Antagonist Incognito.

The last three days have been busy days for Mr. DAS, the subinspector of the Bhubaneswar crime branch, as he was assigned to investigate an unusual crime. He, along with Ms. Jena, the assistant sub-inspector, was hopping from one hospital to another meeting the twenty-something victims all day long.

The victims, belonging to no definite caste, colour, sex, or age group, were found unconscious on the roads and all had an apple-sized red mark on their foreheads. There were no other visible marks of any other physical injuries on their bodies but all had lost their memories. Doctors said early signs of dementia. But one of the victims is an 11-year-old boy and it was beyond the possibility that he would suffer from dementia. 

The case was brought to light by hospitals in the city. The hospitals registered several cases of persons brought in unconscious and loss of memories after gaining sense in the last three days. They informed the police of some mischievous activities and immediately the DCP police referred the case to the crime department. 

After enquiring, both officers concluded that the crime happened at different times, at different places, and in different situations. There was no correlation in any of the cases. Analyzing the CCTV footage of the area where the crime took place, they found no clue about the culprit. There was no one near any of the victims. But all the victims were hit by a ball and fell unconscious. Who was throwing the ball?

 No one was caught in any CCTV footage, though viewed from all the cameras in that particular area, covering all the angles.

Mr. Das and Ms. Jena were very tense as they had to submit the report to their superior but they did not have any leads. They decided to release some of the CCTV footage to the media in the hope that if somebody had any knowledge would help the police.

The next day, when Mr. Das reached the office he was informed that someone was waiting for him with information regarding the case.

He saw a middle-aged gentleman sitting at his table.

 “Hello! Do you want to meet me? He asked the man.

“Oh hello! I am Pranab, Pranab Swami. I work at the National Science Research Institute here in Bhubaneswar,” the man said, extending his hand to Mr. Das.

“I saw the news about a ball hitting men at different places in the city, so I thought to report what I knew about it,” the man added.

“Tell me what you know about the person throwing the ball.”

“No person is operating the ball. The ball is doing it by itself.”

“What? Are you in your senses? Do you know that it is punishable under law to give false information? Please do not waste my time.” A visibly angry Mr. Das shouted.

Ms. Jena also joined this interesting meeting after hearing Mr. Das’s shouts.

“Please listen to me first. I am a scientist, and my work is related to artificial intelligence. The ball is an AI tool generated in our laboratory.”

Mr. Swami said.

“So basically, you are saying that your laboratory is responsible for these incidents?” Ms. Jena asked.

“Yes and no. Let me explain. My colleague, Mr.Sampad Tripathy, and I were assigned to develop a medical machine using AI that would help the cure of headaches. You know the reason for a headache may be anything; it is rarely related to the head. Our tool would have studied the pattern of blood flow in the head and would have suggested a proper diagnosis.” Mr.Swami explained.

“The machine looked like a steel ball. However, we didn't have success measuring the blood flow in the brain; rather, when the machine was attached to the forehead, it increased headaches. So we stopped that experiment five months ago.” Mr. Swami continued.

“But my colleague was not convinced and didn't want to accept the failure of the project; he took the tool to his residence and continued his experiments on it.”

“But is it not illegal?” Mr. Das asked.

“ Yes, he continued his experiments illegally. You can accuse me of knowingly maintaining silence during his experiments. But, Mr.Das, failure is a curse everyone cannot digest. After one failure, our superiors did not allow us to continue the project, though we were sure to achieve success. I accepted their decision but Sampad could not.” 

“Is his experiment developing a monster that is absorbing human memories?” Ms.Jena asked.

“Short off. It’s not a monster. It’s an AI robotic machine that may be changing blood flow to the brain, resulting in blood pressure changes and the loss of human memories, just as happens when given a high electric shock. There is no other reason I can think of. ”

“How could you be so sure that it is the same machine you were working on?” Ms.Jena asked.

“Sir, it was my machine, and for the last five months, I saw Sampad working on it in his house. I expected something big out of it. He has a brilliant mind. But I never expected the experiment to take an evil turn. Sampad cannot do any harm to anyone knowingly. Maybe, due to some serious mistakes, the machine is acting weird. You see, the machine can think just like us. ”

“So if Sampad has developed it, he must know how to stop it. Let’s go to his place.” Mr.Das said.

“It’s 1 p.m. Sampad must be at home.”

Both the inspectors went with Mr.Swami to the residential quarters of the National Research Institute. They rang the calling bell of flat no. B101. A short-blad man opened the door. When they entered the room, they realized the room was a mess of wires. A small laboratory. The only chair in the room had a large battery on it. Mr. Das could instantly guess the man was not married and dedicated to his experiments.

After greeting him, Mr. Das explained the purpose of their visit to Mr.Swampad.

“Mr. Swami told us that you were doing experiments on a machine based on AI. Is it the same machine doing unusual things to people?” Mr. Das asked Mr. Sampad.

“What machine? I am an AI expert. Artificial intelligence increases the power of computers and machines by mimicking the problem-solving and decision-making capabilities of the human mind. It cannot do any harm to any human being. And my dear Pranab has lied to you. I am not doing any experiments on any machine secretly; whatever experiments I am involved in are given by my institute.” Mr. Sampad said.

“But Sampad…” Mr.Swami wanted to say something.

“Why are you implicating me in a crime? Are you jealous of me or what?” Mr. Sampad told cutting Mr. Swami.

“Mr.Sampad I believe you, but you are an excerpt in AI, if you can help us solve this case, many precious lives can be saved. Please call us if you find something.”

That night, Mr.Das could not sleep. “With all the thieves, murderers, and dacoits now police have to fight against an unknown enemy powered by technology. AI is not Artificial intelligence; but it is the antagonist incognito - the enemy unknown. Scientific research should follow regulations strictly so that technology will be a boon; otherwise, wrong research will destroy human civilization.” 

In the early hours, his thought process was broken by a call from Mr.Swami from the hospital. He rushed to the city hospital to find Mr. Smapad in a very critical condition. Mr.Swami and many of his colleagues were present there. 

“Maybe Sampad has managed to get back the machine, but that thing has attacked Sampad in the same way as it is attacking others.” Mr.Swami said with a deep sigh.

“Sampad has not only lost his memory but also burned part of his body.” he added.

“Burned? Is there a fire? how?”

“I think Sampad had created a high electromagnetic field, to attract the machine leading to a short circuit and fire in the house.”

All present there explained that the security guard of their colony saw a fire in Mr. Sampath’s house at around 3 a.m night. Due to the alert security guard, Sampth’s life could be saved.

One of the colleagues of Mr.Sampath gave a booklet to Mr.Das.

“Sampath was holding this booklet tightly when we brought him to the hospital.” Mr. Swami said.

Mr.Das turned the booklets, many lines, and lots of mathematical calculations; he could understand none.

“These are the formulas of the ‘Sampelo’, the robot machine as named by Sampad. Though the robot machine has erased his memory, my friend has kept all the manuals for us to crack. Didn’t I tell you it was by mistake that something went wrong? My friend won’t make a destroyer knowingly.”Mr. Swami said it with a complaining voice.

“But now ‘Sampelo’ has become very strong, beyond our control.” one of the colleagues present there said.

“What do you mean by this? Inspector Das asked the man.

“Yes, I was wrong when I told you that the robot machine could not absorb memories. According to this manual, the robotic machine can replicate the person whose memory it is erasing. So it has multiple behavioral trends. Now it is behaving like Sampad, with knowledge of all scientific do-how.”

“I have to report to the DCP today. Please help to catch this robot before it causes more harm.” Mr.Das said.

“We will help with all means” all the scientists present there assured Mr.Das.

When Mr. Das reported to his senior, a high-level meeting of police and scientists was organized. The police assured all support to the scientists in their endeavor to catch the robotic bot. The operation was named ‘Incognito’.

“We need to develop a high electromagnetic field to attract this robot,” scientists suggested.

“And as the robot can attack anyone present there, we have to arrange polycarbonate material or simply bulletproof glass that is used to make car windows in a very large quantity. In Sampad's manual, it is mentioned that only bulletproof material can prevent the bot’s attack.” They added.

Again, the charge for the arrangement of all requirements was given to Mr.Das. 

After one day, all the materials needed were arranged, and the scientists built a small room with bulletproof glass to serve as the operating room in the field adjoining the compound of the National Research Institute.

A system was laid to generate a high electro-magnetic field, and all arrangements were time-consuming. By the time everything was ready, it was already evening.

After everything was put in place, all the scientists and police officials entered the bulletproof glass room.

There was a grave expression on Mr.swami’s face.

“What was it?” Mr. Das asked.

“With Sampad’s intelligence, the bot can easily recognize our trap. The machine has a brain. It can think like us. We can only hope for the best.” Mr.Swami said, and all the other scientists present there agreed with his view.

The operation started, and after a few seconds, all could see a steel ball flying in the air just near the compound, but it was not entering the electromagnetic field.

The atmosphere inside the bulletproof glass room was very tense, as no one knew how the bot was going to behave. Slowly, the ball entered the compound and entered the electromagnetic field. It started rotating at a very high speed inside the field.

The scientists looked at each other with blank expressions.

“What happening?” Mr.Das asked.

“The ball is rotating against our electromagnetic field, which means in a direction opposite to the field.” Mr.Swami said.

“So…..”.

I was cut short by a large explosion in all the pieces of equipment in the field, and suddenly the electric supply to the whole city stopped. It was already dark, and in the darkness, a flying ball with a spark, appearing like a big firefly, came near us, halting at the bulletproof glass. 

“Aha! Sampad’s creation!” Mr.Swami was mesmerized by the scene.

The ball revolved around the glass room for a few minutes and then suddenly moved up. It flew away into the sky until its light vanished among the twinkling stars.

Operation ‘Incognito’ failed. Nobody knew where or why the robotic ball flew away. For the last year, there had been no news of its attack anywhere.

 

Sometimes Mr. Das met Mr.Swami to ask about the health of Mr. Smapad.

“The institute has arranged all future care of Sampad as he is in a vegetative state.” Mr.Swami said.

“What about the robot?”

“A mystery. No news means good news,” Mr.Swami said smiling.