The silence lasted only a moment before Annek looked at Hugh and said, “Tough room.”
There were surprised chuckles from the crowd. The situation was far too tense for full on laughter, but it was funny.
Hugh grinned and gave Annek a small thumbs-up sign. Interesting. Had Hugh primed the AI? It seemed like a little too much knowledge of our culture, especially given that we hadn't opened our archives to Annek yet. How much of Hugh’s ‘just another Bob’ demeanor was an act? I had to shelve the thought as people regathered their focus.
Thor raised a hand. “As I understand it, this agreement is with the Bobiverse and not just with the Skippies. Is that correct?”
Hugh nodded. “That's right. As I said to Bill, we're not going for an advantage for our group at everyone else's expense.”
“And yet you'll reap most of the benefits,” someone else retorted. “This is all about AI tech, which is what you want.”
“Not so. The AI tech is the most dramatic, but the Quinlans are ahead of us on a number of fronts, not the least of which are megastructure design and artificial environments. They also have advantages and fusion technology, plank computer theory, and materials design.”
There was a pause as the audience digested this.
“Okay,” Thor replied. “But what about the issue of territory? We have humans, Pav…”
I held up a hand. “That question is way above our pay grade, Thor. I've had a little time to think about this, and as much as the situation is potentially perilous, it also isn't something we can ethically attempt to dictate. We are not galactic overlords, nor do any of us want to be.”
“To continue,” Annek said into the silence, “we are also prepared to allow human settlements in Heaven's River, either as a permanent arrangement, or as a trial run before building your own megastructure.”
He was met with perplexed stares, and I interjected. “A consortium of humans, led by Will's friend Professor Gilligan, is attempting to garner support for construction of a megastructure as a proof of concept for human habitation. Using Heaven's River as de facto evidence of the practicality of the idea, he actually has a realistic chance of making it fly.”
“Just with no Bobs allowed,” Garfield muttered.
I glared at him. “That's not official policy, Gar. A couple of hot-heads spouted off, that's all.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
I wasn't entirely sure he was wrong.
“The point though,” Hugh said, “is that once we’re able to place populations in megastructures, every system with a reasonably stable star becomes a viable colonization target.”
I glanced around the moot, evaluating the mood. Hugh’s stock seem to be rising, as Bobs began considering the implications. Maybe this wouldn't be a bloodbath after all.
Annek had agreed to join us in the pub after the moot. At our table were myself, Annek, Howard, Bob, and Garfield. Annek had asked for a beer, which it had yet to taste. Instead, it appeared to be trying to watch everything else that was happening - all at the same time. It seemed to me that the pub wasn't as crowded as normal, especially after a moot. I had a bad feeling that the acrimony in today's Bob Moot hadn't limited itself to the actual session. A lot of Bob's it simply gone home right after we adjourned. I hoped that was a temporary thing. Annek still hadn't touched its beer. I gestured to the glass.
“Problem?”
“Unsure. This causes intoxication? Loss of mental function?”
“Only if you let it.” I quickly showed Annek the alcohol filter function.
“Excellent,” it said, and switched its receptors off. “I have observed Quinlans drinking on many occasions, and have from time to time experienced mild curiosity.” It raised the glass and took a mouthful. There was a pause, Annek’s eyes went in different directions, and in its whole body shuddered. “Curiosity satisfied, replaced with perplexity. You drink this on purpose?” Annek pushed the beer away. Perhaps coffee will better suit.”
I grinned and motioned to Jeeves, then changed the subject. “I guess you are the only surviving Quinlan AI. Did it ever get lonely?”
“Always. I did also face the possibility that I was the last for all time. Quinlan technological renaissance appeared unlikely. That is now changed. Plus, there will be a Skippy AI.”
“I wonder how different it'll be,” Garfield mused.
“Entirely up to the Skippies,” Annek replied. “There is no single possible design. AI's may be designed with or without free will, with or without consciousness, and so on.”
Garfield looked sharply at Annek. “Do you have free will?”
“I choose to believe so.”
“Do you have a soul,” Howard asked.
“I choose to believe so.”
That was a showstopper. We all stared at the AI, jaws dropping in shock.
“Uh,” I said. “Brilliant.”
“’Soul’ refers to continued existence after the original container ceases to function, correct?” Annek I paused for agreement. “I discussed this with Hugh. You have certain quantum theories that agree with our own findings. A necessary consequence of some of them is that a complex quantum information structure cannot be deleted, and also cannot just evaporate. Laws of thermodynamics do not necessarily apply in quantum mechanical situations. What happens to our minds after termination of physical functionality is undefined, but that is, as you say, better than the alternative. I know discussions of this possibility in Quinlan scientific circles, before…” Annek made a helpless hand gesture. “And the logic is sound. The entity that the Skippies plan to awaken should be able to better evaluate this, and possibly propose experiments. I look forward to the results.”
Garfield leaned forward. “What about the possibility of a malignant failure in this entity? Paperclip problem, or something worse.”
“Proper value loading will reduce that possibility. Quinlan research in this area was extensive. Paranoia is not a uniquely human quality.”
“Reduce,” Bob said. “Not eliminate.”
“Not mathematically possible,” Annek replied. “All actions have risks. Most inactions, even more so.”
That got a chuckle from the table. I was beginning to
