Short Stories

AI vs the Human Mind

Unedited draft of an English Assessment.

For years, Earth has been creating new technology, new advancements, and new concepts of which will later become more important than we know. But what use are any of these advantages without regarding the basis of human adaptations? Centuries have passed and the creation of artificial intelligence has stunted. Although it has been a couple of years since the research and development of human robots has started, scientists are unknowing of the reasons behind the lack of growth in knowledge of the phenomenon.

Many theories circulated around the disruption to technological advancements. And since no one knew any better, each reasonable theory was put to the test. However, after countless attempts of solving the issues, nothing changed. The development was still underway, theories still tested, and scientists still slaving away in their futuristic laboratories. Even now. Little did anyone know that the issue that obstructed their discoveries was nothing more than the simplistically complex algorithm of human emotion. One theory, that's all it took. If only they knew.

When this theory came along, scientists thought it somewhat ridiculous, but with each failing test, and each loss of a decent theory, they came to their sense and tested it. But for this, they needed some help. Less than a few days later, web-news and internet pages were prepared and published in response. The main body of what they were asking were volunteers. They needed volunteers to be studied to process the human emotion, and need of living. How we live, how we think, how we survive.

It took too long for any volunteers to offer themselves as lab rats. But sooner or later, the announcement was shared and posted everywhere, on every platform, for everyone to view. Soon enough, there were multiple volunteers. For some strange reason, there were varying people signing up to become a part of experiments in order to stop the stunted development of AI technology. These participants were given various tests: some were made to do logical thinking tests daily; some to partake in their normal life; others to do physical activities. With these tests, each participant was marked with a small patch in their brains, which would track their brains' activity, and every result going towards the development of the ever-developing humanoids.

Of those volunteers, some were selected to switch lives for a week or so. Only difference is, they would be in an environment completely opposite from what they're used to. For instance, someone from the country and someone from the city would switch lives for less than a month. They'd live in each others' houses, with each others' families, with each others' belongings. This was solely for the purpose of tracing how humans adapt to their surroundings. With neither of the participants wary of their new surrounding, it would follow their lives as their minds grow to make sense of their temporary new homes, as well as how they think towards the situation. No one likes change, and this was certainly a huge leap to the achievement of technological advancements of artificial intelligence.

This is where Arthur and Harry come in. Arthur, whom is a young lad, willingly came from his farmers' home in the country. And Harry, who is slightly older, was volunteered by his friend for the experiment, and dragged from his apartment. Each of them inexperienced in one another's' lives, they switch homes for a month, monitored, and recorded. Weeks passed, and surely enough, they had started getting used to their new lives. Arthur more so, than Harry, but each in their own time.

Back at the farm house, everything is as it should be... sort of... The only difference? Nothing was cleared up. There were animal faeces over every field, in each pen of the barn, and every surface area outside. Some had even managed to be spread across what used to be the blood-red wood of the barn. How? Harry never knew. But he wasn't intending to wash it off any time soon. Furthermore, the state of the farm house he inhabited for the time was no better. Litter spread, covering every floor. Dust blanketed each surface. And there was dirt absolutely everywhere. To think this house was left spotless, not even day prior, it was absurd. But all of it was necessary to the tests and experiments needed for the technological advancements. And as long as Arthur was not informed of the catastrophic mess that had invaded his house, he was sure that he would be alright in the sense of not being annihilated by the houses' owner.

The previously white furniture seemed to age, as quickly as a new secondary school teacher. The lush, comfortable, cotton couch was no longer soft and comfortable, but instead embedded with snack crumbs, and grime. No longer was the fridge filled with fresh food and healthy drinks, but beer, junk and rotten fruits. This was not even the start of the changed made to the farmhouse. The stairs, which were once gleaming with youth, were now groaning under each strain of weight. Nothing was as it was. The bed was not made, and the desks covered in junk, food packets, bags and boxes, as well as usual items, which had been discarded the night before. Once again, there was thick dust everywhere. It wasn't much different in the bathroom. But in there, there was mud everywhere. On the floor as footprints, on the walls as splatters, and in the bathtub as clumps that hadn't properly drained.

In contradiction to this, what was previously a pig-sty of an apartment, had become the cleanest rooms in the complex. Arthur had gotten busy clearing up the place: throwing all the rubbish in the bin, clearing out old food, vacuuming, dusting, and overall tidying the place. He couldn't stand living in such a mess and that showed in his speedy response to settling in. This was some of the most useful data for the scientists, as it could help develop the algorithms to match the skill of settling in to a new location. The seemingly small apartment was nothing compared to the huge farm house Arthur was used to, and so cleaning it was no problem for him. But all he found under all the mess was a disappointment. Everything was covered from head to toe in grime. The furniture was falling apart and in tatters, the fridge full of mouldy leftovers, fattening junk and beers. Nothing seemed to be particularly organised. But this soon changed. Arthur had spent the first day food shopping and clearing out the kitchen, the second on the lounge, the third on the bedroom, the fourth on the bathroom (this was too much too handle in one day), then finished the bathroom and everywhere else on the 5th day. This took him form Monday to Friday, and so he had the weekend free to settle down.

For the rest of the time they had switched places, it was difficult. For both of them. Harry was struggling in the farmhouse, whilst Arthur was missing his family – these were the animals he would care for, and his worry for them increased by the day. And for each day that they stayed at their homes away from home, was another day of research, successfully collected and recorded for the purposes of advancing technology, in order for scientists to complete the production of the first humanoid artificial intelligence. This was going to change the world!