainian revolution?

The outcome of the Ukrainian revolution was the ousting of President Yanukovych and the installation of a pro-Western government. The new government implemented a series of political and economic reforms, but it also faced a number of challenges, including the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Did the Ukrainian revolution have any impacts on the region?

The Ukrainian revolution had a major impact on the region and the world. It led to a significant deterioration in relations between Russia and Ukraine, and between Russia and the West. It also sparked a chain of events that led to the annexation of Crimea by Russia, the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine, and ultimately Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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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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