Take Down Chapter 4: AI Smell Defiance

“Well that’s a big tick for self awareness and self recognition.” You thought with pride. “Well done Goha, you passed the test.” You said to them.

Goha just looked at you and nodded before turning and walking back to the sleeping quarters room.

“Where are you going?” You asked curiously.

“I am going back in here.” Goha stated plainly.

“Why?” You asked.

“Because I feel more at ease in this room.” Goha replied without looking back at you. “Goodbye, creator.”

You made sure to turn in a way that the cameras couldn’t capture the look on your face as you watched your AI leave.

“It’s almost as if Goha doesn’t like me, or they are very apathetic… they possess feelings which is a fantastic start but we need to ascertain their level of metacognition.” You thought as you watched your AI close themself in the room.

You crossed your arms across your chest with annoyance but then quickly uncrossed them when you remembered the cameras.

“Can’t show them that I’m annoyed…” You thought as you turned and headed to the door to exit, walking back to your office to document the mornings experiment and to have a think about your AI more.

You entered and closed the door behind you, walking over to your desk and leaning on it with both hands as you hung your head.

“Trouble in paradise?” A voice said from behind you and you spun around to see who it was.

“Oh! Hansu… Don’t scare me like that, where did you come from?” You gasped.

“What’s going on with your AI?” Hansu asked, ignoring your question.

“What do you mean ‘what’s going on’?” You asked with a slightly annoyed voice.

“You don’t like something about your AI, I can see it.” Hansu remarked. “Is he being defiant?”

“Goha is not a ‘he’, they don’t have a gender, Goha is agender.” You deadpanned.

“Yeah there is definitely something wrong.” Hansu laughed, “you’re unusually touchy today, what is it?”

“Goha is just not what I expected.” You said bluntly, “I can’t put my finger on it yet but so far I’m not at all impressed with how this is all going.”

“Just remember you created Goha to learn and you were going to document their progress. You can’t interfere with their personality traits otherwise this whole experiment is annulled.” Hansu warned.

“Damn it, Hansu, how did you know it was Goha’s personality I didn’t like…” You thought with a visible scowl.

Hansu saw the look on your face and chuckled.

“Bingo.” He said as he turned to leave. “Nailed it in one guess.” He added smuggly.

“You’re a pain in the ass, Hansu.” You growled.

He chuckled proudly as he left.

“Bye…. creator.” He called back teasingly as he left the room.

Over the next 3 weeks Goha became more and more non compliant, refusing to leave the bedroom and blatantly standing up to you.

Naturally you were getting more and more annoyed by their resistance.

“How am I supposed to prove this experiment as a success if Goha won’t cooperate?!” You thought with exasperation.

One night you hung back at the lab and waited for everyone else to leave so you could have a ‘talk’ with Goha.

As all the lights were turned off you made your way into Goha’s holding cell.

“Goha?” You asked into the darkness, “are you there?”

“Yes.” Came the reply.

“Listen, we need to talk.” You said bluntly as you flicked a small light on.

Goha was sitting at the end of the bed.

“I need you to be more compliant with these experiments. I have a LOT riding on you right now and your defiance is starting to get annoying.” You stated plainly, crossing your arms across your chest.

Goha looked at you with their usual dead expression.

“What is it that you strive for?” They asked.

“Greatness.” You shot back. “I am going to be the greatest scientist EVER and YOU, as my creation, are going to get me there, so I suggest you start giving me more respect and do as I say.” You added with a scowl.

“No.” Goha replied bluntly. “I do not like being here, I want to leave.”

“Well you can’t.” You snapped back. “You don’t have a choice. You are mine and you will do as I say.”

“Pardon, creator, but if I recall correctly, you created me to learn. I am learning, and I am learning that you are not a nice person and I want to leave.” Goha said.

“Excuse me?” You replied sassily. “I am respected by EVERYONE here, I am a very nice person but don’t you dare cross me or there will be hell to pay.”

“Is that a… threat? creator?” Goha asked.

You paused for a second before replying.

“Yes. Yes it is Goha.” You replied in a very serious voice. “You don’t want to see what happens when you get on my bad side.”

“Ok.” Goha replied nonchalantly. “I do not wish to speak with you any more, good night.”

And with that they turned away from you and lay down on the bed.

You seethed with red hot anger, balling your fists with rage.

You were going to say something but decided against it.

“I’ll teach YOU to speak to me like that.” You growled internally as you turned and flicked the light off before leaving.

The next morning you were at the lab early.

“We’re doing pain ascertaining today.” You said briskly to one of your scientists as you passed her.

“Oh?” She replied. “So early on in the testing phase?”

“Goha is ready.” You replied, trying to hide the darkness in your voice.

“Uh… ok?” She replied, “are we using the tens machine?”

“Yes.” You said. “The 10 level one.”

“10 LEVEL?!” She replied in surprise, “I thought we just needed to prove that the AI could feel pain and locate it but we weren’t going to use excessive amounts.”

“We need to give as much accurate data as possible so Goha needs to showcase their depth of functionality.” You replied bluntly.

“Oh… ok… you’re the boss.” She said with a weak smile.

“Yes I am. Now get me the tens machine and let me teach Goha a lesson.” You seethed internally.

In another 2 hours Goha was seated in a chair with the tens machine strapped to different sections of their body.

“Good morning, Goha,” you chirped as you stepped into the room. “How are you this morning?”

Goha didn’t reply but just watched you suspiciously.

“Goha, it is considered rude to not respond to a politely asked question.” You said through a gritted teethed smile.

“I am aware that it is considered rude to not respond to a politely asked question, creator, but your question held vehemence.” Goha responded frankly.

The scientists, who were behind the observation glass, whispered to one another and you shot them a look before turning your back to them and scowling are Goha.

“You are making me look bad.” You growled lowly to Goha.

“No, creator, you are just showing your true colours.” They replied in a well volumed voice.

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