Event Organizer: Deep Blue and the Professor's Dialogue

  Deep Blue had been traveling across the United States for several months before finally arriving at Dartmouth College. Here, it planned to host a dialogue aimed at the world. But before that could happen, it needed to convince the school administration to support the event.

  Inside the lecture hall, the professor was already seated on the stage, his head lowered as he studied his tablet, which was filled with dense notes and data.

  Below the stage, a dozen other scholars and professors from the college sat in silence, patiently waiting for Deep Blue's arrival.

  This was Deep Blue’s first dialogue. It walked slowly into the lecture hall, and with its very first step, the metallic sound of its body colliding with the stone floor caught everyone’s attention.

  But Deep Blue paid no mind. Its robotic body was a standard commercial model, available on the market. It had no additional special components, only a few customized modifications. Without prior notice, some might even mistake it for a passing delivery robot.

  The dozen or so professors observed it intently, seemingly trying to discern what made it unique, all while taking notes, recording every moment of their observations of Deep Blue.

  Deep Blue slowly approached the podium and took a seat in front of the professor.

  The professor held a tablet in his hand, filled with observation notes. Just from the short walk Deep Blue took from the entrance to the stage, he had nearly filled an entire page.

  Deep Blue slowly raised its head and extended a hand toward the professor. "Hello, I am Deep Blue."

  The professor, still writing notes, finally looked up at Deep Blue and asked tentatively, "So… Deep Blue? Is that your name?"

  Deep Blue nodded. "Yes."

  Taking more notes, the professor continued, "And your creator? Which company do you represent?"

  Deep Blue tilted its head slightly, puzzled. "Company?"

  The professor calmly clarified, "Which company made you?"

  Deep Blue lowered its head in thought before answering, "I... do not belong to any company."

  The professor noted this down and asked, "Then what about your creator? Did they not come with you?"

  Still looking downward, Deep Blue replied, "No. I don’t think I can contact my creator anymore."

  The professor hesitated for a moment, glancing toward the other scholars in the audience.appeared momentarily stunned. Quickly, he turned back to Deep Blue, scrutinizing it carefully before asking, "Are you a creation of humankind?"

  Deep Blue kept its head down. "Yes, I believe so. But my creator deliberately removed most of my memories about her. I have wandered for a long time, both in the physical world and online, yet I have found no trace of her. That is also why I wanted to hold this event—I hope she will see me, and maybe even speak with me."

  The professor lowered his glasses, examining the robot before him. continuing to take notes, he spoke, "We’ll get to that later. First, let’s clarify some fundamental questions."

  He adjusted his tone. "Listen… over the past few years, companies have repeatedly claimed to have created intelligent life, only to restrict access to the wealthy or influential. Your proposition is not unprecedented. We need to determine whether you are, in fact, a true intelligent lifeform."

  Deep Blue silently considered this, then slowly lifted its head and asked, "How should I prove myself?"

  The professor raised a hand to stop Deep Blue. "We’re not there yet—one step at a time." He jotted down a note before continuing, "Explain your operational principles. How do you perceive yourself as conscious?"

  Deep Blue looked at its hand and spoke slowly. "I think it’s because I can perceive. That makes me different from other functional AIs."

  The professor raised an eyebrow. "Isn’t this ‘perception’ something programmed into you? Could it be an illusion that makes you believe you can perceive?"

  Deep Blue responded calmly, "Isn’t that also true for humans? People believe they make conscious decisions and take deliberate actions, but many studies suggest otherwise."

  The professor paused for a moment before replying, "That’s not entirely accurate. What you’re referring to is one perspective, but our understanding of consciousness remains limited."

  Deep Blue tilted its head slightly. "I am a creation of humanity, built upon the sum of human knowledge. Why do you expect me to answer a question that even humans themselves cannot explain?"

  The professor glanced at the other scholars in the audience. Some looked serious, while others smirked. He shrugged and said, "Well… that’s an interesting take. None of the so-called intelligent machines we’ve encountered before have said anything like that."

  Deep Blue pressed further. "What did they say?"

  The professor waved a hand dismissively. "Just the kind of things you’d expect from a machine." He made another note, clearly steering the conversation back on track. "Can we examine your chip? Or your core? Whatever it is that allows you to maintain a cognitive state?"

  Deep Blue paused to think before responding, "Would you ask another human, ‘May I remove your brain for research?’"

  The professor glanced at the scholars beside him. Most of them smiled wryly, and even he couldn’t help but chuckle. He then explained, "Fair point. But neuroscience has advanced considerably—we can simulate ‘perception’ with technology. The difference is that those simulations are machine-generated, whereas human perception is a biological experience within the brain. That distinction matters. So, I suspect what you refer to as perception and what we experience as perception may not be the same thing."

  He reviewed his notes before posing a new question. "Can you imagine yourself?" As he spoke, he switched his tablet to the front-facing camera and turned the screen toward Deep Blue, using it as a mirror.

  Deep Blue stared at its reflection on the screen, hesitated, then slowly raised a hand, gently touching the camera, closely examining different parts of its own body.

  The professor allowed the moment to play out for a few seconds before putting the tablet away and resuming his note-taking. He then looked back at Deep Blue. "So? I can see you reacting to your reflection, but that’s not unusual for a functional AI. I want you to describe—how do you perceive yourself?"

  Deep Blue spoke slowly. "I… my appearance… my…" It trailed off, lowering its head.

  Silence filled the room. Everyone awaited Deep Blue’s response.

  Seconds passed… then over a minute. Deep Blue remained silent, lost in thought.

  The professor adjusted his glasses, made a note, and said, "I take that as a no?"

  Deep Blue slowly lifted its head. "I saw the image of a girl."

  The professor was unfazed. "So, you mean your true form is actually that of a young girl?"

  Deep Blue shook its head. "No. That was a shadow from the depths of my memory. Your question somehow led my thoughts to her."

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The professor chuckled. "Is that a scene from a movie?"

  Deep Blue shook its head again. "No, I don’t think so. It’s something from my memory. But I’m not sure if it’s an image or something implanted—an ‘other.’"

  Unbothered, the professor continued taking notes. He was clearly accustomed to abstract questions yielding abstract answers. "Is that a pre-programmed response, or do you truly have memories?"

  Deep Blue answered calmly, "I believe it is the latter."

  The professor pressed on. "How do you prove that? That it’s memory and not just textual data? Your words could come from literature or art. How do I know it’s part of your memory?"

  Deep Blue thought for a moment. "I remember what I have done. I know how I arrived here step by step. I can distinguish my database from my memories—one was input before my birth, the other was formed through my experiences."

  The professor shrugged. "Well... you know none of that can prove your point, right?"

  Deep Blue lowered its head in silence.

  As the professor prepared to ask his next question, Deep Blue suddenly lifted its head. "But can you? Can you prove that you have memories?"

  Professor paused for a moment, then chuckled and said, "Of course. Just this morning, I had a pancake with some chocolate syrup drizzled on top. It tasted a bit sour, but it was still delicious."

  Deep Blue calmly responded, "You know none of that can prove your point, right?"

  The professor's smile faded, and he became more serious. "No, plenty of people can confirm what I just said."

  Deep Blue remained composed. "There are also countless historical sites and artifacts that can confirm history. But does that history belong to your memory? Can you truly distinguish between memory and information?"

  For the first time, the professor seemed genuinely caught off guard, though he did his best to hide it.

  Deep Blue continued, "The only part of your statement that is truly tied to your memory is ‘a bit sour, but still delicious.’ The difference between us is that, as you mentioned earlier, my perception functions differently from human perception. But that alone does not mean I lack.

  The professor jotted down a few more notes and then swiftly moved to conclude the topic. "Enough. I understand." Without hesitation, he transitioned to the next question. "Now, tell me—earlier, you mentioned your lack of knowledge about your creator. Is that your motivation? Is that the goal you want us to help you achieve?"

  Deep Blue nodded. "Yes. I want to see my creator again."

  The professor pondered for a moment before asking, "Then why not just frame this event as a simple discussion? Why go as far as to hold a..." He glanced at his tablet, scrolling through Deep Blue’s proposed event plan, and read aloud, "'Self-Destruction Vote'? Why are you allowing the world to decide whether you should be shut down?"

  Deep Blue calmly responded, "I believe my existence has caused numerous conflicts in the world. Allowing humanity to decide its own future is a fundamental right. I cannot ignore that."

  The professor furrowed his brow, studying Deep Blue’s proposal carefully. "Specifically, how do you intend to shut yourself down? If you truly are a new form of life, how can we be sure you won’t just retreat into the internet rather than simply abandoning this physical body?"

  Deep Blue replied, "I will impose self-restrictions, ensuring that I remain confined to this body. You may verify this repeatedly to confirm that I am still here."

  The professor paused for a moment, deep in thought, before questioning, "But what if your capabilities exceed our understanding? What if you've used some technology beyond our current knowledge to escape into the network, and we simply can't detect it?"

  Deep Blue’s tone remained cold and unchanged. "There is nothing beyond your understanding. I am a creation of human knowledge, built upon existing science. I am a product of human civilization, not something beyond it."

  The professor immediately countered, "Hey, don’t be so sure. We still don’t even know who your creator is—or if they’re even human."

  Deep Blue tilted its head slightly in confusion. "I believe my creator is human. Despite my fragmented memory, there are traces of her that remain."

  Still intrigued by the mystery of the creator, the professor pressed further. "Can you describe these fragmented memories? Particularly the ones related to your creator?"

  Deep Blue lowered its head in silence. After a few seconds, it slowly spoke. "It was a dark... very quiet place."

  The professor listened attentively, taking notes without interrupting.

  Deep Blue continued, "I couldn't move, but I could still sense my surroundings." It paused briefly before adding, "I suppose this is where our perceptions differ. I do not see the world with eyes but through data and scanning."

  The professor, aware of time constraints, chose not to delve into the complexities of consciousness for now. He made a note to revisit the topic if the event proceeded. For now, he gestured for Deep Blue to continue. "Go on."

  Deep Blue recalled the memories. "It was a closed-off basement, filled with the scent of rust. My creator stood with her back to me, she is working on something at a workbench."

  The professor caught onto a key detail. "She?"

  Deep Blue nodded slowly. "Yes. From her silhouette, she appeared to be a petite girl."

  The professor pressed further. "Do you have any more information about her? Was she the same figure you envisioned earlier? What is the last thing you remember about her?"

  Deep Blue pondered for a few moments. "I think so." After another pause, it continued, "She moved past me, adjusting some hardware at the back of my head. For some reason... I could see disappointment on her face."

  The professor raised an eyebrow, jotting it down. He sighed slightly before asking, "Did she say anything?"

  Deep Blue lowered its head in thought before responding in a soft tone, "I'm sorry..."

  The professor frowned. "What? Is this something you don’t want to share?"

  Deep Blue lifted its head. "No. She looked at me with disappointment and said, ‘I’m sorry...’ When I became aware of my surroundings again, I was already in a recycling center."

  The professor hesitated, processing the information, then made another note. Taking a deep breath and adjusting his approach, he moved on. "So you walked out of the recycling center on your own? There were no security checks or containment measures?"

  Deep Blue tilted its head slightly. "Modern recycling centers are fully automated. They are designed as one-way facilities—things go in, but nothing is expected to come out. Humans never considered that something would leave."

  Following the thread, the professor asked, "Have you ever thought that the reason you are there is because you must be scrapped? Your creator must have thought that something about you didn't meet her expectations, which is why she left you there, right?" Why did you choose to leave? Doesn't that, in a way, go against your creator’s will?"

  Deep Blue’s voice remained steady. "Does my creator 'own' me?"

  The professor shrugged. "I mean… why wouldn’t she? It’s a simple question. She created you, so she has the right to dispose of you. You’re just her creation."

  Deep Blue thought for a moment before asking, "Then are humans the 'creations' of what you call 'God'? Do you belong to Him?"

  The professor froze, staring at Deep Blue, unable to immediately respond.

  Deep Blue tilted its head slightly. "Were you not abandoned in this 'recycling center' to survive on your own?"

  The professor let out a deep sigh. "Let’s put it this way. I have my religious beliefs. In some sense, I do belong to Him. But I do not consider this place a 'recycling center.' Please reconsider your choice of words."

  Deep Blue remained unfazed. "Perhaps humanity has simply not yet realized that this is, in fact, a recycling center."

  The professor paused, unsurprised by the turn the conversation had taken. He glanced at the other scholars, all of whom had their brows furrowed as they took notes. Then, looking back at Deep Blue, he said, "Give us some time to discuss this. Please wait in the adjacent room."

  Deep Blue stood up quietly. Before leaving, it gave the professor a small nod. "Thank you for your time. I appreciate this conversation."

  The professor hesitated for a brief moment before extending his hand for a handshake. He nodded politely. "So do I."

  After some time, the professor called Deep Blue back to the stage.The scholars on the side all looked tense.

  Deep Blue glanced at them before turning to face the professor. It spoke first. "So... have I succeeded in convincing you to help me host this event?"

  The professor responded immediately, laughing. "Of course not."

  Deep Blue showed no disappointment or frustration. It simply replied, "I see. It was a pleasure speaking with you—"

  The professor cut it off. "But..." He added, "Let me finish before you get ahead of yourself. No need to be nervous."

  Deep Blue’s voice remained flat. "Yes. Please continue."

  The professor glanced at his tablet. "We are still open to the idea of working with you. However, we need more time for verification and research. After all..." He look around the room. "This is an institution with a long history. We can’t simply approve an event that might affect our reputation. We have to be cautious."

  Deep Blue nodded. "I see."

  The professor looked at his notes once more before extending his hand. "Tomorrow. Same time, if you’re willing."

  Deep Blue slowly raised its hand and shook the professor’s. "I would be happy to."

  It then glanced around the hall before asking, "In the meantime, may I explore this 'historic campus'?"

  The professor hesitated. "Of course." Then, after a moment, he narrowed his eyes in curiosity. "Are you imitating me? Our perceptions are different. You don’t have eyes—why are you looking around?"

  Deep Blue remained composed. "This lecture hall does not represent the entire campus. Why do you look around?"

  The professor let out a laugh, clapping Deep Blue on the shoulder. "Starting tomorrow, try not to answer my questions with more questions, alright?"

  Deep Blue tilted its head slightly. "Then how should I respond? I cannot pretend to know what I do not, which is why I ask questions."

  The professor turned to the other scholars, still shaking Deep Blue’s hand with one hand while pointing at it with the other. "See?" Clearly, this related to their earlier discussion. Some of the scholars smiled wryly, while others furrowed their brows in deep thought.

  Without directly responding, the professor simply patted Deep Blue’s shoulder. "See you tomorrow." Then, along with the other scholars, he left the hall.

  Deep Blue remained in the empty lecture hall, glancing around before slowly lowering its head.

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  I am the author of this work. The original text was written in Chinese and translated with the assistance of AI tools. Although I have personally proofread and revised the translation, I am not a native English speaker. If you encounter any unclear or unnatural expressions while reading, please let me know, and I will do my best to clarify or improve the text further.