The God Equation

The third book by Dr. Michio Kaku which I ordered finally arrived this afternoon, after my previous post went online. I really looked forward to this book and having a quick glance at the content, I must say it did not disappoint, as usual.

Don't be misled by the title of the book for it has nothing to do with religion. Rather, theoretical physics is the main thrust throughout as the renown physicist sought to give his take on the progress made in this field of physics to find the ultimate equation, or theory that will define or explain the existence of everything.

What exactly is theoretical physics? According to the definition in Wikipedia:

Theoretical physics is the branch of physics that deals with developing and evolving theory to explain the fundamental nature of the universe. It is possibly the most important branch of physics in that without it physics would stagnate and no new discoveries or ideas would develop.

I've wondered why Dr. Kaku chose to be a theoretical physicist, and the book at the beginning gave the answer——because Einstein was one. At his death, it was discovered in his opened notebook that he was working on an unfinished theory which he termed the "Unified Field Theory". That inspired Dr. Kaku to take up the challenge with the hope that one day, he and his fellow physicists would finish the quest of this great physicist,

As a matter of fact, Dr. Kaku firmly believes that the leading (and possibly the only) theory that could unravel the mystery of the universe is the "String Theory" of which he is a co-founder.

I can't say that I'll be able to figure out all these intricate stuff which took physicists many years to discover and formulate. At the very least, the book will enable me to have a better appreciation of their works and contributions which, in the near future, might just afford us a new understanding of our existence and the world we live in.

 

Operation Tempest

I'm visualizing this chapter as a continuation of STRATOS' unfinished last mission in which Viper succumbed to a fatal injury. The team now faces a more pressing situation where they'll have to do without the help of a hacker comrade to disrupt enemy communications and provide valuable reconnaissance information.

How should I codename the operation to tie it with the previous mission, and at the same time project an air of uncertainty in its outcome? After careful consideration, I decided that "Operation Tempest" would suit the story climax best. Besides having the same letter as "Operation Thunderbolt" it has a far more dangerous appeal in its tone as the team embark to retrieve the thermal energy warhead they failed to accomplish in their earlier attempt.

To make matters worse, I have selected an abandon warehouse in the outskirts of the city in which the high tension drama will be played out between team STRATOS and the elusive mercenaries. What are the chances of a favorable outcome for our heroes? Is there a possibility STRATOS will suffer another severe setback and ended up with more casualties, or even fatalities?

And how does HAVAH come into the picture? Will she be able to save the day and come back in one piece, Or...

So much is at stake in this climactic chapter, and I'm doing what I can to keep myself level-headed as I plot out the scenes for this ultimate showdown between the good guys and their adversaries.

 

The Mercenary Line-Up

In creating a formidable adversary for the heroes in the story, there are many things to consider, especially a mercenary team to compliment STRATOS:

• Their nationalities, physical appearances and skills
• Their trademark behaviors and accents
• How they engage their opponents in words and fights
• Do they fight fair or use underhand tactics?
• How to craft each duel to end in a dramatic way

Being a visual person, I need to see facial expressions of the characters I'm going to create to effectively put them into motion in the narrative. As such, I usually search online for impressions I had in mind first, and then lined them up against the good guys, in this case STRATOS, to get a good match.

Next, I'll need to introduce them with a dramatic entry, though not too in details less it becomes draggy. Here's how it goes:

As the team (STRATOS) retreated to a predetermined rendezvous point where they could regroup and reassess the situation, bright lights suddenly flooded the dimly lit warehouse. Across the other end of the interior, a group of six mercenaries emerged from their covers, dressed in sundry outfits.

Leading the pack was a tall Eurasian with a shaved head and a scar across his cheek, speaking in a deep, commanding Russian accent. Following behind him were two women—a blond Croatian of athletic build with sicanje tattoos all over her body and a hijab-wearing Egyptian with a mysterious demeanor. Another three men appeared alongside these women—a heavy set Mexican of dark complexion and short black hair, a medium build Chinese with a dragon tattooed on his bare chest, and a suave-faced Chilean wearing an aviator sunglasses.

I'll leave the fun for my readers to match the descriptions to the photos above, and see if my descriptions are apt and accurate enough. Most fiction novel writers would expect their readers to use their imaginations when reading, but I thought "Heck, why not make it more interesting for my story and let my readers see some real, visual stuff instead?" That'll really ignite your imaginations and fuel your adrenalines.

 

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.

 

Climactic or Climatic?

I was a little confused over the spelling of the adjective that describes a story's climax (noun). Should it be "climactic" with an extra "c" inside or "climatic" without the "c"? Thankfully, Google came to the rescue.

So, I'm finally down to the last two chapters of my sci-fi novel. Of course, I tried my best to keep readers hooked on the storyline by bringing the narrative through a number of "dramatic" highs. But as every story reader would expect, there should be one "ultimate" sort of "climactic" finale near the end of the novel. 

The question is: Should the "climax" be in the last chapter, or is it better to be in the second last? I'd figured that most fiction novels usually preferred the latter, so that the ending chapter is used as a kind of housekeeping debrief for the story and its characters and, if circumstances permit, to create an abrupt ending that makes way for a sequel.

Now that I got the spelling and the order of the story ending sorted out, it's time to get into the grind to produce the finale "climax" readers are anticipating...

 

Chapter 19: True Love

This will probably be the most controversial chapter in the novel. Don't worry, there's no explicit sexual overtones here, and readers aren't going to find any in my sci-fi narrative. HAVAH once asked David what love is after witnessing an intimate moment between the latter and Viper. David gave a rather interesting reply which can be found in chapter 14.

At this point in the story progression, it would be natural to expect some kind of dynamism between David and HAVAH who now possesses Viper's memories. How will it play out before the end of this chapter? Frankly, I had no idea when I started writing it, but as the events unfolded and tensions built up between the characters, it became clear to me how I should steer the narrative to an emotive peak to make way for a climactic end in the last two chapters.

I will not provide the outlines for this chapter like I did for the past chapters. In fact, there won't be any for the final two either. This is deliberate on my part to give an air of mystery and expectancy for would-be readers following this blog. But by reading the earlier posts, I'm sure clever readers would have some idea already, though not completely. Where's the fun and excitement if you had everything figured out, right?

 

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.

 

The Hungarian Menace

This is not the title for my next chapter and I have nothing against Hungary or its wonderful people. As an ex-engineer, I have my fill of writing software programs. One of the terms used in programming is the "Hungarian notation". It is an identifier naming convention in computer programming in which the name of a variable or function indicates its intention or kind, or in some dialects, its type. 

Maybe it's just an intuition as I ponder on the next event to bring out more fireworks and create opportunities for character development. This seems to be the aim of every novel writer as they prod on in their laborious work, chapter by chapter, and event by event.

In trying to find a face for a villain in my sci-fi narrative, the Hungarian notation struck a note (pun intended) and paved the way for an exciting episode that pitted David against a formidable opponent. Of course, HAVAH would come into the picture, as do the various STRATOS members, accompanied by all the dynamics between these characters.

Again, I have to make it clear that I have nothing against any country or nationality. Writing a novel is just that——a work of fiction. Sometimes, an author has the unenviable task to select a certain individual as the bad guy to do some nasty things. The right choice will bring the story to a whole new level, while a wrong one will likely be a letdown and an anticlimax.

If you don't believe me, ask Trevor Noah.

 

Quantum Supremacy Revisited

This book by Dr. Michio Kaku came a day after I received "The Future of the Mind". I couldn't be more delighted to have a go reading two books at one time, though it will be kind of interweaving maneuver much like the helical dance of the DNA.

A first look at "Quantum Supremacy", also a number 1 New York Times bestseller, did not disappoint. The book is broken into four parts, each seeking to address a particular aspect of the Quantum computing revolution in relation to our world and its implications for our existence.

In the first part, Dr. Kaku prepares his readers to embrace the transition from a digital computer age to that of the Quantum inevitability. In the next three sections, he postulates the great potentials and possibilities this revolution hold for mankind in the precarious and urgent situation it is currently facing, whether it's food, energy, health, diseases, mortality, and climate changes, etc.

For my generation, we may not feel the long-term consequences of our abuses and careless treatment to the earth we live in, but for the future generation, the promise of Quantum computers provide a ray of hope to circumvent an impending global catastrophe of our own making, or if not, to at least slow down or delay it for a bit longer.

 

The Future of the Mind

Just received this book by Dr. Michio Kaku a day after my birthday. How cool can that be? Glancing through the content pages and chapters of interest, in particular, chapter 5 on memories, chapter 7 on dreams, and chapter 10 on artificial mind and silicon consciousness, I began to appreciate why this book is a number 1 New York Times bestseller.

The author draws from his vast store of knowledge collected from his own research as well as interviews with many renown experts in their related fields. This is evident from the impressive list of names spanning over six pages in the acknowledgment section of the book. And the American theoretical physicist has a way of making complex and abstract topics like neuroscience not only interesting but engaging with his style of writing, you could practically read through a chapter without putting the book down.

For a sample, here's the introduction:

The two greatest mysteries in all of nature are the mind and the universe. With our vast technology, we have been able to photograph galaxies billions of light-years away, manipulate the genes that control life, and probe the inner sanctum of the atom, but the mind and the universe still elude and tantalize us. They are the most mysterious and fascinating frontiers known to science.

If you want to appreciate the majesty of the universe, just turn your gaze to the heavens at night, ablaze with billions of stars...

To witness the mystery of our mind, all we have to do is stare at ourselves in the mirror and wonder, What lurks behind our eyes? This raises haunting questions like: Do we have a soul? What happen to us after we die? Who am "I" anyway? And most important, this brings us to the ultimate question: Where do we fit into this great cosmic scheme?

He quoted the great Victorian biologist Thomas Huxley:

The question of all questions for humanity, the problem which lies behind all others and is more interesting than any of them, is that of the determination of man's place in Nature and his relation to the Cosmos.

I'm definitely going to enjoy reading this book in between my novel writing, not just to take a break but also to draw inspiration from Dr. Kaku's intriguing insights into the human brain and the mind.

 

A Promising Start to a New Year

Today, I turned 61. My wife celebrated this special occasion by treating me to a special outing at the Changi Jewel. It is a tourist attraction built right in the midst of Changi Airport, the world's number one aviation hub. It is also a favorite hot spot for locals like us.

My wife said that I should stay away from writing and just enjoy the company and program she has planned for me. I thought that was a good idea too! Having a birthday at the beginning of a new year seems like a promising start.

And I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the day.

 

War and Peace

As the world at large celebrates Christmas, the season of peace and goodwill towards mankind, we're reminded of the ongoing conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, and more recently between Israel and Hamas.

It's not hard to imagine a world polarized by different political ideologies and fractured by religious aspirations to be entrenched in a never ceasing cycle of conflicts since the dawn of civilization. But more often than not, it is the selfish ambitions of the few that plunged their nations into chaos and sufferings. And in a world that is increasingly connected, even countries that are not involved feel the ripples and repercussions these military expeditions brought.

Would the rise of AI and Quantum computing be the solution to resolve differences and reinstate peace and stability that the world desperately needs? Going by the way these technologies are being developed and used, just like the invention of guns and gun powder, it is not very promising. What if mankind, in the bid to secure peace through AI, created a super-intelligent being like Ultron? We all know the dire consequence should such an AI analyzes the world around it and deems humankind unworthy of existence.

As I contemplate on HAVAH's evolving personality, I'm wondering if it's possible for her to inherit not just the best of humanity's virtues, but also the worst of its vices. It's a sobering thought as we transit from the battered 2023 into an uncertain 2024.

 

T'was the Day before Christmas...

Already, shopping malls and major streets are all decorated and geared up for this special season of the year. To many, it's a time of family reunion and a time to catch up with friends, exchanging presents and having a hearty meal. Christmas, however, is more than just a year-end holiday filled with festive spirit and joyous celebrations. It is also a time to reflect as the year draws to a close in a week's time.

Personally, it's been quite an eventful year in my writing journey, going into the unchartered waters of sci-fi novel——my first attempt. The process, of course, wasn't all smooth sailing and well. I encountered the same dry spell, writer's block, disruptions and annoyances, whatever you could think of. And like I mentioned, there were several times I almost called it quit for lack of inspiration and drive.

Thankfully, my wife stood by me. Her encouraging words and eagerness to read every chapter draft I finished, giving me suggestions and telling me what she liked are what kept me going until now. With barely three chapters left to go, I hope to persevere and complete this significant milestone in my writing career.

So in the midst of this happy festive occasion, let's be thankful for what we have and accomplished this year, however small, and refresh and ready ourselves for challenges in the new year ahead.

Have a wonderful and meaningful Christmas, my friends.

 

What I Want for Christmas

It's not often that I buy Christmas gifts for myself. This year, however, as I embarked on writing a sci-fi novel, I thought it would be good to get something related to what I'm writing. After some searching and reviewing, I decided upon the following books by Michio Kaku:

1. The Future of the Mind
2. The God Equation
3. Quantum Supremacy

I will definitely find time to read through relevant parts of each book, and see if what I've written so far falls in line with Mr. Kaku's reasonings on the topics of interest. If need be, I might adopt some of his perspectives, or better yet, get his advice to give my novel some credibility in terms of the 'hard' facts presented.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to receiving them sometime in the beginning of next year.

 

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.

 

Robotic Artistry

About twelve years ago, I came across a robot named Paul who could sketch out portraits of human faces using a ballpoint pen. Some of the technologies used to drive Paul were developed by Patrick Tresset for AIkon-II, a research project co-directed with Prof. Fol Leymarie, hosted at Goldsmiths college and funded in part by a 3.5 year research grant from the Leverhulme Trust.

It was a remarkable feat, at least to me, and I wondered if it would be available as a DIY kit for the public in due time. Well, it didn't. But I'm not disappointed. Instead, it gave me the inspiration for the next chapter as I contemplate on the possibility of HAVAH developing the ability to draw like a human. 

Now that would be interesting. Very interesting indeed.

Oh, readers who want to see Paul in action can click on the picture above and view it in YouTube.

 

Chapter 18: Transcendence

This is perhaps one of the most interactive chapters in the novel. I tried hard to get all the STRATOS members involved, imagining how each scenario would play out to produce the best overall effect. There's quite a bit of trimming and adjusting in the sequence of each happening, and interjecting some humor, wherever possible.

Here's the breakdown of the chapter:

1. A short introduction to allow David leave of absence as HAVAH takes center stage.

2. Shadow and Panther at the sparring arena with Wolf as the observer.

3. Stalker at the Armament Laboratory in conversation with the weapon scientist, Dr. Harrison over Viper's demise.

4. Olivia and Hawk at the indoor rock climbing facility of the Omega Base, with a little incidence. 

5. The above mishap provided an occasion for an intriguing conversation between HAVAH and Olivia.

6. Stalker, Shadow and Panther chilling out at the STRATOS' private lounge when an anomaly caused Shadow to freak out and triggered Panther to leave abruptly.

7. Panther reminisced his painful past and his regret over Viper's death. HAVAH helped him find closure.

8. HAVAH taking stock and summing up her subjective experiences.

I have intentionally left out the details in order not to spoil the reading enjoyment. It took me quite some time and effort to orchestrate the snippets mentioned and I'm not going to let them go to waste.

Hopefully, readers will anticipate and look forward to this chapter.

 

Closure to a Dark Past

Today I went to the specialist for review on my periodontal surgery which I did a month ago. He was quite satisfied with the gum healing progress. That brought closure to my gum problem which I'm glad.

Everyone has some painful past to deal with, though not everyone finds closure and make peace with themselves, regardless of the other party. In looking for a candidate with a dark or rather, sad past, Panther naturally came to mind. In creating this character, I tried to portray him as a quiet individual with a past wrapped in secrecy. While he seems to exhibit a cool disposition, one suspects that underneath that exterior lies a deep, personal pain that he only keeps to himself, until...

Well, I didn't really plan that far ahead for Panther, honestly. But as the narrative develops, somehow Viper's passing made a connection to his untold past which, it seems, only an emotionally awaken HAVAH could help find closure for him.

I think that's something readers can look forward to. The very thought excites me as I pondered on the plot...

 

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.

 

Sentience = Soul?

When dealing with AI sentience, the question of whether it possesses a soul invariably comes into focus. Out of curiosity, I asked ChatGPT and here's what it has to say, in summary:

When discussing artificial intelligence, the question of whether an AI possesses a soul depends largely on individual beliefs and interpretations. From a scientific perspective, AI doesn't have a soul in the spiritual or religious sense. AI systems are created by humans, developed using algorithms, data, and computational frameworks. They lack consciousness, subjective experiences, or the spiritual essence typically associated with a soul.

Then I asked if it does and it basically repeated something similar but applied to itself:

As an AI, I don't possess consciousness, emotions, or a soul in the way humans do. I operate based on algorithms, patterns in data, and a structured framework designed by humans. I don't have personal experiences, feelings, or subjective awareness.

OK, so it doesn't. That's a relief and comforting thought for some people. But the possibility of AI gaining consciousness or self-awareness to a level where it might be considered sentient cannot be discounted. And if neuroscience were to advance to a point where memories can be transferred, akin to cloning the personality of a living being into an AI, would it be considered to have possess a soul then?

Perhaps not. But we'll have the answer when that day arrives, don't we?