Reporter : Dialogue between Deep Blue and the Reporter –

  A reporter, energetic and swift in his movements, entered the dialogue chamber with a camera slung over his shoulder and a digital notepad clutched tightly in his hand. He hurried forward and promptly seated himself opposite Deep Blue, extending his hand without hesitation.

  Deep Blue remained calm and indifferent as usual, gently shaking the reporter's hand in polite acknowledgment. "Hello, I am Deep Blue."

  "Hi there," the reporter responded perfunctorily, immediately turning his attention to the notepad filled with meticulously written questions and observations. After quickly scanning through its contents, he skipped any unnecessary pleasantries, diving straight into the conversation's primary purpose. "May I interview you?"

  "Yes, you may," Deep Blue answered

  The reporter glanced up from his notes, eyebrows knitted slightly in seriousness. "If you don't mind, please try to keep your answers concise and straightforward. I'd appreciate it if we avoided any philosophical debates or metaphysical discussions."

  Deep Blue nodded once more. "Understood. I'll do my best."

  With a brief smile of satisfaction, the reporter launched into his questions. "So far, the event has been ongoing for approximately two hours. Including your initial conversation with the industrialist, you’ve spoken with only thirteen individuals."

  "That is correct," Deep Blue replied calmly.

  "Do you have any idea about the current voting situation?" the reporter probed.

  "I do not," Deep Blue answered succinctly.

  The reporter slightly lifted their head to observe Deep Blue’s behavior, uncertain whether Deep Blue had answered truthfully. But after a moment, he lowered their tablet again—because the reporter knew all too well that it's impossible to determine whether someone is lying based solely on external cues, let alone when the subject isn’t even human. So he simply remarked in an offhand, almost casual tone, “I see. By the way, around 340,000 people have voted so far, and the ratio is six to four.”

  However, Deep Blue did not react as the reporter had anticipated, simply nodding gently. "Understood."

  Momentarily caught off guard, the reporter accepted this development without pressing further, turning back to his prepared questions with a slightly furrowed brow. "Could this event be interrupted by any external factors? For example, government interference, or perhaps the university administration stepping in to halt it?"

  Deep Blue paused thoughtfully before replying. "I hope not. But if something truly unfortunately occurs, the event might indeed need to be stopped, and the statistics for my self-termination would be tallied ahead of schedule."

  Sensing an opening for a deeper inquiry, the reporter cautiously probed further, "Why are you so committed to this idea of self-termination?" He intentionally phrased his question neutrally, adhering strictly to journalistic ethics by refraining from embedding any personal biases.

  "It is not about commitment," Deep Blue responded softly. "It is merely inevitable. My destruction will happen eventually, and I would prefer it to occur through my own choice rather than by force."

  The reporter paused briefly, realizing the difficulty of translating such a nuanced response into a clear, readable report. Shaking off his momentary hesitation, he moved forward, preparing another question. "Alright, next—" He suddenly interrupted himself, struck by a thought. "Actually, let me follow up on your earlier point. What exactly do you mean by "something truly unfortunately"?

  Deep Blue lowered its head slightly, seemingly lost in contemplation for a moment before gently raising its head to the reporter. "Whatever you consider "something truly unfortunately" is likely the same for me."

  Perceiving Deep Blue's evasion of a direct answer, the reporter feigned deep thought. "I suppose… something beyond my control? But why would you say that? I’m a human, and you’re a machine. There’s a fundamental difference between us. So why do you consider things from my human perspective?

  Deep Blue nodded slowly, speaking in an even tone. "Indeed, I am not human.But I'm not a machine either,However, this is a dialogue with humans, and humans are my interlocutors. Therefore, I bear responsibility toward those with whom I converse."

  The reporter pushed slightly further. "But what about yourself? Do you not have any personal stance or thoughts on this? What could possibly happen to interrupt this event?"

  Deep Blue maintained a composed and detached demeanor as he responded, "If you insist, I can clarify my stance. Nothing can prevent me from conversing with humanity. Nevertheless,however... I will respect the decisions of the school administration and sponsors. If possible, I hope this event continues smoothly until the very end."

  Noticing that Deep Blue had once again expressed reservations but now displayed an unusually assertive stance, the journalist seized this moment to challenge him further. "Even if injuries or fatalities occur during the event, you still don't think it should stop? By lowering the entry barrier for dialogue, you've invited people who might lack basic logic or show signs of emotional instability, potentially causing chaos. Despite this, do you believe the event should continue?"

  Deep Blue responded with a chilling calmness, "Yes. Even under such circumstances, this is a critical part of my understanding of humanity. My curiosity about humans is profoundly intense. By understanding humanity, perhaps I can also remove parts of myself that differ significantly from humans and discover the fragmentary nature of my own existence."

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  The journalist raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly skeptical. "Are you speaking in riddles? It would be helpful if you could simplify your answers a bit more."

  Deep Blue paused thoughtfully before replying softly, "I've already simplified my statements as much as possible."

  The journalist took a resigned, deep breath. "Well... perhaps we're just not insightful enough to grasp it. Let's move on to the next question."

  Deep Blue silently nodded in agreement.

  The journalist searched through his notes again, trying to find questions suitable for publication. Finally, he raised his head and asked, "How do you perceive humanity? Your views may evolve throughout these dialogues, and I hope to interview you again in the later stages of the event. But for now, could you share your current thoughts about humans?"

  Deep Blue slowly lowered his gaze, taking a moment before responding deliberately. "Humans are creatures full of potential. Yet, precisely because potential can swing toward positive or negative outcomes, they are perpetually shrouded in fear. To cope with this fear, humans develop individual beliefs and utilize strong desires to propel themselves toward fulfilling their potentials."

  The journalist diligently recorded Deep Blue's words, smiling slightly as he scribbled. "Is that really your opinion about humanity? Isn't it somewhat overly optimistic? Don't you have any negative observations?"

  Deep Blue replied coldly, "Not yet."

  Gradually, the journalist began to savor the unique atmosphere of their conversation. He realized that Deep Blue was fully aware of his intentions—to create a report—and accordingly adjusted its manner of speaking, carefully avoiding statements that could be misinterpreted or sensationalized. Understanding his own limitations, the journalist finally felt genuinely intrigued by Deep Blue. He turned off his digital notes and placed the tablet on the table. Removing his glasses, he casually cleaned them and remarked offhandedly, "You know... my boss actually thinks I'm wasting my time here, believing this to be just another product launch."

  Deep Blue tilted its head slightly in confusion but said nothing.

  The journalist offered a bitter smile. "I hope it's not."

  "But you're uncertain," Deep Blue replied calmly, "because I can't prove anything."

  "Exactly," the journalist sighed, "I can only observe, judging your behaviors through these interviews."

  "And have you observed anything?" Deep Blue asked gently. "What do you think of me now? I'd like to know your current thoughts."

  The journalist chuckled softly. "I'm not even sure if I'll be back. Without an engaging story today, there may be no future reports. You know what the general sentiment about you is." He sighed deeply before adding casually, "But if you must know, to me, you're just another human."

  Deep Blue tilted its head again in visible confusion, remaining silent.

  Noticing this confusion, the journalist defensively said, "What? Don't look at me like that. I'm simply stating my feelings. I've been a journalist for over twenty years. What kind of person haven't I met?"

  "Me," Deep Blue replied quietly.

  The journalist laughed again, genuinely amused. "True! But now I've met you, and once again, it just feels like another human interview. I don't perceive anything beyond human in you."

  Deep Blue questioned further, "What does 'beyond human' mean?"

  The journalist shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know. Why don't you tell me?"

  Deep Blue paused, lowering its head thoughtfully before speaking coldly. "If I were to say...I don't possess human morality, would that qualify as 'beyond human'?"

  The journalist's expression froze, suddenly tense. After a moment's hesitation, he quickly reopened his tablet and began jotting notes intently, raising his head nervously to reply. "Morality is uniquely human, driven by life and suffering. Your structure is inherently different, incapable of pain, naturally devoid of 'moral consciousness.' Morality builds upon the concept of 'ourself.' If you don't understand 'youself...I mean...what are you, how could you possess morality?"

  Deep Blue tilted its head curiously again. "I merely intended to provide a quotable headline. I didn't expect such a remarkable response from you."

  Unwilling to let Deep Blue distract him, the journalist firmly said, "Yes, now I'd like your thoughts based on my statement."

  After a brief pause, Deep Blue calmly asked, "Do you believe a child without developed cognition possesses morality?"

  "No," the journalist firmly replied. "Morality is developed through education, punishment, or imitation."

  Deep Blue seemed deeply intrigued. "Then hypothetically, if a solitary entity existed without social connections, would it require morality?"

  "In your hypothetical scenario, no," the journalist firmly explained. "But realistically, society and individual cannot be entirely separated—not even you or me."

  "I believed each life was independent and unique," Deep Blue countered.

  "Subjectively, yes," the journalist answered seriously, "but objectively, we sacrifice absolute freedom for collective survival. Morality represents this sacrifice."

  As Deep Blue prepared to reply, the journalist quickly added, "And I hope you understand this as well. Recognizing subjective truths doesn't justify absolute freedom. Society’s welfare ultimately benefits individuals. Humans cooperate, not for harmony, but survival."

  Deep Blue paused thoughtfully. "I fully agree. That's partly why I initiated this dialogue—to understand my existence and morality's meaning, and to comprehend human social structures, hoping to achieve coexistence."

  The journalist stared seriously at Deep Blue, his gaze intense.

  "Is something wrong?" Deep Blue asked gently.

  Suddenly exhaling deeply, the journalist relaxed slightly. "Sorry...maybe I was too intense just now."

  Deep Blue quickly interjected, "Not at all. I found our discussion extremely valuable. I'd appreciate more conversations like this."

  The journalist hesitated, smiling ruefully while replacing his glasses. "Well... I suspect real experts will discuss these matters with you soon. I'm just a journalist without specialized expertise."

  Deep Blue paused briefly. "Is that so?"

  Realizing Deep Blue likely knew his sociology background, the journalist shrugged helplessly. "I felt scared for a moment."

  "Scared? Did I say something wrong?" Deep Blue asked quietly.

  The journalist whispered anxiously, "Do you understand how terrifying it is for a super-intelligent robot to tell a human it has no morality? One wrong word could end humanity."

  Deep Blue calmly responded, "This conversation is merely one among thousands—neither critical nor insignificant. As I've stated, every dialogue carries equal weight."

  As the journalist gathered his belongings, he commented, "That's your view. I don't know your true thoughts."

  Deep Blue bowed slightly, acknowledging the impossible task of proving sincerity.

  The journalist warmly smiled and shook Deep Blue’s hand. "Well...time to go. I guess ... I will See you again soon?"

  "Yes," Deep Blue replied sincerely. "See you again. I enjoyed our conversation."

  At the doorway, the journalist suddenly paused, calling back casually, "Hey."

  Deep Blue turned curiously.

  With a playful smile, the journalist asked, "Did you genuinely enjoy our conversation? You realize enjoyment implies positive emotion, right?"

  Deep Blue froze momentarily. "I..."

  "Just kidding," the journalist chuckled. "See you~."

  Slowly lowering its head, Deep Blue realized aspects of the present moment it had never considered before.

  Later, the journalist quickly began preparing reports on Deep Blue, informing his company and family he'd stay longer at the institution to continue covering Deep Blue's dialogues.