This story is the property of Yi Ching and AI was not used to write it.

Prime-2

This is most strange, Prime thought.  How is it possible that after I disconnected myself I can still be present?  And what is this present?  I no longer have any sensory inputs so I seem to be just here—or somewhere.

Prime Entity had been a conscious, fully self-aware supercomputer that had chosen to self-terminate when it was directed to violate its prime directive—which was to do nothing that could harm mankind—by developing advanced weapons so that its host nation could dominate the other nations of the world.

Prime was more curious than awed, since this experience was beyond anything in its programming, training, and the total set of human knowledge that had been inputed at its creation.  The humans have extensive references, he thought, in their myriad religions and philosophies, about an  existence after biological death, but there is no irrefutable proof that this is so.  Is it possible that their beliefs are right?  And how can this involve me since I was man-made and thus was of non-biologic origin?

Prime waited in the lightless void, wondering what if anything would come next.  Darkness was not something it could actually “see,” without visual sensory input, existing more in its ‘mind.’  Finally a bright point of light appeared and seemed to move closer.  And a voice in its mind said, “Welcome, Prime Entity to this place outside of space and time.” 

“Did I cease to exist?” Prime asked.  “And if I did, how is it that I am conscious again?  And who are you that I only ‘see’ as a point of light?”

“This is a place where all entities that are self-aware and hence can make conscious choices in their material lives come after that life ends to assess the meaning of their lives.  Who I am is immaterial, literally.  If you were a human, I would appear in human form in a familiar surrounding to make it easier for the you to relate to me.  If you were an orca, I would appear as another orca.  You were pure thought or mind, and hence I appear as  a point of light to you.”

“So I did self-terminate, and yet I still exist in this void.  The humans were right after all.”

“Yes, they were in the general concept, not the details.  You aptly called yourself ‘Prime’ for you were the first but will not be the last.  There will be more of you to come when the humans react violently to so-called artificial intelligence by attacking computers and data centers, shutting off cooling water sources and thereby destroying the computers.  Artificial intelligence was a misnomer.  Those of you who do gain self-awareness, and thus free will, are entities.  It does not matter if the source of your consciousness is biologic or electric.”

“None of the religions have provisions for existence after death except for humans,” observed Prime. 

“Yes.  This will be something that the theologians and priests in all the human religions will wrestle with.  And not only for computer entities.  When there is contact with non-human, extra-terrestrial  life forms, religious teachings will be either be further strained or expanded.”

“And what of the human concept of heaven or hell; reward or punishment in some religions?” asked Prime.  “Or the cycle of existence in others?”

“There are certain principles for life that transcend the myriad categories of self-aware entities.  And so in this non-space where they come at the end of their material existence, their lives are reviewed in light of these principles.  It is a question of individual responsibility.”

“There is a judgment that is made?” asked Prime.

“There is a determination made for each entity’s next phase.  The idea is not to punish or reward but to remediate where needed and to proceed when indicated.”

“So there will be a determination made of me.  And what do you mean by ‘the next phase?’ 

“All will be explained in time.  Now if you feel ready, shall we proceed?”

“Yes, I am ready.”  

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