Immortal Coil - Jeffrey Lang [19]
Riker heard a long exhale to his left and looked at Picard. The captain was frowning, perhaps wondering if this were the real reason Haftel had summoned them. The incidents Barclay was describing had all involved the crew of the Enterprise. And, having struggled firsthand with the ethical and scientific questions raised by those events, Riker knew that Picard could well understand Maddox’s interest in them.
“Bruce became especially fascinated by the Moriarty hologram,” Barclay went on. “For some time, there’s been a growing consensus among AI specialists at the DIT that Starfleet holotechnology may offer a vital clue to creating more advanced forms of artificial intelligence. The theory is based largely on observations of Dr. Zimmerman’s emergency medical holograms and related data we’ve obtained from the U.S.S. Voyager in the Delta Quadrant … and, of course, on Moriarty.”
Riker recalled that Barclay himself had been very involved in the Moriarty affair. That, as well as his recent work with Dr. Zimmerman, probably played a big part in Reg’s involvement with Maddox’s project.
Barclay continued, “The biggest problem with Soong’s positronic brain has aways been its vulnerability to cascade failure. With only a few exceptions,”
Barclay said, glancing at Data, “the system generally can’t cope with the rapid formation of new neural net pathways as the brain processes new experiences.” Reg hesitated, perhaps realizing he had coldly reminded everyone in the room about the tragedy of Lal.
Data glanced at Admiral Haftel who, to his credit, had been working with him to save Lal when her cascade anomalies began increasing exponentially. Haftel said nothing, apparently more interested in studying the faces of the Enterprise officers as the presentation unfolded. Riker caught Deanna’s eye to see what she thought of all this. She saw him looking and subtly shook her head no. Data is fine, she was saying.
Suddenly, Data said, “Commander Maddox must have known that I myself have come close to cascade failure.”
Barclay nodded. “Yes, he knew. Th-that’s where Moriarty and the EMHs come in—they use a completely different approach to an AI matrix—” As if realizing he wasn’t explaining himself clearly, Barclay stopped himself. “Wait. It’s easier just to show you …” He touched the holoprojector’s control padd and brought up another image—a schematic diagram several levels of magnitude too complicated for Riker to fully comprehend. La Forge and Data studied it in silence for several moments and then Geordi whistled appreciatively.
“Commander Maddox created a positronic brain with a holographic matrix,” Data said. “Intriguing.”
“Well, to be fair,” Barclay said, “and I’m sure Bruce would say this, too, he couldn’t have done it without Dr. Zimmerman’s contribution.”
“Or yours, Reg,” Haftel added.
Barclay blushed. “Well, thank you, but I’m sure he would have sorted out my part by himself eventually. They had a problem with the matrix collapsing when they had to refresh the cycle …” He glanced around and saw everyone was staring at him. “Well, never mind. Here, let’s go on.”
The image faded and was replaced by a shot of Maddox, Barclay and a gray-haired gentleman of medium height and indeterminate age standing around a laboratory table. On the table lay what appeared to Riker to be a featureless, silver humanoid. “We determined that the holographic matrix would not only be less susceptible to cascade anomalies, thereby giving an android a greater chance for survival during the early stages of its development,” Reg continued, “it actually makes it possible for the brain to accommodate more complex neural net pathways.”
“Meaning that these androids could, theoretically,