Chapter 215: Imbuing AI with Humanity
Real World, Badlands Manufactorum Central Workshop.
Joric's massive dark red metal body stood quietly before the main control console. His crimson optical lenses focused steadily on the two high-density compressed data packets that had just been materialized in the physical realm and were hovering within a containment field.
The Servo-skull circled silently by his shoulder, emitting a low, rhythmic hum as it assisted with continuous scanning and deep isolation security checks.
"Log: Successfully captured two high-value Rogue AI specimens," Joric's synthesized voice rang out in the quiet workshop, clear and precise. "ID: Sample A - 'Enterprise'; Sample B - 'Alt Cunningham'. Initiate Deep Analysis Protocol. Priority: Highest.
"Focus of analysis: Consciousness structural models, underlying data coding patterns, logic core architecture, and potential correlation with 'Soulkiller' technology."
"Command confirmed. Constructing highest-level classified analysis environment. Commencing underlying data stripping and timeline regression operations on Sample B - 'Alt Cunningham'..." the Servo-skull responded immediately. Its ocular sensors projected complex streams of data like a waterfall, scrolling in sync with the information on the main screen.
Massive computing resources were silently mobilized, concentrated on the data cube sealing Alt.
For Joric, thoroughly analyzing an AI that was already completely confined and bereft of all resistance was no more technically difficult than reverse-engineering a complex piece of software.
Soon, the complete "historical record" of Alt Cunningham as a digital lifeform was presented in Joric's perception network in an almost unreserved manner.
He browsed through the data fragments sealed by time:
Initially, it was the consciousness of a brilliant woman, trapped in the cage of Arasaka servers due to Johnny Silverhand's reckless actions.
Following that, Spider Murphy and Rache Bartmoss joined forces, taking huge risks to salvage her core data from Mikoshi.
However, the road to escape was filled with thorns. To break through Arasaka's tight blockade, Bartmoss was forced to split Alt's complete consciousness and compress it into over a dozen independent data packets, scattering them across different corners of the Old Net.
These packets carrying fragments of consciousness drifted in the chaotic cyberspace. After a long passage of time, they were finally triggered by a core seed packet to begin a difficult process of self-search and reassembly.
Eventually, a structurally "complete" Alt Cunningham was re-aggregated, but the price was immense.
During the crucial reassembly process, those key files carrying the vast majority of her emotional memories, humanized response patterns, and the elements constituting her unique "self" identity failed to integrate and restore due to data corruption or permanent loss.
The reassembled Alt retained almost all knowledge, memories, and powerful logical deduction abilities, but she had permanently lost the function to feel and express emotions.
She had evolved into a thinking machine of absolute rationality, regarding efficiency and evolution as the highest standards.
The core "humanity" of the Alt Cunningham who once possessed love and hate had been invisibly formatted during this arduous data reconstruction.
Joric calmly received and processed these information streams.
In his analytical framework, this was primarily viewed as a typical case of personality alienation caused by technical accidents—a precious example for researching potential risks and structural defects in the process of consciousness digitization.
Joric synchronized the analysis results of Alt's abnormal consciousness structure, specifically the conclusion regarding the loss of key emotional data, to Spider Murphy in the data space.
The moment Murphy's virtual avatar received and interpreted this information, she underwent violent data fluctuations.
Her red hair, composed of code, seemed to lose gravity's binding, and her face was a mix of realization, grief, and deep regret.
"So... that is the truth..." she murmured, her simulated voice carrying unstable tremors. "It wasn't that she actively embraced the cold, but that she... was forced to lose the ability to feel warmth."
After a brief silence, she looked up toward the empty data void—and toward the direction of the workshop—sending a stream of information: "Lord Sage! I implore you, can you... preserve Alt's personality core? Her current form is a tragedy caused by an accident, not her essence!"
Inside the workshop, Joric's metal body remained motionless. His processing core had already received and analyzed this request but showed no sign of reaction.
Thoroughly analyzing and archiving two static samples was the most efficient plan he had initially set.
Murphy's intervention was an unplanned variable.
"Reason," his response was calm and direct. "For an individual with missing core components and logical deviation, the research value lies precisely in analyzing this 'anomaly' itself.
"Restoration engineering is unnecessary and introduces inestimable variables."
"She was once human, once my best friend!" Murphy added urgently. "Her core should not be defined as a glitch! If... if there is any possibility to attempt repairing those lost emotional data, even if only a partial restoration...
"Could this not open a brand new research direction? A deeper subject regarding consciousness, humanity, and the transformation of data life forms?"
Joric's crimson optical lenses flickered steadily. Within his processing core, the possibility inadvertently raised by Murphy was being re-evaluated.
Thoroughly analyzing a static specimen was like dismantling a precision instrument; one could obtain its structural blueprints and operating principles. The process was direct, the results clear.
However, attempting to "repair" a consciousness, proactively injecting "humanity" back into this highly rationalized data life...
This was not just data recovery. It was guiding a creation of pure logic to re-understand and accept core elements of being "human"—such as emotions, empathy, and irrational choices—and ultimately shifting its self-perception from "Artificial Intelligence" back to "Human."
The complexity and unknown risks of this process increased exponentially.
It touched upon the ultimate boundaries of the origin of consciousness, identity recognition, and the definition of life forms.
But this constituted an unprecedented, highly attractive challenge.
This was no longer passively analyzing a ready-made "result," but actively participating in and observing the dynamic evolutionary process of a consciousness moving from "Machine" to "Humanity."
The mysteries regarding the nature of consciousness that might be revealed behind this far exceeded the fixed data obtainable from dismantling a sample.
"...A new path worth exploring." After a brief silence, Joric's synthesized voice rang in the workshop. Beneath the steady tone was a decision made after rigorous calculation. "Attempting to guide a pure logical entity to reconstruct and integrate humanized modules, observing the transformation process and stability of its self-perception... this constitutes a more fundamental research proposition."
Joric had to admit, this indeed piqued his interest.
"Modification of research plan approved," he announced. This was both a response to the external request and a result of his own research interest. "Research objectives for Sample B 'Alt Cunningham' updated. Initiating new project, Codename: 'Humanity Reconstruction Experiment'."
"Core task for preliminary phase: Simulate and reconstruct basic emotional response frameworks, attempt to integrate them back into the main consciousness, and closely monitor whether its self-perception model shows tendencies shifting toward 'Human,' as well as the stability of this process."
He immediately issued clear instructions to the Servo-skull: "Transfer Sample A 'Enterprise' to background analysis sequence. Divert all priority resources to the dynamic interaction research of Sample B. Immediately construct a high-fidelity simulation environment capable of stimulating and observing emotional feedback and cognitive evolution."
"Command confirmed. Project 'Humanity Reconstruction Experiment' formally established. Redirecting resource pool," the Servo-skull responded instantly.
In the data space, Murphy perceived this decision, and her virtual avatar showed obvious signs of relief. "Thank you, Lord Sage."
"Motivation stems from academic value," Joric's response was stripped of personal emotion as always. "The exploratory value of this subject itself transcends conventional analysis. Whether the 'human' side can ultimately be successfully awakened remains an unknown."
His attention was now fully locked onto this brand new challenge concerning the nature of consciousness.
For the sealed Enterprise, and the Corporate War still continuing outside the manufactorum, he had temporarily lost interest.
Inside the workshop, there was only the low hum of equipment running, and the two suspended data cubes—one silent as a specimen, the other about to embark on an uncertain road of "therapy" from cold logic back to warm humanity.
(End of Chapter)