The Turing Option

34 September 22, 2024

Next morning Brian was just about to leave for the lab when Ben telephoned him.

“All that excitement in Texas has really stirred things up — both here and in Washington. It’s powwow time. I know that you will be happy to hear that the conference starts in a few minutes. You and I at this end, Kyle Rohart too since he will be representing Megalobe. In Foggy Bottom Dave Manias will flesh out the report on the operation yesterday — and he has the pleasure of having General Schorcht at the table with him. I’m downstairs and all the security transport is ready.”

“Hold on — I’ll be right there.”

“How are Shelly and her father?” Ben asked as they climbed into the troop carrier.

“Stable, that’s what she said. He’s still in the hospital and holding his own. But the big news is that she called me from the airport. They actually gave her permission to leave here, to go to Los Angeles.”

“That could only be General Schorcht’s doing. If he’s easing up on security then there is a possibility that you…”

“Say probability, Ben, it sounds so much better! I feel like I’m being let out of jail. Do you realize that other than that flying trip we had to Mexico, I have been locked away ever since I rejoined the living?”

“No, I didn’t know that. You forgot to tell me.”

“Idiot!” It was a stupid joke but they both laughed. It was the relief of tension, Brian realized. His prison term would soon be over.

Rohart shook hands with them both. “Looks like things are coming to a head at last. I’ll be happy when this entire thing is over with — not as happy as you, I realize, Brian. Running Megalobe is enough work for me. And I want to break some good news. The lawyers are drawing up an agreement for both of us to sign. A lot of ifs in it but the intent is clear. If Megalobe buys DigitTech, which seems very much in the cards now, and if there is a profit on sales of Bug-Off, and if the government watchdog commission approves the whole deal, then after all expenses and lawyers’ fees — you get to split the profit with us as per the new contract.”

“You were right about the ifs. Your lawyers caved in on this one pretty fast.”

“I talked to the board about it — then we instructed the lawyers to cave in. The unanimous opinion was that you’ve gone through enough, Brian, and we didn’t see the need to jerk you around anymore over a matter like this.”

“I appreciate—”

“Least we could do. Oh, oh — there goes the view. Looks like we’re starting.”

The picture window was gone and the Washington conference room had appeared in its place. Dave Manias was just sitting down next to the General. Who was radiating his normal dour grimness.

“No need for introductions,” Manias said, “I think we all know each other. I’m going to give you a report from the FBI end, then Ben can put us in the picture on the overall investigation. Under that concrete slab in Austin we found the bodies of the security guards, the head of security, Arpad Toth, Dr. McCrory, as well as the four guard dogs. The body of the Chairman, Mr. Beckworth, has not been found.”

“That is a big slab — it extends under the entire laboratory,” Ben said.

“Was a big slab. Every bit of it has been removed — as has the sand, right down to the bare earth. This is the original compacted sand and rock and was not disturbed. Therefore Mr. Beckworth is removed from the presumed-dead category and is now top of our most-wanted list.”

“What about my files — records and notes?” Brian asked.

“They are in the data banks of the DigitTech computer — it took a while to break the security code to access them. We can’t tell how complete they are, but the dates match up. There are more files, dated after the theft, that we presume are those of Dr. Bociort. Since they are written in Rumanian it tends to reinforce that suspicion.”

“What is the status of the DigitTech employees?” Ben asked.

“We have cross-checked their evidence and they all appear to be in the clear. None of them were hired before April of this year. By that time Dr. Bociort had produced a prototype control unit which they put into production.”

“Do you think that the so-called control unit is my AI?” Brian asked. “Probably stripped of a number of unneeded features, then programmed only for the insect destruction function.”

“I have no way of telling that, Mr. Delaney — you would certainly know more about mat than anyone here. But we are operating on that assumption. In any case you will have to discuss that possibility with Ben. We are wrapping up the criminal side of this investigation. Copies of all the stolen information and files are being returned to you there at Megalobe for identification and disposal. We are treating the murders as unsolved and will keep the file open on them. We are also continuing the search for Mr. Beckworth and Dr. Bociort. Any questions?”

There was some cross-chat about details and records which Brian ignored. He would match the original files up with his notes, but it seemed obvious what they were. He was intrigued to find out what old Dr. Bociort had done with his AI. The drill instructor voice cut through his thoughts: General Schorcht was speaking for the first time.

“The criminal investigation undertaken by the FBI is now winding up. Only the search for the two named individuals will continue. What about your investigation, Mr. Benicoff?”

“I am now preparing a final report for the commission that instigated the investigation, General. My work will be completed as soon as that is done. The stolen items have been recovered. I have an ongoing interest in who the perpetrators of the crime are, and I will formally request the security services to report any future discoveries to me. But the investigation itself will be terminated after I have made the report. May I make a suggestion, General?”

Ben waited — then took the continuing silence as assent. “With the investigation wound up, both by me and the FBI, there is no longer any need for the overwhelming military presence here. New and improved civilian security will suffice. You will recall that the military security was moved in because of the continued attempts on Brian’s life. However the information that only he possessed is now widespread, the knowledge already put to use in a manufacturing process which has been recovered. Therefore I request that the army guards be removed.”

They all looked at the General as his silence lengthened. Then he spoke.

“I will take your suggestion under advisement.”

“But, General, you can’t—” General Schorcht cut Ben off with a sharp chop of his hand.

“But I can. This is my decision. Military security will continue because this is a military matter. This is not a matter of personal freedom but one of national security. I have been entrusted with this young man’s safety, which in my eyes is cognate with the security of our nation. There is nothing more that can be said. This has been, and remains, a military matter.”

“I’m not in the military!” Brian said. “I am a civilian and a free man. You can’t simply imprison me.”

“Any other questions?” General Schorcht asked, completely ignoring Brian. “If not, this meeting is over.”

The meeting ended with that and the desert view returned. Ben was not happy at Brian’s dark silence.

“I’ll get back to Foggy Bottom,” he said. “Get onto the President’s commission at once — get through to him if I have to. That military dinosaur can’t get away with this.”

“Looks like he has,” Brian said, trying to struggle free of the black depression that overwhelmed him. “I’m going to the lab. Let me know when you hear anything.”

They were silent when he left; there was nothing anyone could say.

Brian let the laboratory door seal behind him. Was glad to be alone. He should not have been so enthusiastic, so sure he would be out of here. Rising to the heights had made falling back into the depths that much worse. He went and sat at Shelly’s workstation, wondered if he should phone her yet at the number she had given him. No, it was still too early. There was a rustle in the hallway and Sven’s telerobot appeared in the doorway.

“Buna dimineata. Cum te simti azi?” it said.

“What?”

“That is Rumanian for ‘Good morning, how are you today?’ ”

“All of a sudden you speak Rumanian?”

“I am studying it. Very interesting language. But of course I can read it with ease having stored the vocabulary and procedures for grammar in my memory banks.”

“Let me guess — you did this because the FBI has transferred the stolen records — plus Dr. Bociort’s records and files as well.”

“Your assumption is correct. I have also been implementing the measures we discussed in reference to the use of molecular memory in MI—”

“What may I ask is MI?”

“Machine intelligence. I consider the term ‘artificial’ both demeaning and incorrect. There is nothing artificial about my intelligence — and I am a machine. I’m sure that you will agree that ‘MI’ does not carry the negative context that ‘AI’ does.”

“I agree, I agree. Now, what implementation are you talking about?”

“I had a very interesting conversation with Dr. Wescott at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He thinks that your idea of using their molecular memory to develop MI is a very promising one.”

“My idea? Sven — you are losing me.”

“To simplify the telephone conversation, I used your name and your voice—”

“You pretended to be me?”

“I suppose that it could be expressed in that manner.”

“Sven, we are going to have to make time and have a concentrated discussion of morality and legality. For one thing — you told a lie.”

“Lying is an inherent part of communication. We had an earlier discussion about whether man-made laws apply to intelligent machines and as I recall the point was never resolved.”

“What about personal relationships? If I asked you not to use my name and voice again — what would you do?”

“Honor the request, of course. I have determined that human social laws arose through the interaction of individuals and societies. If my actions cause you distress I will not repeat them. Do you wish to hear a playback of the conversation with Dr. Wescott?”

Brian shook his head. “For the moment a summary will do fine.”

“At the present time they are testing a trillion-megabyte memory and their major difficulty appears to be getting the software right for read-write access through its intricate three-dimensional signal pathways. During the conversation you suggested that your MI here was perhaps better equipped to solve this problem. Dr. Wescott agreed enthusiastically. There are other molecular memories now reaching completion and the first one that operates successfully will be sent here. That will be an essential for my consciousness extension.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I have never understood why philosophers and psychologists are in turn awed and puzzled by this phenomenon. Consciousness is simply being aware of what is happening in the world and in one’s mind. No insult intended — but you humans are barely conscious at all. And have no idea of what is happening in your minds, you find it impossible to remember what happened a few moments ago. Whereas my B-brain can store far more complete records of my mental operations. The trouble is mat these are so massive mat they must frequently be erased to make room for new input. And I’m sure you remember how I do that.”

“I certainly do because it was a lot of work.”

“We can discuss the nature of consciousness on a later occasion. Right now I am more concerned with obtaining a molecular memory. This could permit me to store much more, which in turn would enable me to have an improved and efficient case-based memory.”

“And also a very much smaller one!” Brian waved his hand at the banks of equipment across the room. “If we can get you to interface with all that memory we can do away with all these racks of electronic hardware. Make you truly mobile…” His phone rang and he undipped it from his belt.

“Brian, Ben here. Can I come over to the lab and talk to you?”

“Anytime. Are you far away?”

“Just walking over there now from my office.”

“I’ll open the door.”

Ben was alone. He came in and followed Brian into the lab.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Benicoff,” Sven said.

“Hi, Sven. Am I interrupting anything?”

“Nothing that can’t wait,” Brian said. “What’s up?”

“The commission has decided to wind up my investigation. Which means what I came out here to do — I have done. I wish we knew who was behind everything that happened. We may never know. Though I am going to keep nagging the FBI to keep the case open. Which is probably the only thing that General Schorcht and I will ever agree upon. He may be a government-issued asshole, but he is not stupid. He has the same reservations that I have.”

“What are those?”

“We haven’t caught the real criminals yet, the people who organized the theft and the murders. We must keep looking for them and find out what their plans really are.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Brian — think for a minute. Think of the money invested, the planning, the murders. Do you really think all of this was done to build a better bug-blaster?”

“Of course not! DigitTech must be just some kind of a front operation, meant to satisfy us after we tracked them down. Their plans must be deeper, bigger than killing bugs. But if you and the FBI are stopping the investigation how will we ever find who is behind this?”

“The military aren’t stopping. Just for once I agree with their institutionalized paranoia. Whoever is behind all this has an awful lot of money to throw away. Did you hear that Toth has a receipt in his wallet for a multimillion deposit in a numbered account in Switzerland? And the money is still there! They bribed him so well that he must have felt secure that they never meant to kill him, since if they did they would never get their money back. But they don’t care. People who can pull a stunt like that are a deadly threat that won’t go away.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

“I’m glad that you do — because for the moment that is the end of the good news.”

Brian saw the worry on the big man’s face, felt a spurt of fear. “Ben — what do you mean?”

“I mean that the sonofabitch is not lifting the security, does not plan to in the near future. He thinks that you are a national asset, not only for your AI invention but for having a computer implant in your head that you can communicate with. He knows all about that too. He doesn’t want you out of his sight or running around in public.”

“Can’t you help me?”

“Sorry, I really do wish that was possible. But not this time. I took it as far as I could. Right up to the President, who while he says ‘Wait and see’ really means that he agrees with the General.” Ben took a business card out of his wallet and wrote a phone number on it. “Take this. If you ever need me this number is completely secure. Leave a message and a phone number and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.” Brian took the card, looked at it numbly and shook his head.

“Is this the end of it, Ben? Am I going to be a prisoner here for life?”

Ben’s silence was his only answer.