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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[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.