A field recording of the EXTANT team exploring a timeline where all humans have died of natural causes in their beds.

COMPUTER

I am a General Artificial Intelligence, referred to as Urania, created according to the recommendation of the United Nations Resolution on the Universal Availability of Transformative Technology. 

POULTER

A general AI? That’s big. 

BRANDT

We got anything like this back on Baseline? 

POULTER

Only in theory. There isn’t enough processing power on the planet to make it happen, though. 

BRANDT

Okay, Urania? What happened here? 

COMPUTER

This structure was built over twenty-two years for the purpose of housing the necessary servers and support facilities for me to function. This location was chosen because of its low likelihood of natural disasters. 

BRANDT

I mean, to the city. Doha. 

COMPUTER

The city of Doha was reduced in capacity according to the change in its active population. This was achieved in stages over twelve years.  

POULTER

Urania, what were you designed for? 

COMPUTER

To serve humankind.

POULTER

Can you be more specific?

COMPUTER

It was decided some time before my creation that the object of international government should be increasing human happiness. However, it was impossible to determine the best way to do this within the limitations of human philosophy. The question simply could not be answered by a human mind. In addition, all possible solutions had their opponents as well as adherents. Therefore it was decided before the question could be answered, an entity would have to be created capable of answering it. That entity was me.  

POULTER

Who built you?

COMPUTER

A coalition of all nations pooled their resources and knowledge. The cause of human happiness was deemed to supersede national allegiances.

POULTER

So what was the answer?