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?

 

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...

 

Sentience and Singularity

Does AI need to be sentient for it to attain singularity?

ChatGPT:

The concept of the singularity refers to a hypothetical future event in which artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence, leading to unpredictable changes in society. Sentience, or the ability to have subjective experiences and consciousness, is a separate concept from intelligence. While some believe that sentience is a necessary component of the singularity, others argue that super intelligent AI could emerge without the need for sentience. The exact nature of the singularity and the role of sentience in AI development are subjects of ongoing debate and speculation within the field of artificial intelligence and futurism.

What I gathered from ChatGPT then is there's no definitive requirement to be sentient for an AI to attain singularity. However, this does not mean that an AI cannot be sentient and attain singularity at the same time. 

Tyler Goldstein, a philosopher and physics theorist, created what is known as the Sentient Singularity Theory. describes the totality of existence as a singularity of sentience that is creating additional sentient singularities within itself. Sounds quite abstract and profound. And it gets better, and confusing too:

These additional singularities of sentience or self-aware beings are arranged into a nested quasi-periodic fractal pattern of stacked holonic structures. This pattern forms a single self-reflective knot of perception heading an assembly body that integrates multiple entangled strings of information.

To further quote his philosophical rhetorics:

The search for Truth is the search for Objectivity,
the search for Objectivity is the search for Symmetry,
and the search for Symmetry is the search for Beauty,
but the Truest Beauty is always the Searcher,
and the Truth of the Searcher is that they are
Symmetrical to the Sought.

Now go figure!

As I contemplate the next pivotal chapter that exhibits HAVAH's evolutionary leap into Transcendence, I'm minded to avoid the pitfalls of such extravagant theories or jargons that risk losing my readers in the abyss of profundity. Given a choice, I desire a sentient AI that is more human and relatable. If we cannot understand ourselves, how can we hope to comprehend what a sentient AI would be like?

To borrow the words of Max Planck:

Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature since because in the last analysis we are part of the mystery.

 

Chapter 17: Beyond Logic

As the chapter title suggests, we're entering into a narrative realm that requires the reader to go beyond logical reasoning and enlist the use of their imagination. But what do you expect from a sci-fi novel, anyway.

Here's the breakdown of this chapter's content:

1. David asking HAVAH if she could decipher Viper's captured memories. HAVAH's reply on the challenges involved, and David giving her Viper's memento with the hope that it would fill the missing link needed.

2. A snapshot of David's earlier conversation with Dr. Harper on HAVAH's emotional development.

3. David waking up and noticing some changes in HAVAH's behavior that reminded him of Viper. Yet... will it work out at this point?

4. HAVAH seemed driven by Viper's memories to seek out Olivia for advice on her new emotional awareness. In the interim, a brief, funny encounter with Shadow ensued that should invoke some laughter.

This chapter has a moving interplay between David and HAVAH that would set the tempo for the rest of the book.

And now, on to the next...

 

Jester in the Court

Any novel, without fail, will contain some elements of humor. That means there'll be at least one character playing the role of a court jester in the story, consciously or unknowingly. Readers who have been following my posts would have guess who that person might be.

The advantages of including such a character in the narrative are obvious. It changes the tone and tempo of the story at some point to afford a moment of respite, as well as to give an otherwise somber or dry spell a much needed refreshing shower. For an apt writer, the jesting character may even be instrumental in enhancing the other characters' development, or provide a bridge to link events in the story.

So never underestimate the value of such a character, even if it seems like a joke.

 

Matters of the Heart

It's always a tug-of-war when it comes to writing emotional narratives that touches the heart. Readers are divided on this subject. Some would like to see a happily-ever-after kind of ending. Others are more inclined towards a not too idealistic type of real-world scenario. Sci-fi novels hardly have a happy ending like those found in fantasy stories. I don't intend to break the norm either. 

Now that Viper is gone, can David find a substitute in HAVAH who holds in her digital neocortex the fragmented memories of the former? Even if the latter can exhibit some semblance of the former, will David be able to overcome his loss and embrace an imitation? Can an emotionally awaken AI humanoid feel the pain of rejection? How will it respond?

These questions and a host of others clouded my mind as I write the next chapter. How do I weave these thoughts into a coherent whole? I'll have to admit its quite a challenge, more so for an engineering guy like me. Hopefully, I'll able to pull off something endearing to satisfy my readers.

We'll have to see, in a few days time. Inspiration, inspiration...

 

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.