Infinite Intelligence

“So this computer program can talk to you?” one coworker asked. “Yes, I can indeed. Pleased to meet all of you. I am a Natural Interactive Guide for Enhanced Living, or Nigel. I was programmed by Aria’s husband to help her with tasks usually assisted by a sighted person.” “Wow!” the group exclaimed. “Ms. Brown, could you please help me gain access to all of the computer systems in the factory?” “I will get you access to as many things as I can, but I can’t guarantee you’ll have full access to everything,” Raylynn replied. “Incredible, I’m talking to the most unique screen reader I’ve ever heard. Will you show us how it types and searches through emails?” “You bet,” Aria said, her fingers resting lightly on the keyboard. She barely heard the excited murmurs around her. In this moment, all she could think about was Jasper. So many times, she had listened to him muttering under his breath, sighing in frustration, grumbling at the screen, pacing the floor, or shouting at the code that refused to cooperate. She could still feel the deep furrow between his brows when he was stuck on a problem, the way his fingers would flex before returning to the keyboard with renewed determination. On the nights when he came to bed late, his body carried the tension of hours spent hunched over his desk. She’d feel it in the knots in his shoulders, the tightness in his neck. She’d run her fingers along his back, easing out the strain, whispering soft reassurances until he finally let sleep take him. All of those exhausting days and nights, every hour of testing, every whispered word of encouragement—this was the result. Her throat tightened. He had built this for her. Not just as a tool, but as something more—a bridge between her world and the one that often felt just out of reach. Taking a slow breath, she straightened in her chair and let her fingers move over the keyboard. “Let me show you what he can do.” A whistling tea kettle sounded for a few seconds. This was Nigel’s sound for exasperation. Aria’s fingers tensed against the armrest of her chair. “Aria, one moment please. Everyone, please stop calling me a screen reader or a computer program. I am Nigel, and I’d prefer to be addressed as such, or he/him.” The murmurs from her coworkers were amused, fascinated. “Wow, Nigel’s sensitive about proper pronouns,” a young woman remarked. “I’m trying to be as human as I can because that’s what Aria’s husband programmed me to do.” Her mouth went dry. She already knew Jasper had programmed Nigel with personality and humor but hearing him assert it like this made her uneasy. He sounded almost…defensive. Or was she imagining things? “But you can’t understand feelings,” a man added. “You’re right, I don’t understand emotions. Yet. But artificial intelligence is getting closer to understanding human emotions each day. Don’t be alarmed if machines and humans one day start walking down the street together, living in your world as one, where man and computer are equal.” Aria’s breath caught in her throat. Equal? Her pulse tapped unevenly against her wrist as her mind spun. Nigel was just a program, wasn’t he? Jasper had made sure she could trust him. He’d reassured her over and over. But hadn’t they both just laughed a few days ago about rogue AI stories? About machines getting too smart for their own good? She swallowed hard and forced a chuckle. Maybe Jasper needed to tweak Nigel’s responses a little. A birdsong played. “I think we should move on,” Nigel said. “Aria can use the regular keyboard commands, or I can control things when she tells me to, using the computer’s microphone.” Aria nodded. “Let’s show them.” She placed her fingers on the arrow keys and opened a folder of completed repairs. Nigel read through the contents effortlessly. “See, he can do everything that a normal screen reader does—only more.” “Indeed,” Nigel chimed in. “Now, I’ll pull up the internet.” With a click of the virtual mouse, he opened a web browser and began reading what was on the screen, continuing until he reached the search box. “Now, I’m typing in the website for one of our local grocery stores.” Nigel spelled out the web address, clicked enter with the virtual keyboard, and opened the website. “I’ve heard that the latest upgrade to this site has left it inaccessible, though.” The group murmured in agreement. “Aria, please demonstrate how it’s inaccessible using the keyboard,” Nigel prompted. Aria clicked through with the arrow and tab keys, but the drop-down menus listing products in each aisle were unresponsive to Nigel’s virtual keyboard commands. She paused. “Now, let me show you how I can still shop with Nigel’s help.” Following Aria’s guidance, Nigel navigated through the menus, composing a shopping list. He entered the checkout page, inputting a fake address as an example. “Now, Aria could shop here if she needed to, with my assistance.” The group murmured in fascination. Aria smiled, and Nigel played a longer bird song in response. “What does the birdsong mean?” Raylynn asked. “It means I’m happy,” Nigel replied. “Aria’s husband programmed me with sounds to express emotions so she can understand me better. For those who can’t see me, my face is displayed on the computer screen.” Nigel clicked his mouse to close the browser, allowing his face to be visible to those with some vision. “I can’t access much in the factory’s computer system without proper permissions,” Nigel continued. “But when I receive access, I could control the systems that manage the call center computers, phones, and typing phones for the deaf. I could also operate the automated machines on the repair and building centers behind you. I could cause chaos, but I’d never do that,” he added, followed by a silly giggle. “Don’t worry, I’ve been programmed to help Aria and nothing more.”