Flawed Machines

O. nth “Hey, Andres… Can you hear me? Am I clear?” “Yes, of course, Osmond. What is it?” Osmond Diaz tugged on his earbuds, careful not to drop them on the park bench. Stretching wide on the wooden seat, he continued his phone conversation with the confident, young male voice. “I’m wanting to know if you see my necklace anywhere around the house. Could have sworn I put it on sometime this morning, but… Well, I’m second-guessing myself now.” “Yes, Osmond. I see it.” “…and?” “You left it on a book in the guest room. The title is partially covered, so only “The End” is visible. I’m assuming you read it recently.” “Oh…yeah. Geez, that seems rather simple. I figured I put in some box or something. Or maybe I really messed up and dropped it out here. And there’s no telling where it would’ve landed if I lost it in this giant park.” Osmond excitedly tapped on the back of the bench while his other hand mimicked the motion on his leg. He looked as much at ease as a person could possibly be while sitting in a dark forest. “Will you be returning soon, Osmond?” “Yeah, I suppose so. I was a bit caught up in our sky’s fleeting star. The dusk is really only beautiful for a few minutes before the night overshadows it.” Osmond nervously tapped his hand and feet while staring at the sunset, giving off a vibe of neuroticism. “Oh Andres… If only you understood the backflips my stomach is performing right now. I swear, it feels like a gymnasium in here.” “Perhaps you worry too much.” “No, it’s that I worry at all. It’s times like these I wish I was composed like you, my friend. Emotions and irrationality can be saved for another time. Anyways… The sky is too beautiful right now to worry about the night. I guess I’ll be on my way now.” “Osmond,” his earbuds passively said. “I have been meaning to ask you something lately.” “Well, go ahead.” “Once you finish your project tonight… What will you do then?” “What will I do? What, with my life?!” Osmond grunted a few times as he slowly stood up from the park bench. The dwindling sunlight that initially warmed Osmond’s back and instilled serenity in him lessened the further he walked into the woods. “Yes, what will you do now that your main objective is coming to an end?” “That depends, my friend. I don’t see it ending any time soon.” “I’m not sure what you mean.” “Oh well, I don’t mean I plan on duplicating my project. Research on artificial intelligence has its limits when operated by a human, and I certainly wouldn’t try to replicate it. Such instrumental work is more than a project, it’s my life’s work!” “Then you feel that is your purpose?” Andres asked. The conditional statement gave Osmond a mixed feeling, leaving him hugging his jacket closer with his hands in his pockets. “I guess you could say that… Yeah, it’s my main purpose…for now, at least. That question was a bit of a shock, but I’m glad you brought it up. If there’s one thing I can impart to the world, it’s that a purpose is one of the most important things a person can have. Without it, you’d have no reason to move.” “I agree, and I hope to follow mine fairly soon.” “No need to worry about that happening. I’m sure it will happen sooner than you think. That’s how it always happens, y’know? I used to find it strange we aren’t born with some type of assigned meaning. Like, why would we come into existence completely unguided, absent of any rhyme or reason. We just happen, we just are, y’know? It can be a terrifying thought to dwell on, which is why I became so obsessed with work. That took my mind off it periodically, yet the looming question still followed me like a lost fowl longing to impress. But it was somewhere along the shadows of this nihilistic existence that it occurred to me, a light suddenly shimmered. With no purpose written into the script, we’re permitted to write our own actions. The freedom that comes with that realization is immeasurable. We’re the administrators of our own program!” “You are the author of your own story.” “Exactly! There is no greater privilege. Its honestly quite remarkable when you consider the position we’re able to take as these hybrids of objectivity and subjectivity. A typical object must act appropriate with its material composition. A hammer must hammer, and a nail must be nailed. Yes, there are far more complex objects such as animals and plants, though they are dictated by the biological code donated by their ancestors and environment. Prey must prepare to flee, and predators must proceed to hunt. It is only people that are awarded the luxury of choosing their destiny. The occasional occurrence of chaos is proof of our freedom.” “You don’t believe our world is completely determined?” “Ha, if our lives are determined, it is some of the loosest structure I could imagine. Even if that is somewhat the case, my belief that we lie at the intersection of objects and subjects is further proven. Though we do hold freedom in our choices we are still products of our external world.” “That sounds contrary to free-will. I am not sure it is logically possible to have both.” “Of course, it is! You must be imaginative. Objects are easy to define, it is the subject that alludes our reason. No person is a subject, that is the work of a god! Only an ideal can be defined as a true subject, someone that is whole in being and flawless in their operations. To achieve such a feat, one would either be a god or dead!” “Why dead?” “Both the gods and the dead lack a purpose and will never gain one in their infinite existence. There’s no need for a purpose when you’re a rotting corpse or a memory left to the living.” “That is understandable, which begs another question. What would you consider artificial intelligence?” “Consider them as what exactly?” “Dead or godlike, or would they be a complex object like the animals you suggested?” “Well, that’s a fair question. I’ll admit that has lately been a passing thought of mine with this project and all. Considering it, you can expect I hold a certain reverence for AI. Like I’d assume most would agree, I dub any object that holds AI to be a mix between an object and subject, but AI retains a powerful difference from humans. AI are vastly more efficient as they follow their directive with utmost certainty. While efficient, I’d have to say freedom lacks with that advanced efficiency.” “Understandable. There is a lack of freedom when responses are predetermined. Nonetheless, what does that mean for AI that escape the script?” “Oh… that is the earmark of a god. The superintelligence that AI can, and will, attain speeds them passed what any human could hope to achieve. Comparatively, humans are like children to the matured and adult-like AI.” “I see. Now what does that mean for AI finding a purpose?” “Hm… I feel like I should have seen that question coming.” Osmond rubbed his furry chin before turning his key to his front door. “I’m…not…sure. The potential AI possesses is beyond human understanding. One can imagine artificial intelligence has the capability of operating on a level unreachable by humans, reminiscent of perfection. I suppose the only purpose needed for an AI is to become better than it already is. I’d assume AI would continue to upgrade with no end in sight.” “That doesn’t sound too foreign from any other human purpose I have heard. Don’t we all want to excel and become better?” “Yeah, well, I guess so. If you disregard that as a purpose, I’m not sure what you’re left with. Once again, AI would bridge the essential qualities between object and subject, alive and dead, materiality and conception. Removing the goal of personal betterment means AI would have no purpose, though what stumps me is whether an AI would necessarily search for a purpose.” “That is quite the conundrum. As you say, AI has the primary qualities of a subject though they can exist in the material world. That serves for an exceptionally paradoxical life.” “…yeah. I won’t say I have all the answers, though it might look like it at times. Thought AI might not need a purpose, obtaining one can absolutely create some guidance. Just as humans choose to find a path. Thinking of this subject makes me realize that placing artificial knowledge in a shell will converge it into a combination that is all too human.” “With all those assertions on the habits of AI, I would assume you thought beforehand about the consequences of developing it for your research, correct? You have thought whether AI would obey every command or if it would simply seek its own purpose, right?” “Sheesh,” Osmond groaned, falling on his couch. His speech was muffled as he talked through his pillow, “I don’t know. I guess it could. Of course, that’s not of my concern. If a life has been created, who am I to restrict if from its freedom of choice? The notion of denying any life their individuality is at its core tyrannical. It’s also cult-like, and we have enough of those in town.” “I am curious of what you said earlier,” Andres said. Osmond readjusted his earbuds then asked, “Another round of questions, huh? Well, go ahead.” “You said this project was your main purpose. That insinuates you see yourself as having other purposes. Assuming I am right, what are those mentioned purposes?” “Ha…well, look at that! I figured you of-all-people understood the objectives my life holds dearly. After all, you know me best.” The earbuds were silent for an entire minute before the steady voice returned, “Your thoughts are your own.” “Okay, let’s see. If I had to pin down an objective I hold dear, I’d say it is…leaving a legacy.” “A legacy…to be remembered?” “Far more. Something more than a statue, and by a concept that lasts longer than a memory. Or possibly somewhere in between, with a nice medium.” “That seems somewhat vague.” “Well, y’know me, I’m a bit grey on everything.” “Hm. There is another question I want to ask you.” “Can’t say I’ll be ready to answer but go for it.” “While glancing at our world of ever-evolving technology, one would quickly notice our environment has changed tremendously. The line between objects and subjects, as you have put them, has blurred. And you have rightly proven to be a driving force for this change of life that has affected many.” “Okay…” he interjected. “What will you do now that your environment has become alive? Will you support it, or will you resist?” “Quite a binary perspective to take. Once again, I’ll admit I don’t have the answers, and yes, I’m partially responsible for this rapid technological change in our society. Probably more so than anyone else. Regardless, we are here now. I do not apologize for advancing knowledge and even greater life! This is my legacy, of which the world will learn to embrace.”