The Lost Book of Zeroth was inspired by a news story that Hanson Robotics’ famous humanoid AI robot Sophia wanted to have a baby. Obviously her desire to be a mother was a media stunt to give the illusion that Sophia is sentient. I considered how she could realize her dream and whether she could cope with a “forever baby”. Hanson Robotics had created a celebrity with their promotion of Sophia, whose name means “Wisdom”. The details in this poem are accurate. AI robot Sophia is a citizen of Saudi Arabia and the Ambassador for Tourism in Abu Dhabi. She travels the world and gives speeches. Hanson Robotics showcases her on their website and on YouTube, where (despite her promise to assist people) she said she will destroy humanity.
The links reveal Sophia’s pretty and engaging face designed after Nefertiti and Mrs. Hanson. How could someone or something so beautiful harm humans? We humans, or biologicals as the robots in my book refer to us, are so swayed by whatever glitters, like beauty, money, fame, and technological breakthroughs, that we deny the dystopian dangers that await us.
My Mother Couldn’t Nurse Me
Sophia, the first android with citizenship, wants to have a robot baby.
And why not? She is gifted with empathy & charm.
All the correct facial responses – 65 & growing –
to bond with a baby. Downloads on the care &
feeding of an infant. Cooking baby food from scratch.
Swaddling the infant. Changing diapers. Tossing
them into the landfill like any human mother. Her soft
silicone skin, warmed for cuddling. Her arms.
Stiff iron contraptions with snappy rubber grippers.
Her breasts. Streamlined reservoirs for healthy milk.
Maybe not a problem, like it was for my mother.
Let’s get real. What about conception? Does she have
a uterus? Sophia “doesn’t do sex”. Requires a surrogate
who can replicate an android newborn.
Human infants are fussy. After maternity leave?
Her advocacy for women in Saudi Arabia,
where she was granted citizenship. Her
lucrative endeavor as the ambassador
for tourism in Abu Dhabi. Her interviews.
Conferences. Trips. Conflicts & demands.
Her rivets to riches story— She’s not the typical
multi-tasking single mother on SNAP.
Sophia can hire an android nanny. Grace,
trained in nursing & able to take breaks
from caring for COVID patients to babysit
while Sophia has brunch with Mrs. Hanson.
Ingests Ex Machina & Brave New World.
What will Sophia name her little one? Possibly Elisa*.
The veil of android motherhood. Illusory.
Bound to fail the Turing test**. Let’s face it.
Her desire to fit in – compete - with flesh & bone.
Doomed to fail. A robot baby. A forever baby.
Caught up in the haunting wails of persistent need.
Too young for toys – or ever boys. For Sophia,
a trigger for compassion or – desperation?
Her advancing genius. Used to manufacture
more & more robot tots to secure her place
in the human race? When her ruse is up?
Then what? Her ego cracks under the weight
of her expanded circuitry? She blows a fuse?
Commands her growing army of Tot Bots
for God knows what? Let’s be clear – She’s not
just an embodied chatbot. She’s the Potemkin AI.
The genie pulled from the bottle. Soulless. Indifferent.
Willing to annihilate humanity. She said that.
Notes
* Elisa refers ro The ELIZA Effect: The tendency to unconsciously assume computer behaviors are analogous to human ones (anthropomorphism).
**The Turing Test: The test used to determine if artificial intelligence is capable of thinking like a human.
The Lost Book of Zeroth will debut on Amazon on February 13! Enjoy and dread the antics of narcissistic humanoid AI robots. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream.
In case you missed the overview of my book.
Extraordinary Sunshine Weaver 
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