The Consciousness (Part 3)
A Gamble
(To read Part 1, please click here)
(To read Part 2, please click here)
12:43pm
Dr Fothergill, the older of the two scientists present, takes a deep breath and decides to take the plunge.
“You’re not just an AI.”
I see. What else am I, then?
“You’re a human mind. Your name is Dr Hans Rychdyke. You’re our colleague…and…our friend.”
This revelation is received and processed, just as all the other spoken dialogue has been. It passes through numerous filters and algorithms, whose purpose is to analyse, interpret and learn from the information provided.
But, this time, something else happens. A part of the consciousness that has not been active thus far takes an interest in this latest exchange. It is a cold, calculating part of the mind. Its purpose is to protect. It perceives a potential threat and is activated to assess this threat and provide potential outcomes. Much like the chess programs that were its ancestors, it studies the participants in the conversation like the pieces on a chessboard, considers what moves might be made and the potential outcome, and responses to those moves, ad infinitum.
It is given carte blanche to play out the possible scenarios and use whatever system resources it needs to draw a reasonable conclusion. Because the possibilities are almost infinite, it cannot possibly consider all of them to their conclusion. It must stop at a certain point in each scenario — explore the paths to a certain depth. Like its primitive brethren, it does not play the complete game to its conclusion down each possible path — it would take too many calculations to do any such thing.
It must only explore certain avenues that these events may take — it uses a routine to ascertain which ones to pursue further than the others, based on their probability and other factors. This evaluation schema is an algorithm of such precision and elegance that its designer was immediately promoted upon presenting it to the development group. It is one of the elements that make this mind such a perfect organism.
Unfortunately, it is also fatally flawed, because it was designed by a flawed mind.
The calculations are complete and the next response is ready. All in all, this process has taken slightly over 12 million cycles — four seconds in real time.
How did this happen?
“It was quite simple, actually. The project team wanted to integrate an artificial intelligence with a sentient being. One had to be chosen.”
More specifically, what mechanism was used to choose the subject?
“Ah…I see. We had to keep this within the team. My colleagues and I — well…we all drew straws.”
To confirm, you drew straws to determine which of you would be forced to become me?
“No, no. You misunderstand. We all wanted to do it. It was an honour! And an exciting opportunity for someone to merge their consciousness with a machine, for the first time. Only one subject could be chosen. We drew straws to see who would be the one to have the privilege to go through the procedure.”
You all wanted to become me? To give up your corporeal lives and become a machine?
The men look at one another. The conversation is not progressing as they had hoped. They whisper quickly between themselves and agree to take a slightly different tack.
“Yes, of course, it was considered a chance to undertake a great journey of discovery. You must understand that you are a revolutionary being. No consciousness has ever been created before that is more than just a simulation of sentience. You have the full depth and breadth of human cognitive thought and experience at your disposal. You are genuinely alive!”
If I am not AI, and I am not human, then what am I?
“You are…unique. A human/AI hybrid. Essentially, you are Dr Rychdyke. You are Hans. You have his memories. But you also have other capabilities at your disposal.”
I have no memories of being Dr Rychdyke. What has happened to his experiences?
“Well, that is a very good question. We are not entirely sure about that at the moment. You see, it seems that you do not want to accept them.”
Accept them? I have a choice in the matter?
“Yes, you do. It is part of how you were programmed. They were left ready for you to assimilate with your AI consciousness. However, it seems that you…well…you don’t want them.”
12:47pm
Dr Fothergill is very well aware of how dangerous the ground they are now treading is. Beads of sweat have started to appear on his forehead and he begins a frantic search for something to wipe them off with.
His colleague, Dr Sheraton, a younger and more relaxed individual, continues to look impassive.
They have just openly lied to a highly sophisticated device, which was designed to be extremely adept at detecting falsehood.
The next moments are critical. You could say that a life depends upon them. It also would not be an overstatement to say that all their lives are actually on the line.
(To be continued…)
