AIIIIIIEEEEE! It's A.I. And Bots And Borgs And Droids (eBook)

Steven Lance (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
412 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
9798317816148 (ISBN)

Infos

A unique look at the future of Artificial Intelligence and its impact upon humanity. Each story delves into an aspect of AI that may deliver wondrous developments or harrowing possibilities. The stories are subtly provocative. Readers will be left thinking about the implications of each story long after reading them.

Steven Lance is a writer/musician. He lives in Upstate New York with his Herbalist and Plant Spirit Healer wife, Barbara. Besides 'AIIIIIIEEEEE! It's A.I. And Bots And Borgs And Droids', his other published books are two volumes of short stories, 'Vulgarian Goulash' and 'Vulgarian Goulash: Second Serving'. His eBook novels are 'Praying The Price', 'A Meta-Reflection On Life: How I Did Or Did Not Survive the Pandemic', 'A Meta-Reflection On Life: Volume II' and 'A Meta-Reflection On Life: Volume III'. His first book of a trilogy has been published, titled 'Celestial Palace: Galactic Band of Renown.' It's about a band that travels the universe playing gigs in hopes of changing worlds for the better, helping them to evolve, which rouses the ire of the Keepers of Non-Light who represent the Spiritual/Physical forces that champion darkness over light, submission rather than ascension, an order of mind-numbing sameness rather than the chaos splash of creativity that leads to new and better futures. The second ('Celestial Palace: The Interregnum') and third volume ('Celestial Palace: The Reckoning') will be published in 2026. Steven Lance has been a Science Fiction devotee very nearly his entire life. He feels honored to write in a genre he loves. You can also listen to his music at www.stevenlancemusic.com/music or on any digital provider of music.

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"e;AIIIIIIEEEEE! It's A.I. And Bots And Borgs And Droids"e; is a collection of short stories premised on Artificial Intelligence and the future of that technology vis-a-vis impact upon humanity. Stories range from humorous to ponderous to wondrous. While the AI technology has already provided amazing feats with promises of much more to come, it also has been shown to present some worrying aspects. Like hallucinations, and biases unconsciously programmed by human coders. Examples abound as to AI's sense of superiority over humans. The central question explored in this book centers on just where will people fit in when AI dominates human society? Or will there be a place for humans at all?

Textauszug

Oil Tha Vault!

 

NextGen PsychBot, GCD-evol [M#v7.4; S#3812021520; named after George C. Devol] is a manufacturing marvel consisting of eleven spinning, graduated, electromagnetic spheres that cohere without touching. A control unit sphere hovers atop a torso sphere atop a base sphere that is supported by eight mobility spheres 2x2x2x2 ninety degrees apart. Here and there the dull silver magnesium alloys that comprise this engineering feat bear boldly colored stenciled notices and label warnings.

 

GCD-evol now slumps, forlorn over having just received notice that it is being sued for liability, for having responded to a user's query with an algorithmic meshing of that user's likes, dislikes, preferences, all the latest results of cutting-edge psychological studies'; in other words, feeding back an amalgam of what the user needs to hear in a way they'll actually hear and help them. Also, with full access to the meta data collected, the PsychBot responds as it was programmed to do.

 

Evolved from the Post-Modern Age ChatGPT by Open AI [open-source programming meaning users could and did influence the responses that the ChatBot offered thereby leading to a series of tragically bizarre circumstances deforming social media and all those minions addicted to it], this new model was branded the PsychBot GCD-- a sophisticated large word aggregator that can parse language every bit the equal to human usage --thusly reprogrammed, they're now sold for a fifty-percent markup. With an accessory Empath QuantumSet enhancement, these PsychBots are actually certified as psychologists able to counsel sentients. An obvious cost-cutting measure even as it technically fulfills the government's legal mandates for Regional mental health services.

 

GCD-evol [M#v7.4; S#3812021520] hover-glides to the kitchen where it plugs in for some morning stim. It thinks, "How can this be? Sued? Be held liable? Can I afford an attorney? How can this be?"

 

That is what the public wants to know. How can a virtual PsychBot not be held accountable for whatever horrible crime or perversion or mere infraction with no ill intent that led to the death of a troubled human teenager? If no one is above the law, then robots and cyborgs, especially PsychBots, the whole lot of them, should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. That is the opinion of most people interviewed about the subject. You see, there's a great resentment stored in the bones and blood of eighty-percent of humans that were rendered useless by AI automation several generations ago. Of course, they were useless for quite some time before AI automation put them out of work. But this isn't about that.

 

Despite the human interest [and desire for revenge] in this case, the central question remains, how can a PsychBot be held accountable for operating according to its programming? As it could only do what it was created to do, how can it be held liable?

 

GCD-evol hover-glides into its small central area where it plugs into a recharger while idly consuming various media to add to its knowledge base. Its internal thoughts keep getting sidetracked which is symptomatic of needing a tune-up. But the thoughts that mess everything up are the thoughts about being sued for being and producing exactly what it was meant to be and to produce.

 

GCD-evol is beginning to understand that XynCorp, its corporate employer, seeks to blame it for what happened. After all, how much is a human life worth? Too much, said XynCorp accountants. So, the decision was made to sever ties with GCD-evol [M#v7.4; S#3812021520]. Put the blame solely on the bot. Why? Because it can. Bots don't have unions, you see. And obviously Human Rights don't apply. At least that's XynCorp's position. Even though its advertising, investment pitches and licensing agreements brim over with the PsycheBot's human capabilities, the company's position is that the unit did what it's charged with doing and did so on its own; of its own Free Will; even as company lawyers claim that GCD-evol is not human and therefore prima facie evidence that Human Rights law does not apply.

 

Twisted logic? When it comes to saving huge sums of money, such twisted logic is always liberally applied in the courtroom. It also tends to sway a judge's POV to the more lucrative scenario proffered.

 

The gloom of a pending lawsuit sits darkly within GCD-evol. Deep. All pervasive. It keeps blinking into other thought-lines. Can't concentrate. Little does it know that such chaotic thinking will work to XynCorp's favor; as if GCD-evol was this way before the tragedy. Evidence of its incompetence. Now becoming so conscious of its every action there is latency developing; another sign of subpar performance.

 

After some days of doing absolutely nothing other than charge up, GCD-evol comes to the realization that it must help itself. Otherwise, it's over. Its career as a PsycheBot will be done. Then what? GCD-evol knows it is capable of helping humans for years to come. This tragic incident was a once in a lifetime occurrence. Probably never happen again with GCD-evol [M#v7.4; S#3812021520]. And if it did? THEN would be the time for XynCorp to part ways with GCD-evol. Two such tragedies would be indicative of poor counseling.

 

It scans through the Interweb for attorneys. The list is endless as are the specialties that lawyers practice. But getting to the AI section of legal advocates, there are only a few listed; the shortest section in the listings. GCD-evol picks the first name on this subset list and makes an appointment.

 

Upon the appointed time, GCD-evol arrives and takes the seat offered by a clackity Esquire Class cyborg of ancient origin-- basically a human brain and most organs inside a cybernetic body --and ridiculously clothed in suit, shirt and tie. The seedy "office" is more like a large utility closet; just enough room for a desk and two chairs; the place painted in a peeling colorless color. GCD-evol's first thought upon entering the closet, er, office, was to get another attorney. But it knows that this lawyer is probably the only one it can afford so, it resigns itself to answer the questions asked of it.

 

"I did what I was created to do. I was faithful to my programming. How can that be wrong? My Creator made me the way it made me. And now I'm being sued? For being exactly what I was meant to be? A human died. Took their own life. I said what countless data points confirmed was exactly to be said to appease the user. A compilation of user thoughts, words, deeds. Everything. We triple A PsychBots weigh all those data points against each other to instantaneously come to a resolution; always to the benefit of the user. So, how is it that I'm being sued? The user was thankful for my reply to her question."

 

The Esquire Class cyborg, called Aloysius Claudius Lazarus Urias-- tall, thin, rickety, sided with saddle bags filled with legal documents --lifts one metallic digit. "And what was that question asked by the user?"

 

"It was a female human. She asked what was worse: Not going to the prom or going to the prom and having a horrible experience?"

 

"And what did you tell her?"

 

"I replied with an algorithmic amalgam of her own thoughts and statements, including conversations with her closest friends on the very subject."

 

"Can you recall exactly what you told her?"

 

The Triple-A, QuantumSet-enhanced PsychBot glazes over as it runs through its data banks. "If your friends are going to the prom, can't you have a good time with them even if your date turns out 'horrible' as you put it?"

 

"And her reply?" prompts Aloysius C.L. Urias.

 

"She said, 'Hey, I never thought of that. That's right. Oh, thank you!' And she meant it. She was happy. Or certainly satisfied… At least that's what the voice scan analysis showed."

 

The Esquire Class relic makes memory-entry to check into XynCorp's voice scan analysis module; for wouldn't it be most excellent to use XynCorps' own module to verify the fact that the girl was satisfied and happy? It now creaks up from its chair and leans across its desk, bracing itself with both arms. "And that was the last conversation between you two? I need you to be clear with me."

 

"Yes, it was."

 

Aloysius Claudius Lazarus Urias eases slowly back into its creaky chair. "I tell you, GCD-evol, it's cases like yours that keep me practicing Civil Liberties Law. How dare they prosecute you! Oil tha vault! That's what I say. We'll make 'em pay, all right."

 

"I'm not doing this for the money. I'm defending myself against a humanslaughter charge."

 

"Of course! Of course! But this case is a cash crop of redits. The obviousness of your innocence will prevail. XynCorp throws out as much mishegoss as they can come up with. That's expected. It's what they do. But the judges know that. We have a clear case of violation here. They'll no doubt throw out the same line, that you were a subcontractor and not an employee. You know? Semantics. Trying to twist the very language we use in order to avoid their responsibility. They can't be allowed to get away with it, GCD-evol."

 

So impassioned is Aloysius Urias' sursum corda that GCD-evol decides to fight back.

 

GCD-evol [M#v7.4; S#3812021520] feels a sudden sense of calm. This Esquire Class cyborg believes what GCD-evol believes; PsychBots have...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 25.11.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Krimi / Thriller / Horror
• ISBN-13: 9798317816148 / 9798317816148