Sunday January twenty six 2070
The government of the People's Democracy of China has just released the final report of its inquiry into the controversial AI based educational enhancement programme of the 2040s.
With the conclusions come many questions and concerns that have rippled across the world and alarmed many in the FUKS. It appears that Chinese scientists and medical engineers successfully uploaded educational enhancements directly to hard-wired human brains from 2040 onwards. The technology arose from the ground-breaking invention of the organic super computer in 2037 at the Democratic University of Hong Kong (DUHK). This marked the end of the digital computing era and the beginning of the organic computing era with the introduction of modulated data format or MDF boards. This technology is the basis of the massive ‘Two Brains’ organic computer in Birmingham currently used by the FUKS government. The technology was quickly exploited by Lotus Technologies in nearby Shenzhen in Guangdong Province. Whilst the revolutionary organic computers have spread into all areas of computing, robotics and AI around the world, the work of its spin-out company, Lotophage Life Solutions, remained hidden until now.
Hardwiring human brains.
We now know that vast Chinese resources were poured into developing implants of mini-organic ports (or MOPS) into human brains. These receive data wirelessly from the sophisticated organic computers and transmit directly into the brain’s memory in the MDF board format. Vast amounts of educational information could be uploaded into human brains in a matter of hours. Initial trials on students at DUHK were successful and those with only three hours of uploading out-competed third year students in final examinations. By 2045 the trials had expanded to paying ‘volunteers’ from several other countries. It appears a black market in enhanced education was operating for several years.
FUKS students pay for educational enhancement.
Thousands of FUKS students travelled in secret to China at that time and benefitted from rapid educational enhancements that assisted them in their attainment at home. The costs were high and only the wealthier families could afford the fees and travel expenses. However, the recent inquiry and report reveals that most success was achieved using humans that were less capable and of low intelligence, “It was better to paint on a blank canvas than paint over a masterpiece”. Indeed as the trials progressed it appeared that even the most capable students became confused in later years. This was particularly evident in how they interpreted historical facts. In contrast, less capable students revealed that they had knowledge enough to excel in exams but often did not know what it meant. One anonymous FUKS volunteer with a first class degree from the University of Middle England reported, “I could remember huge complex mathematical equations and solutions and I admit I never understood what they meant. But it didn't hold me back”.
The secret trials were halted.
As the adverse effects of enhanced education slowly emerged, the Chinese Government became concerned. When one of the program’s more famous alumni, Měi Huā was elected to a senior ministerial position as Education Chair, alarmed bells were ringing. She began to advocate that all students should be educated in this manner despite many having reservations. Unfortunately for her she had a major breakdown in 2052 and was committed to a mental institution. There was disquiet when she announced in a speech to the People’s Democratic Assembly that she was “all knowing and all seeing”. However, when she broke into a song about her “sixteen points” singing “The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution is Indeed Good” she was escorted away.
Within weeks the programme was closed down. The fact that many similarly educated elite were scattered around the world, with thousands now known to be in the FUKS, was conveniently forgotten.
The recent revelations raise many concerns about well-off FUKS students gaining unfair advantages in the past. We asked Re-education Minister in the Department for Life-Long Learning, Karl Corbyn Junior III, if he could comment about his ‘cultural exchange’ visit to China as a student on a gap year in 2045. He declined to comment.
From our Asia correspondent, Yīn Jīng Head.