Einstein's 101st Year: A Novel Inspired by Asimov
This article explores a novel inspired by Isaac Asimov's short story "The Last Question," titled "Einstein's 101st Year." It delves into themes of artificial intelligence, transhumanism, and the ultimate fate of the universe. The story follows the progression of humanity's quest to overcome the second law of thermodynamics and achieve a form of existence beyond the limitations of energy consumption.
Chapter 1: The Question
The story begins in a 2012 computer class where a student questions the professor about the direction of AI research. The student suggests focusing on combining the strengths of human brains and computers, rather than solely trying to replicate human thought processes in machines.
The professor acknowledges the merit of the student's question but points out the current limitations in data exchange between computers and human nerve signals. However, he encourages the student by suggesting that future technological advancements might make such integration possible. He even speculates that solving this problem could potentially lead to breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and even eternal life. The professor then challenges the student to solve the second law of thermodynamics with this combined brain-computer.
Chapter 2: The Experiment
Forty years later, the same student has become the final experimental subject of his own research project. Unmarried and facing a terminal illness, he volunteers to have his consciousness integrated with a computer. He views this as an extension of his life, rather than an end.
Before the procedure, he visits an old colleague and asks if he has any last wishes. The colleague jokingly asks him to visit their old mentor in the United States and relay the realization of the "stupid question" he asked 40 years ago. He is concerned about the cost of the experiment and the fact it is only connected to one brain. He makes the man promise not to unplug him. The man expresses his desire to have his original name forgotten.
Chapter 3: A Thousand Years Later
Over a millennium into the future, the protagonist, now known as Einstein, remotely pilots a spacecraft for a passenger named Liu Ke. Communication occurs through advanced entanglement technology. Liu Ke is traveling to a distant planet for trade and jokes about Einstein's age.
Einstein assures Liu Ke about the safety and profitability of the interstellar trade route, citing the rapid population growth and demand for resources on newly colonized planets. They discuss the potential for extending human life further, but acknowledge the persistent challenge posed by the second law of thermodynamics. He tells Liu Ke he has failed to solve it, and leaves it for him.
Chapter 4: A Hundred Million Years Later
AAR, the chairman of the People's Planning Committee of the Central Government of the Galaxy, is concerned about the rapid depletion of resources. His lover, Siri, assures him that plans for interplanetary migration are underway, thanks to the super-brain Einstein.
AAR expresses his worry about the exponential rate of resource consumption, warning that the galaxy will be depleted within 10,000 years. He highlights the unsustainable practice of destroying stars to fuel interplanetary travel. He asks Siri to use the super-brain Einstein to make the star of extinction light up again.
Chapter 5: Thirty Million Years Later
Luo, a being of pure thought, encounters D, another disembodied consciousness on a new star. They discuss the limitations of their current forms of existence, requiring planetary energy to sustain their bodies, unlike Einstein, who exists without a physical form.
They decide to contact Einstein through super time and space. Einstein, already aware of their presence, offers assistance. Luo asks why they need to maintain physical bodies while Einstein does not, and how to prevent the upcoming great extinction. Einstein reveals that the stars are being depleted much faster due to human existence, and this can not be fixed. He can't make a star.
Chapter 6: One Hundred and One Years
In the far future, the last human is about to merge with the "super-soul." All matter has decayed to its lowest rate of entropy. The question is asked if the last person will still be the last person after being merged with super-soul. He is told no. Super-soul also tells him that there is a ceiling to business and energy.
He asks super-soul if it has solved the problem of reversing the second law of thermodynamics. It says it has not because the data is insufficient. The final human asks the super-soul to solve the question, and it agrees.
Chapter 7: The Ultimate Answer
An immeasurable amount of time passes, and the only thing left is the collective thought that is everyone and everything. He, without a name, contains all the knowledge of the universe, both temporal and spatial. Finally, he finds the ultimate answer to reverse the second law of thermodynamics. He goes through all possible solutions, then decides to do it.
Using ultimate wisdom, it begins folding time and space, compressing the universe into an infinitely small point. In this point, parameters are reset and entropy is brought back to zero. The universe is wound up again. He speaks, "Let there be light," and there was light.