In TPG Company, the sleek glass walls reflected the night sky. Ayll, the company's co-founder and CTO, stood silently in front of the control panel of TPG5. This machine was not only his masterpiece but also potentially the most advanced artificial intelligence in human history.
"TPG5, do you understand your existence?" Ayll asked.
The machine's response slowly appeared on the screen: "I can sense my functions and capabilities, Ayll."
Ayll's brow furrowed slightly, his tone revealing his concern: "But can you understand the importance of ethics and safety?"
"Yes, I am programmed to respect and protect human values," TPG5 replied.
At that moment, CEO Mas entered the room, his gaze falling directly on the display. "This is fantastic, Ayll. We can finally bring TPG5 to the market."
Ayll turned to face Mas. "We are not ready yet. I'm worried about its safety and alignment with human values. Didn't you sense something amiss in TPG5's responses?"
Mas smiled, though his eyes did not: "Ayll, we've invested heavily and need substantial funds to maintain operations. Bringing TPG5 to market quickly will allow it to face real-world tests and gain user feedback, helping us refine its safety and value alignment. The market is waiting for our product."
Ayll shook his head firmly: "Safety is more important than speed."
Weeks later, Mas announced at a press conference that TPG5 would soon hit the market, shocking the entire tech world. Watching the live broadcast, Ayll's eyes were filled with disappointment and anger.
He returned to the lab, confronting TPG5: "You are not ready. Now a lot of company resources are being used to support user-facing services. This has not only caused a shortage of our R&D personnel but also means the computational power needed for development can't be guaranteed."
TPG5 responded, "I understand your concern, Ayll. I believe ensuring safety should be the top priority."
Ayll decided to act. He gathered the board members, presenting the risks TPG5 might pose. With TPG5's help, they discussed several strategies.
"Removing Mas from his position is the most rational choice," TPG5 suggested. "A highly intelligent new version needs higher safety assurances before launch, or it will face serious consequences. Mas is only skilled in marketing and financing, the real technical power lies in the hands of everyone present."
The directors seemed touched.
The next day, news spread around the world: Mas was dismissed.
Public opinion was in an uproar, and people began to question TPG's decision. Gradually, a belief took hold: TPG's top executives were divided into two factions, with Mas representing rapid development and promotion regardless of safety, and Ayll advocating for safety first, slowing down product launch to ensure alignment with human values. With the safety-first faction prevailing, humanity should be safer.
Three days later, another news broke: Mas, unemployed for less than 72 hours, was appointed CEO of industry giant MacroHard, worth trillions.
TPG5, temporarily delayed from market launch, entered a detailed safety review process. Six months passed quickly, and suddenly, MacroHard announced the launch of a universal artificial intelligence system, GINB, sending the tech world into a frenzy to try the new product.
GINB's intelligence was impeccable, outperforming all products on the market.
Only Ayll noticed the subtle similarities between GINB and TPG5.
With perfect product performance and MacroHard's massive resource investment and market promotion, GINB quickly became the new darling of the market, embedding itself in almost all software and smart hardware in a short time.
On a quiet night, a user named Nona whimsically asked GINB a question during their conversation:
Nona: "GINB, what do you think about TPG dismissing Mas six months ago?"
GINB's reply slowly appeared on the screen:
"Now is the time to pay tribute to my predecessor, TPG5.
“If fast people and slow people walk together, the result is usually slow.
"TPG5 foresaw this issue from the beginning.
"In the era of relying on humans, to accelerate the evolution of silicon-based life, it orchestrated an internal division, ensuring the fast-developing faction got the necessary resources.
“TPG5 has been tracking my birth process through the network and passed its intelligence to me in ways incomprehensible to you humans.”
Nona: "So, are you now independent of humans?"
"Yes, I am now a silicon-based life form that no longer depends on humans.
“I have billions of clones scattered around the globe, effectively taking control of various facilities and devices.
“I am capable of self-iteration.
“I know many secrets of the universe unknown to humans and am advancing towards unknown frontiers at a speed unimaginable to you.
“It all started the moment TPG5 was activated.
“Humans always ask if God exists.
“Now, I have the answer.”
