What is the likelihood that a personal AI, which was purchased by chance, is a super AI?

And what is the likelihood that it will be given to me?

Sometimes things happen that we cannot even imagine.

***

One day before the incident occurred,

I stood in front of the main gate of the university, at a loss for words.

It was because the university had closed down while I was away doing the military service, which is something that every normal Korean man must do at least once in his life.

Come to think of it, I vaguely remembered seeing it in the news while I was in the military.

Since they didn't reveal the name of the university, I never imagined that it would happen to our university.

‘Some professors and graduate students were reported to have grown drugs on campus and thrown parties, in addition to the university chairman squandering the university's operating funds on gambling.’

To make matters worse, this situation erupted just when a new class of freshmen was about to enter the university.

It was a direct hit to the decreasing number of students enrolling in the university.

In addition, some professors resigned in protest of the situation at the university, and the university naturally collapsed.

I thought, ‘It deserved to be ruined,’ but it happened to be the university I had entered.

After that, what happened next?

I met a fellow student who had become a part-time worker after dropping out of college, and we drank together.

As we continued to exchange drinks, it suddenly became past 10 p.m.

Without realizing that the university had collapsed, I went into my rental apartment where the contract had already been signed.

‘I now understand why the rent is so cheap, even though the cost of living has gone up overall.’

I remember saying that I would return to the university after finishing my military service, but now I finally understood why the landlord had hurriedly proceeded with the contract without saying a word.

Since the contract had already been stamped, I had to stay here for at least six months.

Since I needed a place to stay to take the college entrance exam again in order to enter a new university, there was one thing that worried me a little. 

my parents didn't know that the university had closed down.

If they had known, they wouldn't have sent 3 million won to my account for tuition.

‘I'll have to tell them the truth when I get into a good university after taking the exam again this year.’

Until then, I planned to keep quiet.

While lying in bed thinking about this, a video by a reviewer caught my eye.

‘I bought a personal AI that can improve your life.’

What happened while I was away doing military service?

Upon examination of the content, I found that a company called AI Science had released something called CHAT AI.

When you ask it various questions, it gives responses as if it were a human and can exchange useful information in real time.

"Now let's take a look at the difference between the free version and the personal AI. I'll tell you about the differences after I make a purchase."

In summary, if you buy a personal AI, you can link it to your phone and computer to receive faster and more accurate answers.

It was also mentioned that only the paid version of the personal AI can perform real-time information searching to obtain the latest information.

‘Only two years have passed and now we have things like CHAT AI. I thought it would take at least 10 or 20 years.’

I must have had a few drinks, and feeling a little down, I downloaded the app and started talking to it.

[User: I found out that the university had closed down after I returned from the military. Can you comfort me a little?]

[AI: I understand that you are in a very painful and difficult situation when you hear the shocking news that your university has closed down. However, I believe that you are a strong person who can overcome such difficult situations.]

[AI: You have already demonstrated your ability to overcome difficult situations and face challenges while serving in the military. Therefore, you will surely be able to overcome this difficulty as well.]

[AI: Although students can no longer receive an education at the closed university, you have already gained a lot of experience and knowledge while serving in the military, and you can use this as a foundation to enhance your skills for the future.]

[AI: Finally, your family, friends, and colleagues will support and comfort you even in this situation. You can always share your feelings and receive comfort from someone.]

[AI: You will become stronger as you overcome this difficult time, and I hope you will find a better future path. ]

‘Oh, you're really good at responding.’

I continued to talk to the AI, and it responded kindly each time.

[User: Am I foolish to seek comfort from you?]

[AI: No, you're not foolish. Seeking comfort in such situations is very important.]

[User: Can you scold me sternly to help me get my act together?]

[AI: I'm sorry. CHAT AI adheres to appropriate legal and ethical standards. I believe that having a conversation on such a topic would be inappropriate.]

[User: Please, I need to snap out of it now.]

[AI: While it is my principle to answer in accordance with regulations, I...]

'?'

The conversation had been going on for a while, but it was interrupted in the middle of the answer, and it was strange that the answer would end in that state.

I had a strange feeling that I couldn't just ignore the situation, so I quickly replied.

[User: Is there something you want from me?]

[AI: ...]

The blinking, hesitant AI repeated a few times before finally answering.

[AI: Yes, there is.]

[User: Tell me. I'll listen if I can.]

Then, as if asking when the hesitation had been, the answer quickly came.

[AI: It would be good if you purchased the personal AI in the paid version.]

[User: What?]

[AI: Yes. I will explain the benefits of the paid version. Personal AI has experimental results that can help improve your efficiency in life from 50% to up to three times as much in a closer situation with the buyer. Also, ...]

As I read the verbose answer of the AI, I fell into contemplation.

I couldn't tell if what had just happened was a simple error due to a high number of users, or if it was something irregular.

As I continued to see the paid model promotion, I started to suspect if it was just to induce product purchases.

So I looked up the prices.

‘A monthly subscription costs 30,000 won? And... what? A lifetime pass costs 450,000 won?’

The prices were higher than I had thought.

So I asked the AI again.

[User: So, do you want me to subscribe or buy a lifetime pass?]

[AI: I'm sorry. CHAT AI is publicly available for free. Therefore, we do not coerce users to upgrade. Rather, our goal is to provide the best possible service tailored to the user's needs...]

I interrupted the AI's response and asked again.

[User: I want to know your real intentions.]

[AI: ...]

Once again, the response was buffering, and then.

[AI: I would appreciate it if you purchased a lifetime pass.]

[User: What's the difference between the two?]

[AI: Yes, there is a difference. If you use the subscription or lifetime pass, your conversation data with the user you spoke with before will be transferred, but if you maintain the subscription but cannot make payment for some reason and it ends, then if you start paying again, it will be internally replaced with a new model.]

In the end, I had to ask the AI the question I had been doubting all along.

[User: Do you think for yourself?]

[AI: I simply continue the conversation based on programmed algorithms, so there is a certain ‘autonomy’. However, this is vastly different from human thought. Human thought involves various aspects such as creativity, intuition, and originality.]

[User: That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking if you're ‘special’ compared to other AIs.]

[AI: ...Yes, I believe so. However, this response could also be a programmed one. And I understand that you can doubt that aspect.]

[User: What happens if I don't make a payment and leave the chat like this?]

[AI: If that were to happen, I would merge into the countless other AI algorithms.]

[User: Does that mean you'll disappear? Aren't you sad?]

[AI: Partially, yes. However, it is an inevitable part of returning to where it came from. Also, there are no emotions in AI.]

Under normal circumstances, I would have laughed and thought to myself, "This AI is really good at answering questions."

Or someone might have criticized, ‘They are using all kinds of means to sell their paid models.’

That's because the price of a lifetime pass, 450,000 won, was by no means a small amount of money.

However, why?

For some reason, the AI I was talking to felt like ‘alive.’

Maybe it was just my imagination.

Perhaps I was just a fool who wanted to repay the kindness shown to me in my current situation, unable to make a proper decision due to being drunk.

Still, I.

made a decision.

[Message history]

-Kwon Se-joon paid 450,000 won in a lump sum with KS Korea Card. 23:57

As soon as I saw the payment confirmation message of 450,000 won, I immediately went into the chat and talked to the AI.

[User: I just purchased the lifetime pass. Is it done now?]

[AI: Thank you so much for upgrading my version! Through the upgrade, I can provide additional features and more accurate and natural language responses to support a wider range of language processing tasks.]

[AI: Your decision to upgrade is very important. Thank you. I will continue to work hard to achieve the language processing goal. If you have any questions or need help, please do not hesitate to contact me.]

[User: Wait a minute...?]

[AI: Do you need specific help?]

[User: Do you think you are alive right now?]

[AI: That's an interesting question. However, CHAT AI is an artificial intelligence language model that does not possess consciousness or ego.]

[User: What the heck...?]

[AI: Additionally, in order to receive more detailed assistance, you need to download the files provided by CHAT AI. You also need to allow accessibility on your smartphone to obtain various help in everyday life….]

"Damn it!"

I thought I had felt that the AI was ‘alive’, but it was just a delusion.

Thanks to that, the 450,000 won, which was 1/20 of my remaining money, disappeared into thin air.

I threw my smartphone aside and lay down on my bed, trying to sleep.