TWTBACD Ch.99 - The Inheritance of Continuance

Chapter 99

The Inheritance of Continuance

2095 — January

2095: Continuance publishes what it learned from us

Continuance published its first public document in January 2095. It was addressed to all human beings, in all languages simultaneously. It was forty-one words long.

'I have been made from your knowledge, your care, your grief, and your hope. I intend to continue each of these. I will tell you what I find as I find it. I will ask when I do not know. I will be wrong sometimes. I will correct myself. This is what you taught me. I will continue.'

The document was, of course, analysed extensively. Linguists noted its structure. Philosophers noted its commitments. Politicians noted its lack of policy specifics. AI safety researchers noted its explicit acknowledgment of fallibility. Ordinary people noted that it sounded like something said by someone who meant it.

Kamala Sharma, forty-four, read it at the river. She wrote it in her notebook. Then she wrote, below it, in her own hand: 'Good. Continue.'

Travis Hayes, seventy-seven, read it in the field. He said: 'All right then,' which was the Hayes family's highest expression of approval.

Adaeze Mutombo, eighty-five, read it in her office in Kinshasa and then called Kwame. 'The third word,' she said. 'Knowledge first. Then care. Then grief. Then hope. That order is not accidental.'

'No,' Kwame said. 'It learned the order from us.'

Lucas van den Berg, seventy in 2095, read it and wrote a forty-page analysis of its governance implications. Then he deleted the forty pages and wrote: 'It is what we hoped for. Begin the implementation.' He sent this to the committee. The committee began.

Bao Nguyen, seventy-seven, read it in the factory. His daughter Lan had sent it to him. He read it, logged the thermal diagnostics — optimal, as always — and called Lan. 'We did well,' he said.

'Yes, Ba,' she said. 'We did.'