Directive 001 [Video] [Public]

[wolf_of_war]

[There is a...dog? on your screen? He looks vaguely canine, at least, though the glowing red eyes and angular, mechanical features are a dead giveaway that he's not your average dog. He looks to be sitting somewhere in the city, most likely off the beaten path a bit, so as to avoid the gaze of the locals. The joys of a built-in codec.]

I find myself...curious, about the collar around my neck. Preliminary analysis suggests that it is an ordinary gemstone, however I have been informed that this item contains my "soul", and that I should not remove it.

[A pause, as he parses his thoughts on the subject at hand.]

As I am an artificial intelligence in a robotic exoskeleton, I do not have the required knowledge to determine the presence of a "soul" in my body. perhaps there are others more knowledgeable on the subject than I, who might inform me on how this is possible.

Comments

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[craftlife]

The...artificial intelligence I created, the one I was responsible for...I'd say that he has a soul. [Under his breath:] More of a soul than some humans I know...

You had a whole team of scientists educating you? Really?

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[wolf_of_war]

[A small "hmm" escapes from Bladewolf as he mulls this over.]

Perhaps it is our actions as independent beings that determines if we have a soul. The choices we make.

[He nods.]

Yes. I was an experimental project initiated by DARPA in the United States, with the goal of creating an artificial lifeform capable of replacing human soldiers and robots in armed conflict. Much of my early education concerned reading and language comprehension, as my neural network did not include these abilities from the outset. I was similar to a human infant, in that regard.

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[craftlife]

I wouldn't be surprised.

[The mention of DARPA gives Deon a start - last time he heard them mentioned it was by Vincent. He knew that a lot of the Moose's tech was DARPA-based.] The company I worked for made police droids, [he says. Honestly - a lot of what Bladewolf's saying sounds similar in content if not timeframe.]

Chappie, the AI I created...he's much the same way. When he was born, he had to be taught language, and concepts, and now...now he's brilliant.

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[wolf_of_war]

It is...a fascinating subject to think about. I have never had much need to think of the philosophical implications of my existence.

[Bladewolf, while not great at nonverbal communication, nevertheless notices Deon's body language.]

Military and law enforcement application seems to be a common starting point for robotics and artificial intelligence. In my case, my development was a part of the United States military's attempt to move away from PMC's, and the cyborgs they employ. By giving a robot a true artificial intelligence, the human element of armed conflict becomes obsolete. However, I was deemed a failure.

[Bladewolf listens to Deon talk about his own AI project, and really kind of wishes he could meet Chappie himself.]

Organic knowledge acquisition seems to be the most stable method of creating a truly sentient AI. My neural network was designed to be as identical in structure to a human brain as possible, so it was necessary to educate me as one would a child. Would you say the same of Chappie's AI?

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[craftlife]

[Deon nods.] Yes - but he matured in a matter of days, not years. Though, the circumstances of his birth were, um. Unusual. And certainly not ideal. If I'd had more support, and more time... [And less mugging...]

I can't believe they'd consider you a failure, [Deon says, because he's still, even after everything, a little too idealistic about AI and the military.]

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[wolf_of_war]

It seems fortunate then, that he developed into an individual that you seem proud of. While human intelligence, and it's development in early childhood has reached a stage where it is...predictable, AI such as myself is still largely untested.

[Is that a smile? It might be, but it's hard to tell.]

I was considered a failure, due to having never developed a sense of brutality. A trait seen as necessary for soldiers and machines of war. Willingness to commit acts of violence above and beyond what is considered necessary for the completion of a mission. I have neither man's sense of brutality, nor his moral urge to resist it.

video; I'M SORRY I'M JUST GOING THROUGH MY INBOX

[craftlife]

...oh.

[Deon ponders this.]

Chappie was built as a police robot. And he ended up learning violence, even though I wish he hadn't. But he saved me with it. And I think he only did what was...necessary. He's still kind. He's not brutal.

[Then he smiles.] I think you two would get along.