STRATOS' Nemesis

Any engaging science fiction novel would invariably involve some kind of ultimate confrontation between the good and bad guys to bring the narrative to an intended climax. Mine is no exception. That's the good news. The not so good news is, I haven't the faintest idea what sort of villainy characters to bring into the story, especially when it's near the ending.

So far, STRATOS has been invincible with their high-tech gears——a combination of impervious Warhawk Armors and deadly Raptor Rifles, and the dependable assistance of an intelligent AI entity, EVE. That definitely puts any adversary or terrorist groups in a glaring disadvantage.

On the one hand, I want to create an impressive team of combatants that would give the six STRATOS members a bang for their buck. On the other hand, I have to find a way to trim STRATOS down to a level playing field so that a one-on-one confrontation between the two teams will provide a satisfactory rollercoaster experience. I'm sure by now, readers would have become endeared to some of the characters and will exhibit levels of emotions as they follow their adventures and encounters in the narrative.

The best bet would be STRATOS' last encounter with the mercenaries in which they lost a valuable member, Viper. It will certainly evoke the desire for revenge on both sides when they come face to face for a final showdown.

Now, I need to go back to the drawing board and think of the scenarios and combat strategies to include in this upcoming pivotal chapter. Stay tune.

 

Fake Characters, True Feelings

I remember a few years prior to the CoVid-19 pandemic, I read a news about a Japanese man marrying a fictional anime character. Back then, it invoked a weird feeling like, "What's wrong with this guy? What in the world is he thinking?"

Fast forward to the present, as I near the finishing chapters of my novel to bring the story to its climax, I can't help thinking how the world will be when AI finally attain sentience and become accessible as real-life humanoid forms, interacting with real people on a daily basis in every level of a transformed society. And it's not a question of "if" but "when" this will happen, based on the trend and speed at which technology is advancing.

It then begs the following questions:

• Is it possible for a human to engage a machine—his very own creation—in a unique and meaningful relationship? 

• Is there a basis to its personality that it could be regarded as a real, living being worthy of love and respect?

We're living in changing times where many distinctions are beginning to blur the lines. What used to be taboos and out of bounds are becoming the norm in a highly polarized world. In the past, we only dealt with heterosexual, bisexual and asexual issues. Now we have to contend with "fictosexual" and what not. Even the familiar "romance" has spun off to "bromance", "sismance", etc.

This is the reason why I chose to write a novel of this genre——not only to bring the readers to a realization of the rapid changing landscapes in a world we used to know and yet is fast becoming unrecognizable, but to confront pressing questions that demand serious considerations and what their implications will be for our future.

 

Three Laws of Robotics

Isaac Asimov laid down Three Laws of Robotics which was implemented in the 2004 blockbuster movie "I, Robot" starring Will Smith:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

So did David programmed these laws into HAVAH? Does she conform to a certain moral code of behavior, or will she act like any human being, based on the circumstances she finds herself in and using her own judgment to decide on the course of action to take?

What kind of repercussions will it lead to? How will David react to these startling discoveries? Will it end well for HAVAH in relation to her creator and the members of STRATOS?

These are hard questions I must explore as I contemplate on the content of the next chapter. Again, I'll need to give it a chapter title to set the tone and tempo.

 

Defining Humanity

For the past couple of posts, I've been exploring several aspects related to AI sentience, involving moral, ethical, and philosophical discussions that engaged the scientific and AI communities.

In essence, the question revolves around the definition of what constitute a human being that distinguishes our species from the rest of the animal kingdom, including our closest counterpart, the other primates.

From a physiological perspective, humans possess a more highly developed brain and a resultant capacity for articulate speech and abstract reasoning. This enables us to appreciate arts, music and other creative forms and activities, and to engage in logical thinking and debates, solve mathematical problems and devise engineering marvels.

From an emotional standpoint, humans do exhibit a wider spectrum of expressions in terms of personal and relational feelings. This trait is also evident in cultural and religious beliefs, which often imply the existence of a soul as a necessity to be deemed human.

But what really defines humanity? I'll leave that to Olivia to answer.

 

Exclusively HAVAH

In my previous post, I put forth my intention to exhibit HAVAH's transcendence as she displays various human emotions, a result of her being infused with Viper's memories. So in a way, this next chapter will be exclusively about how she interacts with various STRATOS members to bring out specific emotional traits. In other words, David will be taking a back seat.

And as I ponder about what I could include to bring my novel to the next level, a few possibilities flashed through my mind:

1. Greater character development amongst the STRATOS members. Multiple scenarios may be required to bring out the dynamics between HAVAH and these members.

2. More issues HAVAH need to struggle to understand to embrace her 'humanity'.

3. Some light and humorous moments with our court jester.

4. Perhaps a hidden scar in Panther's heart that needs to be resolved.

5. HAVAH's self-thought as she goes through the inventory of her subjective experiences.

But first, I'll have to give the chapter an exciting title. The content will follow...

 

Imitation or Illusion?

The perennial question in many people's mind is: if an AI robot exhibits human behavior and emotions, is it real or just an illusion? In the natural world, it is not uncommon to find such behaviors in animals and insects, an ingenious survival tactic that keep them away from predatory harm. A sort of mimicry, you might say.

But wait, someone may protest: Mimicry and imitation are two different things! Well, yes and no. In an article titled Mimicry vs Imitation, the author states: 

Kids mimic their parents, teachers, peers, and favorite characters. Their mimicry may not be spot on, but you get the general idea from their interpretation. Imitation is a more sophisticated and deliberate means of recreating an action or a sound, consciously attempting to copy the tone, motivation, inflection, delivery, and phrasing of a particular sound or action.

So when I write about a sentient HAVAH exhibiting these human traits, I can't help but wonder if it is possible that one day AI humanoids may be so lifelike they can mingle among humans and not be detected. That is another form of invisibility, or rather, a form of deceptive camouflage.

Of course, as a writer, I have my own ideas in how the characters in my narrative will play out, real or imaginary. When it comes to the matter of the heart, a humanoid that can relate to different individuals who're a part of the memories it assimilated, does provide a marvelous setting for a beautiful yet credible reading experience to fuel the imaginations of the readers.

 

Chapter 13: Singularity

Finally, we're coming to the crucial chapter that will see HAVAH attain her long-awaited sentient status.

As I noted in a previous post, an AI does not require consciousness or even a physical form to achieve Singularity. But that would not achieve the desired cinematic effects if HAVAH remained a holographic entity. Readers should get the hint on what is to follow from this chapter onwards.

Since this is a pivotal chapter, I decided to allocate more content to it, specifically in the following areas:

1. David giving his humanoid robot a feminine makeover with a facial feature that resembles Viper (unconsciously, of course).

2. Viper's surprise drop-in while he was giving the finishing touch.

3. A special moment between the two lovebirds, with a little humor added.

4. Olivia coming into the picture, laying out the groundwork for some interesting dynamics with David in a future chapter or two.

5. Transferring HAVAH's digital neocortex to the humanoid.

There will also be some smaller details to tie up loose ends and provide a bridge to the next chapter.

 

HAVAH's Humanoid Form

An exciting aspect of writing a romantic sci-fi novel is the prospect of creating your own humanoid implementation for your favorite characters, in this case, HAVAH. 

How do you describe the fine details and features that make up a humanoid in terms of robotic language? To some degree, I imagine it would take on some human semblance in form and functionalities. Its framework would consist of a durable yet lightweight skeleton made of carbon fiber and aluminum alloys, a structure that provides support and articulation for the robot's movements, allowing for flexibility and agility.

Going on the wilder side, synthetic muscles or actuators made from smart materials like shape-memory alloys, in combination with pneumatic artificial muscles, are what enable the robot to mimic human-like motions with precision and fluidity.

Of course, aesthetics are important. The lifelike appearance is achieved through the creation of synthetic skin, made from silicone and pliable materials that resemble human skin texture, and to covers the robotic frame that is embedded with sensors for touch and temperature sensitivity, alongside an array of sensors that mimic human sensory perception. Facial features, such as the eyes, lips, and expressions, are crafted to convey emotions for enhanced interactive experience.

Powering the humanoid’s extensive framework of mechanical, electrical, and sensory components would be a distributed array of integrated power modules, rechargeable via external power source, and sustained by means of kinetic energy for prolonged independent operation.

HAVAH would be very pleased to inherit such a physical form. But I wonder if Viper would be jealous when she sees it.