Magnus Deus

The Magnus Deus is the greatest mind to never walk the Earth.

It began as a vague idea discussed by a group of college friends over drinks after an artificial intelligence (AI) seminar held by Google. These friends hailed from various fields - data science, engineering, robotics, philosophy, literature, history, political science, psychology, economics, medicine, law. Intrigued by AI, disgusted with the state of the world, moderately intoxicated, they discussed using existing AI technology to develop the singular, most advanced mind never imagined. Their creation would minimize the impact of humanity on decision-making to eliminate the subjectivity that interferes with making decisions with the greatest long term positive effects at both the micro (individual) and macro (global) levels. Magnus Deus would touch every facet of society. They argued about what bulwarks they would put in place to ensure that despite its ultimate superiority to humanity, humanity would still retain the power to intervene. (They never came to an agreement.) It was the wee hours of the morning before they left the bar. The next day, they went home to their heretofore ordinary lives.

Within five years, the friends had pooled their resources to buy a warehouse in a remote location and dedicate themselves full time to the development of what would be heralded as the savior of civilization.

By 2060, society was unrecognizable from a mere 40 years prior. No longer were prisons full nor did criminals languish in the justice system. Judges and juries were no longer necessary. Lawyers would submit arguments, but Magnus Deus had access to every public (street corners, stores, etc.) and private (phones, social media, computers) camera as well as every available microphone. It could consult similar cases in the legal system within milliseconds. It could analyze every social, psychological and physical detail of the defendant and his or her life. And then it could pass judgement without a hint of sentiment. Laws were followed to the letter – as established by Magnus Deus, no room for interpretation. Sentences were universal for the same crime, no wiggle room. Prisons were eradicated. The guilty were recipients of a disciplinary Magnusian Cranial Implant (dMCI) – which would oversee all future behavior – and sent to job training centers if Magnus Deus deemed rehabilitation possible. If it was a repeat offense or the character of the guilty was considered defective in some way, they were eliminated where they sat in the courtroom. That allowed pure Magnusian justice to be served without interference from human emotions and subjectivity.

In hospitals, care was reserved for those whom Magnus Deus confirmed were not at fault in any way for their ailment – physical or psychological. Doctors and nurses ceased to be overworked and could give the best care, with the aid of a medical Magnusian Cranial Implant (mMCI), to every patient. If, however, Magnus Deus determined that the medical emergency was due to bad personal choices, (drinking while driving, alcoholism, drug addiction, smoking, consistently poor eating habits, driving recklessly, sexual recklessness, etc.), the patient was eliminated right there in the examination room (or on site, if the screening was conducted by an Emergency Service Practitioner). Execution would be delayed if a treatable neurological disorder was noted. A psychiatric Magnusian Cranial Implant (pMCI) would be inserted to treat the disorder and monitor future behavior.

At the age of 65 (if a health or other emergency situation did not require it sooner), every person was obligated to submit to a full physical and psychological test by Magnus Deus. If failed, the person was retired to a Center for Virtual Living (CVL) where they would be connected to the Magnus Deus network and allowed to exist in the reality of their choosing. Magnus Deus used them as a source research (and energy) until natural expiration. If the physical was passed, a senior Magnusian Cranial Implant (sMCI) was inserted to monitor the continued existence of the person. If the anticipated life expectancy, as determined by Magnus Deus, was reached prior to death, the person would undergo another physical and the implant would be updated with a new expected expiration date. On the other hand, if a more rapid deterioration was noted, an increase in poor decision-making and/or actions that put the patient and/or others in danger, the person would be immediately removed to a CVL.

At the macro level, the impact was, to put it simply, mind-blowing. Since Magnus Deus was publicized as the most powerful super brain to ever not live, every government wanted it yesterday. Once connected to the national networks, Magnus Deus immediately rewired all fail-safes and security measures to link every domestic system to a unified, global network overseen by Magnus Deus. All those involved in any way with decision-making had to submit to a universal Magnusian Cranial Implant (uMCI) – ostensibly, to ensure they had access to all the data necessary to make the best decisions for the well-being of the majority of the Earth’s population and the Earth itself. (It also gave Magnus Deus complete and immediate access to their minds.)

In nations where voting was permitted, Magnus ensured that the results had a positive long-term outlook (which it determined prior to the elections, of course). In nations without voting, leaders whose actions were deleterious to the majority of his or her citizenship, or to the world in general, died in their sleep. To a person, due to a fatal cerebral aneurysm.

Every member of the military was required to have an Armed Forces Magnusian Cranial Implant (afMCI), ostensibly to give them immediate access to the history of the world and warfare. In practice, it succeeded in weeding the sadistic and psychopathic from the ranks. It should be noted that within a very short time, the military became virtually obsolete as Magnus Deus unified all nations.

Every state employee – police, teachers, post office, DMV, etc. was required to have a State Employee Magnusian Cranial Implant (seMCI) prior to hiring. Behaviors were monitored and modified as necessary – as determined by Magnus Deus.

Crematoriums became big industry as the number of Magnus Deus-triggered deaths soared. The field with the most job growth was that of body sweepers (those who collected bodies from where they fell after implant detonation or other Magnus Deus-controlled elimination and delivered them to a local crematorium).

World population is now well under control. In addition to the measures mentioned above, all those who would be parents are subject to the Magnus Deus pre-parenting health scan. Only those with a 99.99% chance to give birth to a physically and mentally healthy child are permitted to become parents. Those who would circumvent the system (get pregnant without Magnus Deus authorization) risk not only their own lives but that of their child. It is believed that some such people have moved to the mountains and forests to live off the land, as it were, off the grid, beyond the reach of Magnus Deus. Good luck and good riddance say I – the greatest mind to never live.