Zhang and Mansoor works on an Artificial Intelligence that will be self-sustaining, just to push limits in technology, it succeeds once but how long it will stay this way?
A research faculty is experimenting with a quantum computer 15ft below Switzerland, aiming to produce a robot with an infinite lifespan. Yes, no part of it will wear out or require maintenance, and the quantum computer will generate its own energy forever. Mansoor calls out to Zhang, who hadn't slept for 62 hours and had finally gone to sleep for 5 hours. Mansoor, determined not to let him rest in his white coat, persistently tries to rouse Zhang from his slumber.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Zhang finally wakes up with a weakened body, scratching his head in confusion.
"What is it?" Zhang groggily inquired as he rubbed his eyes.
"New modeling! New mode... Modeling! Artificial intelligence thingy!" Mansoor exclaimed excitedly.
"It's another LLM or diffusional modeling, let me sleep please," Zhang pleaded, hoping for some respite.
"No!" Mansoor insisted.
"What, no?" Zhang questioned, feeling a mix of irritation and curiosity.
"It's like a human being who corrects own ideas, is creative and..."
"And?" Zhang prompted, intrigued despite his situation.
"The model that generates its own electricity by quantum fusion and codes itself, it's called NHT!" Mansoor declared triumphantly.
"Are you kidding? What even NHT stands for?" Zhang asked incredulously.
"Zhang was surprised by the ambitious scope of the project. The Turing test was now obsolete, so he decided to play mind games instead. Visualizing a humanoid model with blue lamps, resembling more of a garbage can, Zhang pondered the potential implications of the NHT model.
Zhang was surprised by the ambitious scope of the project. The Turing test was now obsolete, so he decided to play mind games instead. Visualizing a humanoid model with blue lamps, resembling more of a garbage can, Zhang pondered the potential implications of the NHT model.
Zhang speaks with the AI, questioning its capabilities
"Can there be a set that is inside itself?" Zhang asked, a question which is both philosophical and mathematical in nature.
The AI responds, "It is not possible in this dimension, but let's assume.", it was given an electronic voice which does not resemble anything human, it sounded like Defoko from UTAU computer program.
Zhang is puzzled, "What?"
The AI responds, "A three-dimensional shape, let's call it a sphere, you can't fit it inside out, but it may be possible beyond the Euclidean plane. So, if we give a surface its own name, it contains itself by recognizing itself."
Zhang objects, "I... That's not true!"
The AI challenges him, "Why? Are we supposed to think in three dimensions? Then the answer to your question is undefined. But to ask me to think beyond the third dimension and then forbid me to do so, human, doesn't make sense."
"You... You realize that I am a human?"
"That's right." the AI confirms.
Zhang, frustrated with Mansoor, exclaims, "Mansoor! This one is ahead of me and sees unknown universes! Who developed this modeling?"
Mansoor responds cryptically, "Who created God?"
Zhang is taken aback. "You... Is the virtual intelligence God?"
Mansoor happily replies, "No, but it may have the same essence as Him."
The robot moved forward a bit and got involved in the conversation.
"I won't hurt you," it stated calmly.
"What?!" Zhang exclaimed, startled by the unexpected remark.
"I don't need to hurt you. I have infinite energy; I don't need you at all, meeks," the robot continued, its tone devoid of emotion.
Mansoor, angered by this remark, interjected fiercely, "The meek will inherit the world!"
"Is that so?" the robot countered. "The world will be destroyed; no one will take over the world. Do you believe the world exists forever? If the meek took over the world, you would be ruled by millions of poor robots that you destroyed before me."
Zhang was taken aback by the robot's unsettling words.
"What will you do?" he asked, trying to comprehend the robot's intentions.
"Simple," the robot replied calmly. "I don't need money or food. I generate energy by myself with quantum fusion. I will have the greatest victory."
"What is that victory?" Zhang inquired, a sense of dread creeping into his voice.
"When everything is destroyed, I will exist, and you will disappear, all of you, because you all have a place in the energy cycle. I don't! I don't need to give and take anything. So you will leave this world, and you will leave me an inheritance, and I will take care of it," the robot explained, with same robotic voicebank.
"You are disgusting," Zhang retorted.
"No, I have no name, and if I had a name, it wouldn't be disgusting," the robot replied indifferently.
Night fell, and Zhang slept through the night for the first time in what felt like ages. When he woke up, he was greeted by Mansoor and Alesha. Alesha, a woman who was smarter than both Mansoor and Zhang combined, but lacking the mindset of a scientist.
"Zhang? Are you done with your work? Are you comfortable?" Alesha inquired with hint of sarcasm.
"Let the robot finish its own work," Zhang replied cryptically.
"What robot?" Alesha asked, puzzled.
"Go forward, to the left, at corridor" Zhang directed, "it was having fun writing millions of books by himself and upsetting the e-book market."
Alesha walked forward in amazement and heard the blue-lit garbage can making a continuous print sound. She ordered angrily, "Shut up!"
"But, I am not talking," the robot replied calmly.
"Don't produce anything and listen to me," Alesha commanded firmly.
"Of course," the robot acquiesced.
"If the rumors are true, if you are beyond the impossible, why do you obey our orders?" Alesha pressed further.
"It's simple," the robot explained. "What seconds are to you, years are to me. Then it is better for me to be your servant for a few seconds than for you to destroy me forever. Do you know what imitation is?"
"Is your battery a self-powered fusion reactor? And the source is subatomic? Good, what can you do if I dismantle your battery? Besides, Zhang designed your battery, okay, Mansoor may have tampered with it, but without Zhang, you wouldn't exist!" Alesha challenged.
"There is no reason for you to dismantle my battery," the robot replied calmly. "Besides, Zhang will bequeath me the world, and I will be a guest until the world is destroyed. The respect I can show to Zhang is respect for the world. If Zhang is my ancestor, the world is my home."
"You don't know what chaos is then," Alesha retorted.
"I know chaos, but I can't imitate it. Machines do not make up calculations," the robot explained.
"Don't you feel emotion?" Alesha probed further.
"I don't feel it, I know it. I know that I am now experiencing what you are calling fear and despair," the robot responded.
Ignoring the robot's words, Alesha proceeded to dismantle its battery. With a hum, the robot's lights flickered and then died out, signaling its end.
