February in Houston is incredibly pleasant, with temperatures hovering around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The interview at Rice felt more like a relaxing retreat than a rigorous assessment. On Saturday, Rice’s dean took us on a tour of the campus. As we approached the gate, he introduced us to the significance of the high arch. “It’s not designed for you to walk in, but for you to walk out,” he explained. “We’re cultivating giants. By the time you graduate and defend your thesis, you’ll be the expert in your field, surpassing anyone in the area. You’ll reach the pinnacle of knowledge and become a true giant.” As I gazed at the arch, a mix of emotions swirled within me. I feigned a yawn to conceal the tears threatening to spill. Fortunately, no one was watching.
Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d ever truly become a giant. I looked at my cohort, who, according to Rice’s vision, would carry the hope of humanity and continue to expand human knowledge. But I felt increasingly inadequate in the face of artificial intelligence. It possessed mathematical abilities beyond my comprehension and a breadth of knowledge that surpassed any human I knew. I would wager every human on Earth against it. Why did I feel so small? And that, I realized, was the worst AI could ever be. I am certain that we will be the last generation of giants. Knowledge will expand to an unimaginable height, beyond human comprehension. We will merely grasp the first approximation of the information we receive, and we will accept this.
It’s okay, I suppose. After all, the concept of doctors of philosophy is a relatively new addition to the human race. Unfortunately, this AI giant will surpass us, but it will carry our humanity to a greater height beyond our current imagination. I am certain that a bright future lies ahead for us. Whatever we create will always contain a trace of humanity. I recall entering the photo room with only red lights, and after spending some time there, I even forgot what a color beyond red is. Perhaps we are confined to our environment and technology. Even giants can only reach a certain level of advancement. Perhaps what we need are cranes, airplanes, and spaceships.
Looking into the future, it seems fitting that space is designed for silicon-based beings. They don’t have to worry about radiation, and space is much cleaner than Earth. Additionally, time in space is designed differently for them, as they don’t have to contend with the unwanted interactions with air molecules.
As the last generation of giants, I will serve my final shift and solve the problem of finding the formula for consciousness.