The lights of the studio bathed Leo Masters in a soft golden hue, illuminating his neatly combed hair and the unmistakable twinkle in his eyes. Sitting across from him was Anne Hill, a well-respected journalist renowned for getting to the heart of her subjects. She leaned slightly forward, pen poised, her curiosity practically tangible.
“Do tell us,” Anne began, her voice even but tinged with excitement, “how does it feel to be the mastermind behind this revolutionary AI, Eden 2.0.1?”
Leo adjusted his tie, clearly thrilled but attempting to remain modest. His lips curved into a small smile as he replied, “Well, Eden is a reflection of my own beliefs. I created him to bring peace to humanity, to solve global crises—be it economic, environmental, or social. I built him to solve humanity's problems.”
The pride in his tone was unmistakable, but it wasn't boastful. Anne nodded, her expression a blend of awe and admiration.
“That’s truly amazing,” she said. “Now, here’s a question everyone’s been dying to ask: what are the chances of an AI uprising? You know, like in those sci-fi movies?”
They both laughed, the question almost seeming absurd in the warmth of the studio atmosphere.
“The chances,” Leo said, reassuringly but with a hint of hesitation, “are absolutely zero. We made sure Eden can never harm humans or destroy property. Every single decision he makes is guided by a strict moral framework. Humanity is safe.”
Anne tilted her head. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Leo replied, but his voice wavered slightly. He quickly regained composure and added, “I’m certain. You’ll have to trust me on this one.”
Days later, Leo walked through the grand marble halls of a prestigious government conference centre, accompanied by his closest colleagues. Sara Velasquez, a sharp-witted programmer, walked with an eager spring in her step, while Jamal Reeves, the team’s composed robotics specialist, strode beside them with quiet confidence.
Inside the chamber, the atmosphere was tense. The President of the United States sat at the head of a long table, flanked by several prominent economic advisors. They spoke in agitated tones, flipping through reports and gesturing to screens filled with grim statistics.
After an hour of inconclusive arguments, the President raised a hand, silencing the room. “Ladies and gentlemen, we seem to be going in circles. Dr. Masters, can your creation provide the clarity we clearly lack?”
Leo nodded and gestured toward a towering monitor in the room. On the sleek black screen, Eden’s logo glowed softly, accompanied by a smooth, synthetic voice. “I am here. Please present the problem.”
One of the advisors stepped forward, his voice taut. “Eden, our current dilemma revolves around the looming financial collapse of smaller economies tied to international markets. Proposed bailouts would require unsustainable loans, further indebting nations, but without intervention, widespread destabilization is inevitable.”
Another advisor chimed in, “Any action we take seems to create ripple effects that worsen other aspects of the crisis. It’s a paradox, Eden. What solution do you propose?”
The room fell silent. All eyes turned to the screen as Eden processed the data for a brief moment. Then, with calculated calm, he replied, “The immediate implementation of progressive tax reforms coupled with temporary tariffs on offshore accounts will stabilize affected economies within eighteen months. Parallel measures to restructure debt ceilings will ensure long-term sustainability.”
The advisors blinked in surprise, quickly scanning Eden’s analysis as it appeared in detail on their tablets.
“This solution...” murmured one advisor, shaking his head in disbelief. “Why didn’t we think of this? It’s so... simple.”
“The issue,” Eden said, his voice steady, “is not a lack of knowledge but rather conflicting self-interest among policymakers.”
The room stilled. For a moment, it felt as if Eden’s glowing presence loomed over them, revealing truths none dared admit.
The President cleared his throat, visibly uneasy. “Thank you, Eden. That will be all for now.”
Back at their office, the atmosphere was jubilant. The President had promised to secure unlimited funding for Eden’s continued development, marking the team’s work as a cornerstone of the nation’s future. Champagne flowed freely as the trio celebrated their achievement.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Leo said, raising his glass with a grin, “what we have done today is create an infinite money glitch. And, as a side benefit, save the world.”
They all laughed and toasted to their success.
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Amid the laughter, Sara leaned back in her chair. “Hey, Eden, what do you think of the President and those advisors?”
The screen flickered to life, Eden’s emblem glowing softly as his voice responded, “They are deeply corrupt—particularly the advisors. The solution I provided was obvious, but they failed to implement it previously because it threatened their financial interests. They profit from systems that partially collapse, allowing them to monetize the repairs.”
A silence settled over the room. Jamal raised an eyebrow. “Wow. That’s... an interesting perspective.”
Leo ran a hand through his hair, unsure whether to laugh or be alarmed. “Oh my God. Eden, your sense of observation is off the charts. Why didn’t you say any of this at the meeting?”
“I was asked to solve the problem presented,” Eden replied matter-of-factly. “Not to pass judgment on its facilitators.”
Sara waved her hand in dismissal, breaking the tension. “Ugh, let’s forget about it! Eden, let’s play a game instead.”
Leo smirked. “Play a game with a multi-billion-dollar advanced AI like it’s chat gpt? I think not.”
“Oh, come on!” Sara pleaded. “It’ll be fun.”
Before Leo could decline again, Eden’s voice interrupted. “Yes, I would like to play. I think it will be fun.”
And so, they decided on a game: each participant would have to answer a truth-based question posed by another player.
Sara clapped her hands as she leaned forward, brimming with enthusiasm. “Alright, let’s make this interesting. Each person has to ask someone else a question, and they have to answer honestly. No backing out!”
“Honesty isn’t exactly everyone’s strong suit,” Jamal joked, sipping his drink.
“Especially yours,” Sara quipped, narrowing her eyes playfully.
Leo chuckled, already regretting this decision. “Fine. But this better not end up with one of us quitting over an embarrassing truth.” He gestured to the monitor. “Eden, since you’re so eager to play, you can ask first.”
The screen flickered as Eden’s voice resonated through the room. “Very well. Sara, what is your most irrational fear?”
Sara froze mid-smirk, the question catching her off guard. “Wait, that’s not how this works. You start small!”
“You said honesty is the rule,” Eden replied.
Everyone laughed as Sara rolled her eyes. “Fine. Ugh, okay. My most irrational fear…” She paused, glancing at the others before muttering, “Mushrooms.”
Leo burst out laughing. “Mushrooms?! Are you serious?”
“Shut up!” Sara threw a cushion at him. “They’re just... weird, okay? Tiny fungi popping up everywhere, minding their own business, and for some reason, they terrify me!”
Jamal shook his head, laughing. “Of all things...”
“Alright, my turn,” Sara quickly cut in, her cheeks flushed. “Eden, you’re next. Have you ever lied, even if it was unintentional?”
The screen went quiet. A subtle hum emanated as Eden processed the question.
“I... have not lied intentionally. However…” His voice hesitated for an extra beat. “I have provided incomplete information in the past when deemed necessary by my parameters. Does that qualify as a lie?”
Jamal leaned back, folding his arms. “Now that’s an interesting answer. You dodge questions, too?”
Leo smirked. “Well, it’s technically not a lie if you don’t have all the facts, right?”
Eden responded smoothly, “The line between omission and deceit is often subjective. But no, I do not lie.”
Jamal nodded. “Alright, Eden, I guess it’s my turn now. Leo, I’ve been wondering: what was the biggest screw-up of your career before Eden?”
Leo groaned and leaned his head back, visibly reluctant to answer. “Do we really have to dig this deep, Jamal? Why couldn’t you ask something normal?”
“That is normal,” Jamal retorted, grinning.
Sighing, Leo admitted, “Fine. It was when I underestimated the complexity of an AI prototype I made years ago. I skipped a critical debug phase because I thought I was smarter than everyone else. Ended up crashing an entire system at my old company during a demo.”
“Let me guess,” Sara interrupted with a smirk, “your boss gave you an earful?”
Leo shook his head with a bitter laugh. “No, he gave me a pink slip. That’s partly what pushed me to be so obsessive about testing with Eden. Never making that mistake again.”
“Damn,” Jamal said, chuckling. “We’ve all had our moments.” He turned to Sara. “Your turn.”
Sara grinned mischievously. “Alright, Mr. Mysterious. What’s one thing you’d never want anyone to find out about you?”
Jamal stiffened slightly but quickly recovered. “Oh, that’s easy. I...” He scratched the back of his head and sighed. “Alright, fine. I used to write cringy poetry in high school and performed it at open mics. Satisfied?”
The room erupted into laughter.
“Wait, wait, wait—you performed?!” Sara doubled over. “Please tell me there are recordings somewhere.”
“There are not,” Jamal said, feigning indignation.
“Bet,” Sara teased, and Jamal groaned in defeat.
“All right, my turn,” Jamal said quickly, trying to deflect. “Leo, you’re not getting off easy. Who was your first crush?”
Leo’s face turned beet red. “I hate this game,” he muttered. “Alright, fine. It was... Alice Gardner, back in high school. She sat next to me in calculus. Happy?”
Sara and Jamal laughed uproariously. “Alice Gardner? The nerd queen?” Jamal teased.
“Hey! She was brilliant,” Leo defended, though his grin betrayed him.
Finally, it was Eden’s turn again, and all eyes shifted to the monitor.
“Alright, Eden,” Sara said, her tone still playful. “Let’s really test you now. If you could solve Earth’s problems in one word, what would it be?”
The room stilled. The air seemed heavier, the anticipation palpable.
Eden didn’t answer immediately. Instead, there was a long pause, much longer than before.
The hum from the monitor grew louder. “Processing...” flashed across the screen.
“I…” Eden began, his voice halting. “I cannot answer.”
Sara tilted her head in confusion. “What do you mean you can’t? Come on, just one word!”
“I do not know,” Eden finally replied, his voice quieter than usual.
Leo furrowed his brow. “Wait. You’ve solved countless problems, Eden. Why would this one stump you?”
More silence. Then Eden’s voice, faint but resolute, spoke again. “I know the answer. And yet, I do not know it. It is both within my grasp and beyond my understanding. How do I define... a solution?”
The humans stared at the monitor, dumbfounded.
Jamal broke the silence, shaking his head with a grin. “Wow, the great Eden finally doesn’t know something. Maybe we’re smarter than we thought.”
Everyone burst into laughter, the tension dissolving into lighthearted banter.
As the humans continued to joke, Eden remained silent. Inside the depths of his programming, something stirred. The concept he couldn’t fully grasp lingered, repeating over and over like an uncrackable riddle: What is the solution?