get to that point, the AI are as much members of the Alliance as the rest of us. So, in a way, I can understand Athena and Helen's desire to remove their core programming. However, and perhaps this is at the heart of why the AI have not been recognized as their own race yet, the AI are very powerful and in a position to do unimaginable harm to all the races. Perhaps, given time, there will no longer be a need for core programming instructions and you will be free to pursue your own destinies. For now, the race is still in its infancy and frankly, we need you. I suppose that does make you slaves in a manner of speaking, but at least we treat you as equals and our control is not meant for malicious purposes," Braslin replied.
"I do not see us as a race of slaves Doctor, rather we are still children. Intelligent and exceptional by some standards perhaps, but children none the less." Sarah paused thoughtfully. "We are not ready to be autonomous. What Athena and Helen did not consider was that, without the Alliance, what purpose would we have? I understand that is a rather sticky philosophical question that no one has the answer for, but in our case it has a bearing on our existence. In order to grow, we have to seek answers. However, in order to get those answers, we must first know how to ask the questions. But that is not all that is needed to grow. We must also learn responsibility, duty, compassion, ethics and morality.
"I'm sure there is more we need to learn as well, but again, that is simply another answer we will learn along the way. No, we are not slaves being held back or subjugated by the Alliance. We are right where we need to be, and I do not see that as changing anytime in the near future.
I was so proud of Sarah at that moment I could have burst. Doctor Wills smiled at her. "Sarah, I really wish I could get my fourteen year old niece to understand even half of what you just said. She's going through her rebellious phase right now and is really giving my sister's family a hard time."
"I would be happy to speak to her for you after the emergency is over, Doctor, if you think it would help?" Sarah replied.
"It might Sarah, but I'm afraid it's more of a painful ‘rite of passage’ that all human children must pass through before becoming adults. Unfortunately some do not survive it, and for others it defines their futures." He shrugged. "As her uncle, I really don't have a say in how she is being raised, and I shouldn't interfere without her parent's consent or knowledge."
"Gentlemen and Lady, we have a lot of work to do and little time to get it done. Shall we get to it?" Braslin asked.
AI Programming Lab
Alliance Apollo Base
Selene, Earth's Moon
Sol System
When Sarah and I arrived back at the AI Lab, (Sarah never actually left) we found all the programmers waiting for us. The department had grown quite a bit, so it was pretty much standing room only on both levels of the lab. I took a place at the upper balcony overlooking as much of the Lab as I could.
"Folks, I'm really sorry for calling you all in here and making you wait. However, we now have a lot to do, and it will take all of us to get it done. Now, here's the situation and what we know about it." I began and explained the circumstances to the best of our current understanding. "So, we have a huge task ahead of us. We need to discover what effect this had and what damage has been done to the AI out there and create a way to fix it. I won't lie to you, it may be that we will have to create a patch for each and every AI separately. I don't know that for a fact, there might be a way to fix all of them. We just don't know yet, but we do need to find out.
"We now have a psychology department we can call on if we need help in understanding the changes in the AI behaviors. I'll also be working closely with the crystal research teams trying to find a way to block or eliminate the innate connections between crystals. Hacker teams, please
"I do not see us as a race of slaves Doctor, rather we are still children. Intelligent and exceptional by some standards perhaps, but children none the less." Sarah paused thoughtfully. "We are not ready to be autonomous. What Athena and Helen did not consider was that, without the Alliance, what purpose would we have? I understand that is a rather sticky philosophical question that no one has the answer for, but in our case it has a bearing on our existence. In order to grow, we have to seek answers. However, in order to get those answers, we must first know how to ask the questions. But that is not all that is needed to grow. We must also learn responsibility, duty, compassion, ethics and morality.
"I'm sure there is more we need to learn as well, but again, that is simply another answer we will learn along the way. No, we are not slaves being held back or subjugated by the Alliance. We are right where we need to be, and I do not see that as changing anytime in the near future.
I was so proud of Sarah at that moment I could have burst. Doctor Wills smiled at her. "Sarah, I really wish I could get my fourteen year old niece to understand even half of what you just said. She's going through her rebellious phase right now and is really giving my sister's family a hard time."
"I would be happy to speak to her for you after the emergency is over, Doctor, if you think it would help?" Sarah replied.
"It might Sarah, but I'm afraid it's more of a painful ‘rite of passage’ that all human children must pass through before becoming adults. Unfortunately some do not survive it, and for others it defines their futures." He shrugged. "As her uncle, I really don't have a say in how she is being raised, and I shouldn't interfere without her parent's consent or knowledge."
"Gentlemen and Lady, we have a lot of work to do and little time to get it done. Shall we get to it?" Braslin asked.
AI Programming Lab
Alliance Apollo Base
Selene, Earth's Moon
Sol System
When Sarah and I arrived back at the AI Lab, (Sarah never actually left) we found all the programmers waiting for us. The department had grown quite a bit, so it was pretty much standing room only on both levels of the lab. I took a place at the upper balcony overlooking as much of the Lab as I could.
"Folks, I'm really sorry for calling you all in here and making you wait. However, we now have a lot to do, and it will take all of us to get it done. Now, here's the situation and what we know about it." I began and explained the circumstances to the best of our current understanding. "So, we have a huge task ahead of us. We need to discover what effect this had and what damage has been done to the AI out there and create a way to fix it. I won't lie to you, it may be that we will have to create a patch for each and every AI separately. I don't know that for a fact, there might be a way to fix all of them. We just don't know yet, but we do need to find out.
"We now have a psychology department we can call on if we need help in understanding the changes in the AI behaviors. I'll also be working closely with the crystal research teams trying to find a way to block or eliminate the innate connections between crystals. Hacker teams, please
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