"Doctor, what are you working on now? Are you starting a new research project?"
Peter asked curiously as he peered over at the program Dr. Connors was typing on the computer.
"You mean this?" A strange expression flickered across Dr. Connors' face. "This is an artificial intelligence I'm developing for the company."
"Artificial intelligence? Like Jarvis?" Peter's eyes lit up instantly. "Awesome! Our lab's going to have its own AI now? I always thought Iron Man's AI was the coolest..."
Normally, Peter Parker came off as a bit socially awkward and nerdy. But once he was around people he was familiar with or wore his mask he transformed into a total chatterbox.
He went on and on until he finally noticed the bemused expressions on both Dr. Connors' and Gwen's faces. Realizing he had gone overboard, Peter scratched the back of his head and chuckled awkwardly. "Uh... yeah, I guess I'm rambling again."
Gwen suppressed a laugh and gave him a helpless glance. Everyone close to Peter knew this personality quirk. He just couldn't help acting cool sometimes, even if it didn't always work.
"Can I join in? I've always been super curious about artificial intelligence," Peter asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid not, Peter," Dr. Connors replied, shaking his head. "I've signed a confidentiality agreement with the company. This AI will eventually manage the company's operations, so its core programming is strictly classified."
"Oh... yeah, I get it. Makes sense," Peter muttered, the disappointment clear in his voice. In hindsight, it had been wishful thinking he was still a student, after all, and AI that important wouldn't be open to just anyone.
"I'll be focused on this AI project for the next few days. Peter, Gwen, I'm giving you three days off but don't forget about your paper on genetic coding. I'll be reviewing it once the break's over," Connors said with a wave.
"Yes, Doctor Connors," Peter and Gwen replied in unison before heading out.
Only after they were gone did Dr. Connors let out a deep breath. What he was working on wasn't just any AI nor was it merely a basic assistant like Jarvis. He was uploading his consciousness into a digital format using the data from the biochip in his own brain.
Originally, the process required a specialized consciousness transfer device created by Dr. Zola himself. But thanks to the biochip provided by Shin, things had become simpler. Now, Connors could directly collect his brain's electrical signals and convert them into programmable code, essentially creating a digital version of his own mind.
"I honestly don't know what the world's coming to... Will people start uploading their minds into computers and using robotic bodies? Will that trigger another machine uprising someday?" Connors muttered to himself, clearly uncomfortable.
While scientists in the Marvel universe often dabble in everything, Connors was fundamentally a biologist. He had little faith in machine intelligence, and the implications of consciousness transfer technology unsettled him.
"But at least this won't happen in our world... and I'm not going to worry about the rest."
Shin had already explained that the digital version of Dr. Connors would eventually be taken to another universe. In this one, only a low-level AI, created by Dr. Zola, would remain. This AI would function similarly to Stark's Jarvis and wouldn't pose any threat of a robot apocalypse.
Connors certainly had no interest in creating a sentient robot version of himself.
…
"Traveling to the multiverse?" Scarlet Witch looked at Shin with visible concern. "Kevin, other dimensions are far more dangerous than ours. I don't think it's a good idea."
"I'm not talking about other dimensions," Shin replied calmly. "I'm talking about parallel universes."
Other dimensions in the Marvel world, like the Hell Dimension, the Dark Dimension, or the Crimson Cosmos, were rarely habitable or friendly to humans.
"Parallel universes? Are those even real?" Wanda asked with a doubtful tone. As the wielder of Chaos Magic, she was well-versed in mystical lore but parallel universes weren't exactly her specialty.
"They absolutely are, Miss Wanda," a calm voice interjected as a white-bearded man entered with a smile. Wanda's eyes widened.
"Sorcerer Supreme? Why are you here?" she asked, stunned.
"Just call me Ancient One. I'm no longer the Sorcerer Supreme that title belongs to Strange now," the old man replied with a smile.
"As for why I'm here... I'm going traveling. To the multiverse. I've been stuck in this reality long enough."
Wearing a colorful floral shirt, shorts, and a shiny bald head, the Ancient One looked more like an eccentric retiree than a master sorcerer closer to Master Roshi than a solemn sage.
Seeing him like this, Wanda finally accepted Shin's claim. He clearly wasn't joking about the multiverse trip, and if the Ancient One was going too, then it was obviously well thought out.
"Then I want to go too! I haven't seen a parallel world yet!" she said excitedly.
"Uh… but aren't you the director of the Oscorp? You can't just disappear, can you?" Shin asked with a frown.
He had arranged for Wanda to hold shares in both the Oscorp and Stark Industries precisely because she could remain behind when he traveled between worlds. Since he couldn't stay in any one universe for long, he needed someone he could trust to keep his interests safe.
If she left with him, all of that effort would be meaningless.
"Don't worry," Wanda said with a mischievous smile. "I found a very suitable stand-in."
Shin's expression shifted. A stand-in? Did she mean she was going to do what he had done leave a copy of herself behind? But how could that work without her unique powers?
He had many questions, but knowing Wanda's abilities, it was entirely possible she had found a workaround.
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