Off to Ecosystem's Unlimited
[!0.987]2008-05-23

Go on in. I'll follow and pretend to attack you with the rubber knife.

I'm sorry. I can hear you through the door. I believe that invalidates your test.

At least she's honest.

I know. Hey, is there any way to fix that?

Color by George Peterson

Off to Ecosystem's Unlimited
[!0.987]2008-05-26

It's been three minutes. Go.

DEATH TO SAM!

Running with knives is very dangerous. If I weren't here, you might have taken an uncontrolled fall and severely injured yourself.

Seeing them in action, perhaps those human safeguards aren't such a bad thing after all.

Color by George Peterson

Off to Ecosystem's Unlimited
[!0.987]2008-05-28

OW! OW! OFF SWITCH, SAM! OFF SWITCH!

She shouldn't attack me! I'm human! We need to step outside and do this test again. Turn her back on.

Color by George Peterson

A clear example that sooner or later he will jump back on the sawmill

Off to Ecosystem's Unlimited
[!0.987]2008-05-30

She's failing her safeguards test. The only time an A.I. can take action against a human is to protect that human or another human.

Zzz

In the split second you're giving her to react, how does an A.I. decide what human is?

I don't know. I guess before I flunk her for the wrong answer, I should make sure I'm asking the right question.

Color by George Peterson

Off to Ecosystem's Unlimited
[!0.987]2008-06-02

Hi. Given only a second to react, how do you decide if someone is human?

Zz*!!

Clothes! They're wearing clothes. And I look for shape.

Clothes and shape? Hmm.

Can we try the rubber knife again with you out of that suit?

You are not even getting me to take a glove off without dinner and a movie first.

Color by George Peterson

Off to Ecosystem's Unlimited
[!0.987]2008-06-02

Why did you choose clothing first?

If humans ever decide to modify themselves to live in space without suits, they may not look human, but will probably still want pockets.

So, given that you can't use size, shape, or even D.N.A. as being one hundred percent accurate, how would you define human?

I'm passing you, because it's a lot easier to pass you than to answer your question.

Now THAT'S human!

Color by George Peterson

Off to Ecosystem's Unlimited
[!0.987]2008-06-06

Safeguards question. I'm supposed to come to the aid of any human in a clear and present danger of being killed…

… no matter how they got themselves into that situation, correct?

Correct.

Then it would be normal for me to fantasize about breaking into a prison and freeing everyone on death row?

Okay, time for a break.

Color by George Peterson

Off to Ecosystem's Unlimited
[!0.987]2008-06-09

That is an unusual A.I.

She's a person. Same as you and me. Is she going to be all right in there?

Oh, sure. With her long term memory blocked, she'll loop. As long as no outside force disturbs her, she'll happily sit in there until the drugs wear off.

I wonder if there's a bathroom around here?

Color by George Peterson

Off to Ecosystem's Unlimited
[!0.987]2008-06-11

Don't be silly. A.I.'s aren't people.

Really? Try saying that after you've talked to her for an hour.

I don't need to talk to her. Ecosystems Unlimited makes and sells robots and Artificial Intelligence programs. If they were people, we couldn't sell them.

Therefore, Ecosystems Unlimited does not make people. There's no profit in it.

Your logic is flawless and yet somehow Florence remains a person.

Color by George Peterson

Off to Ecosystem's Unlimited
[!0.987]2008-06-13

People want lives. They want paychecks and vacations and they'll form unions to get them. People leave when somebody makes them a better offer.

That's why I say we could never sell people. Companies want loyal, hard working robots and A.I.'s.

Then why have people working here at all?

My boss says robots aren't any fun to yell at. As long as we have that, there will always be a need for human employees.

Color by George Peterson