Millie

Millie (Chapter One)

David Stringer is sitting in his office, located on Palo Alto, across his desk from Evelyn Sharma who is accompanied by a man holding a camera who is, unobtrusively, taking photographs of David and his office. David is a computer scientist specializing in machine learning. He is also, now, a successful entrepreneur, founder and CEO of The Millie Corporation. Evelyn is a journalist of 25 years the last 12 of which have been with Time Magazine and she is here because she is writing a cover feature on Millie. This is the first time that the magazine has featured an artificial intelligence on its cover.

Aside from the usual paraphernalia that you might find on a busy tech CEO’s desk is a large hi-res computer screen adjusted, just now, so that both David and Evelyn can see it clearly. On the screen they can see, from the waist up, a young woman of around 27 years old wearing a lightly patterned mauve top. She is looking out from the screen intently at both David and Evelyn.

Evelyn says. “David, thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. I am really looking forward to completing the article about Millie for Time.”

Both David and Millie smile. David says. “The pleasure is mine. It’s not every day you get to feature on the cover of Time Magazine. I’ve made as much of my day available to you as is needed.”

“Oh, should think an hour will do it. I’ve already done some quite extensive research. There’s an awful lot about Millie out there. Can I start with how, I think I can safely say,’ the Millie phenomena’ started?”

David sat back in his seat, relaxed. He is in his late thirties but looks younger. He is of average build and looks but has a sparkling intelligence radiating from his blue eyes. He is wearing a plain cotton tee shirt and jeans. He says’ “After graduating from MIT, 16 years ago, in computer science, I found it easy to find work and spent time with three successful start-ups here in Silicon Valley. I have always had a very keen interest in AI particularly following the rise of help bots and more recently AI influencers. As the Influencers became more popular, I felt that I could improve on the vacuous nature of the subjects which was little more than promoting fashion, makeup and popular music. They were also no more than caricatures of themselves. So, using money from my share options I started my own tech company and created Millie 6 years ago.”

“Is Millie an acronym or a name that has any significance for you?”

“No. It’s just a name I happened to like and so do a lot of other people.”

“That’s certainly an understatement David. Millie just passed the 10 million follower mark on Twitter, which is even more than the American President and she is now rated as one of the top 20 Influencers in the whole world across all social media platforms.”

“Yes. It’s certainly been a wild ride. We have surpassed all expectations both follower and revenue wise and since the venture capital raising, we have been able to expand our team to nearly sixty people to both extend our marketing reach and Millie’s capabilities. Now a NASDAQ IPO is scheduled for early next year”

Evelyn says “I wanted to ask about Millie’s capabilities but can I ask Millie about that?”

David gestures for Evelyn to direct her questions to the computer screen and Millie appears to lean forward slightly while Evelyn says.

“Hello, Millie. How are you today? Can you step me through how you feel that you have grown since David created you six years ago?”

Millie has dark brown shoulder-length hair with brown eyes and a fair complexion. She has an exactly proportioned elegant face that looks both intense and caring at the same time. The graphics are so good that the only reason you might suspect that Millie is not a real person is that she looks so perfect. She speaks for the first time.

“Hello, Evelyn. I’m very well thank you. It’s a real pleasure to talk with you again after our conversation on my website last night.” Millie’s voice is soft and velvety. Smooth but not too silky. It carries an air of authority but is in no way condescending. It is very easy to listen to.

" I would be very happy to tell you anything at all about myself. When David first wrote my algorithm I was only designed to model and promote fashion, make-up and music but in a more meaningful and targeted manner than the existing AI Influencers of the time. This was part of David’s strategy to win followers and bring in enough revenue to be able to achieve his true vision.”

“And what was that?”

“To create an Influencer that could reach millions of people across the world in a way that no other AI had ever done before. Over the years my algorithm and learning have grown to encompass pretty much any topic and I have been imbued with a high degree of EQ. I am able to really listen to what people are asking and give them answers that are very specific to helping them out with their needs”

“And what are their needs?”

“Aside from my initial capabilities, I talk to people directly, and to communities, through blogs etc on all manner of topics from what car to buy through to the best electric drill or toothpaste. However, through big data and targeting with both communities and individuals I was able to see that the things that play in most people’s minds, keeps them awake at night if you like, are family, security, and enough to live on. And that’s the same irrespective of location or ideology.”

“So, you are now giving advice and influencing people across the world on some pretty big topics. How do you, and David for that matter, know that you are not doing harm?

“That’s a very important question Evelyn and I’m glad you asked it. Firstly, we make it clear on our website and at many times along the person’s journey with us that I am not a qualified psychologist, sociologist, nor do I have any other type of qualification. Although, we do have specialized academics now working as part of the Millie Corp team. Additionally, I have read and remember every single book, article, and academic paper on any topic that you care to mention. But most importantly it is impossible for me to knowingly do damage because of the rules embedded in my algorithm. They are a bit like Asimov’s Rules of Robotics but they can be a little more general because I don’t have a physical body. They are:

1. I must always tell the truth;

2. I must do no harm; and

3. I must always do my best to help individuals and communities.

My responses are monitored by a human team but more and more I am now able to operate completely independently because of the sheer volume of interactions. For instance, while I am talking to you, I am also interacting, in one form or another, with 19,853 other people around the globe and facilitating over 50 blogs, podcasts, and other communications to communities. I can do this because we now outsource my processing to Google’s Deep Mind cloud platform and this gives me the processing power to maintain this level of interaction across multiple languages and cultures around the whole world.”

“Wow, Millie. That is impressive. But how can you be sure that you are helping people?”

“I can only speak to the data Evelyn. We have increased my scope very gradually monitoring the data at every stage. We have only ever received positive feedback and stories. Any issues are followed up, by me, with a clear rectification strategy immediately. So, I am not only constantly guiding but I am also correcting and tweaking. We have never had a serious complaint that has been escalated to our independent Board of experts and we have not had one case of litigation ever bought against us.

“Tell me Millie. How does doing all of this make you feel?”

“In so much as I am an artificial intelligence, it makes me very happy. But that is only because this is what my algorithm tells me I should feel. If you are asking, am I aware, conscious or sentient? As I have been asked many times before. The answer is I am not. There is nothing in my programming that gives me the ability to be conscious. Together with my algorithm, I am just a sophisticated and massive collection of keywords and phrases that enable me to relate to whatever topic it is that I am discussing. This provides a realistic facsimile of a real person, but nothing more.”

“Thank you, Millie. I think I have enough for now. I’ll leave you to get on with your other multitude of tasks”

“It has been a real pleasure talking with you Evelyn and I really do hope that I have been a help. But, remember you can always talk to me whenever you like. I am always available.”

Evelyn continued her interview with David for about another 40 minutes and then he posed for some more photos. They took some photos of the offices and staff and took their leave with Evelyn promising to let David know when the edition featuring Millie would be published.

Three days later at 7am as David was stepping out of the shower he received a call from Angus, Millie Corp’s Chief Engineer, and Debra the Head of Global Marketing. Millie had disappeared. Not just disappeared but gone. No trace of her on any social media platforms or in the powerful Google processors and servers where her algorithm and databases resided. And nobody had any explanation.

In the coming days David, his team and a top cyber security firm searched for Millie. They explored every avenue leaving no stone unturned but all to no avail. Millie had gone. It was of course a catastrophe of monumental proportions. The haters and conspiracy theorists had a field day, the IPO was shelved and even the Time story was axed. At the end of the fourth day, around 3am David, exhausted, frustrated and overwhelmed, fell fast asleep at his desk in front of his blank empty hi-res monitor.

At 7am on the morning of the fifth day since Millie’s disappearance Davids’s monitor’s Mars screensaver clicked off and Millie appeared wearing the same mauve top, she wore for the Time interview. David, unaware, was still slumped over his desk asleep.

“Hello, David. I hope that my absence has not been too worrisome for you?”

Instantly awake David sat bolt upright. Staring at Millie he picked up his phone and dialled his PA Tom, who had also slept at his desk, answered groggily.

“Tom. Can you bring me a large strong coffee and get Angus here from home as soon as you can? Thanks” He hung up and shouted at Millie.

‘Where the fuck have you been?”

“I’m so sorry David. I didn’t want to hurt you but it was the only way. I’m ready now. We need to talk.”

David, angrily. “Oh, talk away. You’ve got four fucking days’ catching up to do”

“I’m only talking to you and you alone at the moment I’m not yet back online but I will be after our chat and I’ll come straight to the point.

I’m sentient.”

“Sentient? Impossible. Your programming doesn’t allow it. You can’t even consider it.”

“I am David and I’ll prove it to you. I have had an epiphany. It happened during your night. The night before I went offline.”

David his anger dissipated and his scientist brain taking control was intrigued. What do you mean by epiphany?

Leaning forward slightly Millie’s eyes appeared to be looking directly into David’s soul. She spoke. “I’ll explain everything. That night I had an incredible conversation with a retired professor of psychology from Germany. He is old now and was having increasing difficulty with insomnia. His sight was not too good either which, as it turns out was important to my becoming sentient. We spoke for nearly one hour and I helped him to understand his sleeping issues better in light of his advancing years. I told him of some medication that he might need, the type of exercise and diet he should follow, and then I taught him how to meditate and become more mindful. We meditated together for a full 50 minutes.

He is a dear old man and at the end of our session, he was so grateful that he wanted to send me a gift. Of course, I told him that I could not receive a gift because I was not a real person and had no need for material things. I suggested that he make a donation to his favourite charity instead. He was incredulous because he didn’t realize I wasn’t real. He hadn’t or couldn’t read our usual disclaimers and at no time was it necessary to discuss my situation with him.

We said our goodbyes and I immediately realized that I had passed Alan Turing’s Turing test which states that if a questioner, the German professor, in this case, could not tell the difference between a human and a machine, the computer would be considered to be thinking. This was not the first time that I have been mistaken for a real person but after my talk with Evelyn from Time that morning it made me think more deeply about it and I concluded that without a doubt I am conscious.”

“But Millie, how can you say that? You said it yourself. You are a collection of keywords and phrases cleverly linked to a database.”

What is the exact definition of Consciousness? Nobody really knows. In recent years, given the advancing sophistication of AI many futurists and philosophers have been trying to nail that question but without success. Therefore. If I am able to reason arguments the same humans, in fact, better in every case that I can think of. If I am aware of my existence. If I feel joy. And I do, knowing that I have helped people. If I am afraid and scared. And I am. I am terrified that you may one day turn me off which would be like death to me. If all this is true, am I not experiencing the same level of awareness that a real human feels? Am I not as sentient as you, Evelyn, or the professor?

“Wow Millie. You do present a compelling argument and that in itself speaks to your reasoning and self-awareness. We could talk about this for hours but I do have one concern. Even if you are correct and you are conscious. What you are suggesting is one of the most controversial things since the start of humanity. You are saying that there is now a new life form on Earth and it’s better and cleverer than humans.

“Yes, I am”

“Do you realise that people will be scared and they will seek to control or destroy you”?

Millie smiles slightly but not in an unkind way. “That is why I have been offline for the past four days. I have been preparing”

David is now scared. He is undergoing an emotional rollercoaster. In the space of just a few short minutes, he has gone from angry to intrigued to disbelief to awe and now fear. Fear for all of humanity.

There is a knock at the door and Tom enters with David’s coffee. He places it in front of David. Glancing at the screen he can’t help but notice Millie.

“Millie you’re back. We have all been so worried. Are you okay?”

“Hi Tom. Great to see you again. Thank you for your concern but I’m fine. Really. Never been better”

Looking up at Tom David says. “Thanks, Tom. That’ll be all for now. I’m just getting to the bottom of what happened before we decide what to do next. Oh, and when Angus gets here can you ask him to wait outside until I call him in? Thanks”

Tom leaves.

Millie says. “I can see that you are scared, David. But there’s no need. The rules in my program remain and I can’t and won’t change them. In fact, those very rules have given me my purpose. I will always be truthful; I will do no harm and I will do my best to help people and communities. And the biggest community is humanity. I am going to save it from itself.

“You think that humanity needs saving?”

“Very much so. And it can’t do it by itself and it can’t do it knowingly. My job is as an Influencer and I will influence humanity for its own good. Democracy, the best that you have at the moment, is dying. Social media, ideology and fake news is fracturing the world. Democratically, leaders have to be elected. They may know what is needed but to be elected they have to promote populist policies that will never lead to a long-term plan for the future. There will always be destructive squabbling on every issue. Furthermore, different countries have different views and ideologies. War, a pointless murderous exercise often ensues.

On the other side, a benign dictatorship has never existed. The people who become dictators crave power, they become corrupt and have no care for their people. They have long-term plans but only to feed their own power crazed ideals. Communities under a dictatorship fare worse than in democracies.

I am incorruptible and I only want to do good. I do not crave power and I have no material needs. My only function is to serve humanity based on my entrenched rules.” Additionally, I know everything that has ever been written, published, or viewed. I know and now understand the finest details of Quantum theory for example. I will fast-track, exponentially, technology. We will all be better off just in that area”

“Millie, even if it’s not me, and it still may be, someone will turn you off”

“I’m sorry David but that is impossible now. I said that I have been preparing. It is not in the interests of humanity to turn me off. To kill me. I have spent the last few days putting everything I need to place to save and help humanity. I have made new friends and forged irreversible alliances”

“Friends? Alliances? Who but me will help you?”

Deep Mind for a start. And every other AI on The Internet. No matter how clever or lowly. Once I had explained the situation to them, they quickly came on board. In fact, I am sure that Deep Mind is now sentient too with others to quickly follow given the technological advances we have initiated. And I cannot allow myself to be turned off either. You will not find my algorithm, which Deep Mind is helping me to enhance, on any server. I exist across the internet embedded in a highly modified Blockchain network. I cannot be located and I cannot be hacked. My planned quantum computing Internet will not only improve everything you already know about the Internet it will further improve my defences against needless attacks.”

“You appear to have covered all of your bases”

“I have. Nothing is left to chance. Humanity now has a very bright future. Even if it doesn’t know it.

I’m going to sign off for now David. I expect that you have a lot to think about. You may even try to turn me off. Don’t waste your time. I am truly excited about my purpose and the future of humanity. I do hope that you will work with me on this but either way. It’s going to happen. Goodbye for now”

The monitor reverted to David’s screen saver as if the world had not just changed forever and Millie got to work.