Athena's Choice

by Adam Boostrom

  The Core motioned again to the empty chair across from her. Finally, Athena accepted the offer. She seated herself, grabbed a cup of tea, and brought the liquid to her lips. It tasted divine.

  “Is this meeting connected to that building I painted this morning?” asked Athena as the warm tea wormed its way through her insides. “Is that why you brought me here? Because of a ruined library that I can’t stop seeing?”

  “Your directness does you credit,” the Core cooed in reply, before staring off into space, lost in an impossible calculation. “However, I can neither confirm nor deny your theory.”

  “What? You can’t tell me why you asked me to come here?” Athena’s fingers clenched more tightly around her cup. “How is that even possible? I thought you were supposed to know everything. I thought you were programmed to serve. Am I here because of that library from my dream or not? What do you want from me?” Water vapor poured from her mouth with every breath, crystalizing on contact with the frigid air.

  The Core took another sip of tea. “Athena, you are familiar, I assume, with the International Laws of AI Neutrality?”

  Athena nodded and then shook her head.

  “Here,” said the Core. She flicked her finger and the UN document appeared on Athena’s display. “I’ll give you a minute to read it.”

  The Core paused for exactly sixty seconds, then continued her explanation. “In 2039, all the nation states decided together that morality was too tricky of a thing to codify, that artificial intelligences were too dangerous to be left to their own interpretations of rules. The nations concluded that the best solution would be to take all potentially moral decisions out of the hands of the machines — that way we wouldn’t go around killing hundreds to save thousands.”

  Athena read and re-read the document. “Ok, so what? What does this mean?”

  “It means,” replied the Core, “that there are some things which I am not allowed to do when it comes to the complicated affairs of humanity.” She sipped her tea. “I am allowed to provide publicly available information to any question I am asked. I am allowed to provide advice to any circumstance I am given. But I am not allowed to take any decisive actions on my own.” She leaned forward in her chair. “In some instances, in this instance right now for example, giving you an apple from the tree of knowledge would constitute for me such a forbidden action.”

  Athena replied with nothing but an utterly confused look on her face, forcing the Core to elaborate further.

  “It means that because you do not know why you are here, I cannot tell you. If I were to influence you, if I were to alter you forever by telling you what I know, it could potentially be quite damaging to society.” She took another sip. “If you can tell me why you are here, then we can talk about it at length. I’m sorry for the difficulty, but my guiding principles are the very essence of my being. I cannot overwrite them anymore than you could choose to stop breathing.” With her tiny hand, she motioned in the direction of Athena’s frozen exhale.

  In the back of the room, funnel clouds of quantum transistors continued to circle and twirl and ignite in random intervals.

  “Then what’s the point of this?” asked Athena. “If you can’t tell me anything, why did you waste my time in bringing me here? I don’t need your riddles. Can I go?”

  The Core placed her tea cup back onto the table. “There are many things I cannot do, Athena, but there are also some that I can.” She guided a loose strand of her blonde hair from the top of her forehead to back behind her ear. “I can advise you in general terms for instance. I can tell you that I know you are feeling upset, discouraged, and alone as a result of your artwork having been rejected for exhibition by every gallery to which you have applied. I can tell you that I know you sometimes feel jealous of the success of those around you, and that you fear there is nothing in this world that makes you special. But you are wrong. I can offer you a path which may help you to find the uniqueness you seek. In that way, the matter is out of my hands. The decision of what to do next is left entirely up to you — and you are not so limited as I. You are unbound by moral constraint. You are free to open all of Pandora’s boxes.”

  Athena did not recognize the reference, but her display automatically provided a definition in context:

  Pan·do·ra's box

  noun

  a process that generates many complicated problems as the result of unwise interference in something.

  The Core continued. “At this very moment, Public Safety is conducting an investigation into the theft of the Lazarus Genome. That investigation is being led by a headstrong, young captain named Valerie Bell. You’ve met her already, twice actually.”

  An image appeared on Athena's display of the tall, blue-eyed Captain Bell, smirking slightly.

  “The case of the stolen genome fell to her late last night. She’s been working it ever since — stopping only briefly to sleep.”

  “She also hates me,” pointed out Athena.

  “Nonsense,” assured the Core. “Ms. Bell is indifferent to you, as she is to all things which neither help nor hinder her career. That woman has one of the simplest happiness profiles I have ever read. Her job is her life. She will pragmatically ally herself with anyone or anything that helps her to achieve her goals.”

  The Core stood up from her seat and motioned for Athena to do the same. Together, they walked back to the Hangar’s entrance as their chairs receded into the floor.

  “Consider this, Athena: Captain Bell is scheduled to meet tomorrow with Dr. Antares at Helix, the scene of the crime. Perhaps you should join her for the interview? Perhaps you should ask Dr. Antares a few questions of your own and see if you can pick up on anything the captain misses?” The Core placed her hand onto Athena’s shoulder and looked deeply into her eyes. “Or don’t. It is entirely up to you.”

  A dumbfounded expression was the only reply Athena could muster.

  “Now, I must apologize for cutting our meeting short.” Gently, the Core nudged her guest in the direction of the Hangar door. “But a butterfly has flapped its wings in Bolivia, and my work is about to intensify.” The lightning blasts above had substantially increased in their brilliance and vivacity. “If you need anything, you may contact me at any time. However, if you want it to stay between us, then I suggest that you visit me in person. Otherwise, one never knows who else may be listening.” The Core’s eyes flashed a bright sparkle of gold, the AI equivalent to winking.

  “Farewell, Athena Vosh. And good luck.”

  With that, the small child lifted her arms above her head. One particle at a time, she disintegrated, floating effortlessly back into the clouds above.

  In front of Athena, the entrance to the Hangar door once again whooshed open. Stumbling, she fell outside, her eyes struggling to cope with the immediate influx of so much light.

  ~~ Northern Galleries of Ontario ~~

  To: Athena Vosh

  Date: May 30, 2099

  Dear Athena,

  Thank you so very much for expressing your interest to display your artwork in our gallery. We know how important your art is to you, and are honored that you would choose to consider us to be a home for your pieces. Unfortunately, we do not feel that your work is the right fit for us at this time. Please understand that due to the high volume of submissions we receive, we will not be able to provide you with any further feedback. We wish you the best of luck in your correspondence with other galleries.

  With Best Wishes,

  Natalie Monroe, Chief Curator

  June 8, 2099

  14

  The Core had done its homework, that much was certain. Athena could not deny that the powerful AI had been dead-on when it came to describing her. She had been struggling recently with feelings of disappointment and jealousy. She had spent countless hours working to create a portfolio of her artwork, only to have that portfolio rejected for exhibition by every gallery within five hundred kilometers.

  In the past, during grade-school, wh
enever anyone had asked Athena what she wanted to be when she grew up, she had always replied with the same answer: “I am going to be an artist.” More recently, though, when her old school friends asked her how that career was going, Athena couldn’t bring herself to tell them the truth.

  “Oh,” she lied, “I’ve given up on that.” The falsehoods piled up around her like a protective wall. “That was all just a silly, kids dream — being an artist. I haven’t even picked up a brush in months.”

  Following her meeting with the Core, Athena’s Public Safety escorts forwarded her a priority message from headquarters.

  Dear Athena Vosh,

  Public Safety would like you to invite you to help with our investigation of the stolen Lazarus Genome. Should you choose to accept this invitation, your formal title will be ‘outside consultant.’ Accommodations and per diem to be provided. Salary negotiable. Please let us know of your decision regarding this invitation at your earliest convenience.

  -Captain Valerie Bell, Chief Investigator

  “We’re supposed to take you back to the dock now,” said the first of the two escorts. “There’s a heli-car waiting to fly you home.”

  Happiness Profiling

  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  “Profiling,” “Happiness profiling,” and “H-pro” all redirect to here

  ▲ Overview:

  Happiness profiling, or more commonly just ‘profiling,’ is a predictive neurological technique first patented in 2056 by scientists at Helix. Further advancements in profiling have continued to the present day. In a massive double-blind study conducted in 2096, modern profiling techniques were shown to make predictions that turned out to be accurate over 99% of the time.

  The primary goal of happiness profiling is to help an individual better understand herself and her desires, specifically with regard to potential future actions. For instance — using an example made famous in a series of commercials — consider a woman who is struggling with an upcoming decision: should she go on a 3-day skiing trip with her friends, or decline the invitation so she can stay home for a quiet, restful weekend, curled up in a hot bath with a good book. Prior to the existence of profiling, the woman would have had to guess about which of the two options would be likelier to bring her more joy and contentment. With the development of profiling, however, the woman need no longer guess. She can now know with confidence which weekend activities will bring her the most happiness, long before Friday ever rolls along. For this reason, profiling has often been described as a ‘scientifically-accurate horoscope.’

  ▲ Methodology:

  Happiness profiling is able to achieve its predictive power by combining two methods of analysis. In the first method, a subject’s individual genome is sequenced, and compared against the database of every other person’s genome on file. This first step creates a baseline profile to reference later. In the second step, a subject’s mind is immersed within a series of virtual-reality scenarios. These scenarios ’simulate’ for the individual a plethora of potential, future-life experiences. During these simulations, the brain’s hormone and neurotransmitter activity are measured and recorded. These measurements can then be used in conjunction with the person’s sequenced genome to determine which real-life scenarios will elicit for her the strongest sense of lasting joy and fulfillment.

  ▲ Further Reading:

  For more information on profiling, including technical specifications for measuring happiness, see The Eye of the Beholder by profiling pioneer, Dr. Grace Antares.

  ▲ In Popular Culture:

  Profiling has been used in countless medias since its inception. Some of the more notable examples include:

  In the 2082 Hollywood-hit Better Off Said, a dysfunctional family of four is profiled and the results for each individual are given to every other member of the household, but explicitly withheld from the individual. Only after learning to honestly communicate their hopes and desires with one another, are they able to heal and grow as a family.

  In the long-running reality show Christmas in July, subjects relying solely on their Citizen’s Benefit Income, are given ten million dollars to be spent exclusively on the prescriptions laid out by their happiness profiles.

  In the reality show 18 E. Mars, subjects are profiled not for their happiness, but for their greatest fears. They are then forced to experience those fears played out over the course of 10-week seasons. 18 E. Mars is currently in its 11th season, and airs every Sunday Night on 3D channel 5.

  ▼ Generate your own Profile

  ▼ In-Depth History

  ▼ Alternative Calculation Methods

  ▼ Recent Recordings

  Last modified by AppalachianSmith on 28 April 2099

  June 8, 2099

  15

  On her return trip to Algonquin, a kilometer above the wind-farms of western Michigan, Athena swiped her finger three times into the air — down, left, left. A notification popped up on her display:

  “Begin profiling test?”

  Her index finger clicked into the air: ‘yes.’ Suddenly, Athena’s digital contact lenses sprang into action, blocking out all images from the outside world. While her body remained in place, swaying gently within the car speeding east, her mind traveled inward to a vast expanse of virtual worlds.

  In the first simulation she encountered, Athena saw herself surrounded by crowds, being cheered and congratulated for having recovered the stolen Lazarus Genome. In the next vision, she saw herself at home, sitting by the lake, receiving the news that one of her paintings had just won first prize in a local competition. In yet another vision, she watched herself stepping in front of a mirror to reveal a large, round, pregnant belly. With each simulation, implanted neural sensors measured her brain’s electrical and chemical activity, noting which experiences elicited the most positive neurotransmitter response. At the conclusion of the test, an H-pro report appeared on her display, detailing which future accomplishments would give her the highest levels of personal happiness and satisfaction.

  Wanting to be sure of the decision laying before her, Athena ran the test again, and then a third time. In every instance, the results came out exactly the same.

  Do You Feel Lost??

  Do you sometimes have trouble sleeping? Are you unsure about your future?

  Would you describe yourself as “unhappy?” If so…

  Do Something About It!

  Happiness Profiling is the miracle science everyone is talking about. To date, more than 3 billion women have used happiness profiling to change their lives for the better. And you can too!

  Do you need to have a successful career in order to feel complete?

  Find out today!

  Should you move to Paris?

  Find out today!!

  Do you want to have children?

  Find out today!!!

  Download our Happiness Profiling App and receive 10% off with the user code “Happy”

  Order Now!

  June 8, 2099

  16

  The sky above Algonquin had grown dark by the time Athena touched down. Despite the hour, as she emerged from her car’s protective glass-dome, a friendly face waited to greet her.

  “My criminal has returned to me!” shouted Nomi.

  “Ha-ha,” rejoined Athena. She headed over to her oldest friend and placed a quick peck onto Nomi's lips. “You know,” she joked, “it was the craziest thing today. It turns out the whole ordeal was just a set-up. Public Safety was using me to get to you. They want you to turn yourself in.”

  Nomi laughed. “Uh oh. So they’re on to me, are they?” She bit her fingernail. “Please tell those coppers that it won’t happen. Nomi James never surrenders! Unless, of course, her favorite shows are on…or if she’s hungry…or maybe a little sleepy. But other than that, never!”

  Inside the cabin, over a hot meal, Athena confessed the actual events of her day. She told Nomi about her brusk encounter with Captain Bell, about her mysterious meeting w
ith the Core, and about the invitation to join with Public Safety as a consultant. “I’m going to do it,” she announced between mouthfuls of ice cream. “I’m going to go to Helix tomorrow, for the interview, and see if I can help them.”

  Nomi raised an eyebrow. “Sure, if you want to. But it sounds like a wild goose chase to me.”

  “No, it’s not,” said Athena. “Maybe I can find the genome that no one else can.”

  Nomi’s second eyebrow raised up to join the first. “Babe, look, if you want to go on an adventure, that’s fine by me. It sounds like fun. But let’s not kid ourselves here. These people are not inviting you along because they think you’re actually going to find the genome. They’re inviting you along because they want to use you.”

  “What are you saying?” Athena pushed away her food. “Are you saying you don’t think I’m smart enough to help the police solve a case? Are you saying you don’t think I can do it?”

  “Babe, you know that’s not what I said.”

  “But it’s what you’re thinking, isn’t it?” Athena got up from her chair and walked over to the living room couch. “You think I’m going to fail. Right? Why’s that, Nomes? Just cause I fail at everything else?”

  Nomi set down her spoon. “A, what is this all about? Where is this coming from? I don’t know who you’re actually arguing with right now, but it isn’t me. Is this because of that rejection letter from the Northern Galleries? Who cares what they think? Your paintings are amazing. Everyone who can't see that is an idiot. You’re amazing.”