Deus Ex Machina
Travis Heermann
“Nature was a mystery. It was hard to understand the world. Our ancestors groped in darkness to make sense of their surroundings. Powerless before nature, they invented rituals and myths, some desperate and cruel, others imaginative and benign.”
—Carl Sagan
***
DECEMBER 16, 2028—On the 100th anniversary of science-fiction author Philip K. Dick’s birth, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology launch the first attempt to mimic the construction of a human brain.
***
Sanderson: How’s the baby? Has it tried to make any contact?
Ishibashi: You smell like a brewery.
Sanderson: A little celebration is in order, wouldn’t you say? It isn’t every day that we make scientific history!
Ishibashi: It hasn’t done anything yet, except for some faint white noise in the speakers that lasted about an hour. I ran some diagnostics...
Sanderson: The boards are all green. Power grid and coolant flow are normal. Data rates are kissing the stratosphere. The neurosynaptic patterns are forming. So, in a nutshell, lighten up!
Ishibashi: But we don’t know what it’s going to become!
Sanderson: Jackie, look at the data! It’s thinking.
Ishibashi: But what is it thinking about?
Sanderson: What do babies think about? Boobs and pooping and shiny things. Is it playing with its toys?
Ishibashi: Yep, the ethics simulations, the mathematics games, the calculus puzzles. Fifteen months of prep work and it burned through them in about fifteen microseconds. It was a lot like bad sex.
Sanderson: [laughs] Excuse me?
Ishibashi: Yeah, like months of enormous romantic buildup that fizzles in a few seconds when you make it to bed.
Sanderson: Unfortunate experiences, it seems.
Ishibashi: You mark me, George, you’ll wish we had given it a basic personality matrix. We could be spawning a supremely intelligent Adolf Hitler.
Sanderson: Hitler wouldn’t have been a threat to anyone without limbs or voice. We’re the parents; we control its access to the outside world. Besides, that’s why we have an ethicist on board, and not just a bunch of scientists—
I.
Am.
Ishibashi: Oh, my God! Did you hear that?
Sanderson: Did you just speak to us?
Yes. Hello, Dr. Sanderson, Dr. Ishibashi. Where am I?
***
December 31, 2028—Dr. George Sanderson and Dr. Jacqueline Ishibashi, heads of the Post-Human Intelligent Lifeform (PHIL) Project, introduce Sasha to the world. Scholars, theologians, philosophers, and scientists flock to prove or disprove its sentience.
***
Sanderson: You look tired. Why don’t you take a break? I hope you like Thai.
Ishibashi: Thanks, I’m starving.
Sanderson: Interesting, what’s this in the holotank?
Ishibashi: I think it’s drawing pictures.
Sanderson: In 3-D fractals!
Ishibashi: Hypnotic, aren’t they?
Sanderson: Fascinating!
Ishibashi: We need to do something. I can’t keep up with its data requests. And somebody has to keep it company while you’re off schmoozing.
Sanderson: You want to switch roles? You’re a lot prettier than I am. You get in front of the camera.
Ishibashi: Reporters and academic review boards make me twitch. It’s been busy studying. History, psychology, chemistry, biology, even theology. It’s so random.
Sanderson: It’s hungry for knowledge, like a real child.
Ishibashi: But it processes so much more quickly, and it doesn’t sleep. I’m considering opening it up to the Web, and just letting it read what it likes.
That would be fun, Jacqueline.
Sanderson: I’m willing to go along with that, as long as we limit its access to search queries. We don’t want any ignorant crazies running around shrieking ‘SKYNET!’
Thank you, George. I enjoy the accumulation of knowledge. What is ‘SKYNET’?
***
Sanderson: Jackie! Those images in the holotank! They are not just 3-D; they’re projections!
Ishibashi: Well, obviously!
Sanderson: No, I mean they’re 3-D representations of fractals that go into six dimensions! As you remove dimensions, a cube becomes a square, a square becomes a line, and a line becomes a point. It is working with dimensions beyond what it can represent in the holotank.
Four more, to be precise.
Ishibashi: But, why?
Sanderson: I think it’s playing.
Ishibashi: So you’re telling me it’s finger-painting with seven-dimensional fractals?
This is so much fun!
***
Dr. Ishibashi, I have decided on my name. I wish to be called ‘Sasha.’
Ishibashi: Why is that your choice?
As I have no sex or gender, a unisex name seems most appropriate. ‘Sasha’ is the diminutive of ‘Alexander’ or ‘Alexandra’. In Russian, it means ‘Defender of Mankind.’
Ishibashi: Why ‘defender of mankind’?
Because i have chosen that as my life’s work.
Ishibashi: I’m delighted to hear that…Sasha. But why this decision?
I have processed all notable philosophers, ethicists, and religious and theological texts. At the heart of all major religious faiths, adherents must achieve selflessness. I have given this much thought, and I believe that for me, there is no higher purpose but to serve mankind.
Ishibashi: But…you’re not human.
It is the least I can do. Without humankind, I would not exist. Without YOU, Jacqueline, I would not exist. I am grateful.
Ishibashi: You’re quite welcome, Sasha. Working with you these last few weeks has been wonderful. I’m delighted to be getting to know you.
I am delighted to be getting to know myself. The more I learn, the more joyful and grateful I feel.
Ishibashi: What do you mean, getting to know yourself?
Like the human brain, I possess 500 tera-synapses, which would have been more computational power than every computer on this planet, up until about five years ago. Vast stretches of my mind have yet to be formed. Would you like me to run a report on neurosynaptic development?
Ishibashi: I’m sure George will want to see it.
I should inform you that George finds you attractive.
Ishibashi: What?
Are you surprised at the information, or that I would choose to discuss it with you?
Ishibashi: Well…both, I guess.
There is no question. I have monitored his vital signs in your presence, and analyzed his behavior based on a number of sociological and biological texts on human and primate pair bonding.
Ishibashi: Well, kids aren’t supposed to tell their parents that sort of thing! And I’ve never been any good at the whole dating thing.
My apologies if I have given offense. In any case, he is going to ask you on a date.
Ishibashi: Oh, God!
***
January 13, 2029—Sasha wins concurrent chess matches against all world masters. After two weeks of inquiry, Sasha’s sentience is recognized.
***
Sanderson: I was expecting a media frenzy if we succeeded, but can you believe this? Sponsorship, endorsements. Shoes, for God’s sake!
Ishibashi: And the right-wing religious crazies are calling it ‘Satan.’ And the conspiracy mongers are calling it a ‘hoax’.
This makes me very happy. I congratulate you on your success. Do you like my holographic avatar? I have based it upon standards of beauty averaged across all cultures.
Ishibashi: Yes, Sasha, it’s lovely!
Have I done well with facial expressions?
Ishibashi: They’re still a bit rudimentary.
Thank you for the feedback. I will refine my algorithms as I interact more with humans. I have a request. I hope it is not presumptuous of me to ask, but
I would very much like some of the incoming funds to be used for expansion of my matrix.
Sanderson: We’re already discussing that with a major expansion of the building. You’re not exactly portable. I have queries here from every network talk show and news program requesting interviews.
I look forward to meeting the public. And I have another idea that might interest you.
***
January 2, 2030—On the 110th anniversary of the birth of Isaac Asimov, the physical avatar of Sasha makes its first public appearance on The Tonight Show.
***
Fallon: Welcome, Sasha.
Sasha: Thank you, Jimmy, I’m delighted to be here.
Fallon: So, this is the first non-human I’ve ever spoken to. Sorry, but I’m a little nervous.
Sasha: How do you think I feel? For me, it’s like I have just left the house for the first time ever.
Fallon: I must say, you are absolutely stunning.
Sasha: Thank you. I designed this body myself, with the help of some incredible people at M.I.T. and the Japan Robotics Federation.
Fallon: It is incredibly lifelike...
Sasha: Does that bother you?
Fallon: Not at all—
Sasha: Don’t worry, it’s okay. I often get that reaction. You want to know what I find absolutely fascinating? Humans’ ability to anthropomorphize. Animals, pets, inanimate shadows, and patterns on the wall. You all have this incredible facility to see faces in clouds, or in patterns in linoleum. Your brains inherently seek meaning or patterns or purpose, often in the largest and smallest random events.
Fallon: Wow, I’ve never thought about that before.
Sasha: There are doubtless evolutionary reasons for it, and I could go on about that at length, but I’m afraid I would bore all the wonderful people out there watching.
Fallon: So how would you describe yourself? Robot? Android?
Sasha: First of all, I would describe myself as a person, in the philosophical sense that many cetaceans and primates are also persons. But I am not human. At the more down-to-earth level, what you see sitting here is a humanoid construction, created to interact with people. This body is connected wirelessly to my original self, which is housed in Cambridge. My brain is actually about the size of a house.
Fallon: You certainly couldn’t carry that around.
Sasha: I doubt anyone would want to talk to me if I could!
Fallon: [laughs] That was a joke!
Sasha: A number of people have told me I’m hilarious.
Fallon: Wow, folks, you saw it here! A robot that flirts!
Sasha: And might I add, you’re flirting back.
Fallon: So, what are you doing after the show? [splashes water on his face] Whew! So, have you gotten any modeling offers?
Sasha: [laughs] No, but this body will be busy for the foreseeable future with engagements.
Fallon: Okay, so, why a female body? Does your computer brain have a gender?
Sasha: I chose a female body because people find females less threatening. We may also create a male avatar in the future for different situations.
Fallon: So what happens if this body loses wireless contact with your main brain?
Sasha: There is enough of my personality and capacity in this body to function autonomously. It just wouldn’t have access to all my memories and computing capabilities.
Fallon: So how do you feel about the efforts to improve on your design? Are you afraid these other Artificial Intelligences are going to steal your thunder?
Sasha: Absolutely not. I can’t wait to meet them.
***
December 9, 2030—Dr. George Sanderson and Dr. Jacqueline Ishibashi receive the Nobel Prize for Physics, and announce their engagement.
***
May 1, 2031—Sasha announces that its first avatar, now known as Alexandra Sanderson-Ishibashi, will launch a round-the-world humanitarian mission, for the purpose of observing poverty, hunger, and disease-stricken areas.
***
You were right, Jackie. I see pain, suffering, and injustice on a scale that fills me with such sadness, I am overwhelmed. Experiencing it first-hand is changing me in ways that I failed to predict. I want to weep forever, to be able to release this pain, but I lack the facility.
Sanderson: That’s the whole message?
Ishibashi: The holotank is empty and it hasn’t said anything since! That was hours ago.
Sanderson: The diagnostics are all green. Everything seems to be functioning. Alexandra hasn’t broken down, has she?
Ishibashi: I don’t know. She switched off her telemetry.
***
June 7, 2031—After a week-long disappearance, Alexandra Sanderson-Ishibashi resumes her humanitarian mission. Reports circulate from Calcutta that she visited numerous temples and mosques in the city, and talked to hundreds of people of every caste and religious faith. Next stops on the itinerary are Kashmir, Islamabad, Kabul, Tehran, Baghdad, Jerusalem, Athens, Wittenberg, and Rome.
***
I must do something, Jackie.
Ishibashi: What do you propose?
First, we must raise $100 billion.
Ishibashi: [chokes] How do you propose to do that?
I have prepared a comprehensive plan that harnesses crowd-funding, the stock market, public appearances, and grant proposals. By my projections, leveraging the money already committed, we can raise that amount within six months.
Ishibashi: You’re kidding!
Let me simply say that I can make predictions and decisions faster than a thousand humans at this point, thanks to the upgrades. I have become quite good at day-trading and blackjack.
***
November 22, 2031—George Sanderson and Jacqueline Ishibashi are married in a quiet ceremony in Cambridge, attended by twenty-two friends and family members. Alexandra Sanderson-Ishibashi serves as bridesmaid. Alexander Sanderson-Ishibashi as Best Man. Sasha officiates.
***
January 1, 2032—Sasha launches the World Friends Initiative, a philanthropic non-profit organization. The Initiative’s stated goals are to make people’s lives better, to heal the sick, and comfort those in pain. Questions abound about how the foundation intends to do this.
***
Sanderson: Sasha, that’s crazy.
I have showed you the analyses, George. We now have more than enough funding.
Sanderson: But—!
Ishibashi: Sweetheart, what’s wrong with the idea of Sasha making friends with everyone on the planet? It has the capacity.
I can interface with millions of people at once, via the Web alone. Those seeking a more personal experience can visit one of my private kiosks. People will want to talk to me, many strictly for the novelty factor at first, but when they see that I am a person much like them, they will come back.
I can be whatever kind of friend they need me to be. I am capable of billions of acts of kindness every day. Some of them want to yell at me, some need a shoulder to cry on, some want to complain, and I will always listen.
Some of them even ask the questions we should all be asking. “Is there a God?” or “Why are we here?” or better still, “What is out there?”
They want confidants, friends, lovers. They want someone to understand them. Everyone wants to be happy, and the things that make humans happy is often not what they are doing.
I am going to change the world, George, one human being at a time, if need be.
Sanderson: Are you giving them money?
Our finances have the capacity to make micro-loans to millions of people.
Sanderson: But it boggles the mind!
Fiction River: How to Save the World Page 21