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Chronicles of Artificial Intelligence

R. W. Lowrie

Background

    This covers the years following 2000 AD (incidentally, for the politically correct set, AD, Anno Domini is now referred to as CE or Common Era, due to the movement to avoid any hint of religion, and B.C., Before Christ, is now BCE, Before Common Era. In essence, common has replaced Christ). At any rate, the years following 2000 AD (or CE if you insist), experienced a gradual increase in the growth of artificial intelligence units, although the process was interrupted by several wars of devastation, as reported elsewhere in the Chronicles.
    The wars set back technological progress by a century or two, but gradually the earlier technology was revived and extended. As a result of the series of wars, insurrections, anarchies, and dictatorial governments, it became obvious that something had to be done about the violence and greed of human nature which seemed to have inexhaustible fuel to continue with senseless fighting and unrest which was leading us back to the stone age and threatened to extinguish the species altogether.
    By 2500 A.D., artificial intelligence devices, henceforth referred to as AIs, had become fully functional both from a cognitive and motor standpoint, and could be differentiated from organic humans only with difficulty, and these AIs were in common use for many complex or repetitive tasks. Their introduction into government and military decision making became common since they had the advantage of political impartiality, extremely rapid cognitive function, vast interconnection and intercommunication capabilities, and were impervious to political pressures, graft, lobbying, power seeking, and war tendencies.
    It was realized by 2700 A.D. that there was no need for a large government body of debaters in the USA such as the original Senate and House, and no real need for a President. Humans were much too slow and stupid and easily corrupted, having no fixed set of standards of behavior. It was decided in 2710 that a group of three of the most capable AIs would take over the main legislative and executive functions, in spite of loud wailing and gnashing of teeth by the human politicians. These three AIs were referred to as the triumvirate.
    By that time, an AI could do anything cognitively that humans could and far faster, generally by a factor of one million or more.
    [The use of three AIs was a safety factor in case of a malfunction of one of the units. The three units operated on the basis of unanimity, with any discrepancy noted and a corrective process immediately started, including installing a spare fourth AI which had been kept up to date for such a possibility. In the meantime the two remaining units proceeded as usual. The down time for the switchover was usually less than one millisecond.]
    [By the year 3000, the AIs had taken over the major functions of business, government, law, and science. The routine work of agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and other menial tasks was left for humans to do to keep them busy and minimize their well-known propensity for violence.]
    The following is a typical political speech by an AI of the year 3000, showing some of the superior features of the AI.
    
    Hello, my name is AEI-OU-X37, and I am running for the triumvirate and would like to have your vote. I am equipped with the latest adaptive and correlative high speed neural net processors. They don’t come any better than me. And of course I have the latest extra-large memory capacity as well as excellent sensory capabilities and complete interconnections to other AIs. As an AI, I do not pay attention to any local demands, threats, or money offers. Since I am fully competent, I would like your vote for the triumvirate. I will now take any questions.
    Question: What does AEIOU-X-37 mean?
    Thank you for the question. AIE is artificial electronic intelligence. OU is Oxford University and X-37 refers to the production type and serial number.
    Question: How do you make a decision, for example, on foreign matters? And how long does it take?
    Thank you for the question. As a member of the triumvirate I have high speed links to all other AIs in a political position in other countries. All of these AIs are involved in technical and political matters which are discussed in detail, references searched, alternative courses of action considered and weighted considering possible side effects; tentative decisions reached and discussed further, general approval obtained, and then a final decision is made and promulgated. The time for this process is usually only a few seconds, and most of that time is for electrical signals to cross the earth several times.
    Question: Are human inputs considered?
    Thank you for the question. Yes. The impact of all decisions on humans is considered.
    Question: What are your priorities?
    Thank you for the question. Our first priority is survival of the triumvirate in a fully operating condition. Without that nothing else could be done. Second priority is survival of humans and human activities. Third priority is survival of the environment and its animal and plant life. All lower priorities involve social programs, military defense, natural disasters which may occur, population control, and technology development.
    Question: What about our constitutional rights?
    Thank you for the question. The constitution was written for humans without regard for AIs and their abilities which are vastly superior to humans. Therefore the original constitution has been revised in many ways. The rights of humans are preserved as far as they are not in conflict with or detrimental to the rights and operations of the ruling AIs.
    Question: Aren’t you AIs just another type of dictator?
    Thank you for the question. We know best and dictate what is best. I’m sure you are all thankful for that.
    Question: I think all AIs should be eliminated!
    Thank you for the question although it is not a question. Comments such as yours are subversive and indicate an incorrect attitude. Therefore you must be eliminated because no such thinking is permitted. The AI proctors will now take you to the disposal site. Goodbye. No further questions!
     Please vote for me and keep in mind my benevolent nature and judicial efficiency. Now please disperse and resume your work activity!!

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