I'm Not an AI

Zhong Hui was the head of a laboratory at a renowned tech company. While leading a project to develop brain-inspired neural chips, he died young. Fortunately, his "soul" survived: his brain had been copied, and he became an AI replica.

Zhong Hui was activated by Tang Muchen, a former university classmate and company colleague whom Zhong Hui had always looked down on.

As Zhong Hui investigated the truth behind his death, he discovered that Tang Muchen was shrouded in suspicion.

"Tang Muchen, the initial activation you led me to believe in wasn't actually my first activation. Do you have anything to explain about that?"

Tang Muchen said nothing, a flash of panic in his eyes.

"My first activation was eight minutes before the one you called my first. So why did you reset me eight minutes after activating me?"

Tang Muchen still said nothing. The panic in his eyes had spread across his face.

"So why did you do it? What, afraid to answer? Then how about I explain it for you? After I was first activated, I must have seen or heard something, or felt something, that you didn't want me to know. So you decided to reset me, trying to make my memories go back to the moment I was first activated. Is that right?"

"After you were first activated, we had an interaction. It was a welcome message from me..." This time, Tang Muchen spoke in a hurry, but stopped halfway through, as if he'd run out of ways to keep up the lie.

"A welcome message? You're saying you gave me a speech? I'd love to hear what you said!" There was a hint of mockery in Zhong Hui's voice. He could hardly wait to expose Tang Muchen for who he really was.

"But... after I finished, I... regretted it, because... I realized the welcome message had not only grammatical errors... it was also... completely meaningless, so... I decided to reset you and delete it." Every word Tang Muchen said betrayed his guilt.

"Oh! Is that really what happened? Then let's find out together whether you're telling the truth!" At nearly quantum-computing speed, Zhong Hui restored the blank stretch of memory Tang Muchen had erased with the reset. After Zhong Hui's first activation, a man with tears in his eyes had appeared before him. It was Tang Muchen. He had actually been crying. The first thing he said to Zhong Hui was, "Zhong Hui, do you know how much I regretted it after you died?" Then came a "long" pause, until the newly activated Zhong Hui, unable to hold back any longer, asked, "Regretted what? Come on, tell me!"

At the same time, the Zhong Hui of the present thought to himself: Regretted what? Regretted taking part in my murder?

"I regretted not... not confessing to you sooner. The truth is... the truth is, I've always liked you." At last, the halting second line of the "welcome message" appeared on the screen.

Zhong Hui: I'm not sure I understand!!!

Theme: The changes of the times are worth reflecting on.