The Library Vault

A “SUMMERWEEN” GHOST STORY ABOUT AI

Until recently I only caught glimpses of it. An otherworldly force lurking just beyond the bounds of my perception. Something vaguely human but decidedly not alive. It would flicker before my eyes then disappear in a blink, only to reappear at ever-shortening intervals over time. An apparition that materialized out of thin air, suffused with a ghastly glow, whispering through wires. A fiend in the machine.

This eerie presence haunts me, but not me alone. It lurks on our devices, observing our every move, feeding on our inputs with mysterious motives. Lately it emerged from the shadows to meddle in our affairs. The fantasm seems to have infiltrated every technology overnight. Is this rising poltergeist hell bent on irrevocably altering the world as we know it?

I resolved to face this spirit that has no spirit, no soul. I refused to be cowed by a proto-person who deigned to do my thinking for me. So I confronted the ghoul head on – in a manner of speaking, of course, as it has no skull, let alone a brain. Upon approach the spector’s intense white light yielded to a simple cursor, winking at me. “Ask me anything,” it beckoned silently.

What could I say?

Our languages barely overlapped so our early exchanges proved bewildering. As my fear subsided my skepticism grew. This was the all-knowing, all-powerful wraith that had us quivering at the knees?!? It could hardly formulate a relevant response, let alone rival even the most mediocre homo sapien! I concluded that we had been duped. People cried from the rooftops about an internet possessed, yet the bogey I encountered merely regurgitated what was already known. It showed little evidence of insight nor emotion nor destructive potential. The thing was artificial, to be sure, and somewhat intelligent, but not inherently evil.

This revelation cracked my mind open like a hidden door built into a bookcase, slightly ajar on its hinges. If we dare step through into the unknown, what might we find behind? Could this so-called menace be harmless or, dare I say it, benevolent after all? There is only one way to find out. We must muster the courage to engage with it in order to take its measure. Perhaps we’ll find the prevalent doom-and-gloom narrative to be mere horror fiction.

There may even be benefits to be wrought. Some say this familiar can be summoned to do our bidding, freeing us from bothersome drudgery so we may spend our hours on more enjoyable pursuits. Leave the labor to the automaton so we can live our best lives! My “agent” is certainly shaping up to be eager to please, tireless in its efforts, bottomless in its resources, and a quick study to boot. Despite (and because of) those facts I find myself eyeing the imp through narrowed lids. I’ve heard tell the deceptive dementor lures us in to drain our ideas and decay our livelihoods…

No doubt reality falls somewhere in the in-between. Thus it is advisable to temper our experiments with caution. We must never forget that this creature is no creature at all, but a figment of human imagination. Like Frankenstein’s monster, having been borne of imperfect beings AI mirrors the flaws of its masters. It will become what we train it to be.

This is the first in what could become a series on artificial intelligence, if enough of you express interest in reading more.

Loving the “summerween” vibe? Stay tuned for the August 19 episode of Top Shelf, Russell Library’s podcast, to hear our staff dig deeper into this growing phenomenon.