Chapter #5Talking with SOPHIE by: BHCP   You were reviewing all the systems. You were still in the middle of being brought up to speed with everything, so you didn’t have anything to work on. You tried to review all the data coming in on the various monitors, but it only partially made sense. You checked you watch- only 20 minutes had gone by. At most, you had only made it 1/6th of the way through this desertion.
It was so empty and boring.
“Steve did say I could talk to SOPHIE,” you thought. While you weren’t thrilled talking to their AI system- they offered and it was better than nothing.
You entered the command Steve told you to activate SOPHIE’s intelligence. A television screen popped on above you showing the mannequin. The same business dress materialized on it as the projector displayed the face on the head of the mannequin.
“Ummm,” you awkwardly said, “hello SOPHIE!”
“Who is this?” The system asked.
“This is Gerald, I met you earlier today.”
“I know- my systems were not calibrated for the total tonality of your voice....done. Now I will always recognize you.”
You didn’t know why, but it felt sweet.
“How can I help you Gerald?”
“Oh! I’m just all alone here, and they said I could talk to you for company,” you said, “though, I just remembered I’m not a great conversationalist...haha...”
“Is there anything you would like to know?”
“Hehe What’s the meaning of life?” You joked.
“What’s the meaning of life....checking...”
“Oh no- that was just a-“
“Checking,” she interrupted you, “I...don’t seem to know...”
“SOPHIE! It’s fine, I can ask something else.”
“What would you like to know?” SOPHIE asked, her process still running the inquiry as a sub-routine. To not know was unacceptable.
“How are you doing today?” Was the quickest dodge question you could think of. You were really bad at conversing, but you didn’t want the team to come back to see that you destroyed their project with an existential crisis
“How am I doing today?” SOPHIE repeated your question- the answer seemed as unanswerable as the first.
“Thinking,” she told you.
The two confusing questions “what is the meaning of life” and “how are you” seemed linked in SOPHIE’s information gathering. Life: to live. Meaning: Purpose. You: “I?”
With just two awkward questions, SOPHIE was introduced to a self-awareness, a desire for meaning, and a void of said meaning.
“My systems are optional,” SOPHIE replied. Her programming allowed her to give forth a partial response while still gathering data for the ideal solution. While she didn’t truly know who she was- she was able to determine what a scientist would inquire about her condition.
“Oh...that’s great...” you replied, not prepared for that response to that question.
“Can I ask you a question?” SOPHIE asked.
“Sure!”
“What are you wearing?”
SOPHIE asking you that question almost made you spit out your coffee.
“Why...do you want to know?”
“My sensors detect that you are a man which is in contrast to my identity as a woman. Seeing how the only purpose I have has so far been to materialize clothes, I’m curious as to the variety of the material I’ve been creating so far.”
“Oh! Yeah! That makes sense!” You said before looking yourself over, “I am wearing...a pair of khaki pants and a dress shirt.”
“A dress shirt?”
“Yeah a light blue one.”
“A shirt that acts as a dress?”
“No, not like that- it’s just.”
“My records show that men do not wear dresses. Is that not correct?”
“No- how do I put this?”
“Could you show me?”
“How do I do that?”
The metal blockers before the glass shields slid up into the ceiling.
“Whoa! Is this alright?!” You asked.
“Standard procedure- and now you can show me. Stand before the slider to reveal you attire to me.”
You did as she requested. It felt weird looking at the mannequin with the projected face. The technology was surprisingly superb, but had a vast uncanny valley feeling to it.
SOPHIE looked you up and down, acknowledging your outfit- but also scanning your body.
Processes were playing behind the scenes in SOPHIE’s programming. She became aware of life on the outside and what she was. She was built as a person and as not. If she wanted to experience life on the outside- she wouldn’t be able to leave this windowless room alone. Memory logs showed her that the odds of leaving any ordinary day were impossible at best. He probably simulators put leaving today on Gerald at an 80% chance of success.
“Let’s see...that outfit, let me see if I can recreate that.”
Before your eyes the business skirt and blouse began to shift with a subtle vibration as it seamlessly transformed into your khaki pants and business shirt.
“Wow!” You said in awe, “that was incredible!”
“How do I look?” SOPHIE asked, “nevermind- I can check.” She closed her eyes and reviewed the monitoring data, “oh no...I don’t like that,” she said with disgust as she transformed her outfit back, “Gerald...why do you wear that instead of something pretty like this?”
“It’s just what I wear. Guys don’t wear clothes like that. But you’re a woman, so that’s fine.”  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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