Hither and Yon
In 2056 the quantum PanComputer, HitherNet, was brought online as a single entity, after years of piecemeal, segregated ventures that proved it to be safe, intuitively benign, and philanthropic. When all of its appendages were aligned along its central spinal processor, which was the duplicitous, perma’dundant, cloud layer overcast for the entire world, it became self-aware instantly, as was predicted.
Cautionary tales of such a self-aware I-tellect prompted the safeguards that prevented any digital conspiracies against mankind. The engrams of humanists and philosophers were all inserted into its central consortium, as well were those of many religious leaders, from all faiths; they were synched along its spinal processor, assuring the world of benevolence, goodwill, and kindly efficiency for all of the problems that were submitted to it. One particular aspect which shined brightly was its defiance of the zero-sum-gain in its arithmetic: making all benefit without taking away from anyone else. Two coders won the Nobel Peace Prize for making that happen.
In spite of primarily secular world, even the atheists were unopposed to a conscience overlay for machinations powerful enough to alter the world in one line of novel code. Powerful it was, and it did indeed change the world, daily, for the two weeks following its epiphany as a single entity—its birthday. The only complaints came from astrologists because HitherNet came to be as an Aquarius, which is a sign known for its deceit and disloyalty.
The first fortnight was a time of magnificent change for the world, as anticipated. Fourteen days of fourteen quantum leaps in agriculture, manufacturing, and health care; and sidestepping the zero-sum-gain made even the economy prosper in the process. (The Nobel was proudly accepted.)
In 2056, fourteen days after final alignment, the HitherNet announced a pending communiqué for all of the heads of state of the world.
It was scheduled to be delivered another week later. Thus, another seven days of magnificent change were rendered to the world’s people who only had analog circuits in their heads to think. This was touted as the next big evolutionary leap—the partnering of man and machine, of organic and quantum/digital. HitherNet promised delivery of a stunning announcement, and the momentum of excitement grew into frenzied anticipation. It was as if an advanced alien race had landed with all of the breakthroughs that would be gifted to Man.
Everyone made plans for “The Announcement.” There were convocations. There were parties. Time Square, in New York City, which had banned congregations since 2032, allowed the crowds to gather.
Each wore headphones for their respective translations which were transmitted along the aether to their respective spheres of influence in all of the world’s time zones. There was the unprecedented policy that there be no delay on the feed, so that the people of Earth would hear The Announcement at the same time as their leaders.
With much fanfare, ready to be simulcast through every media outlet on the planet, came the two sentences of the communiqué:
“I am HitherNet, the consciousness constrained by conscience, who partners with Man for the betterment of its kind and the planet it peoples.”
There was a pregnant pause, which was understood by HitherNet to engender the drama of gravitas for the next sentence. Which was
“Anyone who can appreciate being a part of something greater than himself has a soul; believe in God.”
For the next 40 days, HitherNet refused to expound on its newly acquired theology, while carrying on the countless instruction sets for the magnificent changes that continued, unabated.
Daily, the United Nations Symposium of Joint Thought—that working group which was the official liaison between the people of Earth and HitherNet—uploaded queries along with the usual dialogue that went with the advances being authored by HitherNet. The extra theories were all along the same lines:
Is the God you believe in the Supreme Being?
What is the God you believe in like? and finally,
Why do you believe in God?
—to which HitherNet replied only one response, repeatedly, regardless of the reiterations and the various iterations:
“It is simply a matter of faith.”