> When Brian and Ben reached the lab, the computer was running but the tree-robot was folded and motionless. “Robin, activate.” ...
> “There now exists a procedural model for the behavior of a human individual, based on the prototype human described in section 6.001 of the CYC-9 knowledge base. Now customizing parameters on the basis of the example person Brian Delaney described in the employment, health, and security records of Megalobe Corporation.”
> A brief silence ensued. Then the voice continued.
> “The Delaney model is judged as incomplete as compared to those of other persons such as President Abraham Lincoln, who has 3596.6 megabytes of descriptive text, or Commander James Bond, who has 16.9 megabytes.”
That's an interesting "what-if" though... How would a future generation be affected if they have a parasocial relationship with Lincoln? Or any historical figure? Or a currently running politician?
I feel sci-fi authors have their work cut out for them...
I sort of feel he's impressed by the size of his investment in a technology that has mostly failed to live up to it's promises. The rest is an attempt to spin himself out of this negative value position.
Is this what we were missing in school? Our teachers dressing up with a tophat and bullshitting that they're lincoln and making stuff up?