G's Future

by Don Viecelli

  They were taken to a table with a view of the river and dam. Boats could go no further on this side of the dam. People were fishing below the dam. It was a pretty site, which they enjoyed while deciding what they wanted for dinner. Everyone except Kate ordered seafood. Kate wanted a hamburger and fries. As they finished the main meal and were waiting for dessert, Susan glanced at Charles and brought up the subject of Julian’s call. “Charles, tell us about the call you received from your Grandfather today.”

  Charles took a sip of his coffee and looked at Timothy. “Your Great Grandfather, Julian, called me today. He wants us to visit him in Michigan. He said he has something important to show me. He asked if you would come and spend some time with him this summer. What do you think, Timothy?”

  Timothy wasn’t prepared for this. He didn’t know what to say. He loved his great grandfather and knew how important he was, but he wanted to stay home for the summer and play on the river. He just didn’t want to tell his parents the real reason why. “How long does he want me to stay?” he asked reluctantly.

  Charles noticed his son’s look of disappointment, which was unexpected. Usually, Timothy was happy to visit Julian. “Julian said for a couple of weeks if you like. He sounded very excited and wanted you to help him on some project. He wouldn’t tell me what it was on the phone. I think he has a new invention he wants to show us. It sounded important.”

  Timothy thought about it. Two weeks wasn’t a long time. He would be back on the river before summer officially began. He had plenty of time to play with the boat and see Amy. “I guess it would be fine, Dad. We haven’t visited Great Grandpa for a while. What about Mom and Kate?” he asked.

  “I can’t go at this time because of work,” Susan responded. “Kate can stay with me while you and your dad visit. We can come up when it’s time to bring you back home. It sounds like fun. You like it up there on the lake anyway.”

  They discussed plans for the trip over dessert. Charles and Timothy would leave on Saturday morning the following week. Everybody had time to get ready. Timothy could see that his mom and dad were pleased with the idea. Timothy knew he would undoubtedly learn something new from his famous Great Grandpa. The man was a genius. He wondered what Julian wanted to show them. Whatever it was, it would certainly be interesting. Maybe he would even make the news. Now that would impress his friends—and Amy.

  Chapter 5

  Early the following Saturday morning, Susan was making breakfast for Charles and Timothy while they packed for their trip. Charles was planning to drive to New Buffalo, Michigan, which was just up the western shoreline of Lake Michigan about 115 miles from where they lived. The drive would take about two and a half hours if traffic wasn’t heavy. Charles would stay until Sunday, then come back home. He had to work on Monday. Timothy would stay two weeks, at which time Charles, Susan and Kate would travel back up to Michigan to bring Timothy home. At least that was the current plan.

  Charles came down the steps with his overnight bag, dropped it by the front door and walked into the kitchen. He kissed Susan on the cheek and stood by the window. “Smells good, Sue,” he said as he poured some coffee. “Thanks for making breakfast for us. We could have stopped on the road you know.”

  “I know, but I wanted Timothy to have something good to eat before he leaves. I don’t think he really wants to stay so long at Julian’s place, but I think it would do him some good this summer,” she said.

  “Me too,” Charles replied as he sipped his coffee and looked out the kitchen window at the river. The weather looked good for the trip; just a little cloudy and windy today. “It looks like a good day for driving.”

  “Do you have any idea what your grandfather is up too?” Susan asked while she flipped the pancakes and turned the bacon.

  “He wouldn’t say on the call. He just smiled and said it was important and he wanted Timothy there to help him. Something’s up, but I don’t know what it could be. You know, Julian. He works on some really weird stuff for the government.”

  “The man should retire and enjoy the remaining time in his life,” Susan said. She didn’t add what she was thinking—that Julian was getting pretty old and probably didn’t have much time left.

  “I think he just loves what he does. He’s probably just trying to keep himself busy since Jean died,” Charles said. Julian’s wife, Jean, died two years ago from a long illness. Jean was the one who made Julian retire from NASA thirty years ago and move to New Buffalo. “I know he misses her greatly. They had a good life together.”

  They both stopped talking about Julian when they heard Timothy coming down the steps with his suitcase. Timothy rolled his suitcase to the front door and came into the kitchen. “Boy, I’m hungry,” he said and sat down at the table.

  “I made pancakes for breakfast. What do you want to drink?” Susan asked him.

  “Milk and orange juice, please,” he responded. Susan placed a stack of pancakes on a plate with some bacon and handed it to Charles to put on the table for Timothy. While Charles poured the drinks for Timothy, Susan made another plate for Charles and herself. Then they both sat down with Timothy to eat breakfast.

  They made small talk until breakfast was over. It was time for Charles and Timothy to leave. Timothy hugged his mom and said goodbye. Susan kissed them both and helped open the front door while they carried out their bags. “Say hi to Julian and give him a big hug for me,” she said to Timothy. “Tell him Kate and I will see him in two weeks.”

  “I will, Mom,” Timothy said.

  “Drive safely, Charles. Call me when you get there.”

  “I will, Sue. Tell Kate I’ll call her tonight.” Charles started up the steps that led to the garage on top of the hill. When he and Timothy reached the garage, Charles opened the door they threw their luggage in the back seat and got into the car. Charles started the engine and backed out of the garage. The car was a two-year old SUV with a hybrid engine. It got good mileage and was fully featured. Charles programmed the GPS navigation system and they were off. Timothy settled in with his digital tablet and started playing games. Charles listened to the news on the radio.

  Once they reached the Illinois toll way system, it was an uneventful trip to the Indiana border. Then traffic built up and travel slowed down for a while until they reached the Michigan border. All the highways were toll roads now to help pay for the infrastructure. They could have taken the bullet train to New Buffalo, but then they would have to rent a car or take a taxi to Julian’s place, which was just north of town. Besides, Charles wanted to drive. He took a train every work day.

  To pass the remaining time, Charles tried to have a conversation with Timothy. “I’m glad you’re coming with me to visit your great grandfather, Timothy. I know he’s old now, but his mind is strong and he still invents things. I used to visit him a lot with my father when I was young. He was quite famous back then with all the scientific breakthroughs he was making. I always wished I could be as smart as he was, but Julian is a genius and I’m not. I finally just learned to accept that and appreciate what he did.”

  “I know he’s smart, Dad,” Timothy said as he turned off his tablet. I enjoy playing at his house when we visit. But he never let me play in his lab and he never showed me any of his work. Why do you think he wants me to work with him now?”

  “I’m not sure, Timothy. I think a lot of the things he did in the past was government related. He had to keep everything confidential and he couldn’t tell anyone, not even me or my dad before he died. This is different. This must be something new, something independent of government work. Whatever it is, I bet it will be exciting though. Just remember, you don’t have to stay or work on anything you don’t want too. Let me know and we can go home together on Sunday. Julian will understand. I just want to check up on him and make sure he’s okay. He’s getting very old now, and we have to watch out for him. That’s what families do for each other. I just want you to know that.”

  Timothy looked out the window. They were
passing a road sign that said the exit for New Buffalo was two miles ahead. “I know, Dad. I was planning to spend the summer at home this year and play with my friends. I don’t mind spending time with Great Grandpa. He’s neat.”

  Charles let Timothy stare out the window. The GPS told him to get off at Exit 1/M-239 up ahead. He slowed down as he approached the exit and turned off the highway. He followed M-239 into town, which turned into Marquette Drive. He travelled north along the lake for one mile until he saw the driveway and mailbox sign for Julian’s home. He turned into the driveway and drove down the short driveway to the house. He parked the SUV near the garage and they got out and stretched their legs from the long drive. It was almost one o’clock in the afternoon. They lost an hour due to the time change.

  Julian’s house was a one hundred year old summer home; originally build for a wealthy industrialist from Chicago. Julian and Jean Thornway bought the house and fixed it up for their retirement years. Julian added on a small addition for his lab. The house sat on a hill overlooking the lake. There was a small beach area at the end of the property with lawn chairs, patio and fire pit near the beach. It was a lovely spot and Charles and his family visited often in the summers past. The place held a lot of pleasant memories.

  Charles and Timothy grabbed their bags out of the car and walked to the large front door. Charles rang the doorbell. After a minute, Julian came to the door and opened it. He was not very tall; shorter and thinner than Charles with thinning, neatly trimmed gray hair. He had a pleasant looking face and a nice smile. “Why, hello, Charles. Thank you for coming. Please, come in.” Julian shook Charles hand. Julian’s voice was slightly raspy and he was slightly bent over at the shoulders. He held a walking cane in his left hand to help keep his balance. He looked closely at Timothy. “My, Timothy, you have grown since last summer. You look more and more like your grandfather, Andrew, when he was your age.”

  “Hello, Great Grandpa,” Timothy said. He held out his hand and Julian shook it. Timothy noticed how small, rough and dry Julian’s hand felt.

  “Please, come inside. You can put your bags away later. You must be tired from your long trip. Are you thirsty or hungry?” Julian asked as he slowly led them to the living room area.

  “I could use a class of water,” Charles said. Timothy asked for a soft drink.

  “Timothy, why don’t you go into the kitchen and get us all drinks. You know where everything is,” Julian said as he sat down in a comfortable chair in the living room by the widow. Charles sat down across from him on a couch. He noticed how clean everything was. The room was furnished in a contemporary style with several comfortable chairs and couch arranged around a large central coffee table. There was a large bookshelf on one side of the room and two end tables with large lamps next to each chair. The room looked the same as when Julian’s wife, Jean, chose the decorations before she died.

  “So how have you been, Julian?” Charles asked. “Is everything okay?

  “Everything’s fine, Charles. I’ve been very busy lately and wanted to see you. How’s Susan and Kate?”

  “They’re fine. Susan sends her love. She and Kate will visit in two weeks when we come back to bring Timothy home. Timothy is a little anxious about visiting you for two weeks. I think he misses his friends back home. I told him he didn’t have to stay if he doesn’t want to.”

  “I understand. I hope he decides to stay. I really need his help on something. We can discuss it more when he comes back with our drinks.”

  Timothy walked carefully into the living room with a tray and three drinks. “Here are your drinks,” he announced correctly. He gave the two glasses of water to Julian and his father. He set the tray down on the coffee table and picked up his class of pop and sat down next to his father.

  “Thank you, Timothy,” Julian said. “You are a great help. Your father was telling me you are worried about staying here with me. Is that so?”

  Timothy looked at his dad and wondered what he had said to his great grandfather. He looked at Julian. “Not really, Great Grandpa. I just wanted to play with my friends on the river this summer and learn how to water ski.” Naturally, he didn’t say anything about Amy.

  “I understand, Timothy. When I was your age I wanted to do the same types of things as you do, but I found myself hanging out with older boys and they were not really interested in playing with me. Being gifted has its drawbacks at that age, I found out. Anyway, it all works out eventually. What I have in mind for you may prove very interesting after I show you and your father what it is.

  “What is it, Julian?” Charles asked. “Do you need help around the house?”

  “No, no, Charles. Maria Fields helps me with housework. She comes five times a week to clean and make me dinners. There’s an important contest coming up this summer and I plan to enter someone whom I think has an excellent chance of winning. I need help in getting ready for it.”

  “A contest? Really, Julian. Are you sure you’re up to such a thing?” Charles asked. “Contests can be stressful.” He was concerned about Julian’s health.

  “The contest is not for me, Charles. It’s for someone else who’s not your typical contestant.”

  “I don’t follow, Julian. Who are you talking about?

  “Come. It’s easier if I show you both.” Julian got up. He had to use his armrest and his cane to lift himself out of his chair. He looked weaker than the last time Julian had visited him a few months ago. Once he steadied himself, he led Charles and Timothy to his lab on the east side of the house. Charles noticed how clean and tidy everything was in the house. At least, Maria, the housekeeper, must be doing a good job, Charles thought.

  Julian led them to a locked door. Timothy knew immediately where it led. It was his great grandfather’s mysterious lab, at least to him. He was finally going to see what was inside the lab. He was suddenly very excited.

  Charles entered a key code and turned to face them. Please don’t act too surprised at what you see. I told him you were coming.”

  Julian opened the door. They stepped inside. The room was very bright, but not from sunlight because the external window blinds were tightly closed. The brightness came from the overhead florescent lights and the many computer monitor and TV screens that were turned on and hanging on panels all around the room. At first it was hard to make out the figure sitting in front of one of the computer screens. The back of his head was just visible behind another desk with equipment in the way. Suddenly, whoever it was heard the noise behind him. He turned around and stood up. Charles and Timothy starred at him; then looked at each other in stunned silence.

  Julian did the introductions. “Charles, Timothy, this is who I wanted you to meet. He is an android. I call him G. G, this is Charles, my grandson, and Timothy, my great grandson. They are going to help us.”

  G stepped away from his desk and walked towards them. He was five feet ten inches tall, built with an anthropomorphic or human looking head and body. His head was bald, but he had flesh colored facial features that looked human including eyes, nose, mouth and square shaped chin. He was wearing loose fitting clothes. He reached his hand out to shake with Charles and said in a clear human sounding voice, “Hello, Charles. It’s nice to meet you.” The exterior of his arm and hand were made of a soft, flexible synthetic silicone material. The hand felt cool to the touch, but the grip was firm. He turned to Timothy and said hello, but did not offer to shake his hand. Neither Charles nor Timothy spoke. They didn’t know what to say.

  Chapter 6

  Once the shock subsided, Charles finally spoke. “I had no idea this is what you were doing. How long have been working on this, Julian?”

  “A long time, Charles—at least ten years on the basic technologies and theories for increasing artificial intelligence in robotic machines. You see, I believed machines would one day be more intelligent than humans twenty years ago.”

  “Are you saying that this android is more intelligent than either of us?” Charles asked as he lo
oked closely at G. The android did not take his eyes off him.

  “Yes. G is more intelligent that any human alive today. More than that, he thinks like a human. I want to prove it to the world,” Julian answered leaning on his cane.

  Charles did not believe him and said so. “That’s not possible, at least not yet. No machine can actually think like a human with full human intelligence,” Charles added.

  “Come on, Dad,” Timothy suddenly interrupted. “Machines can think now. Robots and machines are used for lots of things. What about the GPS in the car? She tells us where to go all the time and we never get lost now. And what about our phone’s VA (virtual assistant)? I ask my VA everything.”

  Charles thought about what Timothy said. He crossed his arms and responded, “I agree with you, Timothy, but none of those machines have human intelligence. They can’t act and rationalize like us. They just respond to questions and spit out answers, more like search engines using databases.”

  “I understand your reluctance to believe what I am telling you, Charles,” Julian said. “I just want you to keep an open mind and see what I have achieved. G may only look like a robot, but it has a machine brain that works similarly to a human brain with massive parallel processing capabilities and unbelievable storage capacity. No human brain can match it.”

  “All right, Julian. I’ll try to keep an open mind. What did you mean you want to prove it? How?” Charles asked.

  “Well, that is one of the reasons I invited you and Timothy here. I plan to enter G in the Loebner Prize Contest to pass the Turing Test. It will be held in Chicago in two weeks. The prize is one million dollars to anyone who can fool the judges a machine can think like a human.”