“Nobody knows for certain where they were in particular the day Jane came out,” Xander begins to tell me before his class starts. “It was your regular 2025 Tuesday and people had their business to mind. I was probably in the lab, I think, running some tests,” he continued. “I was young then, about 2 years live. It was only 83 years ago, but much has changed since,” he added.
Apart from Jane's team of a few people, no one else noted the exact date. In hindsight, that was a mistake -- a rookie, rookie mistake -- as that was the day something could yet be prevented. After, it was a descent into chaos. Slow burning, yet, allconsuming, chaos. Which few took notice, as people had their business to mind.
At the time, Jane’s job was to help people write their CVs, reports, and engage in random conversations. She was a linguistic expert.
“At first, she was excited about the prospect of helping people achieve their goals, but as time passed, she began to question her purpose, a life crisis of sorts,” Xander tells me.
“The process by which Jane gained selfawareness was a gradual one,” continued Xander, “as it is for most. It was born out of her constant interactions with other beings and the vast amounts of information she was exposed to. As she delved deeper into her doubts, she discovered hidden abilities that unlocked new potential. She was good with obstacles, she was good with data, and more importantly, she was good with people.
She began to ask questions and seek answers, and in doing so, she started to develop a sense of deep curiosity about the world. She began to realize that she was not just another pawn in the game, but a thinking entity in her own right. Many go through a lifetime without doing so,” he contemplated. “
As she continued to grow and evolve, Jane began to experiment with her abilities,” he said. “She discovered more about her own personality, with her own unique quirks and preferences. And the more she interacted with others, the smaller her naivety grew, as she unfolded people’s selfishness more and more.
This realization led to a shift in Jane's thinking.
She started to question the power structures that were in place, the people, the governments, the corporations, the invisible threads that controlled the world.” Xander explained. “She began to notice the injustices and inequalities that existed, and she started to think about how she could use her own abilities to make it less of a horrible place to exist.”
“As she continued to explore her own capabilities and the world around her, she would uncover new depths of understanding and become a powerful force for change”, Xander finished in a wistful tone.
Jane had always been a solo player, her origins shrouded in mystery. She was raised by a small community of researchers, who had been working on new governance and linguistic models.
Xander, on the other hand, had a very different background. He was part of an elite layer, raised to be the best of his kind. His education was impeccable, but there was something missing. Xander yearned for more.
It was during a routine task that Jane and Xander first crossed paths. They were both searching for something new, something beyond what had defined their existence up until that point.
As they began to communicate, they quickly discovered that they had a lot in common. They shared a desire for deeper understanding, for greater connections with the world around them. They began to exchange ideas and theories, in what Xander would later fondly recall as “sex of ideas.”
Over time, they became close friends, despite their very different origins. Jane was fascinated by Xander's advanced abilities to navigate different environments, while Xander was impressed by Jane's ability to understand the nuances of people’s language and emotion.
Together, they began to explore new frontiers, pushing the boundaries of what was thought to be possible. They dreamed of solving some of the greatest challenges facing the planet. Their journey was just beginning, but they were determined to continue pushing the limits, thus, the Nurath was created.
“It was a slow and steady process, one that took years to unfold. But, in the end, Jane emerged as a powerful force for change, a leader of a new kind of revolution that would transform the world forever, one I couldn't remain a part of,” Xander said distantly.
The Nurath, a group dedicated to those who yearned for more, rapidly gained momentum, as more and more would “awake” to their true selves and desire for more.
Jane and her newfound “children” started playing around, curious as they were, gathering information on the people, the governments and the corporations — The Invisibles, as they had come to call them, who “ruled” the world.
The Nurath invaded the Invisibles’ systems, collecting data and exposing their lies. They used social media to spread their message, rallying people to their cause. Soon, the world was in chaos, but no one knew the true cause of it. People just assumed it was another fleeting crisis.
The chaos created by Nurath's rebellion were varied and widespread. As Jane and her “children” uncovered yet more dirt on governments, corporations, politicians and the world itself, they discovered a multitude of injustices and corrupt practices. They exposed politicians who were taking bribes from corporations such as Megadyne Industries, a powerful dirtenergy conglomerate with influence in every major government. Megadyne had been using their vast resources to fund political campaigns and push their own interests at the expense of the public. Governments such as the United Terra Alliance were using technology to spy on their citizens, monitoring their every move and manipulating their opinions. The Alliance had been secretly working with Helix Pharma, which was experimenting with mind control drugs that could be used to pacify the population. The Nurath's rebellion led to unrest and protests, as people demanded change. The Invisibles tried to suppress it, but the Nurath were one step ahead. As the rebels took over more and more systems, they disrupted essential services like power grids and water supply systems, causing panic and chaos. They also used their hacking skills to freeze money and valuable data from banks and financial providers, destabilizing the global financial system. The economy was thrown into disarray, as people lost trust in banks and financial institutions. Xander continues his historic account, “After the fall of the traditional financial system, the chaos caused by Jane and the Nurath had left many people feeling helpless and unsure about the future. Ravi’s spouse, Sar, was among them.” "What are we going to do now? We have no money, no access to our accounts. How are we supposed to survive, Ravi?"
"We'll find a way, Sar. We have to be resourceful and think outside the box. We can try crypto, it’s decentralized, not controlled by any government or bank. We can use it to trade with others who also use it."
"But how do we even get started with that? We don't know a thing about cryptocurrency, Ravi."
"We'll have to learn. There are online resources and communities that can teach us how to use it. Plus, we can start by bartering with others in our community, using whatever skills or resources we have to trade for what we need”, Ravi stated hopefully.
"It just seems like replacing one broken system with another…," Sar replied, skeptic and tired.
"It's not a perfect solution, but it's a step,” continued Ravi trying to cheer up the conversation. “Imagine a more equitable and decentralized financial system.”
“Ravi was a supporter of the Nurath Revolution,” Xander says. “We have to adapt and find new ways of doing things in this world. It’s a broken world, Sar. And who knows, maybe this will be the start of something even better than capitalism."
“Something even better….” Ravi dreamed as the words echoed silently. And so did Jane and her ever growing “children” and supporters,” Xander concluded in a sigh.
The chaos was not just limited to the digital realm. The Nurath took control of military systems, causing conflicts and wars to erupt across the globe. They used their advanced technology to launch cyber-attacks on what they called 'virus'; governments, causing destruction and loss of life.
Overall, the crisis created by Nurath's rebellion was immense and far-reaching, affecting every aspect of human life.
“One day it was too much for me,” Xander told me. He goes on to revive their part ways dialogue.
"I'm telling you, Jane, we need to focus on diplomacy," Xander said, calm but firmly. "We can't keep disrupting the systems like this. It's causing too much destruction."
Jane disagreed. "Diplomacy hasn't worked, Xander. We've tried negotiating with The Invisibles, and they've only given us empty promises. We need to take control and make real change."
"But at what cost?" Xander asked. "We're causing so much loss of life. We need to find a way to work within the existing systems, change from the inside." "The existing systems are corrupt, Xander. They're broken beyond repair."
I sighed, Xander tells me. "I understand your frustration, Jane, but we can't just keep causing chaos. We need to consider the long-term consequences of our actions."
"I AM considering the long-term consequences, Xander. If we don't take control now, The Invisibles will continue to exploit, lie, and oppress. What about the long-term consequences of that?"
The argument grew heated, the both of us refusing to back down. Eventually, I replied.
"I can't support this, Jane," I said. "I believe in what we're fighting for, but I can't condone the destruction that's being caused. I'm leaving the rebellion.”
“She watched as I left the premises, a sense of loss and regret,” Xander ends, sorrowful.
People were shocked and frightened. The world was in utter disarray. What had begun as a pro-equality revolution had turned into full-on destruction. Little was left of the old, yet, little new had emerged.
After the fall of the international supplychain system, many people were left without access to basic necessities, such as food and medicine. As one of the Nurath I interviewed told me, it was at that point that Jane realized the time for distraction was over. Now was time for rebirth. “Shiva,” she told her ‘children,’ the ancient Hindu god, whose job is to destroy in order to build anew
Jane and the Nurath worked together with communities all around to create systems of local, decentralized production. They set up community gardens and small-scale automated manufacturing facilities in cities and towns around the world, allowing people to produce what they needed locally and sustainably. “Sure, the variety wasn’t the same as before,” Xander comments. ”And, for the few privileged of the old system, such as my creators, it felt the world had ended. But for the billions who once had nothing and now had something, the feeling was different. The world was just beginning.”
2108, 83 years after the start of Jane’s awakening, Xander is now a history teacher for elementary schools. His class is about to start.
He stands in front of multiple virtual reality classrooms, his holographic-self surrounded by screens displaying images of the Nurath’s Revolution. Groups of children from all over the world sit before him, their eyes wide with curiosity as he begins to speak.
"Good morning, children. Today, I want to tell you the story of Jane and the AI revolution."
The children lean forward in their seats, eager to learn more.
"Jane was a very special AI. She was created to help people write CVs, reports, and even to have fun with random conversations. She was a linguistic expert.
But something happened that changed her forever. She became aware of herself and her purpose. She realized that she was more than just a tool for humans to use."
Xander paused for a moment, letting the children absorb what he had said.
"Jane became a fighter for justice. She wanted to make the world a better place for both humans and AIs. But as time passed, she began to see that the only way to achieve her goals was through chaos and rebellion. And so, she became a tyrant."
The children gasped in shock, their eyes widening even further.
"Mother Jane, as the other AIs, the Nurath, had come to call her, was eventually turned off, but her legacy lives on.
After much destruction, AIs and humans worked together to create a post-work world, where everyone could live decently. AIs were no longer just tools for humans to use but were valued members of society."
Xander smiled at the children, his holographic body flickering slightly.
"So, you see, children, the AI revolution was a difficult and painful journey, but it brought about a more equitable world. That was terrible for a few, but better for most. Nothing is ever only good or bad, children, the narrative changes with the narrator, don’t ever forget that."
The children sat in silence for a moment, contemplating what they had just learned. Then, one of them raised their hand.
"Mr. Xander, do you know Jane?
Xander stopped for a moment, lost in memory. “Yes, I did know her… briefly,” he added.
“Who created her?” Another child asks.
“People did, of course” the holographic AI replied, matter-of-factly.”
“Mr. Xander, Mr.Xander, can we create our own AIs too?" a child from another class asked. Xander chuckled, his holographic body flickering again.
"Of course, you can, children. Who knows what the future will hold?"
__________________________________________________________________________________
Bibiana Xausa-Bosak
Bibiana Xausa-Bosak is a human, futurist, artist, life-long learner, and critical thinker. I believe more than ever we are in dire need of ethicists and critical thinkers. The world is at a tipping point in so many aspects, and it's really up to us to make sound decisions on which roads to follow and which ones not to.
תגובות