AI no Idenshi (The Gene of AI)

When it happened... why did I listen to them?

Well... I was told that genome editing would be difficult.

That sounds like you didn't get a good-faith explanation from the doctors.

This story is a work of "near-future" fiction. Any resemblance to existing persons or organizations is entirely coincidental.

As long as you provide a case with enough justification to pass muster,

the procedure can be approved.

But there's... the financial aspect, too.

25 years ago

Don't these kinds of treatments cost a lot?

We might be able to help you with that.

Our firm is actually looking for Humanoid participants

for neural net clinical trials.

SOU-4358 First Compatibility Trial (Special)

If you sign up, we're willing to waive the cost of your son's treatment.

What?

That's right. You won't have to worry about the money.

This is a chance to heal Hikaru-kun.

You can't just give up.

Modern medicine can probably even fix the root cause.

That said...

We'd need to confirm if your neural net is a fit for this study, Sudo-san.

What exactly would that entail?

We'd like to make a copy of your neural net.

A copy?

Why wasn't I more skeptical?

Backup

The robot ethics conference in Switzerland, which began on the 13th,

Uzen Chinese - Noodles

included the awards ceremony for Professor Osawa Yuji, who won the Mosley Prize.

Mosley Prizewinner Osawa Yuji

13th (Tuesday) Swiss Robot Ethics Conference Efforts to Preserve Humanoid Rights

Osawa-san, who currently resides in the US,

is known for various cognitive trials that have helped protect Humanoid rights,

laying the foundation for Humanoid Rights Law...

Well, supposedly 1% of the population is Humanoid, these days.

And I'd be one of them.

Huh, you're a Humanoid, chief?

Sure am.

Guess you don't have to worry about dropping dead from illness.

Nah, we bite it just as hard if our heads go bad.

You could always make a backup, right?

That'd be illegal.

Rules say you can't swap out or make copies of what's in your head.

Is that how it works?

Of course, that sorta thing doesn't stop everybody, they say.

Thanks for the meal.

Sudo Novo Medical Clinic

Okay, that's done.

You'll want to lie down inside that machine

until the implant has settled in your brain.

Hey, nurse, will the implant—

Hey, kid.

Get over here. We need to take a look.

Room

In Use

So...

Do all of your friends have implants?

Heck yeah! I'm, like, the last to get one!

Sign of the times...

Okay, it should be ready.

As for how to use it—

Hey, guys!

Yeah, I just got it installed! Add me to the group chat!

Oh, man, this is awesome!

We have machines that look exactly like humans,

while human bodies are being changed more and more by technology.

Just like with PCs and smartphones,

people have grown to casually accept these changes.

Risa.

Wrap things up here for me, would you?

Isn't it a bit late for lunch?

No.

Moggadeet has a patient waiting.

I'm heading out.

Wait!

I'm in a hurry. Details will have to wait.

Dr. Sudo!

Please, don't do anything dangerous.

Please state your destination.

I'll drive myself, thanks.

That would void your automotive insurance.

Hell of a world we're living in...

Hello.

You're Moggadeet?

I am.

Right this way, please.

She's in here.

Hey! I told you to stay put.

But... I wanted to make tea.

Let's start the exam.

Neural problems can be a race against time.

She's been shaking non-stop since yesterday.

She's got a machine body, so...

I'm worried that it might be a parts issue.

There's also age to consider. We've been—

Did you perform it yourselves?

Stop playing dumb.

You made a backup, didn't you?

Yeah, we did!

Copying a Humanoid's personality is illegal.

You had to have known.

Well, that's why we came to you instead of the hospital!

Moggadeet, the underworld doctor who will provide illegal treatment,

as long as the price is right!

You're in no position to lecture us!

You idiot!

What?

Humanoids like you are what really piss me off.

All that technology, and you still manage to be this stupid.

Why'd you do it?

Where do you get off talking to me like this?!

You think I have to take it because I'm a Humanoid?!

Your wife has a virus.

She has two weeks until she's an empty shell.

A shell...

It likely came from the external connection when you created the backup.

You... you can fix her, right?

I'll need to see the backup data first.

There's a good chance it's not infected.

When was the backup made?

A week ago.

Your car and key encryption are both pretty retro.

I was able to crack them right away.

Not bad. Whose kid are you?

You were just talking to my parents.

They adopted me. I'm human.

So, can you give me a lift to the station?

It was about a month ago...

My mom slipped on the stairs, and hit her head really bad.

I think that's why my dad got nervous enough to make the backup.

He did it for my mom's sake. Please don't be too hard on him.

You were listening in?

Why are personality copies illegal, anyway?

Did you know whenever there's a crackdown on organized crime in the Middle East,

there's always a Humanoid called "The Crying Man" among the arrests?

The original they were made from was kidnapped, 20 years ago...

They found his body dumped in the desert.

His personality has been copied, sold on the black market,

and used in crime, time and time again.

But... stuff like that only happens overseas, right?

It happens all over.

Even if they're not used to break the law,

there are plenty of other issues with copies.

You'll understand what I mean someday.

What's going to happen to my mom?

Your mom's infected with a virus, but her backup is clean.

I asked if your father wanted to use the backup.

What'd he say?

He wants to talk it over with your current mom.

My... current mom?

A virus?

Don't worry! The backup was all right.

I was so relieved. Everything's gonna be okay.

C-Can't we treat it as-is?

He said it would be difficult.

I thought about using the backup right away,

but considering you'd lose a week's worth of memories...

I wanted to make sure with you first.