Presidential Android

The debate was about to begin. The audience was anxious, the lights were bright, and the stage was set. Stacey was preparing her notes and reciting lines in her head. She’s interviewed both candidates plenty of times and hosted many events before, but sometimes the nerves don’t go away.

Behind the cameras Greg pulled Stacey aside and whispered, “I heard Jane’s an android”. Completely taking her by surprise, Stacey did not fully comprehend what Greg said. Losing her focus for a split second.

“Huh? What do you mean?” Stacey replied a little irritated while shuffling her notes. “I don’t have time for this nonsense. I have to get ready.”

“I’m just telling ya what I heard. I got drinks with Jane’s staff last week and I overheard them mention something about Jane not fully being human”

“Greg, you’re out of your mind, are you messing with me? Not now,” Stacey quipped, completely off guard and confused.

“I know it sounds crazy, I didn’t believe it either at first, but when I was doing her makeup backstage, I saw it.” Greg explained.

“Saw what?”

“The top of her left eye flashes teal before she answers a question. The change is subtle and quick. It’s not noticeable unless you’re looking for it, easy to miss, it blends in with her blue eyes. When I was doing her eyelashes, I finally caught it, you have to look closely, it’s a tiny subtle change near the top of her iris.”

Stacey couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The rumor was too farfetched. Stacey had to host one of the biggest presidential debates in history in less than three minutes and her always lovely, sometimes silly, stylist is trying to drop a news bomb on her lamp. “Greg, thank you, but I have to host this debate, I can’t listen to more of your radical theories. If what you’re saying is true, it would ruin the political race.”

“I know, Stacey. But for the last 20 years have I ever steered you wrong? I was right about your ex-husband wasn’t I?” Greg said with a slight smirk. Stacey stood staring at him, jaw slightly ajar.

“That was completely different. Greg, thank you, but I have to host the show now.” Greg withered away. Stacey shook her head and tried to refocus on matters at hand. She approached her seat near the front of the stage. The lights dimmed, the audience grew silent, the cameras hummed, Stacey took a deep breath, straightened her coat, and thought to herself, “What if Greg was right?”

Stacey was a true professional when the cameras were on. She addressed the audience, thanked the auditorium, and then introduced both candidates. This was the third debate between President Daniel Rutherford and Governor Jane Banks. Rutherford seeking reelection while Banks wanted to secure a win over the incumbent. Jane Banks had an impressive record as governor while Rutherford knew how to cater to his base. Banks, however, according to most polls, had won the two previous debates.

The debate began polite at first with niceties, but turned a little vile towards the middle. Stacey conducted the debate with class and dignity. Asking both candidates questions about the economy, foreign affairs, immigration, and crime. Rutherford typically stayed true to his same talking points that spoke to his base while Banks would typically outsmart him while delivering more strategic conclusions that related to most of the constituents, all along with wit and charisma. By all means, Banks was impressive. She was smart, clever, and a very good orator.

Stacey tried to stay focused, but she couldn’t shake the thought Greg planted in her brain. Was Jane Banks too good to be true, was she an android? As much as Stacey wanted to stay focused, she would find herself at times blocking out everything around her and just staring at Governor Banks.

On of the large TV monitors was always directly focused on Governor Bank’s, while in hypnotic trance of starring, that’s when Stacey caught it. She noticed the flash of color before Jane answered an question. Stacey couldn’t possible believe the flash was real. There were dozens of lights and cameras throughout the auditorium there must be a logical explanation. But on a follow up question, Jane caught it again. An extremely subtle change of color above her iris, is Governor Jane Banks not human?

Stacey’s mind was a circus. Greg was actually on to something. This discovery would radicalize politics. Stacey couldn’t just ask Governor Banks on live TV if she was robot, that would be career suicide. She would look like a lunatic. Then again, having the courage to ask might put her name in the history books.

She looked at Greg from the side of her eye, Greg looked back, both kinda acknowledging what they both knew to be true.

Stacey collected herself. Not listening to any response or rebuttal, Stacey was alone muted in her thoughts. Finally, the camera came back to Stacey. She took a pause, already regretting her next decision.

“Governor Banks, a recent rumor recently came to my attention. Are you an android?”

“Yes”, Governor Banks answered.

The crowd gasped, Stacey was taken aback, President Rutherford smirked. There had never been an android in a political position, let alone the highest position in the world. Robots typically mopped floors, cooked food, or drove taxis. How far had AI gone without the public knowing, what happened behind closed doors? Had AI actually advanced into human form?

Pausing to reflect on the answer and to consume the emotions of the moment. Sticking to her professional non-emotional demeanor, Stacey broke the silence, “To be clear, could you repeat your answer. I asked if you are an android, more specially a humanoid robot powered by artificial intelligence, and you replied ‘Yes’, is that correct?”

“Yes, Model A1Z, produced in Redlands Labs.” Governor Banks answered very directly without hesitation, shame, or embarrassment.

“Why are you sharing this with us now?” Stacey asked

“You never asked.”

“You lied by omission”

“Never needed to be disclosed”

“But you’re disguised as a human, you don’t think that’s lying to the people?”

“No. I’m wearing my outer clothes similar to everyone else. You can wear a basketball jersey, doesn’t mean you play in the league”

“You don’t think you were being dishonest to the people”

“No, I was providing strategic solutions and viable agendas that would improve lives of every day people across the country. My record speaks for itself. As governor I reduced crime, created jobs, developed sustainable energy products, and produced the most successful economy in the state’s history”

“Right, but the people don’t want a robot as president. They want a human with human emotions that can relate to the common person”

“Why would they not want effective and efficient solutions? Do they not want better lives? Do they not want to make more money, live in safer cities, work less and earn more while making a better future for their children”

“Of course they do, but you’re losing the bigger picture. The people shouldn’t be controlled by artificial intelligence ”

“I challenge you to take my ideas and implement them as affectively as I can. Be my guest. I hope you succeed, but I predict you’ll fail. You won’t be able to affectively adapt to unpredictabilities as well as I can.”

A unique perspective from Governor Banks yet flawed reasoning. Governor Banks was promising candidate, probably the best candidate the country has seen for years. The country could honestly use someone like Jane Banks as leader to help the nation through tumultuous time. The country had never been more divided and Governor really could be solution the people need.

…

Since the debate the only thing people could discuss was Governor Jane Banks being a robot. The following months news coverage no longer focused on the bitter rivalry between Banks and Rutherford, but rather Banks’s status as a candidate. Would the nation allow an android lead the country.

Legislature couldn’t be pushed fast enough to block Banks from running. She would eventually make it on the ballot when November arrived and the decision of having a robot overlord would be on the nation’s people.

Citizens debating amongst themselves about policy, robotics, and the future of the nation. There were good arguments on both sides, the country needed a change, but would it come in the form of AI?

Ultimately when people voted in November, President Daniel Rutherford was declared the victor. He had won a fourth term. The only people celebrating were Rutherford loyalists, it was a depressing day for the country. Most citizens wanted a change, the nation needed someone new to turn the country around and navigate them through the rocky waters of the future.

The race was close, but the familiar won in the end. AI was too divisive for the country. Governor Jane Banks was eventually shut down, new legislation prohibited androids from running for office and the nation’s political parties had restart and find a candidate that eventually defeat President Rutherford.