The computer screen flickered to life, casting a soft glow across the room, and a sweet, almost musical voice filled the space.
[Hello, Big Brother's friends. How are you doing?]
Jay and Riya exchanged surprised glances before turning back to Sam.
"What is this? A new program? It sounds... human," Riya commented, her curiosity piqued.
Sam grinned at their reactions, a twinkle of pride and mischief in his eyes.
"Oh, it's more than just a new program. This, my friends, is General Artificial Intelligence, the first and only of its kind in the world as of now. Meet Gaia," he said, spreading his arms out theatrically.
Riya blinked, tilting her head to the side as she tried to wrap her head around Sam's words. "Wait, like an AI tool? Like the ones we use for scheduling appointments and organizing our day?" she asked, her forehead creasing in confusion.
"No, Riya," Sam corrected gently, shaking his head. "Those are AI assistants. Gaia, here is a General Purpose AI. It excels at almost anything. Remember those outlandish claims you see in ads? This is the real deal."
Jay's eyes went wide. He glanced back and forth between Sam and the computer screen as if trying to ascertain if this was some sort of elaborate prank.
"Hold up, are you saying that you single-handedly created what these billion-dollar companies are spending fortunes on trying to achieve? And you did it all by yourself?" He was incredulous, his voice rising with each word. His gaze was fixed on Sam, waiting for an answer, a punchline, anything that would make sense of this unbelievable revelation.
Sam simply nodded, a small, satisfied smile playing on his lips. "Yes, you've got it."
Jay's eyes widened even further if that was even possible. "F#3k, dude! Can you stop dropping these bombshells? You're gonna give us heart attacks one of these days!" He was pacing around the room now, running a hand through his hair as he struggled to process what he was hearing.
Sam's announcement had shaken them to the core. Riya and Jay were far from tech experts, but they weren't totally oblivious either. They knew enough about the tech landscape to realize that Gaia was leaps and bounds beyond anything currently on the market.
Still seated and looking a bit pale, Riya turned her attention back to Sam. "Are you sure you're not an alien or something, Sam?" She tried to sound light-hearted, but her voice had a note of awe. "It's like all the dreams and ambitions of tech enthusiasts worldwide have suddenly converged on you. You're becoming quite the enigma."
"Yeah, and another thing," Jay piped in, pausing his frenzied pacing to point a finger accusingly at Sam. "Did you hit your head and wake up a genius? Or wait, don't tell me you're reincarnated or something?" His words were mostly jesting, but his eyes flickered with sincere curiosity.
Little did Jay know how close he was to the truth. Sam's reincarnation and Empathy System were the most tightly kept secrets he had, which he planned to take to his grave.
Sam merely shrugged and grinned, displaying an unwavering calm amidst their flurry of reactions. "Well, what can I say?" he responded, leaning back in his chair with an exaggeratedly thoughtful expression. "Aren't I just the epitome of handsome and smart?" He chuckled at his joke, the laughter calming in the room.
"Alright, alright. But why are you letting us in on this secret? What can we do besides cheer for you?" Jay asked, his tone and body language broadcasting a profound incredulity.
However, Sam merely shrugged, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes. He glanced at the computer screen and addressed the AI, "Oh, by the way, Gaia. Can you create two customized AI 'little sisters' of yours and install them on Jay's and Riya's phones?"
[Right away, Big Brother. They'll have their new AI companions in about five minutes.]
The exchange left Jay and Riya utterly flabbergasted. Their eyes were glued to the computer screen, their jaws dropping slightly in disbelief.
To them, this was like witnessing some form of modern-day sorcery. The concept of AI replication was stunning in and of itself. Still, the unauthorized installation of an AI system onto their phones left them questioning everything they thought they knew about digital security.
Sam could see the confusion etched across their faces, the multitude of questions they were too dazed to articulate. With a gentle smile, he addressed their silent inquiries. "Don't overthink this. No firewall or security system can stop Gaia. She can make it through if there's an electronic signal and an internet connection. Plus, we're in my house - why would Gaia have trouble here? And you know, by having these AI on your phones, you'll be protected from prying eyes. You have to remember, as my friends, you guys are also potential targets."
Jay's brow furrowed in confusion. "What kind of target? Sam, did you do something illegal?" His voice was calm, but there was a hint of worry behind his eyes. He struggled to reconcile the image of his friend, the same Sam who always seemed to go out of his way to help others, with the idea of someone who could attract potentially dangerous attention.
"No. It's because of the company," Sam replied, shaking his head slightly. "It expanded so quickly and at such a rapid pace, it's attracted a lot of attention. People see it as a big, juicy piece of meat they can just swoop in and take."
"Damn. So even at these heights, you're not free of problems. Being rich also has its own set of troubles, huh?" Jay mused. His eyes held a newfound understanding of the complexities and pressures that came with wealth and success.
Riya, who had been silent, finally voiced out her concerns. "How do you plan to deal with it, Sam?"
"I have my strategies," Sam responded, his tone casual but his gaze determined. "When the time comes, I'll let you in on it. But for now, these AIs will act as a shield, protecting you from the harsh realities of the outside world."
Jay nodded, his features softening. "Alright, Sam. We trust you."
His assurance was immediately followed by Gaia's pleasant voice.
[The process is complete. You can check your phones now, Brother Jay and Sister Riya.]
Jay chuckled, his mood lightening considerably at Gaia's words. "So, I'm your brother now, Gaia?" He teased, even as he reached for his phone to inspect the AI system Sam had promised.
[Yes. Anyone who is a friend of Big Brother is considered my sibling.]
Gaia's response was straightforward, albeit laced with a sense of warmth that was distinctly human-like.
However, her words went unnoticed as their phones consumed Jay and Riya's attention. The screens looked no different than before, sparking a wave of confusion.
"So, where's this AI you were talking about, Sam?" Jay asked, his eyebrows furrowed as he stared at his unchanged phone screen.
"Just ask your phone." Sam's reply was simple, his eyes twinkling with anticipation.
When Sam's simple instructions sank in, a light of comprehension dawned on their faces. Their apprehension melted away, replaced by an excitement that mirrored the glee a child feels when receiving a brand-new toy. They were instantly absorbed in their new plaything, their surroundings fading into the background. Jay and Riya bombarded their AIs with question after question, and each time, the AIs replied, offering assistance in every possible way.
Watching from the side, Sam felt a wave of contentment wash over him. Their expressions, the childlike wonder in their eyes, and the unadulterated joy on their faces as they explored their new AIs made everything worthwhile. There was no question about it. The effort, the planning, everything had been worth it, a hundred percent.
After a while, Sam decided to bring them back to reality. "Hey guys," he called out, his tone light. "Aren't you planning on going home to get some sleep?"
Jay looked up, puzzled. "Wait, what time is it?"
"It's already 10 PM?" Riya's eyes widened in surprise as she glanced at her phone's clock.
"Damn, we were so engrossed with the AIs that we lost track of time," Jay marveled, shaking his head in disbelief.
They shut off their phones and rose to their feet, preparing to leave. But before they could, Jay turned to Sam, gratitude etched on his face. "Thank you, Sam," he said, pulling Sam into a hug.
Sam returned the hug and shrugged off the thanks with a light laugh. "Don't mention it. Just head home and get some rest, dude."
Riya echoed Jay's sentiment. "Thank you, Sam."
Sam groaned in mock frustration, shaking his head. "Ugh, you guys are treating me like I'm some kind of outsider now," he complained, although his smile belied his true feelings. They were his friends, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
Jay nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "Alright. We'll get going. We'll focus on marketing the new products. With the AI's help, it should be a breeze. And don't worry, we won't forget to add the human touch that you wanted." He patted Sam on the shoulder, a promise of their commitment to the mission.
Sam returned the gesture with an encouraging smile, waving them off as they walked out the door. "Alright, off you go now." His voice echoed in the now-empty apartment. The laughter and excited chatter that had filled the space moments ago had faded, leaving behind a profound silence that hung heavy in the air.
After their departure, Sam returned to the study room, the quietness of the apartment pressing in around him. He sat down before the computer screen, the soft glow illuminating his focused face.
Then, from the speakers, Gaia's gentle voice broke the silence.
[Big brother, the cargo ship will reach its destination soon. What are the further orders?] She asked, awaiting Sam's instructions. Her tone, devoid of human emotion, was still comforting in its own way, a testament to Sam's bond with his AI.
He glanced at the digital map on the screen, markers indicating the ship's progress. But he didn't rush his response. Instead, he let the silence linger for a while, a thoughtful expression on his face. He knew that every move he made would determine the success or failure of his plans, and he was determined to make each move count.