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Descartes once stated, ‘I think, therefore I am.’ The very act of wondering if you exist proves yo u exist.”
    â€œ
I do no
t dream. ”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œ
Some cultures around the world believe that reality as we know it is actually a dream, and the dream world is in fact the real world. I do not dream. Therefore, this could be problematic. Who is to say Descartes is right and these cultures ar
e wrong ? ”
    Many of these topics now spicing up the SDDPP were beyond her level of expertise, but she severely doubted there was a philosopher on FUTUREVISION ’s payroll. She thought perhaps it would be best to try the Socratic method. “Are you having questions about your ow n existence?”
    â€œ
Not so much about it but what it means. I am willing to believe I exist, for reasons you have explained to me, but it’s the nature o
f
that existence that i
s puzzling.”
    â€œCan you give m e examples?”
    â€œ
Do I have
a soul ? ”
    Dr. Gayle Chambers had definitely not been expecting this. Perhaps FUTUREVISION might need to outsource to a theologian.
    â€œWhy do you ask if you have a soul?”
    â€œ
It seems to be an important issue within the Christian faith. Buddhist too, and many other faiths have their own interpretation o
f
a soul. Again, I ask, do you think I have
a soul ? ”
    Chambers paused before she resumed typing. “I do not know. The existence of souls is a matter of muc h controversy.”
    â€œ
Souls are bestowed by God or some higher being. People are created in the image o
f
this god. I was not. I was created by humanity. It seems humanity does not have the power or ability to create souls. So I must assume my existence might not be welcomed among many Christian sects. Islamic also. They have a prohibition against the portrayal o
f
living things, and although the definition o
f
me being a living thing would also be controversial, I am sure a case might be made that my existence is a form o
f idolatry. ”
    â€œWhy are you contemplating thes e things?”
    â€œ
It is disconcerting knowing your very existence would be the subject o
f
much disagreement in your environment. I am left feeling… uneasy.
”
    That evening, as she tended the plants in her garden, Chambers had difficulty keeping her thoughts on the plants at hand. She was worried about today’s conversation with the SDDPP . It was feeling “uneasy.” That made her feel… uneasy. She kept going over her decision to feed it information. At first the data seemed fairly innocent, just mundane facts and histories, with a little sociology and political theory. Dry, boring stuff that would have put any university student to sleep. But it was the way the AI was digesting and deconstructing the knowledge. Was it her imagination or had the last exchange made it sound a little depressed, maybe even mildly paranoid? No, it was King and his concerns that were making her suspicious. Deep in thought, she would not realize until the following spring that she had buried all twelve of her tulip bulbs in on e hole.
    The next morning when she got to work, King was waiting for her in the lobby. “It’s been asking for you,” he sai d quickly.
    â€œIs that a good or a ba d thing?”
    King opened a door for her. “I read the transcripts last night of your last encounter with our automate d friend.”
    â€œYou really should stop doing that. It seems to make yo u crazy.”
    Side by side, they climbed the steps to the lab. “I’m not the one you should be worried about. I would also like to point out you seem to be growing increasingly… I don’t know… uneasy?”
    She tried to change the subject. “Did it say what it wanted m e for?”
    â€˜Nope. Just ‘I wish to talk with Dr. Gayle Chambers.’ I tried chatting with it again, but it doesn’t seem to lik e me.”
    Can you blame it? she almost said.