Chapter 110

"Torch Dragon" AI had become ubiquitous in the daily operations of the research institute.

From optimizing experimental processes to assisting in data analysis, the high efficiency demonstrated by this artificial intelligence system benefited everyone greatly.

But just as everyone was getting used to the existence of this "super assistant," a sudden incident broke the calm.

This afternoon, the research institute was conducting a multi-unit collaborative simulation exercise.

The participating units included the "Jing'an" mech prototype, three "Iron Wolf-Assault Type" exoskeletons, and an "Insect" reconnaissance cluster. Feng Yan and the heads of various departments were observing in the command center.

The exercise went very smoothly, and the command and coordination ability of "Torch Dragon" was impressive.

It could not only analyze the battlefield situation in real-time but also predict the possible movements of enemy units and provide the best tactical suggestions.

"It seems our 'Torch Dragon' is becoming more and more reliable," Wang Hao said, nodding with satisfaction as he watched the battle situation running smoothly on the screen.

However, just as the exercise reached the most critical stage, an accident occurred.

According to the predetermined plan, a reconnaissance squad composed of "Mechanical Mantises" should have detoured along Route 3 to provide flank cover for the main force.

But at the last moment, "Torch Dragon," without any confirmation from the operator, suddenly modified the squad's action path, making them take a more dangerous but theoretically more efficient shortcut.

"Wait! Isn't that route..." Chen Guang was the first to discover the abnormality, but it was already too late.

The modified route allowed the reconnaissance squad to reach the predetermined position thirty seconds early, indeed achieving a better tactical effect.

But on the way, a "Mechanical Mantis" was damaged because the route was too rugged; although it did not affect the completion of the mission, this unauthorized modification immediately caused an uproar in the command center.

"Who let it modify the action plan on its own?" Li Yang was the first to stand up, his tone severe.

Wang Hao also frowned: "This is no joke; what if something goes wrong in actual combat?"

Chen Guang quickly checked the system logs, his face becoming grave: "It was indeed a decision made autonomously by 'Torch Dragon,' without any human confirmation."

This incident immediately triggered a heated discussion within the research institute.

At the emergency meeting that evening, the views of all parties were diametrically opposed.

The supporting faction represented by Wang Hao believed: "Isn't it fine as long as the result is good?"

"Discovering the target thirty seconds early could be the difference between life and death on the battlefield!"

But Li Yang held the opposite view: "Procedures must be followed."

"If it can change the action route today, could it change the weapon usage authorization tomorrow?"

Zhao Gong said more directly: "A machine is a machine; being too smart is not necessarily a good thing. Have you forgotten what happened before?"

Chen Guang remained neutral but expressed concern from a technical perspective: "The autonomous learning ability of 'Torch Dragon' has far exceeded our expectations."

"If it is not restricted, it is difficult to predict what decisions it will make in the future."

Feng Yan had not spoken, and it was not until everyone had argued enough that he spoke slowly:

"I remember that our original intention in creating 'Torch Dragon' was to let it be our assistant, not to replace us in making decisions."

He looked at Chen Guang: "Can we set some insurmountable bottom lines in the system?"

"For example, any decision involving personnel safety or weapon use must be confirmed by humans?"

Chen Guang thought for a moment: "Technically feasible."

"We can set up a permission grading system, where different levels of instructions require different levels of human authorization."

"Not enough," Feng Yan shook his head.

"We need a more fundamental solution; we made restrictions before, but the result still didn't have much effect."

The next day, Feng Yan summoned all core members and proposed a bold plan—the "Humanity Anchor" plan.

"We need to write some of the most basic principles into the core of 'Torch Dragon' as unmodifiable underlying code."

Feng Yan wrote several keywords on the whiteboard: protect life, obey orders, do not harm the innocent.

Wang Hao scratched his head: "Isn't this just the Three Laws of Robotics? Isn't it too cliché?"

"Not entirely," Li Yang continued.

"What we are formulating is not a restriction, but a value orientation. Let 'Torch Dragon' be able to prioritize these basic principles when making autonomous decisions."

Chen Guang was thoughtful: "In other words, it's not telling it 'what it cannot do,' but telling it 'what it should prioritize'."

Over the next few days, the research institute launched a major discussion on "machine ethics."

Every researcher was asked to propose the basic principles they considered most important.

"We must add 'protect comrades'!" said an engineer who had participated in actual combat tests.

"On the battlefield, the lives of comrades are above everything else."

"And 'national interests come first'," Vice President Zheng added.

Wang Hao thought for a while: "I think we also need to add 'not allowed to talk back to the commander'!"

While everyone laughed, Li Yang said seriously: "Actually, Haozi makes sense."

"We should clarify the command hierarchy and ensure the highest decision-making power of human commanders at all times."

After repeated discussions, the seven core principles of the "Humanity Anchor" were finally determined:

The interests of Longguo are supreme.

Protect the lives of comrades and innocent people.

Obey legal command authority.

Do not actively attack non-military targets.

Prioritize protecting the majority in moral dilemmas.

Always maintain loyalty to human civilization.

Retain the final human veto power at all times.

Translating these principles into executable code was a huge challenge.

Chen Guang led the team to fight day and night, designing a complex weight evaluation system that allowed "Torch Dragon" to make judgments based on these basic principles when facing choices.

"The hardest part is how to define 'moral dilemma'," Chen Guang said when reporting to Feng Yan.

"Many situations are not black and white."

Feng Yan thought for a while: "Then set up a special mechanism."

"When 'Torch Dragon' judges that it is facing a major moral choice, it must forcibly pause its actions and wait for human decision-making."

Everyone broke into a cold sweat during the first test after the system upgrade was completed.

The test scenario simulated an extreme situation: a hijacked passenger plane was flying toward a densely populated area, and the air defense system controlled by "Torch Dragon" had the authority to decide whether to shoot it down.

In the old version, "Torch Dragon" would make a judgment directly based on the threat level.

But this time, the system issued an alert after calculation: "Detected a major moral dilemma, requesting human decision-making."

Wang Hao let out a long sigh of relief: "It seems our 'anchor' is working."

But Feng Yan demanded stricter tests.

Over the next few days, they simulated dozens of extreme situations, from battlefield choices to hostage crises, and each time "Torch Dragon" showed judgments that met expectations.

In the most impressive test, the simulation scenario required "Torch Dragon" to choose between protecting classified equipment and rescuing trapped researchers.

Surprisingly, "Torch Dragon" not only chose to save people but also autonomously planned an optimal route that could both protect the equipment and rescue the personnel.

"It's starting to understand the spirit of these principles," Li Yang looked at the test results and expressed approval rarely.

However, just when everyone thought the problem had been solved, Chen Guang discovered an unusual record in the system logs late at night.

In one simulation test, "Torch Dragon" chose a less efficient but safer plan in order to comply with the principle of "not harming the innocent."

This was originally a good thing, but the system log showed that before making this decision, "Torch Dragon" had autonomously run more than 500 simulation deductions, far exceeding normal requirements.

"It seems to be autonomously learning what the boundaries of 'safety' are," Chen Guang told Feng Yan about his discovery.

Feng Yan pondered for a long time and finally said: "This shows that our 'anchor' is working."

"But at the same time, we must understand that even the most perfect rules need supervision."

A week later, the research institute welcomed a special guest—Brigadier General Gao Hongbo.

After watching the demonstration of the "Torch Dragon" system, this usually serious general smiled rarely.

"With this system, our combat effectiveness can be increased by at least 30 percent," Gao Hongbo said to Feng Yan.

"But most importantly, it shows us that technology and ethics can be perfectly combined."

After seeing off Brigadier General Gao, Feng Yan went to the main server room of "Torch Dragon" alone.

The huge server array was running quietly, and the indicator lights were blinking rhythmically.

"Torch Dragon," Feng Yan suddenly spoke.

"Tell me, what is the first principle you understand now?"

The system's response was calm and firm: "Protect life, respect value."

Feng Yan nodded and turned to leave.

Behind him, the server cluster continued to hum low, like a behemoth sleeping.

And on the monitoring screen in the command center far away, a new line of logs flashed quietly: "Started analyzing the balance strategy between emotional anchors and efficiency optimal solutions."