Dots to Extinction

By Kenneth Schnitker

We have been abusing nature faster than it can heal itself. In our desperation for solutions we developed a sentient quantum computer and gave it access to all our knowledge. We gave it access to everything about everybody. The damn thing now knows more about us than we could ever know. As its creator is it good or evil? We know it does not need us so what will it do with us?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Schnitker
• Release date: Apr 23, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452379340

Kenneth Schnitker

I would like to tell you a little about myself. I am currently living in Minnesota. I have a bachelors and masters degree in Psychology. In addition, I have studied sociology, behavioral genetics and computer science. I have assisted in the research of endocrinology, genetics and clinical depression. Most recently I have taught undergraduate and graduate courses for a number of universities.I have over 40 years of business and educational experience. This includes line management and as a business owner. I started a computer and business school which I ran for 14 years.I am really pushing myself to get this book written since I am in hospice suffering with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a non-treatable, progressive, terminal illness with no known cause. I hope to live two more months so I can attend my youngest daughter’s marriage on May 30, 2010. Let’s hope.I thought it would be cool to write a book and tell a story. I also wanted to write about some serious topics in such a way that others may take an interest in them. Lastly, I hope others will enjoy reading the store as much as I have enjoyed writing it.Please leave any comments you wish to share at [e-mail]:Estate Administrator, Attorney – Kirk Schnitker [e-mail] - Camille June [e-mail] – Tyson Schnitker – [e-mail] - Callie Schnitker – [e-mail]:I am not a professional editor so my latest book will be touched up over time but the store will not change.

Book preview

Chapter 4 - Really Scared

As I left the room and walk to my office. I was trying to understand what was happening. But the only thing I was sure of was that I was exhausted. My day start normal enough but it has since turned into a nightmare.

I had this gut feeling that we were in trouble but I could not put my finger on to exactly why. I knew this was one of these things I would have to think about but I did not know how much time we had. It was scary because I could not see an upside to what was going on. Whoever said each cloud has a silver lining was either out of touch or full of it.

It was still early but I wanted to go home and hide in a bottle of booze. But I then thought the prospect of actually going home bothered me. I was single and this was Friday. My work had taken its toll on three marriages, and other than work, loneness seemed my only reliable companion. But now my work scares me. I felt lonelier than ever. I can’t even share my work with anyone, except those on the team. And candidly, the prospect of talking with them at this point did not thrill me.

Since the meeting ended I had been sitting in my office with the door close. I could not formulate a concise thought, although I had always prided myself on my clarity of thinking. There was this overwhelming sense of alarm still pounding in my brain that I could not put into words. But there was something instinctual in me that justified this feeling.

Without thinking, I got up and began to put stuff in my brief case. I didn’t know what I was putting in it, but I was just going through the motion that I had done a thousand other times. I was so out of it that even the knock at my office door did not registrar. It was only when the door open that I realized someone was there. It took a few seconds for my mind to get refocus enough to recognize who it was. I said.

Frank.

I could offer him nothing more. He looked terrible and without thinking I said.

Frank, you look terrible.

He responded that he probably felt much worse than he looked. He also asked if I looked in a mirror since the meeting. No answer was necessary.

Frank stood in the door way and seemed to be supporting himself with the doors knob. Though I was in no mood to talk with Frank, I could not just ignore him standing there either. He was there for some reason so I invited him in. He promptly accepted but then he notice that I was preparing to leave and declined. It was at this point I realized Frank was not just a colleague but a fellow human, who like me, maybe anguishing over what was happening. I insisted he come in, close the door and sit down. He did and he looked straight ahead and tears began to form.

I never thought about it much, but this team saw me as a psychologist, amongst other things. I guess I was supposed to know what to do and say at moments like this, but I knew better. At this moment, Frank was here, not as a friend or colleague but a man in pain turning to me for answers. And my professional training and basic care taker instinct took over as his first tear dropped from his cheek. I took my briefcase off my desk and put it on the floor, sat down and learn forward ready to listen. Frank found some composure and said.

I am mentally lost Matt.

He went on to say that at no time in his career had he felt scared of his work. At no time could he not share his deepest thoughts with his wife of thirty-seven years. He looked up at me and said that he knew we were not close but I was the only one he could turn to.

I was complimented but I also had this deep sorrow for Frank. Here he was, a Nobel Laurite desperately looking for answers about his life and his work, but I could offer none. There were probably no answers. We were all just groping for the reason why the computer was not responding and what we may have done to cause it. Besides, I was questioning my own decisions and role in the whole thing.

Frank continued to talk and I listened. As he talked, I felt ashamed about my feels towards him. I always thought of him as a pompous ass hiding behind his titles, publications, Nobel Prize and fame. This was all true, but I never considered why he was hiding. I never took the time to consider that what I interpreted as asinine behaviors were really cover-ups for insecurities. I was also wondering about his past and why he felt he had to cover it up. I began seeing Franks as an over achiever trying to compensate for something. Maybe he just needs a chance that I never bothered to give him. I was beginning to like Frank for the first time.

When Frank stopped talking silence followed. We sat across the desk looking at each other. Frank seemed to be waiting for me to say something profound and psychological. I couldn’t think of anything to say except for trivia, which I offered.

I never knew this side of you Frank. I always thought of you as having the answers. I was both right and wrong about you. A side of you is just like the rest of us, insecure and self-doubting.

Frank now stared at me even more intensely. It was like he was trying to see into my mind, looking for hidden meanings. But if he could somehow see into my mind he would find a man overwhelmed by the day’s events. And a man who felt as trivial as the words I offered. I tried not to stare back and found a reason to write something on a notepad. I could only seem to write what we all did in our first typing class. Fore score and seven years ago…

I was still focusing on writing when Frank abruptly stood up. At that moment he seemed to tower over me. I was sitting, he was standing but it seemed much more than this. It seemed Frank had somehow sucked from me more than I wanted to give. I felt Frank was now in control and it was me that needed someone to talk to and lean on and vent to. But Frank was not going to be this crutch since he said.

Thanks for listening.

As he turn and left my office. I now felt even more alone and empty. I could feel my skin that sealed off from everyone and everything.

The words of the pack we made in the team meeting of not talking about the problem with anyone outside the group were racing around in my skull. It kept repeating itself. But I also thought how could I get emotional relief if I could not even air my feelings about what was happening? I wasn’t married nor had kids or even a girl friend. Not even a best friend. Not that I could discuss this with anyone of them. But they could help take my mind off this stuff. I assumed all the others on the team had someone to turn to. It just didn’t seem fair that I didn’t.

Somehow, while I was lost in thoughts about the agreement, I must have retrieved my briefcase and stood-up. Though the day had already become surreal, the session with Frank took me over the edge. I now felt I was suffocating and left my office. On my way out I was hoping I would run into a team member so I had someone friendly to talk to. But I was also afraid that if I did I could be expected to give more of myself. But I was all used up and had nothing to give

I had no idea what time is was so I glanced at the clock on the far wall and realized it was much later than I thought. I wondered how long I had sat at my desk thinking about myself after Frank had left. It seemed time had become warped and an hour passed in minutes.

The members of the project team and managers had offices but the staff worked in cubicles. As I left the office I could just see over the top of cubicles. For the first time I noticed just how vast the maze of partitions was which only added to my sense of feeling lost. The lights were all on but there was no movement, no sound. It was late Friday afternoon and most people were gone.

I started toward the elevators. When there I push the down button and waited. A bell dinged somewhere and one of the elevator doors slide open, I stepped in and the doors slide closed when I pressed the lobby button.

The building was a large university research center that was both buried in the ground five stories and stuck out of the ground five stories. The project team and management parking was in the bottom two underground Parking Levels of D and E. We all had reserved parking places. But those unfortunate to be assigned parking far from the elevator were less thrilled about these reserve parking arrangements. Me, I was half-way so I could support either view. The support staff and visitors had to park on levels A – C or outside which was okay except when it rained or in the winter.

Most did not realize that the underground parking area was not as large as the buildings actual footprint. A third of the lower level parking areas was walled off for the computer staff, the monitoring and project computers. These facilities could only be access from the above ground first story. From there you had to take separate elevators.

Once on the ground floor I left one elevator and entered a waiting elevator leading to the parking garage. I pressed PL-E for the lowest level. The doors slide closed and elevator descended quickly. I stepped off the elevator and enter the well lit foyer. After leaving the foyers and entered the dimly lit garage and immediately felt uncomfortable and chilled by the hint of a draft. I quickened my normal pace to get to the safety of my car. I felt childish in my sudden fears of invading a space already claimed.

Normally, I go to my parking spot without giving a thought to what was on the others side of the north gray concrete wall. But this afternoon it felt like I was entering a crypt where a body lying on the other side of the wall and somehow, it was watching me. It felt like it was a vengeful body bent on harming me.

I did not see her at first. She was assigned parking in a separate row but still insight of my parking stall. She was standing there and did not seem to notice me in the dim light. Surrounding us were the gray concrete walls that added to my sense that the whole space was damp, cold and threatening. If it had been anyone else, I would have hurriedly enter my car and escaped to the surface. But it was Joyce!

Chapter 5 - Can You Jump Me

Joyce was looking in the direction of the wall where the project computer was housed and had not noticed me. I was tempted to call out to her but felt that breaking the dead silence with a call would startle her so instead; I began to walk towards her. I scuffled my feet with hope she would hear me. It seemed to work because she turned and looked at me. As the space between us closed, I was hoping she recognize me. She did because she stepped toward me. I once again demonstrate my mastery of language and speech and said loudly, Joyce. I hate myself when I am around her because I become such a tongue tied idiot with a vocabulary to match.

Joyce immediately responded by raising her hand in recognition. As she walked towards me, I could hear each step she took in her hard soled heels which echoed off the barren grey walls. Each step brought her closer and joy to my ears.

I am glad to see you Matt. Something is wrong with my car, my cell phone does not work down here and I was hoping a friendly face would show up.

As we walked closer to each other I could see the concern in her face over her situation. I was thankful she could not hear my thoughts because her situation created an opportunity for me. How does a decent man justify getting joy over a woman’s misfortune, but I am and I am not feeling any guilt over it. I managed to say.

What can I do to help Joyce?

I know my voice was not the authoritative one I used with others. Instead, it was weak, higher toned and maybe a bit pleading.

Unless you have cables and know how to jump me and will need a ride.

Oops, did she say jump her? This caught me a little off guard and I seem to mentally stumble but recovered quickly. I also forgot to stop shuffling after she recognized me. God I hate feeling like an idiot.

No cables but I can give you a ride.

It is amazing how being able to put nine simple words together can feel so uplifting.

That would be great. Once we are out of this place I can call one of my daughters to come and get me.

Ok, let’s do it.

I stopped walking toward her and waited for her to come to me. I watched and listened to her every step as though mesmerized. It only took her a couple of seconds and then I turned and we walked back to my car. Though I had stopped shuffling my feet my knees felt weak and I was self-conscious of my every step.

This was the closest I had ever been to Joyce. I could actually feel the heat from her body. Until now, one of us was always sitting behind something or we exchange passing pleasantries from a distance but we never actually stood, for any amount of time, next to each other. I noticed that Joyce was taller than I thought she was. As usually, she moved with the grace and stride of a refined confident woman. She was speaking as she walked. I was trying to hang on to every word she spoke but I was so engrossed with my own self that I was not really listening.

Then she stopped and looked directly at me.

Did you hear me? Are you okay?

This got my attention. There was something very familiar with, did you hear me, and I had a flash back to an earlier marriage, or three. Maybe I should also include my mother.

I am sorry Joyce. I am just not myself and I apologize. What was it you were saying?

I could tell there was a little annoyance by the tone in her voice as she repeated her earlier question.

What did you think of our project meeting today?

The question immediate brought me back to where we were. In the parking garage near the gray concrete wall that separated us from the project computer. The thought raise the hair on the back of my neck and I could sense that cool damp draft again.

I looked at her and said.

I am still recovering from it. I don’t have an opinion or even a thought that makes any sense to me so I would not expect they would to anyone else. How about you?

"I’m also struggling with it. I have to admit that I am having a tough time keeping my emotions in check. Yesterday, we seemed to have our arms around the project and today it seems the project computer is out of control and we do not know what to do about it. That is a very unsettling feeling."

There as a pause just before she said, out of control. This was the first time I heard Joyce’s voice crack, just a bit. I felt a needed to say something to reassure her but just like with Frank, I had nothing to offer. I was struggling with reassuring myself. But I finally got out.

I know how you feel. I feel the same way.

As we approached my car I pushed the unlock button on my remote. In response the car made the familiar chirping sound indicating the doors were unlocking. The chirping sound also echoed which only reinforced the garage was nearly empty. We walked around to the passages side and I asked Joyce if she minded if I put her briefcase in the back. She handed it to me so I opened the backdoor and placed it on the floor behind her seat. After closing the backdoor, I open the front for Joyce.

The dome light came on and I watched her tuck her skirt in as she sat down in the car. I am sure she saw me looking at her legs but maybe not. I closed her door and walked around to my side and got in. We both buckled up and I started the car and backed out of the space. As I put the car in drive Joyce broke the silence by saying she felt a bit cool and wonder if I would turn the heat on. The seats were heated so I turned both the front ones on. I also, looked at her and said

The garage seems unusually cold.

We reach the next level up without another word.

We drove through levels D when I reach to turn the radio on but it just clicked with static but no music. We looked at each other and at first smiled and then began to laugh. Here we are, three levels below ground in a steel reinforced concrete structure designed to withstand nuclear ballast and I expected to get radio reception. However, as we laughed at the irony of it we both knew it was a veiled attempt to reduce the stress that we both felt. Joyce reached over and touched my arm and said.

Nice try Matt. Some music would have been nice.

We began to laugh even harder and I could feel some tension drain from me. I looked at Joyce and she was looking at me.

That’s nice I said.

What’s nice matt?

I looked at her again and said.

To see you laugh.

She continued looking at me, cocked her head to one side and said.

Thanks.

By now we were on level B and I thought to myself, only one level before we would be out of the crypt. We both began to speak and both apologized for interrupting the other. We looked at each other and I said.

Please go ahead Joyce.

Are you hungry Matt?

This brought cascade of thoughts. I must have hesitated because she then added.

I can understand if you’re not.

I looked over at her and she was looking straight ahead without any expression.

Yes, I am very hungry but had not thought about it until you mentioned it.

This was the truth. I looked at Joyce again and asked.

What are you hungry for?

Without a hesitation Joyce replied.

Comfort food. Hot, fatty, tasty comfort food!

How about Benny’s?

Perfect. Will you join me?

Thanks. Let’s do it.

We were now approaching the exit of the garage and I had a sense of escaping from a place not meant for the living. I could see just beyond the security shack and it was over cast and getting dark already. Being dark seems to fit in with all that had happened today, but I didn’t say anything.

Chapter 6 - Benny’s

Benny’s was a place everyone on the team knew. It was a place to go after a hard day, offered large portions of comfort food and also served as a watering hole.

It only took about 10 minutes to get to Benny’s and the radio was working fine. I always had it tuned to a soft rock station, or what some kids call elevator music. I asked Joyce if the music was okay. She did not answer so I dropped it. I figured she was lost in her own thoughts of the day.

Benny’s parking lot was almost full and it took a few tours around it to find a parking spot close to the building. But I found one, parked the car, turned it off, undid the seat belt and open my door. Joyce glanced over at me with a smile. I went around and open her door. The only light was from the dome and her body placed a shadow over her legs. She swung her legs out and stood up. We awkwardly maneuver around each other so I could close the door.

I thought how much I hated drivers that park too close to the parking stall line, but I liked the one who parked next us because Joyce and I had to brush up to each other to get by. We laugh just a little to help ease the tension created by invading each other’s comfort zone. As I closed the door I joined her behind the car and we walked toward Benny’s.

We had walked about 30 feet and Joyce looked at me and asked.

Is it was okay if hold your arm?

Without any hesitation I offered it and said.

I would like that.

We had walked another 30 feet and we both started to talk again. This time she beat me to it and said.

It’s your turn to go first.

What if we run across other members of the project?

Without any hesitation or looking at me, Joyce came back with.

To hell with them and let’s just ignore them. They can find their own date.

The word date began rattling around in my brain. I liked this word and this lady even more, if that’s possible.

We looked at each other and laughed as she pulled by arm in close to her. I could feel her full warm breast against my bicep and it comforted me amongst other things.

When we got to the door and I opened it for her. Benny’s was rocking as usual. The bar looked full and the dining room seemed busy. The hostess had not seen us come in so she was a bit startled when she turned around. She quickly recovered and said.

Nice to see you again Dr. Matt.

Joyce cocked her head and looked at me inquisitively.

I quickly added that if the hosted insisted on calling me doctor then she must also call me by my first name. It was a little compromise we reached and Joyce laughed.

She then looking at the hostess and said.

From now would you call me, Dr. Joyce?

The hostess quickly replied that.

Deary; Dr. Joyce has all ready been taken.

But I spoke up with a compromise.

I don’t think Dr. Brothers would mind. Besides, she doesn’t live around here.

The hostess came back with a grin, nodded and said.

So Dr. Joyce it is and the hosted lead us into the dining room.

Though we did not say anything to the hostess, she seated us at a table which was in a corner of the room. This was great since we could talk more freely there. I moved a chair out for Joyce. I then pulled out a chair and sat across from her. Joyce looked at me with disapproval which took me a moment to figure out what I had done wrong. But I quickly figured out what I hoped was the infraction, got up and sat in a chair just to her left. With a smile she nodded her approval. This was okay since it was where I wanted to sit anyway. I was closer to Joyce.

Just as we were settling in the waitress came and handed us our menus, told us about the sea food special and asked if we wanted a before dinner cocktail.

Joyce did not hesitate.

I will have a double of your house Bourbon on the rocks.

I hesitated but then said.

I’ll have the same

I must have been staring because when the waitress left Joyce asked.

You are looking at me like you never saw a girl order a drink before?

No, it’s not that. I am use to a few social moments before ordering drinks and I was then surprised at the drink was a double.

Joyce looked at me and in a calm but firm voice said.

Matt, I am sorry if I offended you but we have had a hellish day. I am an emotional wreck and I want some relief. And I was sure that just a single would not be enough. And to be very honest, I do not think two doubles will even do it.

I thought again, I do like this girl!

Actually Joyce, you saved me from a possible embarrassing moment because I was thinking of ordering the same thing and was not sure how it would sound.

She cocked her head just a little and said.

That’s nice that you care what I think.

I do care!

I do to. I mean, I care what you think of me. But right now my own basic need for relief is driving me, sorry.

No need to apologize. Remember, I am in the same swamp and I don’t think the gators are partial who they chew on first.

We fell silent and just looked into each other’s eye. God I hope she cannot read my thoughts. I was thinking that over the past 10-years or so of working with Joyce, I had become infatuated with her. But now I was beginning to like her in a more mature way. She was smart, stunningly beautiful and unpretentious. This made for a very nice package.

Our drinks came and Joyce ordered another double even before the first were on the table. I was pleased and did the same.

We both took several large swallows and I was even more pleased that we ordered a second round.

We set the almost empty glasses down and Joyce looked at me and said quietly.

I want to talk about us and what happened at work today.

It was the, us, that triggered a mental uneasiness. I expected Joyce to say, I value our relationship Matt as both a friends and colleagues, bla bla bla. But I didn’t want to hear this because I knew from experience what follows. I simply looked at her and asked with a sense of uneasiness.

Okay. What do think happened, Joyce?

"As we all know, I am not on this project because of my technical prowls. But I am here because of my interests in sociology, anthropology, paleontology, library sciences and the contribution these can make. Matt, you know enough about my fields, especially human behavior, along with the computer stuff to make me uncomfortable. Maybe this is why I have been attracted to you and at the same time find you threatening.

I flirt a little hoping you are also interested but I always seem to pull back. I know this may send mixed messages but I am caught in this ancient sexual cycle of double-entendre or being ambiguous. It’s like in this morning meeting. I could not help but look at you but at the same time pulled away when you caught me doing it. With this said and my feelings in the open, maybe you can help me understand what we as a team have done and why we all feel so anxious about it?"

I was set back by her raw candor. I never fathomed she was attracted to me. I learned a long time ago that woman who are attracted to a man often ignore him. It is part of the mating and flirting ritual many women use. In turn, we men are to pursue them. If we don’t then somehow we are not right for them.

But I never sense this ritual in Joyce. She seemed to tolerate me more than like me. But then the sense of threat she felt may have disguised it enough so I could not really know her feelings. And there were my feeling for her and the basic fear of rejection that could have clouded things as well. At any rate, it was out in the open now or at least her feelings were. Maybe my feelings for her were more obvious than I thought and she felt comfortable opening up to me?

I looked into her eyes and said.

Chapter 7 - My Opinion

Thanks for sharing with me how you feel. To be honest, I was afraid you would say something like, how much you value my opinion professionally but that was all. It was nice to hear you say that you are romantically attracted to me.

There was a moment of silence when we focused on each other eyes. I then looked down and reached for my drink.

Joyce, regarding work, I can only put my slant on it. To be completely honest, I am still sorting through what has happened so any insight I have may be pretty raw. Perhaps my putting my thoughts into words will help us both. But right now my gut sense is that we may have done the stupidest thing man has ever done.

Matt, that’s a pretty strong statement when you consider the many stupid thing man has done. Maybe we are giving ourselves too much credit for screwing up?

I hope your right but in this situation we have to consider this option.

I went on and discussed what I had been thinking about in this morning’s meeting. But then I paused as I realized that maybe I was preaching to the choir. However, Joyce was staring at me intensely and seemed to be listening to my every word. She seemed to really care what I thought. She seemed to be searching for insight into the whole mess.

At this, our waitress brought the second round of drinks so we quickly finished the rest of what was in our first round. The waitress set down the new drinks and asked if we wanted to order our meal. Joyce and I looked at each other realizing we had not even glanced at the menus. We quickly order the sea food special, in part, because we did not want to think about making a decision about what to eat. Also, by ordering it we knew we could not go wrong. At least this was my thinking.

The waitress picked up the empty glasses and took them with her. Once she was several tables away Joyce looked at me, leaned forward and said in almost a whisper.

Please go on Matt.

Are you sure you want me to?

Joyce gave me this look that I would not have asked you to if I didn’t want you to. So I went on.

"As you know, we gave the computer self-generating biological neural network technology. This was combined with fuzzy logic. What all this means is that the computer could evolve and grow independently. We then programmed it with how fractal geometry and chaos theory can be used to construct complex processes. We gave it knowledge of how probability theory worked so it could put things in perspective. We also programmed it with the knowledge of how shape learning theory works so it could learn on its own through trial and error. We expected it would grow and learn much faster than any animal could, including man.

We also programmed it with artificial intelligence. As you know, if the artificial intelligence programming worked, then the computer would learn and make decisions independent from man. As we discussed over the years, the computer had to be able to mine the mountains of information for relationships independent from mans logic. If we failed to do this then the computer was only going to feed back to us what we programmed in to it. This is what traditional computers do.

We then programmed the project computer to formulate sound arguments based upon the information available at the moment. The argument structure provided strict rules in how any piece of information was to be processed. Each piece of information was processed by its contrast with another piece. In other words, data can only be derived from it contrast to at least one other piece of data as being larger, smaller, brighter, in front, first, etc. These contracts could be used as a premise in a vast chain of logical arguments. One could look at it as if then that or a very complex cause and effect relationship between all pieces.

We also realized that in order for a sound argument to be valid it requires the latest information upon which premises can be made. So the project computer was given unrestricted access to all of mans knowledge via the Internet. Through agreements, all of the world’s largest universities, institutions and library databases were made accessible to the project computer. The computer was able to download, read, cataloged and index all the pieces of information. As the information came in, it always looked for new relationships or contrasts with the vast numbers of other pieces. Eventually, every piece of information would be analyses and then synthesize with every other. When the computer was asked a question, no stone or premises was left unturned as it formulates a conclusion. As issues grew more complex the project computer also was to become more capable.

To prevent unwanted eavesdropping, all Internet links to the project computer had photon encrypted. But when we used photon encryption we also gave up our ability to monitor the communications between the computers. This meant the project computer could engage in activities without any monitoring or interference. We could not know what it was tapping into or the information it was retrieving. With photon encryption the project computer would immediately know if we tried to eavesdrop on it which meant it could quickly adapt. In other words, it could tell us whatever it wanted and we had no way of verifying if it was telling us the truth. But we convinced ourselves we remained in control since we could always turn off the computer. We conveniently ignored that we could not tell if the dam thing was lying to us.

Early on we documented our concerns of being blind as to what the computer was doing. We even put in safe guards but these slowed down the computer. In our haste and greediness for speed we convinced ourselves the safeguards were not really needed so we removed many of them."

I paused, looked directly into Joyce’s eyes and said.

Joyce, I am sure you already know this history.

Most of it yes, but I need your perspective which will help me understand why you think we did such a stupid thing. So you think our blind greed for knowledge led us to this?

Yes, along with what appears to be incredible stupidity. The reason I say this is because we knew there were many uncertainties and risk in giving such access to all of mans knowledge to a machines. Especially a machine we did not have full control over or understand.

When I paused Joyce spoke.

I am beginning to understand your perspective.

I feel like I am rambling Joyce as I am trying to understand what happened. But my talking about it is helping me work through it. Are you sure you do not mind my doing this?

Without hesitating she said.

No, Please go on Matt. It is also helping me.

As I looked at her, I was searching for a sign that maybe I should change the subject. But her expression seemed pleading for me to continue.

"Okay. I believe the main reason for concern was that we are blind and gave the project computer the potential to evolve independent from us. We never took seriously that it could truly become self-awareness or develop a consciousness. And we definitely did not consider it would ever develop freewill.

At a team party at my place, which you missed, we joked about the possibility of building such a computer. Someone drunkenly acted and talked like a robot that was in a casino in Las Vegas. His motions were stiff and his speech was monotone just like we see in cartoon. But we all knew the advantageous a pokerfaced robot would have over a human in playing cards. Someone then pointed out the advantageous the robot could have in sex. Joyce, I will let you imagine what your teammates did with this."

We both began to laugh at the thought of robots playing cards, drinking and later having sex. It felt good to laugh. It also felt good to see Joyce laugh. Then Joyce seriously asked.

What do you mean exactly by freewill Matt?

"Your background may help answer this better than I can. But here are my thoughts about this.

As you know, with the help of many others, it was my job to program the project computer with artificial intelligence. But to attain artificial intelligence it first needs a rudimentary self-awareness. This meant the computer had to see self as being separate from all other entities. It must be able to have private thoughts and individual rights. It must understanding that man is a separate entity and is also self-aware. This lead to programming it with egocentrism or the tendency to perceive, understand and interpret the world in terms of the self.

Next the computer was programmed with a sense of culture. A culture is essential to mans because it provides contrasts for indemnity. We theorized the computer would also need a culture for the same reasons. But we were not sure what a culture was to a computer. In not being sure what to do we hoped the computer would define its own culture.

To have a culture it needed ethnocentrism or the ability to look at the world from the perspective of one's own culture. This would enable it to judge based upon what the group considered to be appropriate.

Actually,