The studio of the latenight show "Evenin' Manhattan" was, like most other shows, well attended. The presenter, Brad Powell, talks to the audience as so often in an intermediate program. The distribution of the conversations remains transparent. The usual, mediocre jokes are rewarded with average laughter. The mood is good. When the remaining giggling of another joke stops, the tone becomes more serious.
Brad
"Ladies and gentlemen. Technology. Since the invention of the cryosystem, we have made giant leaps and published one invention after another. The spaceship is still the reason why we have been able to spread over hundreds of solar systems. But even if their presence has largely gone unnoticed, robots are also an essential part of our societies today."
A short breather.
Brad
"It might not be any news at this point and I am sure one or the other will have tried it already. Androids. The latest development in the field of robotics and artificial intelligence. Not only robots that look like us, no, but robots that are a hundred times more intelligent, at least according to their manufacturer, FuTech Innovations. And, ladies and gentlemen, as the first late-night show in Liberty, we invited him tonight for an interview. Please welcome James Percival.
The presenter shows with a slightly curved turn to the left where a door opens at the same moment. The audience starts the meanwhile routine applause. James Percival, a man in a beige suit enters. His gaze wanders over the audience, a short nod, decorated with a modest smile. Percival shakes the moderator's hand after his lips with a "thank you". He is shown his seat with a hand gesture and the two gentlemen take a seat. The clapping continues for a few seconds until the volume in the studio returns to normal.
Brad
"Mr. Percival, we're glad to have her with us today."
The presenter said with a smile. James replied. He knew it was only superimposed, the greeting, as well as the applause of the audience, were a mere formality, they knew nothing about him.
James
Thank you, Brad, it's nice to be here."
Percival replied to the moderator with the same superimposed manner. This technique seemed so normal that nobody in the studio noticed.
Brad
"Future Technologies and Innovations. That's the full name of your successful but withdrawn company, if I may say so. It's hard enough to force you or a representative of your company to do an interview, what have you got to hide?"
James
"I don't think it is our job to be extroverted. This may not be the usual business standard, but we believe that our products and the advertising campaigns we have been using since the beginning do everything we need to get people's attention."
Percival remained calm. The questions he would be asked were more than obvious.
Brad
"Your company is still very young. What can you tell us about the history of FuTech?"
James
"Everything."
James said, the audience laughed sporadically, the presenter grinned a bit, so did James. He wondered, inside he shook his head. Asking about the company's history, hadn't he informed himself?
Brad
"What drove you to start the company in the first place?"
James
"We've been dependent on robots and artificial intelligence for a long time. So long that we seem to have forgotten to develop them further. Yet they are everywhere. To see how the potential behind the evolution of their technology remained untapped for years, I had to think about how robots could help us. The answer is: everywhere. Not only as helpers robots are useful, if we integrate them into our societies, they can also help us in matters in which we normally only trust humans. This is the vision we pursue at FuTech.
Brad
"And to fulfill that... vision, you went to Cambridge University without further ado?"
James
"Even if the fantasy about a possible future with us and robots did not get out of my head, I had no experience or knowledge with the technology or intelligence of machines. I planned to acquire the knowledge, even if the path was very long."
Brad
"You took part in several competitions and won a few while studying, right?"
James
"That's right. Some of my fellow students and I developed an intelligent head, a very early version of the androids we make today. The head was supposed to pass the Turing test, but we failed. Nevertheless, we didn't want to give up the project. The head was intelligent, but not much better than any robot today."
Brad
"That was towards the end of your studies, wasn't it? How did you go on?"
James
"We wanted more than just a head, we wanted to build a working robot. That meant that the rest of the body had to work with the A.I. as well. But since neither I nor any of my colleagues were able to make such a thing, the project was canceled."
Brad
"No help and no skills, how could you finish the project anyway?"
James
"And no money. The sponsors who co-financed the project over time stopped sponsoring due to lack of progress. I had no choice but to try to acquire the necessary skills myself. So I also completed a robotics degree at the Houston Institute of Technology."
Brad
"And then what? You finished the project on your own?"
James
"It was first about finding new sponsors. Since, as I said, the previous sponsors had terminated the contracts, there were few options left. Ultimately, few agreed to support my plans. Unfortunately, there were complications while I was working on the robot and the sponsors became impatient, which led to them ending their support as well. So I stood there without money.
Brad
"But you've moved on."
James
"I had to. The project was too advanced for me to give it up. I had to find another job to raise the money myself. I worked for five years until I had the money. Fortunately, it was enough and I was able to finish our first prototype. In the meantime, it was no longer a simple robot, but an Android. The model served as the basis for all the androids we make today.
Brad
"I read about your test your Android passed, tell us more about it."
James
"Well, the Turing Test Mark two, as I call it, is a further development of the Turing Test, which tests whether an artificial intelligence can convince a human being to be human itself. My version was based on the fact that the subject knows that among the multitude of people there is also an android, which he or she must expose as such. Our test had a positive result, which was a prerequisite for the start of mass production.
Brad
"How do people react to your invention, you also offer partners androids, which are supposed to replace people in a normal relationship, right? What are the reactions?"
James took a breath, his gaze wandered down.
James
"Our AL-400 models were not created to replace people. This model is mainly bought by people who, due to various factors, are unable to establish a physical relationship with other people, or simply bridge the time until they can. There are people who feel happy with the AL-400, which satisfies their need for love. Ultimately, we increase the happiness felt by those who take our offer to heart. Anyone who uses an android to categorically wipe out another person from his or her own life should not have any relationships from the outset."
Brad
"But isn't it strange to call a relationship with a machine love? What the machines give people... that can't be called real love."
James
"You're right. The androids do not love, they simulate their feelings, but the feeling of their assigned owner is real. As long as the realistic simulation of love triggers a real feeling of happiness, we have the feeling that the android is fulfilling its purpose. Furthermore, it is not faked love in the sense of one facet obscuring other emotions. The android acts. It thinks nothing of it. The user doesn't have to worry about his or her Android leaving him or her, cheating or losing his or her feelings."
Brad
"And the rest of the customers? What do they say about their androids?"
James
"We've received tons of feedback, including emotional messages from people who can finally spend more time with their families through their androids or from people who are relieved of their work. It cannot be avoided that there are also people who see our androids critically or even hate them.
Brad
"And how exactly do you respond to such criticism?"
James
"Well, for now, not at all. We do not consider this sort of negative expressions towards what we do as criticism. FuTech's goal is not to annoy anyone, we have a clear vision that we don't keep secret from the public. We find the irrational fear of new technology at any time when new technology has led to significant changes in society. This case is no different.
Brad
"How about you, do you have an android of your own?"
James
"Of course. Apart from the many helpful androids who represent our company and do important administrative work, I also have an android with me privately."
Brad
"What about your company's future projects?"
James
"We are currently working on many improvements for the models on the market, as well as for new models. I can't say what we're developing them for yet, but they're getting more.
Brad
"So this is what it looks like. In that case, I'd like to thank you, Mr. Percival, for this interview. I hope the audience has learned something about you and your company."
James
"Thank you for inviting me, too."
Brad
"Ladies and gentlemen, James Percival."
The presenter stands up and gestures with his left arm towards James. The audience is roaring in applause. James gets up and the two men shake hands before James leaves the studio with a friendly nod towards the audience. What he thought remained to himself.