First...What you are about to read has nothing to do with how to confuse Artificial Intelligence. Let me explain.
Back a few posts ago, in October, 2020, I posted a small sample of my next book, which at that time went under the title, "Welcome to the Machine." It is set in the future, in 2075, and at this point my best guess is that it will be available in less than a year. This sample, that you are about to read, is the Prologue, which goes under the chapter heading, "The Dawn of Humanity." In the book it is immediately followed by "Chapter 1; 2075 - The Lunchtime of Humanity."
So, hopefully this makes sense. What you are about to read is from the ancient past. The book may or may not be titled, "How to Confuse Artificial Intelligence." In fact I'll take suggestions and responses. I've permanently turned off public comments on this blog, but you can email azzurriprods@mail.com if you feel strongly one way or the other about any title suggestions. And now to:
Prologue - The Dawn of Humanity
Kag squatted in front of the cave wall.
He dipped the point of his stick in the bowl of red berry pigment and lifted it toward the wall.
He stroked the red pigment to his right, painting the direction of an arrow flying toward a deer.
He had not yet painted the deer.
This was all Kag cared about, this painting.
"Kag!"
His older brothers Nog and Gog stood impatiently behind him.
"Kag, come on. We have hunting and gathering to do. The sun's already been up for an hour."
Kag did not respond. He peered intently at his cave wall painting. He moved his hand carefully toward the painting. With his stick he added a tiny dab of pigment to the tip of the arrow.
"Kag!"
Satisfied with his revision of the arrow, Kag finally responded without turning around.
"What's that?" Kag asked sarcastically. "Another day of hunting and gathering? Ooh! I'm so excited. I'm tingly with excitement! How will this day of hunting and gathering be different from - " Kag finally stood and faced his brothers " - the other freaking five thousand days we've spent hunting gathering?"
"Oh, don't go off on that again!" Nog looked at Gog and rolled his eyes.
"There's got to be something better than this," Kag complained for, what his brothers were sure, was the millionth time. "I dream of a time when we have machines in our homes that keep our food cold until we pull it out and cook it."
"Machines!" Nog said mockingly. "What the hell are machines?"
"And what is a home?" asked Gog, laughing.
"It's where we live." Kag shifted his feet, frustrated with his brothers. "You don't think humanity is going to live in caves forever, do you."
Nog rolled his eyes again. "Someone's going to live in a looney bin if he's not careful."
Nog and Gog laughed together. Then Gog stopped. "Hey, what's a looney bin?" he asked.
Kag interrupted once again. "There has to be more to life than this, all the hunting, and the gathering."
"Look, mate," Nog replied sharply. "You're living in a fantasy world. Hunting and gathering is all there is and all there ever will be."
Kag knew he would never convince his brothers. Reluctantly he joined them, and the three brothers began walking out the cave opening.
"Well, do we have to both?" Kag asked weakly. "Do we have to hunt AND gather? Isn't gathering enough for one person? I have to hunt also?"
Peter Wick
February 15, 2021
