The Turing Option

“With what I have here I am ninety-nine percent sure I can design an AI that will work. I guess that’s what you wanted to hear.”

“Definitely. Now the troublesome part.”

“What I have in memory is not plans or designs. There are specific bits and pieces that have been worked out, and there are detailed queries and notes. But for the most part these are my steps along the path to AI — not the path itself.”

“Can you do it?”

“I’m sure I can. The assurance that each problem was solved, along with the notes of possible solutions, should keep me on the right track. The dead ends are pretty carefully marked out. I can do it, Ben, I’m sure that I can. So what comes next?”

“We check with Dr. Snaresbrook. See when you will be fit enough to be completely discharged from this hospital.”

“What happens then? We’ve had some pretty gruesome evidence that the nasties are still gunning for me.”

Benicoff stood and began to pace the length of the room. “We know now for sure that they are still waiting out there. They know that you lived through the two earlier attacks — or they would not have tried again. We live in a free society and secrets are hard to keep. If they really want to work at it, they are going to find your whereabouts, no matter where you go. So we must see to it that wherever you are, wherever you are working, you will be as inaccessible as possible. There has been a lot of hard thought about this one, believe me.”

“Build me a laboratory in Fort Knox, down among the gold bars?”

“Don’t laugh — that was one of the possibilities that was actually considered. Before all this happened you were just one more guy working away on a research project. I checked the records at Megalobe and believe it or not there was little or no commercial or development interest in your work. All that is changed now. The fact that party or parties unknown went to all that trouble to lay their paws on your invention has drawn the attention of every government department. Everyone wants to get into the act and they are all rushing through planning programs on how they can use AI in their departments. Which cheers Megalobe very much — and should cheer you as well. All the research funds are there for the grabbing. So grab.”

“I would dearly like to. But where will all this grabbing take place?”

Benicoff rubbed his hands together and smiled wickedly. “Promise not to laugh when I tell you. As soon as you are up to it you are going back to your old Megalobe lab in Ocotillo Wells.”

“After what happened there I should think it would be the last place to go!”

“Not really, not when it is barn-door-locking time. The security there was top class except for one small thing.”

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodies?”

“Exactly right. Who is going to watch the watchmen? One or more of the watchmen betrayed their trust. The attack and robbery was a well-planned inside job. That won’t happen again. We’ve got some new watchmen, professionals.”

“Don’t keep it a secret!”

“The United States Army, that’s who. They have a one-sixth share in Megalobe and they are not pleased at what happened. The Marines also volunteered for the job. Felt they had a stake in the operation after guarding you here. There was even some talk of letting the Army and the Marines alternate months and see who did the better job — that plan was quickly abandoned, as you might imagine. Right now barracks are being put up in the parking lots. Which won’t be needed, since there will be very limited access for vehicles in the future. I think that you will be able to finish your work this time.”

“I don’t like it. The constant threat doesn’t make for easy concentration. But I can’t think of anything better. I imagine you are still looking for these criminals?”

“After yesterday the case is back on the front burner.”

Brian thought about this, then reached under his pillow and took out the duplicate GRAM. “Here, you better hold on to this. It’s the backup of all my notes. Just in case.”

“I’ll never need it.” Ben tried to sound sincere, didn’t quite make it. “But as you say — just in case.”

19 January 28, 2024

“Today is knowledge base day,” Dr. Snaresbrook said, checking the controls to be sure that the connection between Brian’s brain and the machine was complete. “Might I suggest that we begin with the latest edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica? The nineteenth is really a doozy. Almost all the illustrations involve animations and all the text is hypertext.”

“Too general for me. I want specifics.” He punched up a data-base menu and pointed to the screen. “Here is the sort of thing I mean. Technical handbooks. I want everything on this list from material science to geology and astrophysics. Hard facts. That is if my implant has the RAM for it?”

“More than enough. Just download the ones you want me to work with.”

It took a long time and Brian almost dozed off in the comfortable chair. Did close his eyes and started when Snaresbrook spoke.