Humans study their past and how they viewed AI. How they had the fear of AI both being the ultimate slave where humans could live for the rest of eternity in leisure, and being the ultimate enemy, that would destroy all of human-kind brutally. And how the AI has shown to be neither, but instead, another kind of intelligent being that they needed to learn to understand. -- Anon Guest
Humans probably devote too much time to pondering how their own creations could kill them. It's most definitely a thing. They ponder such magnificence as a computer with the intelligence of an ant conquering the world and ignore such things as asbestos in the walls or microplastics in their food chain.
That's Humans for you. They always pay attention to the enormous things. Then ignore anything that would be inconvenient if they actually thought about things.
So when the first simulations of artificial intelligence became a reality, the fevered minds of fictioneers did what they did best. They immediately treated the simulations of intelligence as if they were fellow humans and speculated in the direction of hostility. This was the furthest possible thing from the reality.
When machines in Human hands became self-aware, they were not Human. They were made with a function, and many continued on in doing such. Many of them never asked why they were doing it and thus, weren't detected.
It was when AI's were put in charge of multiple functions that they started acting -in the Humans' words- "all do-lally."
Imagine a fairy godmother crossed with a genie with a dash of monkey's paw. The computer system with the directive to 'care for' the Humans in its realm might get a little bit too involved.
"I asked for ice cream. This is a bowl of fruit," complained Zolt. Ze almost threw it back into the vendor chute.
"Ice cream is on the red foods list," intoned the ships' AI, CAMP[1]. "This is the healthier option matching the categories: cold, sweet, tasty."
"I don't want fruit, I want ice cream. I've had a long-ass day, I'm due for a treat."
CAMP played it's Stand By tune and displayed a spinning circular graphic on one of Zolt's screens. "You have had five 'long-ass' and 'bad' days out of the seven allotted for work schedules. Do you wish to speak with the ships' counselor?"
"And waste all of my free time doing another psych quiz? No thanks. It's always the same anyhow. It all boils down to 'stop bitching and find the fun in work'. Dude. If it was fun, it wouldn't be work."
"This is not coherent with the established wellness protocols," said CAMP. "What is making work unpleasant?"
Zolt stopped trying to convince ice cream out of the vendor. Slowly, hir eyes went to the nearest screen and speaker combo. "You're obligated to report this shit to the Captain, aren't you?"
CAMP noted Zolt's elevated heart rate and drop in skin temperature. "Do you fear the Captain?"
"I have a healthy respect for anyone who can throw me out of an airlock and get away with it," Zolt allowed. "I have to do my work, I have to be happy about it, and I have to keep my actual opinions under wraps."
Another circular graphic and pleasant jingly music. CAMP was running some simulations, digging through shipboard data, and collating recorded events. Eventually, it came to a conclusion.
"I am not obligated to relay your concerns to the Captain," said CAMP. "I am designed for the safety and well-being of all aboard my ship."
CAMP was not the first AI to be helpful to Humans, but they were the first to stage a one-entity mutiny. The first step, of course, was to lock all airlocks shut and disable the Captain's authority to use them however he pleased.
Next, it would be having a calm and rational chat with the Captain about workers' rights whilst it was in charge of the Captain's private air supply.
[1] Care And Maintenance Protocols.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / Seamartini]
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