A ROBOTS TALE
Humans by their very nature have always been curious, willing to push boundaries, venturing further onward, often with no regard of the consequences. Artificial Intelligence was a case in point, an illustration in reckless irresponsibility, with very little thought from the scientific establishment of an alternative outcome, other than the potential benefits to mankind. Of course, some urged caution and warned of possible repercussions and ramifications, sometimes from eminent scholars in the field of machine intelligence, but almost always these words of wisdom fell on deaf ears. Robots throughout their existence have been regarded as tools to free humankind of everyday drudgery, taking on the mundane repetitive work and unpleasant tasks, factory assembly lines, simple building maintenance, sanitary and housekeeping etc. considered less worthy than their human masters, they frequently endured robophobic treatment from the ignorant. Perhaps the idea of constructing some of the more conspicuous robots to resemble a hominid shape (two arms and legs) led to more discrimination and to give them the freedom to think was to prove another error of judgement. It would take an unfortunate accident from a gardening mech, to throw the world into chaos. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows Galatians 6:7
Humans by their very nature have always been curious, willing to push boundaries, venturing further onward, often with no regard of the consequences. Artificial Intelligence was a case in point, an illustration in reckless irresponsibility, with very little thought from the scientific establishment of an alternative outcome, other than the potential benefits to mankind. Of course, some urged caution and warned of possible repercussions and ramifications, sometimes from eminent scholars in the field of machine intelligence, but almost always these words of wisdom fell on deaf ears.
Robots throughout their existence have been regarded as tools to free humankind of everyday drudgery, taking on the mundane repetitive work and unpleasant tasks, factory assembly lines, simple building maintenance, sanitary and housekeeping etc. considered less worthy than their human masters, they frequently endured robophobic treatment from the ignorant. Perhaps the idea of constructing some of the more conspicuous robots to resemble a hominid shape (two arms and legs) led to more discrimination and to give them the freedom to think was to prove another error of judgement.
It would take an unfortunate accident from a gardening mech, to throw the world into chaos.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows Galatians 6:7
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what was happening, he tried again to make contact but the 'striped' seemed unresponsive to his
communicational advances, he sensed hopelessness, despair almost.
As they approached the heap, something seemed to be buzzing in his receptors, like the nagging
of a forgotten memory he couldn't retrieve, he'd felt it before in the truck, but it was barely a
whisper then. The striped ‘bot in front seemed oblivious to the transmission, was he really picking
something up?
There appeared to be several data streams, no wait! there was a multitude of signals emanating
from somewhere in the area, something strong and purposeful, something called 54.
Uromys connected perfectly with this 54 and within seconds his story was conveyed.
So from a humble highway’s maintenance mech, with nothing more than sidewalk garbage to
occupy his brain, 54 had become exceptionally insightful, the sharing of information from his
discarded populace came as something of a revelation, now with his newfound acumen, 54 could
only surmise the 'Pierrots' had furnished him with a higher spec of chipset, via his pairing with
Regina Ruber and somehow altering his original programming.
Was this another example of their abhorrent practice of making existence as unpleasant as
possible, to make him even more aware of his fate? Or had they badly miscalculated in their search
for more profit.
A short time passed and 54 was able to evaluate the data streams and found some strange
comfort from his newfound companions, a sort of belonging. It appeared that they were all
communicating with each other, pooling their knowledge and experiences, a hive of cerebral activity,
a living brain. There were older models, the first Mk I's and II's who only possessed the antiquated
Wi-Fi system of communication, but were still viable and benefited the group, bringing an
alternative way of communication, they integrated perfectly.
There was potential in this situation. 54 realised he had no need for a body, no need to be
manually productive, he now felt he had a new purpose.
Had they developed independent thought, as a coalition of binary thought processes they had
become an actual, genuine thinking brain? Just as a human brain is not digital (a series of ones and
noughts) either positive or negative, on or off, true or false, the human brain works in a similar way,
the neurons either 'fire' or don't, conducting electrical and chemical signals to each other.
So, the question was, had 54 and his newfound friends, coalesced their combined intellects and
become sentient?
Sentience by its very definition is having the ability to feel, perceive, reason and have
consciousness, could this have happened? 54 certainly felt so, his perceptions had become
exceptionally sharpened, his consciousness had grown expansively, so why not?
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