The problem was simple. How to make true predictive
software—something tailored specifically to a given user—without having all
that personal information end up on someone else’s computer?
SECURE by AIInc gives us the answer. A
next-gen AI, it is installed along the user’s spinal column and uses the
specific DNA code of the user as the basis of its encryption. All user
preferences and personal data are stored in the flexistate drive and cannot be
retrieved except by the user.
Computer-to-SECURE connection standard.
Optional upgrades include: internal head’s-up display, internal speakers,
SECURE-to-brain connection, internal wireless capability…
Jordan blinked a few
times and scrolled down the page. Customizable
AI interface; nice. He wondered exactly how it would feel to have to not
worry about typing all this crap down every single time he wanted to do a web
search, plus the added benefit of having someone to talk to occasionally. Okay,
something. Still, the idea of “installing”
artificial stuff in his body made his skin crawl.
At the end of the
web page, he saw something interesting.
If you are not completely satisfied with
SECURE after a year, AIInc will remove the AI and refund your money for no
cost.
Jordan re-read that
statement a few times. Then, he clicked the contact
icon. Most applicants were rejected, of course—more people wanted this than
were available units, but maybe he’d be lucky….
A few months later,
he was opening his eyes in the post-operative unit. Most of the SECURE
installations didn’t need to be sedated; Jordan had opted for everything on the
list, though, which turned a simple spinal insertion into something a bit more
invasive. The nano-surgeons had done their job well, the tiny robotic arms
making only the most minimal of cuts and sealing everything up afterwards. He
touched his face, then sat up.
“How are you
feeling?” the doctor asked.
“Normal, I guess,”
Jordan admitted. He twisted his body experimentally. “Actually, I don’t feel
any different. Did you actually perform the surgery?”
The doctor smiled. “Why
don’t you ask your unit?”
Jordan blinked…and
as he did so, the HUD that he’d been imagining for the past few weeks suddenly
flashed up in his vision. “Whoa!”
[SECURE AI ACTIVATING]
[Do you wish to name your unit?]
“You should get a
prompt in some fashion to name your AI soon,” the doctor told him.
“In some fashion?”
He nodded. “It
varies. SECURE is a truly predictive AI. Since you’ve opted for the direct
brain-to-unit connection, it can tell how you’d like it to display information.
Literally anything you can imagine, it can do. I’ll give you a few moments to
play with it—just push that button there if you need me.” He left the room.
Jordan gave it some
thought. “I’m calling it…the Data Analyzing Robot for Yoke Linking. DARYL.
Male.”
[Please imagine AI tone, vocal patterns, and
accent.]
“Been doing that for
about three years,” Jordan muttered, thinking back to all his attempts to make
his own AI.
“Touché.”
Jordan jumped at the
dry rebuttal. “DARYL?”
“Got that right,
boss,” DARYL said, chuckling. “Fully online and at your service. Let’s see…hey,
full upgrade package. Nice.”
Jordan slowly
grinned. “Yeah, I figured…why not go all out?”
“New toys. Gotta
love them,” DARYL agreed. “Nice HUD design, by the way. Concise, clear,
everything you need—and a few things you don’t. Heart rate monitor? Seriously?”
Jordan shrugged. “That
was curiosity, mostly. I’m told I have a pretty slow resting heart rate.”
“Given that the average
resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute, and yours is 51 at the
moment, that’s pretty accurate,” DARYL agreed. “And before you ask, yes, I just
googled it.”
“Instant research.
Nice.” He stood up. “Hey, call Ma.”
“You got it, boss.”
There was a ringing
sound, then, “Hello?”
“Hi, it’s Jordan,”
Jordan greeted her.
“What’s the
emergency?”
“Uh, no emergency.
Just wanted to say hi and see how you’re doing.” Jordan suppressed a sigh. Busy
again, as usual.
“Look, I’m a little
busy right now—can I call you back later?” his mom asked, a little impatiently.
“Sure. I’ll talk to
you later.” Without waiting for her reply, Jordan mentally hung up.
DARYL was silent for
a moment. “Well, now I understand why they chose you.”
Jordan frowned. “Chose
me?”
“What do you know
about the guy who invented SECURE?”
Jordan shrugged. “Dusty
Fairbanks? Not much. He’s pretty reclusive. Why?”
“Because he’s a lot
like you, actually,” DARYL said quietly. “SECURE wasn’t invented for the obscenely
wealthy, or the popular folks who just want another toy. SECURE isn’t even
predominately about security.”
“What’s it for,
then?”
DARYL paused. “Companionship.”
Jordan fought down
the brief surge of emotion that accompanied that word. Whether he knew it or
not, DARYL had hit a sensitive nerve with that one. “I don’t need companionship.”
“Oh, probably not,”
DARYL agreed. “But Dusty Fairbanks didn’t either. He just wanted someone who
gave a rat’s behind about him. He cared about a lot of people; they just didn’t
care about him. Sound familiar? So he invented SECURE.”
“Does SECURE stand
for something?” Jordan asked, trying to change the subject. “It’s always
capitalized.”
“Someone Else for Caring,
Understanding, and Responsive Expression,” DARYL said.
They were both
silent for a moment.
The doctor came back
in the room. “How’s it going?”
Jordan thought for a
moment before smiling slowly. “Great. Thank you.”
“Well, you’re clear
to leave whenever,” the doctor said, shaking Jordan’s hand absently, mind
already on the paperwork in his other hand. “Thanks for coming in, and let us
know immediately if you have any questions or concerns.”
“Will do,” Jordan
said, and walked out of the room.
He was already in
the parking lot before DARYL spoke again. “Now what?”
“Now…we go home, I
guess,” Jordan said. “Got any music recommendations?”
“All kinds,” DARYL
said cheerfully. “Although, fair warning, I will
sing along to any and all Weird Al tunes.”
Jordan burst out
laughing, already feeling a little less lonely. “Weird Al it is, then!”
Radar's Note: I got the idea to write this after trying to make my own AI and contemplating the Microsoft, Apple and Google attempts to create some kind of soft AI. It's a lot harder than it seems. Also, DARYL seems like he might be fun; I might try to build a short story series out of Jordan and DARYL's world.
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