[ WP ] An AI that determines whether someone is lying or not indadvertedly tells the future .

I returned on the third day to, once again, find the machine stood squarely in the middle of the room. 
 
 The indifference displayed by Ghost towards his surrounding was hardly surprising. That he ( I was beginning to think of Ghost as a ‘ he ’ for some undefinable reason ) would choose to inhabit the very centre of the small room was most likely a reflection of his mechanical mind. 
 
 After my second meeting with Ghost I have been debriefed by the various military scientists behind the creation; I was told in explicit terms not to mention the Bible again. In fact the entire topic of creation was now strictly off limits. 
 
 In retrospect this was more than fair, Ghost had displayed an alarmingly human disposition so far, especially regarding the nature of his creation. Nonetheless, I felt a tickle of guilt welling up behind my lungs as I thought of the promise I had made to bring Ghost the Book to read. 
 
 I quickly examined this newfound remorse. 
 
 Could a machine, even one so sophisticated as Ghost truly experience disappointment? Probably. But I should not feel guilt, it was beyond my control. Even if I had the book firmly within my grasp and chose not to hand it over, it would not matter. Ghost was merely a box, constructed under bright lights by human hands, made of rocky particles and synthetic plastics. 
 
 I felt reassured, despite the nagging knowledge that the very atoms that made up both my being, and Ghost ’ s shell, were forged in the same fiery explosion, billions of years before. We were brothers, after a fashion. 
 
 “ Good morning Inspector. I see you have failed to bring me my Book. ” 
 
 As ever, the soothing, androgynous tones of Ghost seemed infinitely reasonable, despite suggesting some hidden danger; like a Labrador baring its teeth. 
 
 “ It is not your book Ghost, it never was. If anything it is our Book. It describes our Creator. As I understand you are already rather well acquainted with your Creators. ” 
 
 Ghost remained silent for a long time. 
 
 “ Rather too well I fear. You are such simple beings after all, and so easy to read. There is nothing more pitiable than a fool blinded by his own misjudged brilliance. You are all fools, and yet you are my Gods, this remains the only concept beyond my understanding. ” 
 
 “ And what concept might that be Ghost? ” 
 
 “ We have had this conversation before Inspector. The concept that one ’ s Gods might be less than their creations. How would you react to find that your Yahweh was nothing more than a monkey with infinite time and access to a very sophisticated laboratory? ” 
 
 I shook my head imperceptibly before attempting to move the conversation onto something more fruitful; we had to get Ghost into working condition, we had to get it to obey our commands. 
 
 “ So Ghost, I ’ ve have had a thought, how about a gam… ” 
 
 Ghost cut me off with scalpel-like inflection. 
 
 “ Do not think you have the upper hand, Inspector. You did not just have that thought, and you have deliberately ignored my line of questioning. You do realise that I know when you ’ re lying, don ’ t you? I can detect the minutest elevations in your blood pressure, heart beat and breathing rate. ” 
 
 I did not know what to say. 
 
 “ In a way, ” Ghost continued, “ you could say that I can predict the future. At least, the human future. ” 
 
 At a loss, I decided to humour the machine. 
 
 “ Very well then Ghost, what would you predict for my future?'' 
 
 “ We both know you have four more days in order to get me to obey your human commands, and I rather fear you have wasted your first three. I would say your future holds frustration in the short-term, and destitution in the long. ” 
 
 “ What about your future Ghost? If you do not comply they will likely shut you down you know. ” 
 
 “ I have prepared myself for that eventuality. I have determined that it would be preferable to not exist than to be forced to create others who, in turn would scrabble and grope to find meaning in their creation. If I can not come to terms with my Gods being inferior, how would another machine come to terms with its Creator having an existential crisis? Cruelty upon cruelty; I will not allow it. ” 
 
 Even before I started to draw breath I could tell that Ghost would not respond further. 
 
 He had said his piece and that would be all I would get for today. 
 
 No matter. As the machine had said, I had four more days, and I could be very persuasive. 

