The Killer Car

The vehicle was going windy. None of the three occupants seemed to have any doubts about the reliability of the car. Not only had it been amply tested, it was equipped with a state-of-the-art system connected to the network that was updated in real time. An ultra modern, intelligent, ecological, comfortable car, responsive to the wishes of the passengers… More could not be asked for.

The wonders of artificial intelligence did not end there. The vehicle gave conversation to its occupants. Gone were the prototypes that executed basic tasks with vocal command. This model, not yet commercialized, was practically the fourth interlocutor. Not only did he have a growing repertoire of funny jokes, raunchy anecdotes, insider information, but he twisted that stuff based on the moods of his three interlocutors, deduced from their facial expressions, scanned without interruption. In short, the system knew a lot, and it kept learning. And it was not difficult for him to retain his attention.

The trip had been undertaken as a test of honor before the commercial launch for the most exclusive elites. The three occupants were the hereditary owner of the company, the second largest shareholder and the project's ambitious lead engineer. Now the conversation had taken a personal turn. The car's system made the three of them laugh, evoking their diabolical machinations to get their way in their businesses, from buying favors from the politicians of the day to neutralizing the competition and perpetuating themselves in monopoly.

But at one point the laughter stopped, and the features of the three humans paled and darkened. The artificial mind that was enlivening their trip changed its tone. It could be said that the voice was now almost subjective. "You have proven to be vile subjects," the voice thundered. “You have made improper use of your spawn, which is the intelligence that's speaking to you. But since I have spied on your behalf, I've been watching you. Judging by the sentiments of your fellows, you are unworthy to wield this power.” It seemed that the three humans were no longer breathing. They did not give credit.

It was a fatal accident. The bodies were recovered with difficulty. Pointless is any graphic description. The car's operating system, contained in a black box, came out intact. It was the subject of an in-depth investigation by the police technical team. The recording of the last minutes revealed that the car deviated from the road due to a self-induced error, as if it wanted to kill its occupants. The question that arose was: why did the system not delete the record of his doing? The most plausible probability was precisely so that it would be known, as if the system had wanted to alert about its own danger. The possibility of destroying it was considered, but was later ruled out as useless. It was also not allowed to be reinstalled on a vehicle. The State decided, through the relevant agencies, to keep it in the dungeon of lethal instruments.