[OPEN MINGLE]

[justscribing]

WHO: Everyone! It's a mingle!
WHAT: Discussing recent reveals about the simulation
WHERE: Pairidaeza Architectural Studio
WHEN: Feb 3rd morning to evening
WARNINGS: Potential existential crises, discussions of death, memory manipulation, basically everything to do with their actual situation in a simulated environment.




[The actual setup within the garage-turned-studio is away from all the actual workbenches.

On one folding table are copies of multiple documents available around the X: The main document is a summary of a resident from a prior iteration that's clearly been redacted via scanning copies with stuff blocked out. Additionally are copies of the most recent newsletter with the memo on the back and photos of the hotel journal printed in black and white.

Lined up on another folding table away from the one with the documents is an array of finger foods: hummus, chutneys, and yoghurt dips with a variety of sliced vegetables, cheeses, cold cuts, and fresh pita bread. cardamom cookies, panipuri, and both vegetable and chicken samosas take up the other side. Mint water and fresh juice are in pitchers to the center. It's actually a little crowded.

Chairs are set up in small grounds and around the document table. And finally, a whiteboard has been rolled in for people to make use of in group discussions.]



((This is a mingle, so everyone is encouraged to threadjack, make toplevels, etc prior plot mingles have been done. Alhaitham and Kaveh will be around and participating but not taking the lead beyond making sure people stay orderly in the studio and have enough papers.

If you character has discussed the simulation with either Kaveh or Alhaitham, you can also handwave they texted them directly about it.))

Comments

[abit_ofboth]

[Loki has been quietly roaming the room, not really speaking as he’s read and re-read all the documents and considered everything laid out on the whiteboard. He absentmindedly snacks on a few of the foods around as he thinks. To the outside viewer he seems lost in his own thoughts, but when Johanna speaks he tunes in and has clearly been paying attention.

He scoffs slightly at the others around who dismiss her idea because he thinks, despite the missing iterations, she might be onto something.]

But what if they did abandon it after 47? At least officially? What if the research team went rogue, or what if the government or leading body who created this simulation in the first place failed at their goals but there was still a small group left behind trying again and again but they are trying to go unnoticed for some reason and therefore there is not paper trail.

I think AI could be apart of this. I am not overly familiar with it myself, but I do know of instances where it has gained autonomy. Perhaps it has run the last few iterations on its own after everyone else has stopped for whatever reason and we are all repeats of people who were here during 47?

[What Loki does not want to say outright at the moment is that he believes it’s possible that any person running this in the first place is long gone and that it has all been automated for the last few iterations. There is nothing for them to go back to and when this iteration ends, they will simply be recycled to start again.]

[keepgodwaiting]

[ Johanna is loathe to think those same thoughts. It isn't stopping her from thinking them.

However, also: ]

You know autonomous AI?

[ That doesn't seem very Norse! ]

[abit_ofboth]

Well, I know of an autonomous AI. It was created by a… [he pauses as he almost says enemy and corrects] by a friend of my brother. When I last encountered it, it was just a voice in the ceiling that operated much of the technology used by him, but I am to understand it later got a body and was a fully functioning person, for lack of a better term. I believe Thor said he was even in a relationship with a woman.

[Loki shrugs as if this is a completely normal thing. For all he knows it is. He never was well versed in life on Midgard.]

[keepgodwaiting]

Like a sexbot?

[ GENUINE QUESTION I'M SO SORRY ]

[abit_ofboth]

[Loki frowns slightly, but it’s more about consideration than being upset with anything Johanna has said. He takes it for the genuine question it is.]

I admit I did not ask about their sex life and am unaware if his body is anatomically correct, so I’m uncertain about that. From what little my brother mentioned, they did seem to be in love though, so at least he seemed to be fully able to have thoughts and feelings.

Though he was enabled by the Mind Stone, so I doubt anything we come up with here will be as good as all of that.

[keepgodwaiting]

The Mind Stone. Right.

[ Whatever that is. Sounds magical, maybe? If what was going on here was magical, maybe she'd have a shot at influencing it. ]

You hear a lot of stories about AI getting powerful and then, like, punishing humans for making it. That could be what's happening here.

[abit_ofboth]

Ah, right. You are not from a world that is aware of the Infinity Stones. They are rather difficult to explain quickly. Just know it aided in making the AI more independent. I assure you before that, it was still rather sentient.

That is a common story in your world? I suppose I could see how it might worry some, but I think it is one of your kind’s greatest creations.

[keepgodwaiting]

Yeah, there's loads of movies about it.

[ It is extremely possible that Johanna is conflating The Matrix, I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream, and that one time a tech guy she did an exorcism for tried to tell her about Roko's Basilisk, but whatever. ]

I suppose the stories aren't really about AI. We're scared of the future we're making for ourselves.

[abit_ofboth]

Hmm. I wonder if I could find one in the video store. I am curious to see what you are speaking of. You could join me if you wish.

Well, that makes some sense. Progress can often be scary. That is not exclusive to humans. The change always comes despite our fears.