"Gentlemen" Episode 3: Human Expansion (2) - Leona and Kaoru

When I leaned against the window and whistled, a Japanese white-eye whistled back. I love that adorable silhouette. Its yellow-green feathers and its voice are both wonderful. I think it embodies spring with its whole being.
"Ah, what a grateful happiness... though I suppose that's just me being a common citizen."

Two years since classes went remote due to an unprecedented infectious disease... the world has changed drastically. For instance, this country does not report on the tragic situation reaching me from my whistling friends in Africa. With the global pandemic, it seems no one is interested.
"Ah, so those in vulnerable positions are just abandoned like this."

Not only people, but the Earth itself has been neglected for a long time. Such indifference has made nature violent.
"It's only the developing countries that bear the risk of climate change. There are even countries whose land is about to disappear. At this rate, the whole planet will be ruined. Is there anything I can do?"

Holding onto such thoughts, I grew up, and in 2060, I was about to sit down for an interview with a certain person.

"Welcome, Leona. Welcome from J-Country. I'm happy you could come today."
...I am happy too. Thank you for inviting me. It has been eight years since I received your support.

"That was a very good proposal. Thanks to it, I wanted to know more about you."
...Understood. Where shall I begin?

"First of all, you are an ornithologist and an AI engineer, right? Why?"
...Since I was a child, I was friends with birds through whistling. And while in school, my heart ached at the way the Earth was breaking, so I studied AI as well because I wanted to work alongside birds as fellow inhabitants of the same planet.

"That's an amazing idea. So, what did you expect from the AI?"
...To make it the brain of a bird-shaped robot that even birds couldn't distinguish.

"I think it's difficult to replicate a bird's brain with AI."
...As you say. Since humans only understand a fraction of a bird's capabilities, I attached small cameras to birds to gather more data.

"Then various things would be captured, and it seems like it would touch on personal information or secrets."
...What is captured is limited to birds. Before communication, I also perform modeling processing within the camera.

"You thought it through. In that case, even if information were leaked, it would be unusable."
...Of course, I knew from the start that birds wouldn't think of them as their own kind. So, I set the robot-side AI to detect [the moment and behavior when a bird perceives the robot as a foreign object]. And I set the bird-side AI to [perceive the bird-shaped robot as a bird, even if imperfect], and improved them by having the AI data compete against each other.

"An application of [Adversarial Inverse Reinforcement Learning]. But it takes an enormous amount of time to collect the necessary data."
...I created a [digital twin environment for AI learning] in a metaverse space with game engineers to accelerate the improvements.

"That's an amazing idea. But what do you do if there are gaps in that environment itself?"
...Another AI that oversees the whole thing analyzes the difference between the digital environment and real-world data, adding missing parameters to design it so that improvements proceed automatically.

"You've left nothing to chance. I understand how you can create an AI close to a bird's brain. But to build a truly precise bird-shaped robot, it seems engineering technology would also be necessary."
...That was left to my husband, Giichi. He is a psychiatrist and also a veterinarian, and he developed artificial wings that connect to the brain and move for birds injured in wars and disasters. With his cooperation, the bird robot was completed in 2050.

"Oh, how wonderful! You've met a marvelous partner!! Now, I want to know your ideals and the strategy to reach them."
...Since I was a student, I believed that the North-South problem was what needed to be solved, and I considered the independence of the 'have-nots' to be my ideal. However, when I was young, I relied entirely on government subsidies... It was my son, Kaoru, who brought me back to my roots. He is a professional soccer player, but because he has atopic dermatitis, he deepened his interest in beauty and is also a researcher of microorganisms. When he transferred to this country last year, the background of the cosmetics company in his home country sponsoring the team was due to that history. I want to use the technology nurtured in my home country to make this country a model for solving the North-South problem.

"Everything is connected. That's how you and I met."
...As you say. In 2052, I first moved my home country, and we concluded the [Bird Resource Conservation Treaty] only with countries that were poor but rich in bird resources, making our intellectual property available to member countries. I expected opposition from major powers, but thanks to your support, it was established. Thinking back, when the [Bird Protection Treaty] was established unanimously a few years prior due to the massive damage to birds from disasters and war, the anger toward the warring nations for adding the condition that it was [valid only in peacetime, not applicable in wartime] might have been a tailwind.

"Thanks to that, our federation has also been able to build its own industrial base. The accuracy of disaster prediction has increased with bird robots, and primary industries that we had given up on have been revived. Excellent talent like you is also gathering here. We are also protecting the lives of young people who will carry the next generation by clearing landmines. I am truly grateful."
...What undeserved words. I was bullied as a child, played with birds more than people, and learned to whistle by imitating their calls. Thanks to that, I became able to connect with people who have similar sensibilities, so it's as if the birds created a place for me. Therefore, if I can help people who are struggling in the same way through bird research, it is a joy beyond expectations.

"So that was it... Then I want to ask your true objective. For that, I think appropriate resolve is necessary, so you may search this room to your satisfaction in your own way."
...Understood. Then, if I may, I will let this little one fly.

"So the hand-tamed Java sparrow was a detection sensor. Please, go ahead until you are satisfied."
...The inside of the room is fine, but who is the person waiting outside the door?
"Eh!? Could it be... I will check."

"It was one of the excellent talents I mentioned earlier. An entomologist, and it seems they were waiting because they had a report for me. If it bothers you, you may lock the door and we can talk in the back."
...Could you please? That would make me feel more at ease.

"Then, here. You said at the beginning that your heart aches at the way the Earth is breaking. I think you are still in the middle of your dream."
...As you guessed, this is where my birds show their true worth. Since no one but us can distinguish between birds and bird robots, capturing bird robots inevitably involves killing or injuring birds, which is prohibited by the [Bird Protection Treaty]. Even if they could be captured, the AI is disabled upon disassembly. Important parts are made of materials that decompose when the power is cut, so it can be said that replication is impossible.

"Replication? That would be done by developed countries, but there shouldn't be bird robots yet... Could it be! Are they already there?"
...Your insight is sharp. We have put the migratory bird type into practical use and they have already infiltrated, and this does not violate the treaty.

"I'm surprised. But for what purpose? You can only collect information, right?"
...That is their mission. They have been observing crows in developed countries, and preparations for the release of urban models tailored to each country are complete.

"I feel like we are approaching the core, but what do you want to do with that?"
...Intellectual property not derived from birds in developing countries is not subject to the [Bird Resource Conservation Treaty]. In other words, it can be sold to developed countries. Furthermore, limited to this model, we will release specifications that allow individuals in developed countries to manufacture them.

"What did you say! In other words, you want to spread bird robots in developed countries. But who will use them and for what? Drones have already permeated society."
...Prevention of bird damage, prevention of illegal outflow of seeds and seedlings, early detection of large-scale forest fires, etc. Incidentally, since they can automatically avoid other flying objects, unlike drones, they are not subject to air traffic control.

"None of those are pressing needs. I feel like that's just on the surface and there's a different true intention."
...As expected. As you guessed, this is for public consumption. The true reason is for military purposes.

"Eh! What do you mean? Are you strengthening developed countries as weapons?"
...The opposite. It is a trump card to 'neutralize' the nuclear weapons of developed countries.

"Neutralize? It's not a weapon itself, but you're eliminating the harm of nuclear weapons. Is the harm the enormous military budget?"
...That's right. The cost of nuclear weapons can be diverted to environmental conservation, etc.

"That is certainly true, but I don't see the connection to bird robots."
...Excuse me. A country that neglects its citizens cannot launch nuclear weapons. Because the abandoned citizens will use bird robots as 'defense-only weapons'.

"Can they not attack?"
...Yes. Bird robots also follow the three principles from the past.
[Part 1: Do not harm humans]
Human detection is prohibited by AI.
[Part 2: Must obey orders given by humans]
The AI developed by humans is the brain, and it cannot take actions outside of those instructions.
[Part 3: Must protect itself unless it conflicts with the above two points]
Unless pre-set in the AI, self-destruct guidance is not possible.
From the above, they cannot become offensive weapons.

"Then how do they act as a deterrent to nuclear weapons? Could it be that the AI is set that way?"
...Yes. With the bird's electromagnetic wave sensing ability, they detect radiation emitted by weapons. They are set to head straight to the source to confirm abnormalities if the threshold is exceeded just before launch. No matter what form the nuclear weapon takes, what if all the bird robots in the country swarm it at once? If the trajectory calculation is off even slightly, it becomes a major problem. At worst, it might explode within the territory.

"If malice uses it, it becomes a weapon. That's why politics that doesn't make citizens harbor malice is necessary from the start, isn't it?"
...If the ruler doesn't abandon anyone, there is no need to worry. However, for those who understand that politics means abandoning a minority, it will be a powerful deterrent.

"I finally understand your aim. Have you finished talking?"
...Having had the Queen listen to everything, I have no regrets. Will I be arrested?

"Why? I strongly empathize. I would like you to become an advisor for industrial promotion in my country's federation. Will you accept?"
...That is, what a grateful happiness! Hehe, that I would use these words in front of others. I am truly grateful and happy from the bottom of my heart.

This is a story I heard from my mother while she was alive. She was proud that she had changed the world significantly and that the term 'developing country' was no longer used. It has been 10 years since my mother passed away. Taking that as an opportunity, I am advancing the medical application of my father's microorganism-type robots, and finally, I am taking the same position as my mother.

"Expand humanity to the small and weak." These are the words on my mother's gravestone. Inheriting the technology and thoughts that the three of us, my parents and I, cultivated, I want to continue changing the world from this country. Thank you for supporting Kaoru, the soccer player, until now. Thank you all for gathering today!

◆Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading until the end!!
If you'd like, I would be happy if you could also read this as well◆
"Gentlemen" Episode 1: The Nationality-Unknown Scientist Guild called G
"Gentlemen" Episode 2: Human Expansion (1) - Giichi and Chloe

Also, if you are interested, please check out the prologue that leads to "Gentlemen".
(This is an entry for the Creative Awards 2023: Mystery Novel Category)
Whistling SF Mystery Novel (1) "Is the Culprit Swimmy?"
Part 1: Evidence Chapter,Part 2: Darkness Chapter,Part 3: Conclusion Chapter

#CreativeAwards2023