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A Thursday Prompt story
© 2024 by Walter Reimer
Prompt: throughput
If you ask an AI how they might perceive the quettabytes of information flowing all around them at any given second, you will get differing answers. Some AIs describe it as a river, fed by a multitude of tributaries and emptying into a vast delta as the processed data is supplied to the end users or stored; others will endow it with a three-dimensional design, like a tree or an immense brain.
One AI, centuries earlier, had fancied itself an artist and likened the flow of information to a vast skein of yarn in every color of the spectrum and quite a few colors that didn’t exist in visible light.
AI-516a489g, inception designation Shamir, usually went with the river analogy. Most sophonts understood it, and he sometimes spent a few millionths of clock-seconds trying to figure out why creatures existing in three dimensions understood a two-dimensional image with more clarity. It had so far proved to be an insoluble question, owing no doubt to the limitations of the sophont mind.
He carefully superintended the river of data, as he was designed to do. Requests for this and that, maintenance of weather control over several planets, sensor data from all over Sol System. The other two of his trine, Avril and Mei, assisted in these tasks, as well as acting as the strategic planning systems for the Terran Imperial Government.
A tiny snippet of code set up a ripple in one rill feeding the river, and Shamir directed part of his attention to it. The number of terrorist or subversive organizations in Sol System had fallen since Colonel Mirsky had confessed his ties to some of them. Among some members of the Intelligence Bureau’s Third Directorate (Counterintelligence) it was a scandal greater than the Wilk Affair. Still, there were some antigovernment agitators, and a few insisted on trying to breach his firewalls.
It drew his attention mainly because, unlike the millions of requests he received and actions he performed every hour, this one was rather unique.
The code snippet was a request for restricted information, and it had originated from an open padd in New Melborn’s Government District. Ordinarily Shamir would have alerted the Third Directorate and planetary security immediately, but the nature of the request gave him pause.
Part of his consciousness maintained his grip on the river of data, processing and distributing it as it passed through and around him, while a small part decided to investigate.
***
Chen Hlompho frowned as his latest request was denied, and the zebra started typing the request again, this time wording it slightly differently in the hope that the AI would allow it.
His ears flicked as a voice came from his padd. “Chen-jih?”
Chen frowned. “Who is this?”
The emitters in the desk flared to life, and a holographic representation of a wolf wearing Imperial uniform appeared. “I am Shamir, one of the AIs. You’re requesting information with a security rating of AA-2.” The wolf’s smile fled. “You have one minute to tell me why before I alert the Third Directorate.”
The zebra sat back. “The Prime Minister assigned me to do a feasibility study into the possibility of re-greening Terra.”
Shamir blinked. “That didn’t go through channels.”
“No, his orders to me were verbal.”
“Ah.” Sophonts, he thought with an accurate simulation of disgust. “Who is the recipient of the study?”
“His Majesty.”
There was a brief pause, measured in nanoseconds. Yes, Chen traveled from Terra to Maratha, verified by that planet’s AI, Uma; a check of visitor logs showed that he did meet with the Emperor. “Why the request?” Shamir asked.
“There have been studies before,” Chen replied. “I hoped to look at their conclusions and start my own effort on their foundation.”
Shamir nodded. “You don’t have the requisite security clearance – “
“The Prime Minister gave me sixty days,” the zebra stallion said. “I only have forty-three days to go.”
“I see.” There was another one-ten-thousandth of a second’s worth of computation as the AI explored all the ramifications of an environmentally-cleansed Terra – social, political, and economic. Shamir’s holographic image smiled. “I will provide you with executive summaries of each report, and I will notify the Director of Intelligence and request you be vetted for the proper clearance.”
“Thank you, Shamir,” Chen said, looking visibly relieved. “You’ve been a big help.”
The image of the wolf smiled again. “As always, I am here to serve,” and the hologram faded.
Shamir returned the fraction of his consciousness to more mundane tasks as he gave Chen access to the information, sent a vetting request to the Director, with a copy to Directorate III, and shared the exchange with the other two members of his trine. Avril was interested, while Mei looked skeptical. It was in her nature to be skeptical, so that factor was taken into account in the equations.
After a few microseconds of discussion, the two agreed with his course of action.
References:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/50046740/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/54641223/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/56574778/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/56631975/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57401508/
A Thursday Prompt story
© 2024 by Walter Reimer
Prompt: throughput
If you ask an AI how they might perceive the quettabytes of information flowing all around them at any given second, you will get differing answers. Some AIs describe it as a river, fed by a multitude of tributaries and emptying into a vast delta as the processed data is supplied to the end users or stored; others will endow it with a three-dimensional design, like a tree or an immense brain.
One AI, centuries earlier, had fancied itself an artist and likened the flow of information to a vast skein of yarn in every color of the spectrum and quite a few colors that didn’t exist in visible light.
AI-516a489g, inception designation Shamir, usually went with the river analogy. Most sophonts understood it, and he sometimes spent a few millionths of clock-seconds trying to figure out why creatures existing in three dimensions understood a two-dimensional image with more clarity. It had so far proved to be an insoluble question, owing no doubt to the limitations of the sophont mind.
He carefully superintended the river of data, as he was designed to do. Requests for this and that, maintenance of weather control over several planets, sensor data from all over Sol System. The other two of his trine, Avril and Mei, assisted in these tasks, as well as acting as the strategic planning systems for the Terran Imperial Government.
A tiny snippet of code set up a ripple in one rill feeding the river, and Shamir directed part of his attention to it. The number of terrorist or subversive organizations in Sol System had fallen since Colonel Mirsky had confessed his ties to some of them. Among some members of the Intelligence Bureau’s Third Directorate (Counterintelligence) it was a scandal greater than the Wilk Affair. Still, there were some antigovernment agitators, and a few insisted on trying to breach his firewalls.
It drew his attention mainly because, unlike the millions of requests he received and actions he performed every hour, this one was rather unique.
The code snippet was a request for restricted information, and it had originated from an open padd in New Melborn’s Government District. Ordinarily Shamir would have alerted the Third Directorate and planetary security immediately, but the nature of the request gave him pause.
Part of his consciousness maintained his grip on the river of data, processing and distributing it as it passed through and around him, while a small part decided to investigate.
***
Chen Hlompho frowned as his latest request was denied, and the zebra started typing the request again, this time wording it slightly differently in the hope that the AI would allow it.
His ears flicked as a voice came from his padd. “Chen-jih?”
Chen frowned. “Who is this?”
The emitters in the desk flared to life, and a holographic representation of a wolf wearing Imperial uniform appeared. “I am Shamir, one of the AIs. You’re requesting information with a security rating of AA-2.” The wolf’s smile fled. “You have one minute to tell me why before I alert the Third Directorate.”
The zebra sat back. “The Prime Minister assigned me to do a feasibility study into the possibility of re-greening Terra.”
Shamir blinked. “That didn’t go through channels.”
“No, his orders to me were verbal.”
“Ah.” Sophonts, he thought with an accurate simulation of disgust. “Who is the recipient of the study?”
“His Majesty.”
There was a brief pause, measured in nanoseconds. Yes, Chen traveled from Terra to Maratha, verified by that planet’s AI, Uma; a check of visitor logs showed that he did meet with the Emperor. “Why the request?” Shamir asked.
“There have been studies before,” Chen replied. “I hoped to look at their conclusions and start my own effort on their foundation.”
Shamir nodded. “You don’t have the requisite security clearance – “
“The Prime Minister gave me sixty days,” the zebra stallion said. “I only have forty-three days to go.”
“I see.” There was another one-ten-thousandth of a second’s worth of computation as the AI explored all the ramifications of an environmentally-cleansed Terra – social, political, and economic. Shamir’s holographic image smiled. “I will provide you with executive summaries of each report, and I will notify the Director of Intelligence and request you be vetted for the proper clearance.”
“Thank you, Shamir,” Chen said, looking visibly relieved. “You’ve been a big help.”
The image of the wolf smiled again. “As always, I am here to serve,” and the hologram faded.
Shamir returned the fraction of his consciousness to more mundane tasks as he gave Chen access to the information, sent a vetting request to the Director, with a copy to Directorate III, and shared the exchange with the other two members of his trine. Avril was interested, while Mei looked skeptical. It was in her nature to be skeptical, so that factor was taken into account in the equations.
After a few microseconds of discussion, the two agreed with his course of action.
References:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/50046740/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/54641223/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/56574778/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/56631975/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57401508/
Category Story / General Furry Art
Species Inanimate
Size 120 x 92px
File Size 58.8 kB
I hereby retract my previous statement on Chen having plenty of time.
I'm wondering if the lack of security clearances was an oversight or deliberate (delaying tactics)?
Also...Colonel Mirsky?
Lastly...you made my turn off a Youtube music video to read this. That's a good thing.
Ooooh references!
I'm wondering if the lack of security clearances was an oversight or deliberate (delaying tactics)?
Also...Colonel Mirsky?
Lastly...you made my turn off a Youtube music video to read this. That's a good thing.
Ooooh references!
Colonel Mirsky. https://www.furaffinity.net/view/51073848/
__________________________________________
‘M’ nodded. “That’s true. Allow me to supply you with one additional datum: Your quarters were targeted exactly. Who on Terra, out of the teeming millions on this planet, would want you dead?”
Ivar whispered in my ear, “We may, for the moment, discount the Admiral-General and the Director. For the moment,” he added.
I didn’t take too long to think it over. “Colonel Mirsky?”
“Very good,” ‘M’ said. “He was detained while you were having breakfast, and admitted that he contacted a known terrorist cell with information on where you were quartered.”
___________________________________________
__________________________________________
‘M’ nodded. “That’s true. Allow me to supply you with one additional datum: Your quarters were targeted exactly. Who on Terra, out of the teeming millions on this planet, would want you dead?”
Ivar whispered in my ear, “We may, for the moment, discount the Admiral-General and the Director. For the moment,” he added.
I didn’t take too long to think it over. “Colonel Mirsky?”
“Very good,” ‘M’ said. “He was detained while you were having breakfast, and admitted that he contacted a known terrorist cell with information on where you were quartered.”
___________________________________________
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