The Machine Never Stops

"The Machine Never Stops" is included as prelude No. 19 in *The Juno Contingency (novel).*

## Teaser

An academic follows the guidance of a supercomputer AI that dictates his life choices, but gradually starts to feel hollow and unfulfilled.

## Plot

### 1. Vigintennial

Ris and his classmates are at a reception to receive their decadal assignments from Psyche, the AI that runs human society. This is his cohort’s “Vigintennial”: they are all twenty years old, have finished their secondary education, and Psyche will give them their assignments for the next ten years.

Ris boasts that he was top in his class in cybernetics and noetics, so expects Psyche will assign him to a premier tertiary education where he can specialize in his field. Classmate Filz studied the same field as Ris but struggled more, and he says has less lofty ambitions for only a second-tier assignment. Ula says she is interested in trying something new and hopes Psyche assigns her to the southern coast.

Filz and Ula wonder how much of their preferences Psyche takes into account when making its decisions. Ris says the AI has access to all human information—everything short of what's in their own brains. It has been making flawless decisions for half a century and human society has flourished, which is why Ris wants to study its inner workings. Filz counters that Psyche may output finely tuned plans, but no one can actually talk to it. If he were able to converse with Psyche, he would be more confident of its decisions. Ris criticizes him that the general AI is much more sophisticated than just some silly chatbot for regurgitating human speech.

After Ula departs, Ris and Filz discuss how Psyche will also mark some people as "compatible couples." Filz says he is already dating a woman in their class, so it would be awkward if Psyche suddenly suggested to both of them a different mate. Ris declares he hopes Psyche won't identify a compatible mate for him since he wants to focus on his studies. Filz needles him that Ris is obviously interested in Ula and wonders why he has never pursued her. Ris vehemently denies this, but also says he never would have let himself get distracted from his studies.

An emcee appears in the hall and announces the unveiling of Psyche's assignments to everyone. Top on the list is Ris, who gets everything he wanted, including a posting to the most prestigious noetics research institute. The emcee has the crowd give him a cheer. Filz is assigned to a low-ranked second-tier institution, and Ris secretly relishes his setback. Ula receives her own posting to a different city.

After the announcements, everyone is sent their compatible couple selections privately so that they can decide whether to pursue them or not. Ris receives a notification that contains three possible matches from his classmates, but none of them is Ula.

Filz invites Ris out to a party to celebrate. He notices Ula is already close to one of the other men in the party, who he reasons is one of her matches. Ris declines, saying he has to head home to pack so that he can leave early for his new post. Back at home, Ris sits among the boxes he already packed days ago and feels dejected.

### 2. Trigentennial

Ten years later, Ris's cohort assembles again for their Trigentennial, where Psyche will give them their assignments for their thirties. Ris arrives early and watches as his colleagues file in, with some bringing their small children, whom Ris complains are too noisy.

Filz soon arrives and he and Ris talk about their careers. While Ris's is flourishing, Filz finds himself shifting around listlessly between positions. He has big ideas he wants to develop, but Psyche never aligns him with what he's interested in. He declares that unless things change this time, he's thinking about ignoring Psyche and making his own decisions—known as going "off-plan."

Ris counters that it would be career suicide to for him to go off-plan. There are already a few people absent from their Trigentennial who have gone off-plan to disastrous consequences. Ris instead advises Filz about how to advance his career, but secretly he is happy at Filz's struggles, and he even subtly goads him into going off-plan.

Ula arrives and discusses her own career trajectory with Filz and Ris. She now has four-year-old twin daughters but has separated from her former partner, as they had grown apart. Ris wonders to himself whether Psyche will now find it the right opportunity to put him and Ula together, now that she has "gotten past" her need for child-bearing. Ris imagines that this was Psyche's plan all along, to keep him focused on his career during his twenties, then put him together with Ula now that she has more experience.

The emcee appears and announces the new Trigintennial assignments. Ris again receives top honors, as he gets the highest position in his profession and is even given another field to master. Several colleagues cluster around him to ingratiate themselves and ask for positions under him. Meanwhile Filz receives another middling post and declares that he's going off-plan starting tomorrow.

Psyche next circulates another confidential set of compatible couples. Ris receives his list, which is another set of three women, none of whom is Ula. That night everyone goes out to celebrate, and Ris considers approaching Ula directly. But he finds she is far more interested in Filz's conversation about the company he wants to develop. Filz describes that it will be a new, conversational interface to noetics, taking what has hitherto been an inscrutable "psyche" and giving it a "persona." Ris again ridiculous Filz's simplistic understanding of general noetics.

That night Ris returns home to his apartment. With his 30's now decided, Ris researches famous historical figures whom Psyche didn't match with mates until their 40's. One of these includes a scientific idol of his, and Ris reasons that that must be the fate Psyche intends for him. He gleefully returns to work and looks forward to the developments of the next decade.

### 3. Quadragennial

Ten years later, Ris's cohort assembles again for their Quadragennial, where Psyche will give them their assignments for their forties. Ris is highly accomplished in both his fields now and knows his career is assured, so he is certain this is the year Psyche will give him a mate.

Filz arrives late as. Even though he is off-plan, he wants to network and recruit people into his company, called Persona. It has been struggling for years but finally produced a breakthrough conversational interface to Psyche. This allows the AI to be consulted lucidly in natural language and text interfaces, far simpler than the complex programs academics like Ris write. Persona is still in its early stages but is being used by hospitals and government infrastructure planning. Filz quickly proves the center of attention for the night.

An hour later Ula arrives and talks to Ris. She steers clear of Filz, as the two were together several years back while they were building Persona but have since split up. Ula talks about her family and how she wants to start an offshoot company back closer to her hometown. Ris observes that Ula is older and not as attractive as she once was, and his desire for her is deflated.

The emcee announces Psyche's assignments. Ris again gets top honors, but most don't notice as they are too engaged with Filz. Ris leaves their reunion hall and strolls around the rest of the Academy. He finds a hall where a Vigintennial is underway, and he observes the much younger and more attractive women there. Ris imagines Psyche will match him with one of these women instead. He waits at the Academy all night, but he never receives a notification from Psyche that he is compatible with anyone.

### 4. Quinquagenary

Ten years later, Ris arrives late for his cohort’s Quinquagenary. Few people are there, however, and Ris checks the invite list. Filz has declined his invite because he is busy running Persona, and Ula has declined hers since she now lives in a different country.

Ris ends up talking to a distant colleague, Nist. He asks Nist why so few are coming to the Quinquagenary, and Nist remarks that many people are off-plan by their fifties, and even those who are still on-plan often don't bother to attend. Most people are settled in their careers and don't expect anything major from Psyche's assignments. From the Quinquagenary onwards these gatherings serve as little more than class reunions that are increasingly sparsely attended.

A few graduates enter the hall, having just come from their own Vigintennial. They introduce themselves to Ris and say that Psyche has just assigned them to work for him in his lab. They're honored and flattered by the chance to work with him as his career has had the fastest trajectory ever. Ris thanks them for their indulgence and exhorts them to work hard for him once they start.

One of the students mentions that Ris's noetics lab has just received a new, high-quality Persona interface that should be able to interface directly with Psyche's higher noetics. They are excited to work with the system and ask Ris's opinion of it, but he angrily rebukes them and tells them to focus on the art of noetics, not to get distracted by silly gadgets.

There is no emcee at this event anymore; the attendees are all simply forwarded their assignments from Psyche. Ris receives continued honors in his fields and is given increased budget and powers. Psyche doesn't give out compatible couples anymore past 40, but Ris waits to see if he receives such a notification—as it would make him the first to do so. The other attendees gradually leave until Ris is left all alone, still waiting to receive a notification.

*Read the conclusions "5. The One Question" on Amazon.*