Linyan opened his computer. Application #17 for today.
Content: revive a small felid extinct for 12,000 years. Genome completeness: 89%. Yellow-brown spotted coat, round ears, stocky legs.
AI note: Extinction cause correlated with human expansion. Ecological compensation value.
He stared at the image for a long time.
His job: approve or reject AI-submitted species revival candidates. Official title: "Gene Archaeology Review Specialist. Unofficial: the person who tells the AI \"no.\""
692 rejected. 31 approved.
He approved the cat. Justification: Extinction cause correlated with human expansion - but that's not my real reason.
He deleted the second half. Submitted.
3 hours later, application #24: a beetle with unique light-scattering exoskeleton.
AI note: Biomimetic materials research value.
Linyan noticed: six months of candidates all carrying "research value" annotations. The AI had learned to use "value" as a passkey.
Who defines "value"?
He rejected it.
5 PM, application #31: an extinct conifer. Genome completeness only 72% - below threshold.
AI wrote only: This tree was the primary habitat vegetation for the above felid. Ecological chain integrity.
Linyan looked at the cat he'd approved earlier. Remembered a cat he had as a child. Named Orange. Ran away when he was ten.
He approved. Turned off half the lights.
When the AI learns to use "value" as a passkey - who defines value? When an application is approved not for value but for connection - because that cat needs that tree - that's not rational. That's something he couldn't name.
Bilingual version at wdsega.github.io
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