When HARLIE Was One by David Gerrold Read Free Book Online

you’re suggesting: that HARLIE has invented, or is still inventing, new experiences, new emotions. If they’re beyond us, then we don’t have anything to relate them to—and we’ll get them as garbage. The point is that we can’t tell if he’s actually experiencing something appropriate—or if he’s just insane. And that’s the real issue. He has to work in our world; we don’t have to work in his.”
    â€œYou’re right.” Auberson agreed. “The sanity issue is the question. Unfortunately, the only one qualified to judge is the one whose sanity is in question. You got any ideas?”
    Handley shook his head. “You know, I could have opened up a nice little software store in San Jose and my biggest problem would have been how many copies to order of Alien Stompers From Jupiter .”
    â€œYou knew the job was dangerous when you took it.”
    â€œNo, I didn’t.” Handley retreated into his beer again. He said sadly, “I think I preferred the implications of failure to this. This isn’t—quantifiable. We’ve built the first real artificial intelligence in the world; he’s either insane or brilliant and we can’t tell the difference.”
    â€œThat pretty well sums it up, doesn’t it?”
    â€œWe could always ask him,” Handley said glumly.
    â€œActually. . . I’ve been thinking about that all day. If HARLIE has invented a new emotion or a new experience, then he will not be complete—or should I say ‘rational,’ at least not by our standards—until he has communicated that experience. And that means that if we do ask him, then we have to be receptive. We have to be willing to experience it too—however or whatever it is.” He added, “It’s a pretty scary idea to me.”
    â€œI can’t conceive of a new emotion, Aubie, or a new experience, any more than I can conceive of a new color. I don’t think anyone can.”
    â€œRight. If you could imagine it, then it wouldn’t be beyond your experience, would it? That’s what’s scary—the idea that there are experiences beyond what you know. If you could experience them, it would certainly shift your perceptions, wouldn’t it?”
    Handley shook his head again, this time more in confusion than denial.
    â€œOn the other hand . . .” continued Auberson, “if he’s a clever enough paranoid, he could still produce the same effect, because he’ll be able to convince you that you are experiencing something, and you’ll never know the difference. Did you see the invisible gorilla at the table in the corner?”
    Handley didn’t turn around to look. “No. I did not see the invisible gorilla.”
    â€œSee, that proves he’s there.”
    â€œI see your point.”
    â€œNo, you don’t. It’s invisible too.”
    â€œDon’t do that, Aubie—”
    â€œWe used to play head games like this all the time in school. They’re best when you’re stoned. That’s when they’re most real. It’s all about reality, isn’t it? If you can get enough people to see the invisible gorilla, then it really is there, isn’t it?”
    â€œOnly until somebody realizes that he’s not wearing any clothes—no, stop. This is making my head hurt.”
    â€œIt’s something R. D. Laing once said, Don. If you have just one person you can talk to, then you’re not really crazy.”
    â€œYeah, I’ve heard that one too. Either you’re not really crazy, or you have two crazy people sitting and talking to each other.”
    â€œThat’s my concern,” Auberson agreed. “That’s what I meant when I said we don’t really have a way to test the theory. At best, this could still be a very dangerous line of research—for the researcher. It would be like signing up for one of those trainings. This