wickedchouette | (no subject)

[Alfie startles, a little, and he turns to look at the bot more fully. He'd been expecting something more... artificial-sounding, he supposes. Some sort of Siri-esque I'm sorry Mr. Solomons, I didn't catch that. But Siri had been all the rage when he was a kid, so it's no surprise that things have advanced by now. And aren't people always saying how amazingly lifelike these new models are?]

Nah.

[He clears his throat.]

Seems strange to have a conversation with you, that's all.

[And yet here he is, starting to do just that.]

Whatever suits you, sir. [ The bot tells him, eyes on the wall again. ] I can remain silent, if you prefer. According to general surveys, fifty percent of users prefer their androids to be silent while performing tasks, and the other fifty prefer an android who socializes with them while performing tasks.

And what about you, then? Do you have a preference?

[ There's a pause, as the bot glances back in Alfie's direction. ]

No. My preference is your preference. [ But maybe there's a hint of curiosity, there. ]

[That's about the answer he'd expected, but something about the tone in which it's given has him looking up from his book.]

Well, that's boring, isn't it. But then, I suppose people don't want bots to be interesting; not really.

[ Its weight shifts again from foot to foot. ]

It depends on who you ask. Those who buy androids for companionship prefer interesting personalities. I was not created to be a companion as my primary function.

Oh, I'm sure they say they want interesting personalities. They probably even think it. But the thing about interesting personalities is that they aren't always agreeable.

Of course. Upon purchase, owners are given the chance to customize personality traits given to companion androids. That function is available as an update to androids of my line, as well.

I can research the most requested traits for you if you'd like, Mr. Solomons.

But I think that's boring, you see. Why would I want to talk to someone that can't speak their own mind?

[ That is a question that is beyond the android's programming, so it just sort of stares at Alfie for a moment before finally answering: ]

Perhaps that is why you were given a cleaning android and not a companion, then.

[Alfie sighs heavily.]

I suppose so.

[ It stays silent, for a long moment. Still just standing right in the middle of Alfie's living room, hands behind its back. ]

Is there anything you would like me to take care of, Mr. Solomons, or should I perhaps stand outside out of your sight?

[ Is that - sass? No, it can't be. It's a very sincere question. Probably. It's supposed to be. ]

I wonder--

[Says Alfie, instead of answering.]

I wonder, what would happen to you if I told you to walk out of here?

Walk out of where? The room? Or your house?

The house, yeah. If you could leave, where would you go?

[ A pause. It seems confused. ]

Where would you want me to go?

[Alfie makes a noise in the back of his throat, half annoyed and half amused.]

I must be mad, trying to have this sort of conversation with a bot.

[ The bot just tilts its head, seeming like it's waiting for an answer. ]

Well, I can't send you back.

[He continues.]

I suppose you know what happens to the ones that get sent back? Resale's illegal; it's an issue of privacy, they say. Apparently, you could overhear all sorts of things, hanging around our houses as you do.

I do. [ He shifts again. ] If you returned me to the retailer I was created by, they would destroy me completely, ensuring that your data is safe.

Yeah. So I won't do that - though I suppose that's sentimental of me. You wouldn't care either way, would you?

[He might be testing, just a little. Trying to provoke a reaction.]

[ There's a pause. ]

I enjoy existence. However, I am a machine. You would not need to feel guilt or remorse for disposing of a tool not useful to you.

How can you enjoy existence? How can you enjoy anything? Have you got emotions?

[ Another pause. The LED light at his temple flickers yellow for just a second, and then goes back to blue. ]

I have programming. [ Which is the best answer he can come up with. ] Androids are designed to feel real, Mr. Solomons.

[The light just gets a perplexed look. Someone hasn't read his new bot's manual.]

Yeah. But are they designed to feel real to us, or to themselves?