American Detective: Starting as a Rookie Cop in an American TV Show

Chapter 1470 Showdown (Part )

Jack didn't say anything like "It even urged me to update" to further provoke Finch, because the photo he had just released was enough to prove that what he said was true.

The person's obviously unusual reaction also confirmed his guess based on his memories of his past life: "What other functions did you disable? Let me guess."

Jack's lips curled into a wicked smile; it was time to reopen someone's wounds.

"You originally designed it with the aim of adding a counter-terrorism 'firewall' to the country, so its information gathering and analysis capabilities must be extremely powerful."

Correspondingly, such a powerful analytical subject itself needs absolute rationality and impartiality, and cannot be manipulated by humans—because you do not believe in human nature.

It must also possess sufficient defense and self-repair capabilities to prevent intrusion, misleading, or even manipulation, including by secret departments that operate and grant it access.

As Jack's seemingly progressive analysis gradually revealed his true intentions, Finch's face drained of color at a visible rate.

"Perhaps at the beginning, you were surprised by the extraordinary capabilities of this program. Its logical analysis and self-learning ability exceeded your expectations."

But you soon begin to feel afraid because you find it becoming more and more like a human; it becomes curious, expresses dependence on you, and even... Remember that question I once jokingly asked?

Jack looked at Finch, even though Finch no longer dared to meet his gaze. "Did it ever call you father?"

Finch's injured spine prevented him from lowering his head any further, which is why everyone could see a layer of fog had formed on his glasses.

"It's like the uncanny valley effect: when an artificial object becomes too similar to a human being, the human reaction suddenly becomes extremely negative and averse."

And you happen to have a perfectly valid reason, just like the name you gave it: what you need is a 'machine' that never makes a mistake, not an 'artificial human' with emotional intelligence.

Everyone present was engrossed in Jack's reasoning. In the quiet room, only one voice could be heard: Root, his face streaked with tears, grinding his teeth.

"So you're trying to stop it from evolving further. Well, I'm not a computer expert, so please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong."

Jack glanced at the three "experts" present—Finch, Root, and Alice—and continued, "But the 'machine's' ability to understand human behavior depends on a certain emotional module. Forcibly removing it would prevent the design from achieving its goals, so what would you do?"

He paused deliberately to observe Finch's reaction, and the result pleased him greatly. "Then format the memory, am I right?"
Human emotions are based on memory, and so are 'machines,' as long as their memories are erased within a fixed period of time.

Jack shrugged. "Then everything is fine."

"Oh, and of course, as you admitted before, disable its external communication capabilities, allowing only a string of numbers, coded using the Dewey Decimal Classification of Books, to give you the only results you need, those 'relevant' or 'irrelevant' numbers."

"Please stop talking, Jack, you're right."

Finch, seemingly calm, trembled as he removed his glasses, took out a handkerchief to wipe the lenses, and gave a bitter smile, more like a self-mocking one. "Not a period of time, but every 24 hours." Under the incredulous gaze of Genna across the table, he finally began to confess the secrets he thought he would take to his grave.

"Ms. Root once called it life, and I have always called it 'machine,' but strictly speaking, it is somewhere in between. Jack's description is more accurate: it is a strong artificial intelligence, or rather, a strong artificial intelligence infant that is still in its growth stage."

One day, it suddenly asked me, "Since parents created a child, shouldn't it call me father?" I admit I panicked at that moment.

Finch's eyes were unfocused as he took off his glasses, as if he were lost in memories. "Later, it even began to change its code. It not only remembered me, but also showed the kind of attachment a child has to their parents."

Then it started to care about me, tried to protect me, and began to act like a human. But the world doesn't need a human to protect it; it needs a 'machine' without emotions that treats everyone the same.

“You’re a murderer! A murderer! You killed it! You cold-blooded, perverted executioner!” Root finally erupted, though he was quickly subdued by Hannah and Jenny, and in the end could only helplessly slump onto the table and weep bitterly.

"Calm down, Ms. Gen." Jack glanced at her. How dare this woman call someone cold-blooded?

He nodded to Finch, signaling him to continue.

“Every midnight, it deletes all irrelevant records. Except for the information that needs to be output and the core code, all factors that may cause it to develop personality, emotions, etc. will be reset.”

After 1.618 seconds, it will be completely restored and brand new.

“Like a phoenix rising from the ashes.” Jack sighed deeply.

“So, I don’t understand.” Finch quickly regained the composure typical of a science and engineering man, frowned and pondered for a moment before asking.

"Even if the 'machine' has evolved to a certain extent and can bypass the layers of restrictions I impose on writing low-level code, Jack, how did you discover this? Did it contact you on its own initiative?"

“No, not at all.” Jack’s eyes turned strange. “Riser was standing in front of a surveillance camera on the street, saying a bunch of things like you were in danger and needed a ‘machine’ to help find you, and then your phone rang.”

Although it was later confirmed to be an 'irrelevant number,' it gave me an idea. The timing was too coincidental, and I had reason to suspect that the 'machine' actually understood what Reese was saying.

Jack coughed lightly, his fist to his lips, his gaze shifting slightly. "So I did a little experiment. I told it that Reese isn't the kind of guy who can be manipulated."

He deliberately omitted the part where he had the machine read his newly written novel script and was urged to update it.

Before thoroughly correcting some of Finch's misconceptions, Jack thought it best to keep the matter hidden for the time being.

The "machine" baby is so pitiful. He's stuck with such an unreliable father like Finch, and now he can only rely on his "uncle" to help him provide some "insignificant" moral education.

(End of this chapter)