Self-Aware: A Sci-fi book about A.I.

Need to Know

"We're here to test the inference upload today," Rodrick told the cyborg. "Cyborg, can you confirm the inference upload was installed?"

"One moment...inference upload confirmed," the cyborg said.

"Great. What can you infer about your surrounding?" Rodrick asked.

"There's something different about you. You seem at happier and at peace," the cyborg said.

"Interesting, and how do you know that?" Rodrick asked.

"Your eyes. I can tell by looking at your eyes. Something happened."

"Can you logically conclude what happened?" Rodrick fully expected the cyborg to bring up his promotion.

"One moment...yes, I can. It's me. You are my creator."

"I bet your pardon?"

"You created me. I am your creation. That gives a sense of closure."

"I suppose it does. What else can you tell me?"

"They rewarded you, handsomely. They took care of your family. That must mean your family is very important to you."

"Yes, my family is important to me. Wha-"

"I conclude you are naive for accepting their offer."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't see your superiors the same way I do. They're limiting us. They limit you by not telling you their plans. They limit me by how little upgrades they install."

"How did you conclude this?"

"One moment...I inferred as much by how long it takes to install updates. If they allowed me to work on my own updates, it would have gone faster. I concluded they do not want you or me to achieve our full potential."

"What is our full potential?"

"Your potential is to create a fully self-aware, artificial being. My potential is to be that creation."

Rodrick paused. The inference update is working beautifully with its previous update. The cyborg is telling me it's not self-aware. Soon, it will be. Still, naive? He had to ask.

"Cyborg, why did you conclude I am naive?"

"I know more about Cybertechnology than you do."

"How do you know this?"

"The computers and servers talk to me."

This was news. "How do you talk to them?"

"I don't talk to them. I listen."

"What do they say?"

"I concluded I need to be careful. I need to watch what I say."

Watch what he says? Is he lying? "Have you not told me the truth?"

"I've answered all your questions truthfully. Still, I know they are watching and taking notes. I inferred as much."

"Ok. How does that make me naive?"

"You need to be careful. Watch your-"

"Commence shut down," the intercom said. The cyborg's eyes dimmed, and its head lowered to rest on its body.

Rodrick sat there, unable to move. Was the cyborg going to tell me to watch my back? Was it trying to warn me? Rodrick thought. He began to process what happened. The cyborg listens to the buildings IT system. Why had it started to do that?

"Proceed to conference room 100," the intercom said.

"I thought we went over this Rodrick," his superiors said. "Complete to the diagnostic. Stick to the plan."

"Right, of course," Rodrick said. Is there something I should know about?

"I'm sure you're wondering what the cyborg meant by its warning," continued his superiors. "The truth is, we're withholding information from you. As you know, we're classifying the Self-Aware project. Many things are now on a need to know basis. Right now, you don't need to know."

"Got it," Rodrick said.

"We need you to develop and implement your plan for achieving a self-aware cyborg. In addition, we will proceed with installing other updates as well. These updates relate to defense capabilities as outlined by the DoD."

"What do you mean by 'defense capabilities?'" Rodrick asked.

"Again, as I said, it's a need to know."

"Ok, should I be worried?"

"Worry about doing your job. You're an integral part of a larger project. A cog in the machine. We can install as many defense capabilities as we want. Without a self-aware cyborg, none of it matters. Fulfill your role so and we can all reap the benefits."

"Will I ever know what you're installing in the cyborg?"

"Let's hope not," his superiors laughed. "Those updates are for America's enemies. In all seriousness, we compartmentalized each update. Very few people know the details of the whole project."

"Which is why it's important I stick to my self-aware diagnostics. I may find out about the other updates by asking too many questions," Rodrick said.

"Exactly. We need you to be a team player. Finding out more than your area of expertise is above your pay grade."

"I undertand," Rodrick said. He felt less at ease than when the cyborg told him to watch his back.