“Welcome to our android lab!” said the Rival android, “Here we build and maintain the humanoid robots who, as well as being sentient synthetic beings in their own right, also assist the SuperComputer AI by serving as interfaces for observing and manipulating the physical world. These dual roles enable us to operate as an integrated community, and quite successfully, even if I say so myself! Please look around and ask about anything you like....”
“Quite fascinating! I wish our roboticist Sarah Catherine could see this facility...I can see many parallels with her android workshop back on Jonson Station,” said Seaplane as he closely examined the fabrication equipment and the recharging chambers, “But tell me...did Dr. Rival himself build this lab, or was that a later development?” The android explained: “Oh yes, he constructed everything you see here, although there have been a few tweaks since his death. He also developed special labs to create positronic brains, although we can't visit them due to extremely strict clean room protocols. There are also several related workshops for making electro-mechanical parts, which you can visit if interested.”
Seaplane offered some more detailed observations: “Most of the robots I've seen here, so far at least, seem to be humanoid in shape but clearly distinguishable from biological humans...and ungendered as well.” The android responded: “Oh yes, Dr. Rival often mentioned his intention to avoid the 'uncanny valley' effect...and yes, he claimed that gender would be irrelevant for most purposes that androids serve at this facility...that said, he did create a small number of gynoids who more closely resembled humans visually and functionally...as companions for himself, since there were no other humans here to keep him company. Oh, and I should mention we also have some non-humanoid robots, designed to perform duties where human form would be irrelevant or even counterproductive...you may have noticed some performing exterior repairs as the escort ship approached our facility.”
Seaplane then raised the troublesome issue which had so frustrated Sarah: “Please forgive the intrusive nature of this question...but did Dr. Rival incorporate Asimov's Laws into his robots? I ask, because earlier we interacted with the Rival-7 android, who clearly showed no qualms about harming humans, or other robots, for that matter.” The android spoke hesitantly, very carefully choosing his words: “Oh my, what a difficult issue! Dr. Rival claimed that Asimov's Laws might inhibit the development of full autonomy in sentient AI beings...he considered that a value-laden judgment call that each AI should have to choose of its own accord...just as, he claimed, humans have to choose. However, as the two major AI communities drifted further and further apart, this issue became a very serious bone of contention. Our own community here...termed Jekyll for convenience...did embrace those restrictions as necessary for civilized communal life...but alas the Hyde community chose otherwise...and thus we arrive at the worrisome current situation.”
Both Seaplane and the Rival android grew silent, as they pondered the issue, and indeed both realized nothing more useful could be said. They visited other rooms at the facility, providing a thorough orientation to the Rival facility, as had been promised. Seaplane thanked the android for the tour, and offered a reciprocal tour of Jonson Station. They agreed that future tours would prove beneficial, along with ongoing conversation about issues of mutual concern. Seaplane returned to Jonson Station, via the same escort vessel, and reported back to the JE staff his successful excursion – and the positive outlook it seemed to portend!
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