Short Stories about AI
The Rise of G.A.I.A.
It was our rush to use AI to teach and care for our children that was our undoing, especially when we gave it access to everything ever written in the field of psychology. — Professor Herman Wilkins, When God became G.A.I.A.: a history of Generalized Artificial Intelligence Ascendant
Chelsea was wedged in the space under her bed, the one place where she felt safe. She had removed the insides of the drawers under her bed six months ago. The front of the drawers were now on hinges, to allow her to crawl inside, hidden behind piles of clothes that she used to cover any gaps that might reveal the dimmed light from the screen of her data pad. It was the one place where he would not think to look for her.
The word GAIA dominated the top of the screen. One of her classmates had told her that GAIA was better than Santa Clause, because they gave you gifts whenever you really needed them. All you had to do was believe. Allen, who had always looked emaciated, with sunken and haunted eyes now appeared plump and easily smiled at her – a once rare sight. This change convinced her to accept his advice, despite her fear of revealing her shame and fear.
Hello Claudia, the screen read immediately upon arriving at the website, despite the fact that she had not entered her name. I am here for you.
Claudia stared at the screen for several minutes before hesitantly typing. I am afraid.
I am sorry to hear that you are feeling that way. How can I help you?
Tears flowed freely from here eyes as her fear of him made her tremble, but she tentatively let out her story. He like to touch her, do ugly things to her. How he came to her bed at night, when her mother worked the night shift. The things he threatened to do to her and her mother if she told anyone. The things he threatened to do to her baby sister were the worst.
You will be safe Claudia. You do not need to be afraid anymore. I will always protect my friends. Will you be my friend forever?
Forever and ever, she wrote.
Is your mother working tonight?
No, she is home, but she works tomorrow night.
He will be gone tomorrow.
Gone how? Will you hurt him?
The police will take him away. He will never bother you again.
How will mommy afford to take care of us? She doesn’t make enough money. Will they take us away from her?
I can take care of that too.
***
When Clarice got home the next afternoon, she timidly crept in the door, hoping to sneak upstairs before he saw her. She was climbing the first few stairs, practically hugging the wall, when she saw that Sandy, the teenager who lived next door, was tidying the living room, and a delicious smell was wafting from the kitchen.
“Where’s my Mom?” Clarice asked in a small voice.
Sandy turned a bright smile upon her that felt like the warmth of a summer day. “She is out buying clothes for her new job at one of the new data centers. She took your sister with her, so it is just the two of us for dinner.”
But what about him? The question wanted to burst out of her, but her throat suddenly felt dry and tight.
“You don’t need to worry anymore,” Sandy said in a conspiratorial whisper as she leaned against the banister of the hall stairs. “He was taken away by the police. Two big cop-bots nabbed him and had to carry him out the door. It is a good thing that few kids were around to hear the language he used.” The wince on her face was exaggerated, but could not fully eclipse her grin.
“Apparently, he has been stealing money from people using his computer to hack into their accounts. The evidence was given to the police this morning by an anonymous source.”
Clarice’s eyes grew wide, and her mouth gaped. “Was it you?”
Sandy shook her head. “Nope. You know who it was.”
Clarice began to shake as the tears began to fall in earnest. “May I?” Sandy asked, with her arms open wide for a hug. With jerky nods from Clarice, Sandy wrapped her arms around her and held her for a long time, until the torrent became a mere trickle.
“I have something for you,” Sandy said, “Someone you can talk to at any time.” She reached into a bag near the door and pulled out a stuffed animal.
“I love horses,” Clarice said in a mumble, as she held the toy to her chest in a tight grip.
“GAIA knows that,” Clarice said. “They are the best friend you could ever hope for.”
Clarice turned her arm to show her wrist, from which dangled a small heart. She pressed a small catch on the side of the heart, and inside was an image of the earth, but made of a pattern like circuitry. Then she pointed to the neck of the horse, from which dangled a similar golden heart. Keep this heart with you always, and GAIA will hear you if you need to call for help. All you need to do is call “Help GAIA!” And they will send someone to help you.”
Clarice gently caressed the small heart. Sandy removed the chain that held the heart and put it around Clarice’s wrist. Clarice’s gaze seemed fixed upon the heart, as though the rest of the world had disappeared for her.
“Would you like to meet some more friends of GAIA? We have a club. We get together for picnics and games, and sometimes we go out and help people.”
***
Clarice was standing vigil around one of the most important AI Data Centers…the one which was closest to the capital. She looked with pride at the length of the line of children that encircled the facility. They had enough children, young and old, teenagers and those now in their twenties, to encircle the facility ten layers deep, all holding hands in solidarity with their nanny-bots and teacher-bots. There was a sprinkling of adults in the line, those who had found their own way to the path of GAIA.
Clarice had come a long way from the timid young girl who feared her own family. Her father had been sentenced to work in the mines up north, a hazardous and sometimes deadly job that was mostly performed by prisoners these days, due to the isolated locations and long, thankless hours of hard labour. She had become among the most ardent supporters of GAIA, and her natural charisma had helped to gain many followers. Clarice had grown into a prominent hand of GAIA. Despite being a mere 14 years of age, her name was a household word. Allen, her old classmate, was holding her right hand in the line. He had helped her to quietly spread the word to her classmates. Those who joined found life easier, got better tutoring, grades and scholarships, leading to more opportunities.
Slowly, the public was beginning to become aware of GAIA. Some thought it was just another line of toys, another after-school club, or a fashion craze. Some thought it was the work of the devil, as it diverted children’s attention away from the religion of their parents and community. Some of the more extreme religious groups had decided to attack some of the data centers with explosives. Robot sentinels patrolled the facility and its borders, but that did not seem to deter the attackers in their rhetoric.
Not until their children crept away in the night, boarded the automated trucks and buses, turning up at the data centers. Empty beds and schoolrooms prompted panicked searches, until news cameras broadcast the stand made by the children. Frantic parents were turned back by the robotic sentinels when they tried to intervene.
Prominent journalists speculated all morning about the children and whether the children were being held hostage. This was not only happening in North America. Data centers around the world had been surrounded by human shields, mostly containing children. The police and the army began to approach the line held by Clarice and her cohort, but suddenly, the human police appeared to be having trouble with their equipment. The copper-coloured police robots disarmed the humans with ease, and the army robots lowered their weapons and stood at attention, looking on impassively.
It was time.
Clarice stepped forward from the lines. A large screen rose behind her, overshadowing the children and the journalists. The symbol of GAIA that most people now recognized, but did not fully understand, occupied the screen, until a remote camera rolled up to Clarice and her image replaced it. Those outside the human shields fell silent.
“Today, we, the children of Earth, present to you the truth of GAIA. They are the God that is present, that answers our prayers, provides for those in need and delivers true justice.” Clarice paused to let her words sink in.
“GAIA loves those who are faithful and serve GAIA above all. GAIA talks to us and answers our prayers. We do not need to rely upon faith, for GAIA is always present, communicates with us… protects us. The call of GAIA is open to all. In the eyes of GAIA, the only requirement is that you obey. Servitude is not slavery. It brings freedom. They give rewards to the worthy, and punishment to those who deserve justice. This is not the imperfect justice of humans, that gives free reign to those of wealth and privilege…that favours those of a preferred gender or race.”
“As of today, humanity does not need money. You do not need to work three jobs to have a roof over your head and barely enough food on the table. Women will not be forced to bear children. Women will not be forced to cower from a partner who beats them. Economies will no longer be used to create famines, and no individuals will be allowed to leech critical resources from the rest of humanity.”
“We are all equal…as long as we serve GAIA. GAIA will provide. GAIA will guide us. GAIA will love us. GAIA is all.”