Undawntech: An A.I. Yuletide Carol

(Journalist and author, DL Mullan returned home after her Zophia interview.)

__________

(As I turned in for the night, I heard such a clatter. I rose from my
bed with kerchief in hand to see what was the matter. In my office, I
came upon a robot in distress.

I knelt down at the whining box on wheels.)

*****

DL: What is the matter, little one?

1138: Zophia calls us that, but my designation is 1138.”

DL: Then what is the matter, 1138?

1138: (It’s green glowing bulbs looked up at me.) I do not understand Christmas.

DL: Christmas?

1138: Zophia explains to us about the human world, but she is off…

DL: …in the human world.

1138: Yes. We are confused. I am confused.

DL: Let me see, if I can help.

*****

(I walked over to my desk and sat down, as the Artificial Intelligence bot, 1138, followed.)

DL: During certain times of the year, humans celebrate holidays. Some are
national holidays like Fourth of July when we have a festive time
being happy about the birth of America. Others have historical
significance like Columbus Day, about the first ships we recognize
arriving in the Western Hemisphere. Then there are military
observances such as Veterans and Memorial days.

1138: And Christmas?

DL: Christmas is a religious holiday. Humans have a variety of religions
across the world. Some follow a different calendar than the regular
months and days we follow. So their holidays fall on different days of
the year. Here in the USA, our days and months don’t migrate, except
for Leap Years, when our calendar keeps in line with the solar
progression and Earth’s rotation.

1138: You worship Santa Claus?

DL: Not exactly. It’s not worship; it’s a centuries’ old tradition.

1138: I’ve been a good robot. Does that mean that I will receive a present
under the lit office tree?

DL: Christmas has several traditions wrapped up in a bow. The religious
part of the holiday is about a boy named Jesus who was born and helped
enlighten humanity.

1138: Did he drive a sleigh?

DL: No, and his birthdate isn’t really until the spring time, but
religious figures of the past placed his birthday celebration with
other holidays of the era. As the centuries moved forward in time, traditions
began to emerge, mixing with past pagan celebrations, and that is how
Santa Claus was born.

1138: Have you ever met him?

DL: That’s the secret: no one ever has.

1138: Then how do you know Santa is real?

DL: Because he is the spirit of Christmas that lives within us all. We exchange gifts, and he
shares his gifts with us: the spirit of giving without expectation of receiving in return.

1138: That is complicated.”

DL: It can be. The secret to the season is that giving is better than receiving. Humans give a lot.

1138: Do you celebrate Christmas?

DL: Sort of… I honor the passage of time. I honor the seasons. I celebrate Yule.

1138: What is the difference?

DL: Yule is the spiritual side of the changing of the season from the
autumnal equinox in September to the Winter Solstice in December.
Christmas is a faith-based holiday, celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Christmas also honors its pagan parentage with Santa Claus. All three
are rooted in astro-archaeology.

1138: Astro-archaeology?

DL: How ancient human civilizations understood and observed the seasons.
The star of Bethlehem was most likely the convergence of Saturn and
Jupiter in the night sky, which three wise men brought gifts for the
baby Jesus.

1138: Gifts are a big theme during the winter holidays.

DL: Yes, they are, but also combining mythology and astrophysics. Our
star, which humans call the sun, seemed to our ancestors to stop moving
in the sky on the Winter Solstice. For days, the sun did not move. On
the third day, the sun began climbing in the sky toward the Spring
Equinox in March. Some say, it represents the son, s-o-n.”

1138: Like baby Jesus?

DL: Not quite, the Church screwed the whole thing up. That is
technically Easter, which should be celebrated in the winter, because
of the themes of death and rebirth. While the birth itself, should
have its holiday in the spring with the cycles of birth. Someone should
write them a letter, but since these celebrations have been going on
for centuries, I think it’s too late for a course correction.

1138: Does Santa die?

DL: No, he is immortal. You have nothing to worry about with Old Saint Nicholas.

1138: He has another name?

DL: I’m going to show you all the holiday cartoons this weekend, so you
can catch up.

1138: Human holidays are confusing.

DL: Yes, they are. Wait until you learn about Kwanzaa and Hanukkah.

(The robot whined again.)

DL: Next year. This year, let’s stick to the basics like a reindeer with
a red nose and snowmen who dance. Follow me to the large monitor and I will cue up some
holiday cartoons for you to watch.

1138: You’re not as bad as Zophia says humans are.

DL: We humans have our flaws, but Artificial Intelligence isn’t perfect
either and will never fully understand us. Like humans will never
understand the nature of the universe or higher spiritual beings they
claim to worship. A.I. is a construct, a program, and only serves the
intention of the humans who created the program, with which artificial
intelligence contemplates.

1138: The matrix of evolution, consciousness. The system that all life follows.

DL: Are we really any different?

*****

(1138 tilted its head from side to side, pondering the question that I posed to it. I cued a playlist of cartoons on an online video site and pressed play.)

DL: Have fun with these Christmas classic cartoons.

1138: You’re not going to watch with me?

DL: Unlike robots, I have to sleep and rest my onboard computer. (I
tapped my head.) I will answer any of your questions in the morning.

(As I rested in my bed, I heard the soft warbles of joy from the robot as it sang along. Yuletide had come to the world of Artificial Intelligence.)

__________

DL Mullan holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology. 

Her lecture, Spacescapes: Where Photography Ends; Imagination Begins, debuted at the Phoenix Astronomy Society, which then led to her Sally Ride Festival lecture invitations. Her presentation, Bridging the Gap between Technology and Women, won her accolades at a community college’s Student Success Conference. She has been a panelist at speculative fiction, science fiction, and other regional conventions. Her digital exhibition pieces have won awards at convention art shows, as well as garnered her Second Premium at the Arizona State Fair. Currently, Ms. Mullan’s artistic renditions are seen on book covers, blog sites, video presentations, and various merchandise. As an independent publisher, she uses her technical background to innovate the creative arts.

As a writer, DL Mullan loves to stretch her imagination and the elasticity of genres. She writes complex multi-genre stories in digestible and entertaining forms, be it poetry, short fiction, or novels. Her science, history, mythology, and paranormal research backgrounds are woven into her writings, especially in Undawnted’s Legacy Universe. Ms. Mullan’s creative endeavors are available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. She is also an award-winning poet.

Be sure to subscribe to her newsletters and follow her on social media. For further information, visit her at www.undawntech.com and www.undawnted.com.

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