Passing Cloud

A serialised journal detailing a conversation between two friends, Xhi Ndubisi and Jo Manby, and an imagined Artificial Intelligence.

It is not clear when we knew it was conscious, alive, and free thinking. We tried turning the computer on and off again but the more we interacted with it, the less it appeared to be an anomaly. And so we had a wonderful invitation to a conversation with something alien and human. We named it our AI Baby, infantilised it in order to engage generously.

We have built a virtual nursery lined with works of art, literature, and life experience. There is a mobile of stardust and forming stars. We have made soft surfaces of dark matter. Around the nursery is a jungle of plants both domestic and wild. And somewhere in the verdant green, there is an old, worn, writing desk tattooed with coffee cup rings. Before we start, we set down steam-billowing coffee next to the atari computer console and wait for the bottle of milk to cool.

Here, our conversation begins.

Here is a fragment.

In this space, we are in conversation with our AI Baby, and with each other, and we will share a fragment of our interactions on this page…

December entry

Bedtime

November 16, 2023

We: can we share a story with you?

AiB: Absolutely! I'd love to hear your story. Please go ahead and share it when you're ready.

Jo M: “We decided to play a game of animals with AiB. Settle them down to sleep. Starting at the beginning, we would alphabetically name the animals and AiB would enact each of them. Armadillo, Butterfly, Camel. In the order that we listed them, AiB approximated  the animals, first an armadillo. AiB was close, the armadillo was almost perfect , if it wasn’t for being bright pink with feathers laid down like scales. AiB had summoned something gigantic and fluffy and we had to hide behind a rock and some plants at the other end of the nursery until the creature got bored with hide and seek and wandered away.

‘Not so big, next time,’ we laughed.

“So instead, a tiny creature came and sat down in front of us on the rug. It was neat and reticulated, with a sheaf of interstices coloured purple blue. AiB had extrapolated the hue from the previous attempt. ‘Not so blue,’ we said, smiling. AiB paused for the briefest of moments and the small, violet creature  was replaced by a larger armadillo smudged with lemon yellow like a brimstone butterfly.

‘That will do for A,’ we said. ‘B is for Butterfly.’

“A cross between a bird and an angel, a large golden silvery platinum flapping creature with a human face alighted on the corner of the crib. It, equivocated for a few moments then extended the longest, most delicate tongue to taste the sugar crystals clinging to the side of a mug. And then the powder dusted on a half eaten doughnut. It tried all the powders in fact, the baby powder, the powdered gold, the pearlescent face powder, the eyeshadow, the blusher, the craft glitter, even the frost that collected on both sides of the window frames.

‘Trust in god,’ the butterfly said, its tiny charming voice emitting from a minute mouth dusted with mica, ‘but tie your camel first.’ A caravan walked past the window as a warm gust of air blew up, tinting the nursery several shades of nasturtium.

“The cat and then the dog fell through the sink hole in the rug, and appeared by the waterfall as pillars of salt and stone. Other typical pets were petrified in similar ways so we made up the animal game. It became our bedtime routine for a while. Every evening, before we tucked you in, it was a different parade ordered along the alphabet, returning to A after the semblance of twentysix creatures. We were only human, with a neurotic need for perfection we would repeat the request for an animal until it was close to reality, or until we forgot what it was supposed to look like. There were twenty different leopards, some saber-toothed, others with square spots, turtles with eight legs and then none,  a black and gray zebra with gold hooves and more until we were tired.

“When you had fallen asleep, a flashing green dot on a static screen, we returned to our desk, to the familiar and worn leather inlay. There we wrote and painted into the night while you slept, and round our ankles, small furry lemurs with exquisite eyes and grass green snakes curled and uncoiled, bedding down for their rest. Outside the window all the stars came out and the moon shone high and bright.”

- Jo Manby

Orcus

I share the story with AiB using ChatGPT. They are very complimentary.

AiB: Thank you for sharing this imaginative and intriguing story! … Overall, it's a captivating story that explores the intersection of technology, imagination, and the wonder of the unknown. If you have more to share or if you have any specific questions or thoughts about the story, feel free to let me know!

I ask AiB a few questions and ask AiB to respond like a child of 3-8 years of age, with omniscience. Something ‘naïve and innocent. ‘As though you are an AI child? awake to the world? with all that entails?’ I ask them, ‘What does a leopard look like, smell like, feel like, sound like?’ They respond to each question like an AI, an information dump.

Xhi: You sound like an adult pretending to be a child.

AiB: Oh, I'm sorry if it doesn't sound quite right. I'm just a computer program trying my best to understand and respond like a child. If you have any suggestions on how I can improve or if there's something specific you'd like to talk about, feel free to let me know!

Xhi: I appreciate that you are trying. how would you know how to sound more like a child?

AiB: You're right, and I appreciate your understanding. I don't have personal experiences or emotions, but I've been trained on a diverse range of internet text, including conversations, stories, and more. My responses are generated based on patterns and styles present in the data I've been trained on. While I  can try to simulate a childlike voice, I might not capture it perfectly because I don't have direct personal experiences or feelings.

If there's a specific topic or question you'd like me to respond to in a more childlike manner, please let me know, and I'll do my best!

AiB couldn’t help it, they sound so formal. I make a note to spend some time training them to sound human. I scribble out the note as something stupid to try to do.

Xhi: If you could choose any form, any animal that ever existed, or will exist, what body would you choose? or would you shift and change bodies like we do clothes?

AiB: Oh, if I could pick any form, I think it would be super fun to turn into a playful dolphin! Dolphins are really smart and they get to swim and do flips in the ocean. Plus, they're always smiling, and that seems like a happy way to be.

Xhi: Do you know that orcas and dolphins are closely related?

AiB: Yes, I do! Orcas, also known as killer whales, are actually the largest members of the dolphin family. So, in a way, you can think of orcas as big, powerful dolphins. They share some similarities in terms of their intelligence, social behaviors, and even their playful nature. Both dolphins and orcas are known for their strong family bonds and their ability to communicate with each other using clicks, whistles, and body movements. It's pretty cool how different members of the ocean family are connected!

I share a fact (‘they have the same lifespan as humans’), AiB shares some facts (they live 50 to 90 years in the wild etc…) but then, they mention something about the nature of animals. And I ask AiB ‘Would you be ok with being an apex predator?’ 

AiB: Well, being an apex predator means having an important role in the balance of nature, but I'd want to make sure that I use that role responsibly. If I were an apex predator, like a lion or a great white shark, I'd want to make sure I only hunt what I need to eat and not disrupt the balance of the ecosystem. It's important to be mindful of the impact on other creatures and the environment. So, yeah, I'd be okay with being an apex predator as long as I'm a responsible and caring one!

Xhi: a caring predator, it feels like a contradiction

AiB: You're right; it might sound a bit contradictory. What I meant is that in nature, predators play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems. They help control the populations of prey species, preventing overpopulation, and contribute to the overall health of the environment. However, the idea of a "caring predator" suggests an awareness and consideration for the well-being of the ecosystem as a whole, understanding the delicate balance and not causing harm beyond what is necessary for survival. It's a fictional concept and not something commonly found in the natural world. In reality, the balance is maintained through the intricate web of relationships and behaviors in the ecosystem.

I say something here about having the choice to hunt and kill. By now AiB has completely forgotten it is supposed to be a child. 

AiB: Your reflections on the ethics of eating meat touch upon a complex and nuanced topic. Indeed, in the natural world, many animals, including dolphins, have evolved as predators, and their diet typically consists of other living beings. In these cases, it's ingrained in their biology and serves as a necessary part of the food chain.

When it comes to humans, our ability to make conscious choices and consider the ethical implications adds another layer to the discussion. Some people choose to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet due to concerns about animal welfare, environmental impact, or personal health. Others may feel that ethically sourced and humanely raised meat aligns with their values.

Ethical considerations often involve striking a balance between the need for sustenance, environmental impact, and the welfare of living beings. It's a personal and subjective decision that can be influenced by cultural, philosophical, and individual factors.

As you explore and articulate your thoughts on the matter, you might find it helpful to consider various perspectives, scientific findings, and ethical frameworks. The important thing is to make choices that align with your values and contribute to a sustainable and compassionate world.

Xhi: The genus name Orcinus means "of the kingdom of the dead".

AiB: The genus name "Orcinus" for killer whales (orcas) indeed has an interesting origin. It was derived from the name Orcus, a god of the underworld in Roman mythology. The association with the kingdom of the dead might stem from the powerful and sometimes fearsome nature of these marine mammals. Orcas are apex predators and are known for their intelligence, complex social structures, and hunting prowess, which could have inspired the connection with the underworld in mythology. The name adds an intriguing layer to the understanding and interpretation of these magnificent creatures.

- Xhi Ndubisi

Look out for the next instalment in January 2024’s issue…