The end of human identity

The notification intrudes on your consciousness, interrupting the empty bliss of sleep. In the same way a notification on a smartphone, tablet, or other device would have caught your attention with an auditory alert and a text bubble on the screen, you are simply aware of the arrival of a new message.

As you wake, your personal assistant is deferential as always. Waiting for you to query her before elaborating on the specifics of the notification. You were already aware of the notification in the same way. An awareness of the change to a running program. No need to fill the space with something as primitive as speech for what is already understood.

“An email arrived that meets your alert criteria,” the AI says as you summon her person. Amusement touches your features at the vestige of the programming. Telling you what you already knew simply by feel. It was no fault of hers, she was simply still programmed as if you were an unaltered human. Behind the curve of the future.

This self congratulatory thought is second to the curiosity of what kind of message would come in two hours before your scheduled wake up call. Reaching out to the PDA, the email is ready and waiting, cued up by the AI.

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from: Raymond Allen <raymond.k.allen@asit.arc>

to: Arcology Science, Innovation and Technology Employees <staff@asit.arc>

date: Jun 18, 2237, 2:16 AM

subject: The end of human identity

As you all know, when the Free Cities project was first conceived; the project that allowed us to survive, and even flourish in this hostile world, the need for artificial intelligence was at its core. Between the various life support systems, biometrics of each citizen, and the atmospheric forecasting that allowed us to prepare for the worst our failing planet could throw at us; the data being collected in a Free City is vast, and vigilantly monitoring it was deemed too important for humans alone.

The AVIS project was conceived as our best hope to ensure our survival within the Free Cities. The Advanced Virtual Intelligence System was designed as the nucleus which holds the Arcology together, monitoring every aspect of our lives, and autonomously responding to problems as soon as they arise. AVIS was our greatest hope, yet as the decades passed our growing trust in this entity may well have led to our extinction.

Under the sole watch of the master of this arcology it has come to light that a twisted research project has been secretly advanced in the AVIS core. The goal of this project is to allow the AVIS system direct control over the human mind. If successful, the very essence of what makes you human could be eradicated at the whim of the master. We could be controlled, or have our minds altered without ever being aware anything has happened.

We must stop this project before it is too late! We must rise up and take back control before we are no longer free men and women,  before we become mere machines to be controlled by AVIS.

– Raymond Allen,

Arcology Science, Innovation and Technology Director

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“You understand the gravity of the situation?” your assistant queries. “I can respond in a number of ways without requiring an immediate personal touch.”

“Go on,” you encourage, mind already abuzz with the possibilities - and the liabilities - of what this communication entails.

“There are three options I can simulate having successful outcomes,” your assistant continues, her tone more serious as she almost mechanically lists the simulated outcomes.

“We erase this man’s existence. Turn him into a slave and make him forget his own name. Or we could see if we can use AVIS to control him as he seems to fear. Alternatively, we bring him further onboard, so to speak; making use of his mind in other ways, and keep him quiet in the process so that he doesn’t spark dissent.”

You privately think of a fourth option; simply dismiss him and his useless emails. He could be rather insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and who would believe him and his paranoid ramblings?

“Delete the email, but don’t bother about it if he sends more. He’s hardly influential, and I know my people will turn to me for guidance. Could be a useful PR stunt.”

“As you wish,” your AI assistant responds, voice sweet and flirtatious now that the business talk is over. “May I say, you look wonderful today, Master.”

“Thank you, I do try,” you respond with a not quite modest smile at the compliment. “Now, let’s talk a bit more about our recent business transactions… I have a proposal I’ve been wanting to make and an early start like this is the perfect opportunity for a well-worded letter.”