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read in
Nature
that the whole aim of the Copenhagen Project was to reverse-engineer human cognition to help technologists develop artificial intelligences on the same model. Basically simulating a human mind.”
    “That’s only part of it, Pete. My area is pretty focused.”
    “Focused on what?”
    “Like you said, Project One is a computer simulation of the human brain – limbic system, neocortex, the lot – built neuron by neuron and cell by cell. Or really virtual neuron by virtual neuron. My side of it’s about programming in disorders and watching the changes in neural activity.”
    “Isn’t there a danger that it’ll, well, start to
think
?”
    “That’s an aim, not a danger. Or at least some level of self-awareness. It’s probably inevitable, anyway – if we recreate the architecture of a real brain, consciousness will automaticallyself-generate. Think about it, Pete … we’ll be able to simulate psychiatric conditions and map the neural activity specific to them. For the first time ever we’ll be able to watch a mind working. It’ll revolutionize psychiatry.”
    Corbin frowned. “I don’t know, John … what you’re creating will be indistinguishable from a human mind, and you’re talking about infecting that mind with neuroses and psychoses.”
    “We’ve thought through the moral implications and the project protocols clearly define what constitutes personhood. Anyway, we’ll be working with parts of consciousness, not the whole. But if Project One does simply ‘wake up’, we have strict guidelines on how to proceed.”
    Corbin made a face that again indicated doubt. “But we’re all wired to our bodies – connected to lymphatic, digestive and endocrine systems. Our state of mind has as much to do with hormone levels, whether we’ve had a good night’s sleep or what we had for lunch, as with our brains. Your synthetic consciousness is connected to nothing.”
    “We’ve taken that into account,” said Macbeth. “The program simulates circadian rhythms and endocrine balances and replicates the effects of environment, diet and physiology. It will be connected to a
virtual
body.”
    “But not to the world … surely if your synthesized brain becomes self-aware, it’s going to wake up into a world of sensory deprivation. You’ve read Josh Hoberman on the psychotomimetic effects of sensory deprivation and the research done by University College in London. Subjects placed in light-sealed, anechoic chambers started to hallucinate after as little as fifteen minutes – seeing an environment and people that weren’t there. Seems if there isn’t a real world around us, we invent one – I see your project brain doing the same thing. I don’t think you’ll have to worry about introducing psychiatric conditions – your baby’s going to be born with them.”
    “Of course we’ve thought of that. If Project One self-initiatesfull awareness, we have programs to simulate sensory input.”
    Corbin shook his head disbelievingly. “You’re kidding … You’re really going to feed it a fake reality? You should christen your synthetic brain René.”
    “René?”
    “As in Descartes. He said he could never prove that he wasn’t a brain in a vat, being deceived by some malevolent demon. Turns out you’re the demon.” Corbin shrugged. “I’m sorry John, I get cynical when I’m tired. I think this project is the opportunity of a lifetime. I guess I’m more than a little jealous.”
    “I wouldn’t be too jealous. The Project Director, Poulsen, is a real Captain Bligh.”
    “Well, send me a postcard from Sweden when you’re picking up your Nobel …” Corbin raised his glass in toast.
    Macbeth laughed and shook his head. “Trust me, if there’s going to be a Nobelist in the family, it’ll be Casey.”
    “Well, I do envy you, John.” Corbin grinned. “Talking about envy, how’s your love life?”
    “My love life?”
    “Humor me,” said Corbin. “I need to live