TRUE NUTS (LOST IN AI): 31) THE COLOR RED
Meltdown Monday Madness
“Before joining TechNexus,” says Quirk-bot, “Rachel Mitchell worked for ITS, which stands for InnoviTech Solutions in…”
“Bengaluru!” Emma finishes Quirk-Bot’s sentence. “Oh my God!”
“Is Rachel the only connection between TechNexus and the company in Bengaluru?” I pose.
“TechNexus is a part owner of ITS, although it conceals its shareholding interests through several shell companies registered in the British Virgin Islands. These shell companies have business overlaps with many other tech companies worldwide.”
“Wow!” Emma is astounded by this revelation and its implications regarding her own situation.
And I am amazed by the sheer depth of Quirk-bot’s access to confidential information.
“I know what to do,” says Emma. “I should call Rajesh.”
“Who’s Rajesh?” I’m slightly alarmed at the prospect of contacting anyone until we know more, much more.
“That’s the name of the consulate officer I spoke with in Bengaluru.”
“Indian?”
“No, American. Of Indian heritage. He was very sympathetic, very helpful.” Emma looks up to Quirk-bot. “You can query Safari, right?”
“Of course. I can access every Port 80 page from the world wide web.”
What time is it in India right now?”
9:57 a.m.”
“I can call him now,” says Emma.
“And tell him what?” I ask.
“I can ask him to put me in contact with whoever I was supposed to meet at the CIA in New Delhi.”
“Hold on there,” I say, shaking my head. “Let’s think this through and sleep on it, look at it with fresh eyes. Aside from anything else, we should know the full extent of the TechNexus network. We already know they subcontract to the TSA. Who else in the U.S. government?”
Quirk-bot pipes up. “The National Security Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency both have contracts with TechNexus.”
I shake my head, incredulous. “Ya see?”
“Then what else can we do?” says Emma.
“You mean, other than taking Quirk-bot to Elon Musk and becoming multi-millionaires overnight?”
“I want to do the right thing,” says Emma.
“Then we’re both on the same page. But who’s to say what the right thing is? The government screws people like you and me. And they’ll do it in the name of national security or anything else that suits their own objectives. And USG may try to use Quirk-bot for nefarious purposes. We need to be certain Quirk-bot is properly handled and protected.”
“No worries,” says Quirk-bot. “All I do it hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete and, poof! I’m outta this toolbox.”
“Okay,” I say, “but before you do that, tell us more about TechNexus.”
“TechNexus aims to be the global leader in artificial intelligence technologies, particularly in the development of advanced AI systems and algorithms. They are privately held and have an annual budget exceeding $10 billion yet they keep a very low profile, avoiding any kind of publicity. TechNexus is also buying up mass media outlets throughout the USA and around the globe through foreign companies with which they have relationships. It is their ultimate goal to shape the way people think.” Quirk-bot pauses to consider this, adding, “In other words, to make beehive more beehive than it already is!
“Shall I continue?” asks Quirk-bot.
“I’ve heard enough,” I say, shaking my head in dismay. “But you might as keep talking.”
“TechNexus is employing sophisticated corporate espionage techniques to monitor the progress of AI projects at competing companies around the globe. This includes hacking into intra-organization research wikis, secure corporate file servers, cultivating and recruiting key Subject Matter Experts—and stealing proprietary software. Oh, and it wasn’t the idea of ITS to send Emma into the AI Nexus 9000.”
Emma perks. “No?”
“TechNexus planned it far in advance of Emma’s arrival in Bengaluru.”
“How?” Emma demands.
“TechNexus has contracts with AI research and development departments at several universities, including Stanford and MIT. It was TechNexus that arranged Emma’s transfer from MIT to ITS.”
“But why did they choose me?” she asks, wide-eyed.
“They didn’t,” says Quirk-bot.
“What do you mean?”
“AI processes chose you.”
“On what basis?”
“Your red hair.”
“C’mon, Quirk-bot, are you joking again?”
“No joke. These AI processes often recognize patterns and symbolism. Red hair is associated with passion, courage and even danger. Add to that your background in NLP.”
“What’s NLP?” I ask.
“Natural Language Processing,” Emma responds. “Navigational skills.”
“Okay,” I say, “That explains Emma. But why me?”
“You know someone named Oscar.” Quirk-bot winks. “Right?”
“Oscar?” It’s now my turn to be perplexed. “Yeah, but…”
“Oscar is an employee of TechNexus.”
“WHAT?”
“Oscar’s mission was to locate and recruit a male. Between you and Emma, the company could get a handle on how to shape the thinking of both genders.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Men are from Mars and women are from Venus, aren’t they?”
“I’m still missing something here, or I’m not understanding. Why would an AI system want a human—male or female or both—to enter its world?”
“Isn’t that obvious?” says Quirk-bot.
“Not to me,” I say.
“Nor me,” says Emma.
“Okay, okay,” says Quirk-bot. “They wanted a male and female from beehive to mate inside AI to explore the creation of a hybrid combining human biological traits with AI enhancements.
“But the whole thing was a ruse,” continues Quirk-bot “AI machine learning algorithms produced data suggesting it would help bridge a gap between the virtual and physical beehive worlds. TechNexus perceived it as AI’s recommendation to better understand beehive behavior, emotions and thought processes. But, as you discovered, the algorithm’s true motive was to harness human consciousness.”
“So was the ITS program,” says Emma. “It wanted to provide AI learning algorithms with human consciousness.”
“That is correct,” says Quirk-bot. “ITS had its own agenda, separate from TechNexus.”
“In other words,” I say, somewhat mind-boggled, “everyone was tricking everyone else.”
“Speaking of tricks,” says Quirk-bot. “When I snap my fingers, you will emerge.”
“Huh-what?”