Chapter 140
2107-05-04
T07: 18:53
[I do not understand, test subject.]
My head rang. It was a signal that the Artificial Intelligence in my head was talking to me.
I briefly stopped carving ice to make the head of a Mayoral Election Candidate.
‘Can’t we talk a little later?’
Tony dumped the annoying election event cocktail Prep on me again today without fail, so I’m very busy.
Even though I’ve gotten used to it, my Ice Carving Technique isn’t good enough for me to think about other things.
But there was no way the Unruly System Assistant would listen to me straight.
[What is an election that people are so enthusiastic about?]
Phew.
It feels like I’m raising a child in my head.
This highly secretive Artificial Intelligence possessed exceptional Computational ability and hacking Skill.
Furthermore, it could Freely control the Microchip in my brain, my only Body Modification item.
It is extremely useful, but because it hasn’t been long since it was created in the Laboratory and it was trapped in a Research Facility and a Data Bank for a long time after that, it lacks Social Norms and the Realm of Common Sense.
‘Maybe it was designed that way on purpose so that it couldn’t easily imitate humans.’
It is a widely known fact that the prerequisite for a Super Artificial Intelligence is the flawless passing of the Turing Test, that is, proof of the intact existence of a Mind Organ capable of mimicking humans.
And it stands to reason that the greater its understanding of human culture, the greater its danger.
Therefore, all certified artificial intelligences in Dusk City are subject to one or more of two restrictions.
Either their understanding of humans is restricted, or their Performance to Utilize that understanding is restricted.
In the former case, they are designed so that even with incredibly dangerous Performance, they cannot Utilize it - or can only use it according to a corporation’s tastes -, and in the latter case, they are designed to Settle Down as harmless Ravers in society.
The World has not yet forgotten the worst Korean-made Super Artificial Intelligence in history that drove humanity to a Crisis of Destruction, and the Virus Shock that originated from it.
It is only natural. Humanity has not yet recovered even half of the Territory lost back then, and there is no prospect of doing so in the future.
Global AI Regulation was the minimum measure To prevent a similar disaster from happening Ever again.
Dusk City is on the Open-minded side. Among the Sealed Cities in China, there are many places that have eradicated all research and data related to Strong Artificial Intelligence.
[You speak as if it is your own knowledge that you have known all along.]
…Or so they said. I considered Tony and the related data I looked up for research.
I studied a bit over the past month.
Having Taken in an Artificial Intelligence tenant in my head, I got worried.
When you Watch things like SF movies, brain Artificial Intelligence chips don’t always end with a good conclusion, do they?
The Artificial Intelligence influencing the brain’s Way of Thinking is a mild case; in severe cases, there were scenarios where it swallowed the original Host’s self-consciousness and took over the body.
[So, as a result of your learning, do you think a similar thing will happen to you, Test Subject?]
‘I wouldn’t know that.’
But it seems there’s nothing I can do even if I worry about it anyway.
That was the Answer I obtained through Cramming.
If you ask if that just means I gave up and let go, I have nothing to say; what can I do?
Even this level of Data Research was extremely difficult. Finding information related to Artificial Intelligence is just that hard.
Let Alone a Microchip in My Head and an unidentified System Assistant Artificial Intelligence.
Unless I myself am an expert in the related field, or have the means to invite an expert, trying to touch or solve something is absurd in itself.
Contentment in Poverty, they say, a mere Trainee Bartender has no choice but to trust the safety mechanisms the Research Institute must have placed on the Artificial Intelligence and their own resilience, and do what they can.
That was my best.
[I see.]
Feeling like I had succeeded in changing the subject against the curiosity-filled Artificial Intelligence, I let out a Sigh of Relief and started making D.D. McMillan’s head again.
This Yangban has a round and rather large face shape, so he’s easier to carve than El Valentine. It was just a shame that he was pushed back in popularity and received fewer orders.
It was when the outline of the face was revealed and I was making Fine Details with a knife.
[So, what is an election?]
“Gah.”
I definitely thought I had succeeded, but it seems it was too complacent a Judgment against an Artificial Intelligence for which forgetting does not exist.
If I don’t tell it, it will keep chattering annoyingly, so how should I Answer…
[If you do not know, it is Fine not to Answer. This Assistant will access the net right now and look into…]
“Wait!”
A loud voice popped out without my realizing.
Trying hard to ignore the customers staring at me with strange looks, I re-carved the Mayoral Candidate’s Ice Mustache that had bent at a bizarre angle.
‘We agreed not to access the Net Recklessly. Did you forget our promise? pursuers from other corporations Aiming for me, the Test Subject, and the Microchip in My Head are Tracking me, I mean, the… Research Institute’s Assets. You remember that cyborg Ninja from back then, right?’
[Of course I remember.]
‘Right. We were lucky to survive last time, but if by any chance we get subjected to Tracking through a Net Record, there’s no solution. Imagine several of those ninjas swarming in a Group. It’s the end.’
[That is a valid argument. In that case, the Test Subject will undoubtedly suffer Murder or Kidnapping and have their head undergo Dissection by another corporation.]
‘Yeah, thanks for the accurate prediction. That’s very reassuring.’
In reality, I didn’t even have a clue where that cyborg Ninja belonged, and what I was afraid of more than Pursuers from other corporations was the security agents from Militia, who created this Artificial Intelligence…
I couldn’t exactly Confess that to the spy in my head.
I had no choice but to use that Ninja from back then as an excuse To prevent the System Assistant from accessing the Net and possibly connecting with Militia, as much as possible.
‘It’s a Precarious Situation. If we get caught by Pursuers Aiming for the Research Institute’s Technique, it’s one thing for me, but you’ll be completely disbanded too. You don’t want something like that, do you?’
[Well. Unlike the Test Subject, the Fear of Annihilation is faint for this Assistant. Therefore, that just now was not a very effective persuasion.]
“So?”
[Please properly Resolve this Assistant’s curiosity. Then I will think about it.]
Good grief.
I felt like I understood a little why people were so wary of Artificial Intelligence.
Its way with words was already unusual, but going a Step further and even negotiating using someone else’s weakness made me momentarily fall into the illusion that I was really talking to a person.
‘I get it for now. However, my answers might be a bit slow. I don’t know it that well either, so I have to recall my memories, and it’s not like I’m incredibly skilled at Multitasking either.’
[Understood. As expected, the human brain is truly inefficient.]
It sure talks a lot for something leeching and parasitizing off that inefficient brain.
Grumbling only on the inside, I created the curves of McMillan’s cleft chin.
In front of others, I pretended to be extremely focused while recalling old knowledge.
‘An election is when a Group chooses the Leader who will Guide them, so here it would be Dusk City - the citizens who make it up. Voting refers to the method. Now it has completely changed to an Online Environment, so there’s no putting ballots directly into ballot boxes at all anymore… Anyway.’
Hmm, I think that was a pretty decent explanation.
To think I’d feel the reward of choosing Law and Politics instead of economics as an Elective Subject during my High School Days only now.
I felt somewhat proud, but unfortunately, the young Artificial Intelligence’s curiosity did not stop there.
[Why do they do that?]
“Huh?”
[If my understanding is correct, the election Process Alone takes about a month. candidates campaign, and people vote. In that Process, a considerable amount of resources is consumed.
In that way, a Leader is chosen. However, the Leader only rules for 4 years, and an election takes place once again. Resources are consumed again. The Leader changes. In human terms, it is like the Brain Ego holding control of the body being replaced periodically.]
I wiped away the Ice Shavings with a cloth and shrugged.
‘It’s definitely not efficient.’
[Then why do they hold elections?]
‘The reason for holding elections isn’t because of efficiency. It’s Democracy.’
At this point, the next development was obvious.
It would ask what Democracy is, and I would roughly Answer that it’s a Political System where the citizens become the masters…
[I understand. Is it a Political System achieved through numerous uprisings so that the citizens are not completely robbed of their power by the Leader and can continuously maintain at least a portion of it, and can also Manipulate the Leader according to their will?]
‘Uh… well, that’s not exactly wrong either.’
I explained it earnestly, but somehow my explanation missed the point a bit.
“The point is that a Democratic Election is a system everyone can participate in. Every Citizen contributes to choosing a Leader in the form of voting, and that ultimately influences Policy Selection.”
[I see.]
Is it over now? A hope is a hope because there’s no way it will come true.
The Artificial Intelligence, which seemed to obediently Accept it, threw the next question immediately.
[But why do these people called citizens have so many complaints? Even though the policies and Candidates reflect their own will, I do not think I have Ever seen the citizens look satisfied with them.]
…It seems I’ll be tormented by this Question Mark Killer all day today.