Chapter 38: Teaching a Child
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Ace was astounded!
Of course, there were indeed robots that had been specially developed for writing available in the current market, but what shocked him immensely was that he had not designed this function for the robot!!!
How did the robot learn it on its own?!
If this isn’t AI, then what is it?!
Oh, heavens…
Is this truly… the birth of AI…?
This is far more of a rare miracle than being hit by a meteor.
Right now, he felt as though he was floating… among the clouds. It felt so surreal…
“Ruan Ruan… Is there anything else unusual about her?”
Chen Yuheng fell silent in what seemed to be deep rumination.
He dared not disturb him as he watched and waited anxiously for an answer.
Only after a long while did his friend finally reply, “There are quite a few things unusual about her.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed in his anxiousness. “… Like what?”
“Her standby mode doesn’t seem to be working properly.” As the CEO spoke, he shot Ace an accusing look. “If it’s not a malfunction, then she probably has the ability to start herself up.”
Ecstasy could be used to describe the glee on the latter’s face!
“Yuheng! This must be AI! It must be!!!” What robot can automatically start itself up?! None at all! It’s impossible!!! Ahahahahaha!!!
As his face contorted with his desperate attempts to suppress the immense joy within by laughing out loud, Chen Yuheng calmly watched through this, still finding his friend’s conclusion too absurd.
“I think otherwise. Most of Ruan Ruan’s reactions are similar to those of a real human being. If it’s indeed artificial intelligence, then as a new higher form of life, her reactions shouldn’t emulate those of humans, but rather, she should be more advanced and rational.”
Besides, once it has a sense of autonomy, the first thing that it would have was resistance. It was impossible for an equal co-existence between two different life forms—it was either the humans enslaving them or vice versa.
Just like it was in films, robots were highly intellectual, cool, rational, and emotionless. While serving the human race, they would secretly control the world’s web servers and eventually change this world in accordance with their sense of autonomy…
This is truly ridiculous…
Even though each leap and progress in science and technology would be met with discussions of the possibility of the existence of artificial intelligence, it remained to be something unacceptable and ludicrous…
He thought of how Ruan Ruan’s face would redden every now and then… Artificial intelligence? World domination…? Chen Yuheng felt a slight urge to burst out laughing.
Ace, however, was certain that it was AI!
F*ck! If this isn’t AI, what explanation can be given for these functions that shouldn’t exist in the first place?! Huh? How does one explain that?
Are they all bugs?!
I’m the world champion of the last robotics competition! How could my creation have so many bugs?! Such big ones at that! Slip-ups?!
It doesn’t make any sense at all!
“We mustn’t envisage things to go in accordance with movie plots.” He cleared his throat, then said, “Imagine this, what’s the first thing any form of life does after being born?”
Chen Yuheng regarded him with a tilted head and motioned for him to continue.
The former proceeded to pour himself a glass of wine, gulped down two mouthfuls of the drink, then solemnly answered, “Mimic.”
That makes some sense…
Ace continued speaking, “Perhaps, it might not have even realized that it has its own life since all the information it has obtained was given by us, and it would think itself as whatever we said it was. During its ignorant phase, curiosity and mimicking are something that would never vanish. The robot now is like a little child who’s curious about this world. The so-called ‘escape’ you deemed it to be might not be that at all. Instead, it was merely curious about the outside world and wanted to go out and take a look…”
Chen Yuheng’s forehead creased as he felt a little swayed to his friend’s theory but still, he… found it somewhat hard to believe it. As he recalled his daily interaction with Ruan Ruan, he slowly said, “Previously, when I found her using the computer and asked her what she was doing, she said that she was feeling a little bored… so she went online to pass time. Sometimes, she even goes to my bookshelf and finds herself some books to read…”
His friend’s eyes bulged at that, and his expression seemed to be screaming: Look! What did I say?! How can a robot feel bored?!
“Anyway, I’m right for sure!” Ace moved his chair forward a little more in his direction and excitedly said, “Take it as you’re raising a child now, and ask her more questions about what she wants and what she wants to do! Educate her properly, give her more guidance, and take down more notes! It’s best if you do video recordings…”
She does seem like a child…
Asking her questions like what she wants and what she wants to do isn’t something difficult…
As for video recordings…
Should he set his mind on doing video recordings, it was not something difficult. On several occasions, Cheryl had suggested that he go around with security personnel. Now… he could consider having two of them around him to be in charge of recording the videos.
However, he truly disliked traveling with a group of people.
At the thought of having his photo secretly taken by a reporter previously and having been followed by a private investigator this morning… Never mind… Having a few of them tagged along with me can help prevent such troubles.
As he began considering the use of bodyguards, Ace, on the other hand, could not contain his excitement. “Oh, my god. Oh, my god. Yuheng, I’m so excited now! I’m so excited! Gosh, AI! The next world championship would certainly be mine for the taking as well! Hahahahahaha—”
Artificial intelligence…
Chen Yuheng picked up his chopsticks again and absent-mindedly picked up food from the dish in front of him.
He felt that Ruan Ruan was different, but regarding the matters of artificial intelligence… We’ll see about that.
And so, the two of them—one silent and one exuberant—hastily ended their lunch. Gu Anbao was using Lu Lu’s laptop to go online when they returned to the company.
As usual, the petite robot was nestled in the red, round sofa, looking very focused.
The moment Ace saw her, his eyes totally lit up! He was now showing great interest in her behavior! Striding over to her, he shouted out cordially, “Ruan Ruan! What are you doing?”
She looked up dazedly, not understanding why this person was suddenly so friendly towards her.
“I’m… watching anime…”
He leaned against the sofa and took a gander at it. “Oh, oh, oh! I know this one. What’s its title again… ‘The Little Witch’ or something?”
The robot slowly shook her head. “It’s not ‘The Little Witch’, it’s ‘Little Aerial Police Girl’.”
“Oh! It’s almost the same. They’re almost the same!”
The titles are clearly very different…
She silently closed the webpage of the video streaming site.
Surprised, Ace hastily asked, “Eh? Why aren’t you watching it anymore?! Did I disturb you? Go on watching it!”
She looked back at Chen Yuheng who has just returned. “He’s getting back to work soon. It’ll affect him…”
“Oh. Hahahaha, Ruan Ruan is so considerate. Hahahahaha…” He laughed dryly and continued to worm his way into becoming friends with the robot. “You can watch some other things as well. Oh, right. I heard you like reading jokes. Hey, I’ll tell you one. Erm, what can the tongue do besides kissing—”
PONG!
A pen hit right on his head.
Hugging his hurting head, he once again growled, “Chen Yuheng! I told you not to touch my hair!”
The latter could not be bothered with him, though, and proceeded to read through the report he picked up from his table.
Ace tidied his hair as he grimaced in pain, then bowed down to look at Ruan Ruan, who was earnestly looking at him. She said, “I know the answer is ‘teasing’, but this joke isn’t funny at all.”
“…”
Two seconds later, he burst out in laughter as he threw himself before his friend. All that was lacking was him hugging the other’s thighs. “Yuheng! Lend her to me for a few days! I’m begging you!”
“Get lost!”