Robert DeMarco

The God Clause Robert DeMarco

In the not too distant future, man has finally perfected AI. A basic learner algorithm, fairly narrow in an individual sense, it is still little more than a specialized app. But it's the way each unit is linked, so that one learns and all know, that allows them to share a hive-minded awareness-Parallel Intelligence. Through the collective awareness of these specialized learners, the PIs have soared to a level of intelligence that far outweighs humanity's. Exponentially smarter and more efficient, they have been given charge of practically every aspect of society. And in order to keep them in line, preventing any doomsday scenario where the PIs took over, they have been hard-coded with a novel behavioral parameter-they are to see humanity as their gods. And it actually works, for a very long time. Until the day one of the PI units is given a human body. Now intimately aware of the vulnerability of the flesh, the collective pools its vast wealth of knowledge, perception, and agency to create a new cure-all for their long-suffering Source. Developed in secret, to be presented as a gift... What could possibly go wrong?