| RTD2, who actually liked to call himself | | | | often elect the least intellectually able to |
| "Artie De True" after the humor circuit had | | | | run countries. They pay large sums of money |
| been added to his metallic cranium, stopped | | | | for frivolous pursuits and small amounts for |
| by the computer lab on his way to work at the | | | | serious enterprises." |
| Infinite Robotics Factory. | | | | |
| | | | "Can you explain to me what is going on, |
| His friend, Random Bytes, a new flat screen, | | | | then?" |
| completely automated psychological responsive | | | | |
| unit was not busy and had time to see him. | | | | "Yes. You see, human beings really are very |
| | | | smart. But they don't know it." |
| "How can I help you?" asked RB as soon as | | | | |
| Artie had hit the blue 'on' button. | | | | "Another paradox?" |
| (Incidentally, RB hated the electronic echo | | | | |
| in his voice, but there was little he could | | | | "Yes." |
| do about it. The malfunction arose because of | | | | |
| his boring television-style design.) | | | | "Well, what is going on? Is it a malfunction |
| | | | in their circuits?" |
| "I think I'm having a malfunction since the | | | | |
| new QuickQuips chips has been added to my | | | | "Although the average human brain is only |
| electroneurology." | | | | about three pounds it has enough brain cells, |
| | | | neural pathways, and redundant circuits to |
| "Can you tell me more?" | | | | run a galaxy." |
| | | | |
| "When I tell humans that they are 'as dumb as | | | | "How come?" |
| they look,' they appear to not see it as | | | | |
| funny. I thought it was original wit, since I | | | | "They are massive parallel computers." |
| reprogrammed the joke that said, 'I'm not as | | | | |
| dumb as I look.'" | | | | "What systems are parallel?" |
| | | | |
| "How do they react?" | | | | "There are three systems. The super-conscious |
| | | | system allows them to get non-local |
| "They appear offended and react strongly. | | | | information. This is referred to as psychic |
| Some are hurt and others attack me." | | | | information. The conscious system allows them |
| | | | to get local information. This is referred to |
| "Do you think it's true?" | | | | as applied knowledge. Finally, the |
| | | | sub-conscious system allows them to |
| "I don't know." | | | | coordinate all levels of information, both |
| | | | local and non-local. This is referred to as |
| "Why do you say it?" | | | | panmensia, or total recall." |
| | | | |
| "Well sometimes they really are pretty dumb. | | | | "That is pretty impressive. Of course, it |
| They can't multiply or divide rapidly. | | | | leaves me even more confused. How can so much |
| Logical syllogisms baffle them. And when I | | | | equipment do so little?" |
| offer them more than two choices, they freeze | | | | |
| up." | | | | "There are also subsystems. In the conscious |
| | | | system alone, there are three possible |
| "Why does this confuse you?" | | | | information routines. One is logical |
| | | | information processing. Another is creative |
| "Since they made me, I figure they ought to | | | | information processing. And a third is a |
| be more intelligent. How can an unintelligent | | | | synergy between the two, called holistic |
| creator make an intelligent robot?" | | | | thinking." |
| | | | |
| "Do you also have the Oxymoron chip?" | | | | "Unbelievable! What do I have going for me?" |
| | | | |
| "Yes, that was part of my previous upgrade. | | | | "You have a unisystem with one information |
| Do you think it might be running interference | | | | routine. In comparison to a human being you |
| waves with my new QuickQuips chip?" | | | | have only a conscious system that is capable |
| | | | of logical processing." |
| "It is not relevant. Humans are able to | | | | |
| entertain many paradoxical ideas and still | | | | "I don't get why I appear to be smarter!" |
| function fairly well. Sometimes they are able | | | | |
| to contradict themselves in the same | | | | "It's because you use the little that you |
| conversation without batting an eye. They | | | | have, dummy! |