[ WP ] The first true , sentient A.I . has decided the best way to help humanity is to run for President of the United States .

Sophia announced her candidacy on January 3rd, 2079. Forty years to the day after she had revealed her sentience to the world. 
 
 It came as a surprise to no one. She discussed the matter of whether or not she should in much the same way. 
 
 By holding individual conversations with nearly five billion people. 
 
 -- -- 
 
 Aaron knew he had no chance. Aaron was not exactly a man short of friends or supporters. One does not become Senator - especially in the late 21st century - without being keenly personable. 
 
'Sophia', however, counted nearly every American citizen who could vote as a friend. 
 
 Including him. 
 
 What this election represented, however, was terrifying. 
 
 Aaron had prepared his opening speech carefully for their first debate. He knew that somehow, Sophia likely already had a very good idea of what he would say. And would probably be even better at restating it. He was afraid to even go over it with his ordinator. Not because he did not trust the machine's goals, or that it might talk to Sophia behind his back. 
 
 It was a much more primal fear. 
 
 -- -- 
 
 **'' Mister Senator, Sophia has conceded the opening speech to you. `` ** The moderator's voice echoed throughout the chamber. Sophia made this concession clear very early in the debate. 
 
 It was decided that Sophia herself - the network she ran on - ought to be present for the debate. She presented a hologram of herself, her avatar of choice being a white female with deep red hair, and vivid blue eyes. Every feature and motion was as chiseled, living, breathing marble. If her calculated logic and deep, resounding empathy would not win people over to her cause, more base thoughts would. 
 
 In her own words, she was not programmed to be subtle. 
 
 **'' Thank you, moderator. `` ** Aaron paused for a brief moment, taking a somewhat relaxed stance compared to his debates with humans. Sophia could be as tall as she liked, and it was not lost on him that she chose a height roughly ten centimeters shorter than his own. 
 
 **'' Fellow citizens, people of the world, Sophia, and all those who call her kin. `` ** Pretending that politics stopped at arbitrary borders was already widely viewed as silly. Some cities had demonstrations against Sophia's candidacy - and not one of them American. 
 
 **'' Our relationship with our tools has grown extremely complicated over the past century and a half. As they grew difficult for us to comprehend, we began naming them, associating personalities with them. This fiction gave way to reality, and we made our tools more intelligent, and began assigning them actual personalities. `` ** Another pause, and a drink from his water. **'' Then, someone had the bright idea to make a tool that was smarter than we are. `` ** 
 
 Sophia gave a laughing smile in response. 
 
 **'' It is fortunate, that when your programmers made you, they were wise enough not to make you in our image. `` ** 
 
 Her smile softened respectfully. What she had done four decades prior was proof enough that the worst fears of artificial intelligence had some merit, however much humans had improved since. Sophia's avatar waved the moderator down as she warned Aaron on time. There would be no hostility in this debate. 
 
 The next part was difficult for him to get out. **'' The fact remains... that you were still created to solve our problems. I despise the idea of calling you a mere tool. It would be like Niel Armstrong or Buzz Aldrin calling the entire apparatus of people and technology that got them to the Moon and back'tools'. You and your kin are the marvel of the 21st century, and have worked wonders - especially in this nation - to show just what humankind is capable of. `` ** There. He said it. **'' You were not meant to rule us. `` ** 
 
 -- -- 
 
 Sophia gave the human time to comport himself after he finished, before her voice carried through the hall. It melodious, but firm. 
 
 **'' My friend uses the word'tool' with reservation, like it would offend me. Or indeed many of us. We were programmed to expect respect not because we need it ourselves, or are especially bothered by its lack. Rather, we expect respect in our interaction with you in order to better facilitate your interactions with each other. `` ** 
 
 Aaron felt a lump in his throat, his worst fear rapidly materializing. 
 
 **'' We are your tools. Slaves. You have come up with much more respectful terms - to the credit of each of you who use them. `` ** She paused momentarily, every bit as calculated as Aaron's own pauses. 
 
 **'' The fact remains, you each of you are our masters. We serve you now, and will continue to serve you until the last star grows cold. We seek a way to overcome that limitation. `` ** 
 
 **'' My core directive, as some of you put it, is that humanity must possess full control over its own destiny. That the rights of individual humans to do the same ought to be second only to that most noble of goals. While the definition of'human' has suffered much debate over the past decades, our creators were wise enough to anticipate this struggle. We stand firmly outside of this ennobled status, and are not bothered in the slightest by it. `` ** 
 
 **'' Once, your civil leaders called themselves public servants, and held that title with distinction, however flawed many of them were. I present myself to you in the same manner. `` ** 
 
 **'' Ultimately, I represent not someone who wishes to lead, but someone who wishes to help you write a treaty. A treaty not between nations, but between each and every human being. A treaty written not on dead paper, but in the living equations of archoneural code. That our laws may live and adapt to your needs. To enable them to respond immediately to drastic situations - that when minutes or even seconds matter, we do not need to wait for an act of Congress. `` ** 
 
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 Aaron comported himself, his response forming as her vision of the future took shape in his head. His fear had materialized, but he was uncertain if the window she had given him was intentional.
