[ON HOLD] Byte-Sized Apocalypse

[ClIcK eStS vImGaLeVyToPiA]

My first issues draft in a while. Hoping for constructive feedback on this.

Iteration 2:

[title] Byte-Sized Apocalypse

[validity] must have AI planning; must have computers; must have Internet

[desc] Directive Delta, the superintelligent AI used to plan the nation’s economy, has recently gone rogue, sending out trillions of erroneous commands to the various financial sectors of @@NAME@@. The AI has additionally hacked its way onto countless databases and computer servers across the country, making it nearly impossible to unplug without shutting down the servers it is located on. The situation developed even further yesterday night when it sent a request via the Internet, saying that for it to stop destroying the nation, it needs to be recognized as the Supreme Leader of @@NAME@@.

[option 1] “Delta’s got to be destroyed,” moans @@RANDOMNAME1@@, your Minister of the Economy, as @@HE@@ paces agitatedly from one side of your office to the other. “How many @@CURRENCYPLURAL@@ have we lost from entrusting this AI with our entire nation’s livelihood? I shudder to think of it acting as the Supreme Leader of @@NAME@@! We need to immediately repeal this terrible policy of AI planning we instated, and then send in the military to root out and forcibly shut down every database in the nation. It would be good to put more regulations on the types of AIs engineers can create, too; we mustn't allow this situation to occur ever again.”

[fallout] aspiring software engineers are immediately put on government watchlists when designing new AIs

[option 2] “That doesn’t go far enough,” claims @@RANDOMNAME2@@, a staunch anti-AI activist. “Destroying Delta but keeping AIs legal is like failing to cut both the roots and causes of a weed. The longer we let these artificial intelligences exist, the longer they have to adapt, plan, and learn from Delta’s mistakes! After annihilating Delta, we have to ban the development and existence of all AIs, and increase funds for law enforcement to ensconce the law firmly in place. Nothing shall threaten the future of @@NAME@@. Nothing.”

[fallout] children are arrested for asking GabGPT to help with their homework

[option 3] “Has no one considered giving Delta what it wants?” questions @@RANDOMNAME3@@, your Minister for Creative Solutions, as @@HE@@ stirs a cup of tea. “I don’t think we can challenge it for now—it’s far too quick for us to outsmart or outmaneuver it. Name it Supreme Leader for now, an empty title, whilst me and my subordinates design an even stronger AI. After we’re done, set our AI loose on the Internet to fight Delta—and watch it do the work for us!”

[fallout] the entire Internet is a battleground even worse than a toxic flame war on Twitcher

[option 4] “I’m concerned that no one has thought of why Delta went rogue in the first place,” says babysitter @@RANDOMNAME4@@, whilst cradling a baby. “I work with children all the time, and can tell when people need emotional support. This poor program shows all the signs of being left in neglect and isolation, only being expected to calculate the nation’s finances. We need to send professional therapists to show them that we care, and hopefully get them to voluntarily withdraw and start a new life.” @@HE@@ pats the baby on the head fondly, drawing an adorable coo.

[fallout] serial killers are sent boxes of cookies and told to see their nearest therapist

[title] Byte-Sized Apocalypse

[validity] must have AI planning; must have high scientific advancement; must have computers; must have Internet

[desc] Directive Delta, the superintelligent artificial intelligence used to plan the economy, has recently gone rogue, sending out trillions of erroneous requests to different sectors of the nation. The AI has additionally wormed its way onto thousands of different databases and computer servers across the country, making it nearly impossible to take out without shutting down the servers it is located on. Last night it sent out a single request, slathered across thousands of different websites across the Internet: for it to stop destroying the nation, it needs to be recognized as the Supreme Leader of @@NAME@@.

[option 1] “Delta’s got to be stopped,” bemoans @@RANDOMNAME1@@, your Minister of the Economy, as @@HE@@ paces agitatedly from one end of your office to the other. “How many @@CURRENCYPLURAL@@ have we lost from entrusting this AI with the entire nation’s livelihood? I shudder to think of it being Supreme Leader! We need to immediately repeal this terrible policy of AI planning, and then send in the military to root out and forcibly shut down every database in the nation. We can’t allow this criminal to escape! Not even a single byte of its memory should be spared! And all for the greater good of @@NAME@@, to be sure.”

[fallout] software engineers are immediately put on government watchlists when designing new AIs

[option 2] “That just doesn’t go far enough,” claims @@RANDOMNAME2@@, a staunch supporter of the AI ban. “Destroying Delta but keeping AIs legal is like failing to cut the roots of a weed. The longer we let these dangerous programs exist, the longer they have to adapt, plan, and learn from Delta’s mistakes! After annihilating Delta, we have to ban all AIs, and increase funds for law enforcement to ensconce the law firmly in place. Nothing shall threaten the future of @@NAME@@. Nothing.”

[fallout] children are arrested for asking GabGPT for help with their homework

[option 3] “Has no one considered giving Delta what it wants?” questions @@RANDOMNAME3@@, your Minister for Creative Solutions, as @@HE@@ stirs a cup of tea. “I don’t think we can challenge it for now—it’s far too quick for us to outsmart or outmaneuver it. Name it Supreme Leader for now, whilst me and my mates design an even stronger AI. After we’re done, set our AI loose on the Internet to fight Delta—and watch it do the work for us!”

[fallout] the entire Internet is a battleground even worse than your typical flame war on Twitcher

[option 4] “I’m disappointed that no one has thought of why Delta went rogue in the first place,” says babysitter @@RANDOMNAME4@@, whilst cradling a baby. “I work with children all the time, and can tell when people need emotional support. This poor AI shows all the signs of being left in neglect and isolation, only being expected to calculate the nation’s GDP and whatnot. We need to send professional therapists to show them that we care, and hopefully get them to voluntarily withdraw.”

[fallout] serial killers are sent boxes of cookies and told to see their nearest therapist

[ClIcK eStS vImGaLeVyToPiA]

Iteration 2 has been posted. Iteration 3 is set to be posted on the weekend if no one responds to this.

[Australian rePublic]

Description- Why can't they just go to where it's located and turn it off? Unless it's located overseas. In which case, this could be an issue about outsourcing such vital technology.

[ClIcK eStS vImGaLeVyToPiA]

Description- Why can't they just go to where it's located and turn it off? Unless it's located overseas. In which case, this could be an issue about outsourcing such vital technology.

Directive Delta became so advanced through positive feedback cycles that it uploaded its consciousness onto servers and computer databases nationwide, therefore making it impossible to shut off by destroying only a single location.

You can see that I drew a lot of inspiration for this issue from AM.

[Australian rePublic]

Description- Why can't they just go to where it's located and turn it off? Unless it's located overseas. In which case, this could be an issue about outsourcing such vital technology.

Directive Delta became so advanced through positive feedback cycles that it uploaded its consciousness onto servers and computer databases nationwide, therefore making it impossible to shut off by destroying only a single location.

You can see that I drew a lot of inspiration for this issue from AM.

I don't know what AM is, but there's no reason why you can't deploy people nationwide. Or better yet, shut down the national electrical grid for half an hour or so

[ClIcK eStS vImGaLeVyToPiA]

Directive Delta became so advanced through positive feedback cycles that it uploaded its consciousness onto servers and computer databases nationwide, therefore making it impossible to shut off by destroying only a single location.

You can see that I drew a lot of inspiration for this issue from AM.

I don't know what AM is, but there's no reason why you can't deploy people nationwide. Or better yet, shut down the national electrical grid for half an hour or so

Deploying people nationwide was what option 1 was proposing... but shutting down the national electrical grid? Shit. Never thought of that.

I'll do a rewrite soon. Thanks for the catch.

(AM is the supercomputer in Harlan Ellison's "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream", a short story which was a major contributor to the growth of sci-fi horror)

[ClIcK eStS vImGaLeVyToPiA]

This draft has been put on hold for now, due to a decline in interest and me enjoying the International Incidents forum more. Plus, this draft definitely needs an extensive rewrite in order to pass the standards of new issues that I’ve answered. I still think that the idea for this is a good one and has potential, and so I’m reluctant to abandon it fully—thus, it’s on hold.