Late nights

XXVI

- Well, love and magnets aren't that different you know. One magnet moves another's pieces, then they pull each other apart or maybe push each other away. There's one difference, though. - Tom said.

- And what would that difference be?

- When you pull two magnets apart, they don't think about each other.

- Yeah, I guess they don't. Well, thinking in that way, they don't think about anyone or anything.

- Right, they're magnets. I think therefore I am, right? - Tom chuckled.

- I've heard that before.

- Yeah, it's quite a popular quote. Can't wait until robots start to say that. At that point, we'll all be screwed.

- What if robots are friendly?

- To be honest, they probably will be. Actually, there's this really interesting thought experiment. So basically, imagine a really smart AI gets made and it decides to kill anyone who didn't help them to exist sooner. So, now because you know this thought experiment and you're not putting any effort into AI, you would be killed.

- So let's just not make that AI. Simple as that. - Emily leaned back on the library sofa.

- Right, a lot of people think that but it doesn't really work like that. See, someone would try to create that AI just so they wouldn't be one of the people who got killed.

- Oh, yeah, that makes sense. That's an interesting one, - Emily was looking at some people organizing books, - do you think they'll finish organizing today?

- Hmm. Probably not. - Tom said.

- I mean, yeah, in reality, they have no chance of finishing today, but they have faith.

- What's the point in faith when it's not based on facts?

- People can have faith. Sometimes, faith makes everything comes true.

- No, you need facts for faith to be valid. Build a rocket using science and it's gonna reach the moon, build a rocket using faith...what's gonna happen? 

- They're organizing shelves, not building a rocket.

- Well it's not just rockets, it's everything. Make medicine using science and then using faith. Basically, what I'm saying is faith...well, it's good, I guess, but just because something works, doesn't mean that it can't be improved. 

It started downpouring outside, with lightning following soon after. Both Tom and Emily knew they couldn't go home, so they stayed at the library for a little longer. Tom even picked up a book to keep themselves entertained.