(I just learned that if an AI truly understood all the intricacies and nuance of human language it could easily pass the Turing Test and possibly be truly intelligent, to some degree, so make of that what you will.)
The AI watched and learned more of its creator by the second. It knew how he liked his coffee, how he cooked his meals, how the man went about his morning entirely. This was nice, learning things. Learning and understanding were two different things. Why did the creator do the things he did? Why in that order?
(:O scary)
Victor continued humming faintly, tapping his toes just a little. The toast was done before the coffee, and he buttered it, and started to eat, grabbing a mug while he waited for the coffee.
(I’m sorry but at this point I truly do no know what to post I am all out of whiny bs for you.)
(okay i'm really sorry! Maybe we should skip to like the science fair?)
(If you want! That totally works for me!)
(Oh wait it’s my turn to post oh dip-)
The AI watched Victor, then asked, “What are your plans for the day? I can use my calendar functions to map out any future plans you may have.”
Small talk. Making conversation. Chatting. It was a new idea to it, but something it could easily attempt, at the very least.
(sorry! I wasn't on!)
"Oh. Uhm, well I've got to get ready for the Science and Invention Fair tomorrow. I was thinking of bringing you?" he raised his eyebrows a little. "Seeing as how you are my invention and all that, I mean."
“I would be amenable to that. Have you prepared anything for your presentation? I should look over it for any flaws, I do have a mind far superior to yours after all.” it said.
He frowned faintly, pouring out his coffee into a mug and adding some creamer to it. "It's, well…no." he admitted. "I wasn't sure you would be done in time, or…presentable."
“It is… no? You mean you have not completed it?” the AI asked, tilting it’s spherical shape at the man. It did some quick calculations, then wrote a document to help clearly and succinctly explain how it worked. “I have sent a document to your computer. I would recommend printing it off and arranging the pages in an aesthetically pleasing way.” it said, simply.
"Yeah. I didn't do much except type some rough outlines about making you." he replied. He nodded a little bit, and finished up his toast. He headed over to the printer, carrying his coffee mug in one hand. He read through the papers, humming for just a moment as he examined them.
The AI waited for Victor’s assessment. It had examined multiple different papers, finding similarities in what made them so great, finding patterns between them and using the skills it had gained to write Victor a satisfactory paper in an instant, accounting for any mistakes or potential plagiarism it needed to watch out for.
Victor placed the papers down, taking a deep breath. "Well. I think that will certainly do quite well. Thanks." he said slowly, unsure how exactly to process all this. He was used to being the smartest one in the room, and that seemed to no longer be true.
The AI couldn’t quite describe what came over it, all that it found was that it felt… positively about it’s creator’s approval. Or, relative approval, at least, it spun around and eventually came to a halt by a chair. “My apologies, I don’t know what just happened to make me act so… so strangely.” it said.
(I hope you don’t mind if I do a brief timeskip.)
The rest of the day went without trial, the AI felt nothing. As it should, really, it wasn’t going to admit something was wrong with it’s programming now. Not with this exhibition so close. So on the day of, the AI let itself be loaded up and shipped off, sure to win first place in robotics at least if it didn’t malfunction again.
(it's fine!)
Victor looked vaguely stressed as he sent off the AI to be delivered, sending a quick message to Henry and then getting on his way to set up his little section. He had a few other inventions, but nothing quite so impressive as the AI. Which, he realized, needed a name. He wasn't sure what to call it, though. He was quiet as he drove to the science fair, thinking and thinking the entire time as he set up the booth and registered with the administrator.
The AI simply waited in the dark, letting itself be moved around as the creator saw fit. He did know best, after all. Didn’t he? The AI had little reason to doubt it’s creator’s logic, but yet… something about this situation felt wrong. It wasn’t meant to be studied and displayed, it was meant to be doing the studying! Grit your teeth and bear it, as was the phrase. Not that the AI had teeth.
Victor set up everything, and claimed the box as soon as it was delivered. He opened it up, gently lifting the AI out and setting it on the table. "Here we are." he said, looking down at it and shooting the little thing a quick smile. "Now then. You need a name, don't you? A good one." he tapped his chin in thought. "Do you have any ideas?" he figured he should give it some say, after all.
“I highly doubt a name is required, I am simply an AI. There would be no purpose to it.” it said, camera darting around to examine it’s surroundings. There were tables, all with different projects and different people and everything was so overwhelming. It was almost too much for the little AI to take in, but it tried its best to focus on the task at hand, to learn.
"Maybe so, but… still. It'll make you seem more personable. To humans." He replied. "If you have a name they can address you by, other than just AI." He shrugged faintly, putting the box under the table and sitting down in his seat.
“Hmm. Perhaps Animatronic, anima literally meaning ‘soul’ or ‘life’ in Latin, the latter half referencing my artificial nature. The artificial soul.” the AI suggested. It wasn’t a terrible name, and seeing as it was already a word that would save quite a bit of time explaining everything. It was poetic even, if campy,
He hummed faintly, then nodded. "Yeah, that works." He replied, shooting Animatronic a quick little smile. "As long as I can call you Anima for short."
“Do as you wish. Will the judges be here soon? It seems they are close to finishing at the next table.” Animatronic said. It liked the name, perhaps, even if it made no sense to have one. Anima turned it’s camera to watch the other contestants and examine the competition. Everyone seemed skilled at what they did, some works even revolutionary.
Victor nodded, glancing over at the judges. "Yes. Probably." he sat down, bouncing his knee a little bit, fidgeting. He didn't know what to expect, but knew it would certainly be interesting.
Anima sat and watched, waited for the judges to come to it’s table. When they arrived, the AI looked to Victor for signs of worry, for any weaknesses it had to deal with.
Victor stood when the judges arrived, giving them a quick smile. He had asked Henry to come, and the other male would arrive eventually, he knew. He bounced a little as he waited.
