Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
If we built a robot that emulated human behavior, would it need a calculator? Explore the humorous side of artificial intelligence. Empeirikos is the most intelligent robot ever invented, yet he finds it difficult to fulfill expectations. He requires a calculator for long division. He loses at chess. Relentless chaffing leads him to complain that "robots get no respect." But when a floating corpse turns up at an antigravity nightclub, he may have a chance to redeem himself. Enlisted to investigate, he and his friends find themselves embroiled in a complex tapestry of intrigue. But an even deeper mystery is waiting to be solved, the identity of his unknown designers. And the greatest mystery of all, the very purpose of artificial intelligence, will find a resolution before the story ends.
Synopsis
Empeirikos is a newly assembled robot, na ve in the ways of the world, and dependent on his friends Trep and Link for instruction. When a floating corpse turns up at an antigravity nightclub, Empeirikos and friends are enlisted to determine whether the cause was antigravity toxicity, drug overdose, or murder. But while Empeirikos investigates, Trep finds himself increasingly addicted to hallucinations induced by virtual reality tablets sold illicitly at the nightclub. And as if that wasn't enough of a distraction, Trep and Link begin to have doubts about their robot friend. Throughout the story, they debate the philosophical questions of the day, resolving several of them. What is the purpose of artificial intelligence? Has mankind evolved this far only to invent its own replacement? Is a Turing Test a sufficient evaluation of artificial intelligence, and would Empeirikos pass? And what does all of this have to do with Fermi's paradox? Technoconvergence explores issues at the intersection of artificial intelligence and philosophy.
Synopsis
A floating corpse drifts through an antigravity nightclub, a welcome job for Epoch the electronic investigator. Enlisted to determine whether the cause was antigravity toxicity, drug overdose, or murder, Epoch's investigational skills improve exponentially. But while Epoch investigates, his human colleagues find themselves increasingly addicted to hallucinations induced by virtual reality tablets. And as if that wasn't enough of a distraction, the humans begin to have doubts about their robot friend. Throughout the story, they debate the philosophical questions of the day, resolving several of them. What is the purpose of artificial intelligence? Is a Turing Test a sufficient evaluation of artificial intelligence, and would Epoch pass? And what does all of this have to do with Fermi's paradox? Find out as author D. James Smith investigates topics in artificial intelligence.