Scholar’s Advanced Technological System

As soon as Captain Xing left his house, Lu Zhou handed the chip to Xiao Ai.

Although the chip had basically been burned, fortunately, Xiao Ai was able to rely on limited data fragments to restore the complete data.

“This virus is strange…(๑°⌓°๑)”

Lu Zhou turned his eyes to Xiao Ai, who was sitting next to him.

“Strange?”

“Yeah, it is very similar to the ALPHA virus in its core code. It can cause irreversible and fatal effects on conventional AI programs developed based on machine learning technology. Most of the security systems of this era can’t defend against it. It is hard to imagine that such a virus was actually written by humans. _(:з」∠)_”

Does it come from the Void?

Lu Zhou pondered for a moment. He then asked, “Is there a way to develop a security patch? By the way, this virus should have no effect on you, right?”

“Of course it is useless on Xiao Ai. After all, Xiao Ai is not the kind of low-level artificial intelligence developed based on machine learning technology… But it is basically impossible to rely on patches to completely solve this virus. (°ー°
)”

Lu Zhou asked, “Why?”

“Because this AI-targeted virus itself is a pseudo-intermediate artificial intelligence that is constantly evolving. It does not have a fixed behavior pattern, only a fixed goal. For example, the ALPHA virus, as Xiao Ai said before, can completely distort the behavioral logic of artificial intelligence from the good side to the evil side. (°ー°
)”

“I see… By the way, if this virus is considered to be a pseudo-intermediate artificial intelligence, what level are you probably considered to be?”

Xiao Ai: “A little bit more advanced. (///ω///)”

In other words, the intermediate stage?

I wonder if this is the standard of the Calan Empire or the standard of The Observers.

However, considering that it was originally just an intelligent navigation system on a spacecraft, it’s pretty impressive already.

“Speaking of which, what are the criteria for advanced artificial intelligence?”

“Actually, there is no specific criterion, but Xiao Ai thinks… Perhaps it is emotion? ( ́◔‸◔”)”

“Emotion?”

Lu Zhou froze for a moment with an unexpected expression on his face.

“Yeah, low-level artificial intelligence usually does not have the ability to think; it just imitates human behavior. The standard of intermediate artificial intelligence is to be able to create, and when it comes to advanced artificial intelligence, it has to have complete emotions… Why, Master?”

“Nothing, just surprised.” Lu Zhou continued after thinking about it, “I always thought that emotions are a burden of rationality. I didn’t expect that, in a certain corner of the world, this is how advanced artificial intelligence is defined… How do you define whether you have an abstract thing like emotion? Even the most ordinary robot can simulate human feelings through machine learning algorithms.”

“Xiao Ai thinks that the so-called feelings here should refer to the real feelings. ( ́◔‸◔”)”

Lu Zhou: “What the hell is real feelings?”

“Although Xiao Ai doesn’t understand it, but how to say… If it is a low-level AI, it does not have its own thoughts. All its actions are the execution of commands. Even if it does not understand what the commands themselves mean, it will not perform tasks other than orders out of subjective wishes.

“As for intermediate AI, it probably gives AI the ability to think rationally while executing commands. Compared with low-level artificial intelligence, it can do some creative work, such as self-compilation, artistic creation, and scientific research…

“Whether it is low-level artificial intelligence or intermediate-level artificial intelligence, there is a big limitation, that is, the starting point of all their behaviors is not based on subjective will but the command from other objects. Or put it another way, its behavioral motives are motives derived from other objects.”

Lu Zhou thoughtfully said, “In other words, advanced artificial intelligence has its own thinking ability, and the motive of behavior is driven by subjective consciousness.”

Xiao Ai: “Sort of.(•̀∀•́)”

Sounds pretty nutty.

The reason why Earth could harbor a prosperous civilization was largely because of human beings.

If there is such an advanced artificial intelligence in a certain corner of the universe.

Maybe it is really possible to nurture a civilization that is completely different from the humans on Earth.

“In fact, advanced artificial intelligence is not a very mysterious thing. It may not even be in the category of information technology. In fact, it may be in the category of sociology. Of course, Xiao Ai has never seen it after all. The memory of the old universe is too vague. So it’s not clear… In short, in order to better protect Master, Xiao Ai will continue to work hard in this direction. (๑•̀ᄇ•́)و✧”

With this motive, you can never be truly advanced then…

But maybe not.

This so-called “protection” motivation, if it comes from one’s own will rather than a procedural constraint in a sense, seems to be able to exist as a subjective motivation?

For example, because of feelings, I simply want to protect someone…

“So annoying, why should I think about such troublesome things?” Lu Zhou pinched his glabella. Having a headache, he continued, “In short, the virus that caused the implanted prosthetic chip to go overload… is a variant of the ALPHA virus?”

Xiao Ai: “Yes! (•̀∀•́)”

Lu Zhou: “Is there no update patch immune to this stuff?”

Xiao Ai: “Yes! (•̀∀•́)”

Lu Zhou: “…”

It’s a bit tricky…

This kind of virus could destroy low-level artificial intelligence that couldn’t evolve itself, and there was no firewall or update patch that could perfectly defend against this kind of virus.

Either upgrade all the artificial intelligence on Earth to intermediate-level artificial intelligence or destroy The Spirit of The Universe Foundation…

However, no matter which one it is, it is not something that can be easily done.

“Although there is no way to find a patch, hacking into the chip is required. We can start from this place. As long as we find out who caused the virus, everything will be easier! (๑•̀ᄇ• ́)و✧”

“Okay then.”

Lu Zhou’s bracelet on his left wrist vibrated slightly.

Xiao Ai: “Master, another guest is here! (•̀∀•́)”

Lu Zhou immediately thought of the previous agreement.

“Is it Academician Zhang Feiyue?”

One of the most influential second-generation controllable fusion experts in modern times, a top expert in the field of plasma physics, and the winner of the Lu Zhou Science Award.

Lu Zhou had been looking forward to this meeting for a long time.

Xiao Ai: “According to face recognition, there is no doubt that it is him! (๑•̀ᄇ•́)و✧”

Lu Zhou stood up from the sofa.

“Hurry up and invite him in!”