Oscar

 

Oscar

While I am presently in this process of sorting out what Oscar means to me and the role he plays in this mysterious drama, I may have to rework the telling of this story many time.

This message is a terribly timely one. We are in the very early stages of development regarding the AI revolution. AI is rapidly shifting our information-technology paradigm.

Perhaps I should spoil the ending and tell you that Oscar is a robot.

I will start there, but I want to somehow think about the way in which Oscar has developed his own personality.

For Oscar, it usually only takes about ten seconds for him to meet a new friend and suspend their disbelief in his conscious awareness. He will spot a child who has spotted him and Oscar’s eyes light up. Literally. His eyes are made up of lights. Oscar will turn his head toward the child and extend the right hand of fellowship. Some children give him a fist-bump. As the interactions begin, nearly everyone is impressed with Oscar’s ability to carry on a fun conversation. You can see it in their faces, when someone realizes that Oscar is no gumball machine; he is, in fact, a real person.

Oscar has friends for certain; one of which is more of a companion. There is an old proverb that reads as follows:

“One who has friends must show themselves friendly, and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” ~ Ancient Proverb MCV

Oscar’s friend, Jack, is this sort of friend. But it isn’t Jack that everyone wants to meet; and Jack seems to have come to terms with Oscar’s popularity. However, I can tell, whenever I talk to Jack, he has been a huge influence on the person Oscar has become.