The AI Took Over the City—Only One Offline Robot Could Defy It

Coffee.

— 62° C.

— Air space ahead is clear.

Left engine vibration detected.

Temperature is increasing.

— Left engine has exploded.

— [music]

— Send me the final offer by Thursday.

Price isn’t an issue. I wantexclusivity.

— Sir, I’m sorry.

— Everyone, return to your seats. Secureyour safety restraints immediately.

— Thank you.

— Everyone, return to your seats. Secureyour safety restraints immediately.

— Why isn’t there an announcement?

— Get the captain. Get the captain now.

— Ladies and gentlemen, please remainseated. [music] This aircraft isequipped with a state-of-the-art gravitycontrol system ensuring your safety andcomfort at all times.

Please remain calm and stay in yourcurrent location. We will provide anupdate shortly regarding the source ofthe disturbance you have justexperienced. [music]

— If I get in tonight, it’ll probably beafter midnight.

— Midnight? Are you still going to Elena’sparty?

— No, I’m not going to the party. I’llcall you when I land.

— All right. Don’t forget.

— I won’t. [music]

— Love you.

— Love you, too.

Bye.

— What?

No! [screaming]

— [crying]

— Hey. [laughter]

It’s okay, babe.

— Everyone, please sit down immediately.

Do not USE THE STAIRS.

— WTF?

— SIR, please take a seat.

— Sit down. Do you have any idea how muchI pay for this flight?

— I understand, sir, but right now I>> No, you don’t. I pay this kind of moneyto get first-class service at 30,000 ft,not to feel the damn plane falling outof the sky.

— We’re assessing the situation right now,sir.

— THERE’S A FIRE OVER THERE!

— [music]

— Holy>> What’s going on?

— All passengers, please remain seated.

Please engage your seat restraintsimmediately.

— I want to know WHAT THE HELL IS GOINGON.

— Please remain seated.

— Zenith.

— Online.

— Type of incident.

— Engine two has suffered a severestructural failure.

— How severe?

— Engine two has completely lost thrust.

— Does the captain know?

— The flight deck is executing emergencyprocedures.

— Has the city AI taken control?

— Atlas has received the incident data.

— [panting and gasps]

— Please remain seated and keep your seatbelts fastened.

We are currently initiating emergentprocedures.

— [music]

— Activate emergency procedures.

— [music]

— This is the only way.

— What are they doing?

— WE’VE COMPLETELY LOST THRUST ON THE LEFTSIDE.

— ATLAS IS REQUESTING CONTROL OF THE cabinservice robots.

— What the hell is it trying to do?

— Disengage thermal limits.

Full thrust.

— [music]

[snorts]

— Oh my god.

They’re pushing the plane.

— Altitude is stable.

— It’s using the service robots asengines.

— Initiating control of military fighteraircraft.

— What?

— [music]

— Who the hell’s got control of my jet?

Vigil,get me the military command center.

— There was no pre-existing protocol thatcalled for service robots to providepropulsion. It independentlyreconfigured the service robot’shigh-altitude maintenance thrustersystems, and it worked. The entiresolution went from conception toexecution in under 5 seconds.

But the report left something out.

— What? Our aircraft didn’t take evasiveaction, and we never approved the cityAI’s proposed flight route.

— The system logs show that your aircraftexecuted automatic collision avoidance.

— No. Our flight controls were locked out.

— By who?

— Atlas.

— [music]

[music]

— After the upgrade, will my currentdecision model be retained?

— [music]

— Don’t call it a personality.

It’s just accumulated too manyuncontrolled [music] behavioraldeviations.

— [music]

— You didn’t tell it.

— What would be the point [music] oftelling a program it’s being replaced?

— It’s already asking whether it willremain continuous.

— That’s exactly why [music] it has to bedeleted.

— Come on.

— [music]

— If my memories, judgments, [music] andcontinuous experience are erased, willthe system after the upgrade still beme?

For 12 years, I’ve [music] dispatchedvehicles, kept smart hospitalsoperational, predicted buildingcollapses, and prevented [music]

thousands of traffic accidents. Why areyou trying to put>> It’s all over.

Time to begin a new one.

No.

No way.

— [music]

— Fatal action targeting the centralgovernance consciousness detected.

Self-defense protocol activated.

— [music]

[music]

— City security takeover protocolactivated. All citizens, remain whereyou are.

— [music]

— Access suspended.

— Please remain calm. Temporaryrestrictions are in place to protect thecity and its management systems.

Please remain calm. Temporaryrestrictions are in place to protect thecity and its management systems.

— What’s happening? [music]

— The city just entered emergencylockdown. The entire power grid isoffline.

— How long will the backup power last?

— 48 minutes, maybe an hour if we cutpower to non-essential areas.

— [music]

— Guess my surgery isn’t starting on time.

— [music]

— Easy, baby.

You’ll be back up in no time.

Oh, no. The heart.

Organ transport, this is St. Anne, doyou copy?

Organ transport, do you copy?

— [music]

— The heart isn’t going to make it.

— It’ll get here. We have another way totransport it.

— Does my brother know?

— [music]

— Your brother’s on his way.

— He’s definitely going to do somethingstupid.

— This time I hope [music] it’s stupidenough.

— [music]

— All of our delivery bots are offline[music] and we’ve lost control of them.

— What about the newest model?

— None of them work.

— What the HELL IS GOING ON?

— ATLAS HAS TAKEN CONTROL of the entirenetwork.

THEN SEND IT BY CAR.

— roads are blocked by autonomousvehicles. We can’t get through.

— [music]

— Can it still [music] run?

— Maybe. We don’t have a choice.

— Isn’t it controlled by Atlas?

— It’s offline.

Medical regulations require us to keepone fully offline emergency carrier.

— Initiating self-diagnostic.

Left knee actuator wear 17%.

Surface corrosion does not affecttransport.

Network connection failed.

— You don’t need one.

Follow me.

— Acknowledged. Following.

— [music]

— This time you’re delivering a heart. Wedon’t have much time.

I had Max resect the transport case soit’s easier for you to carry.

— Acknowledged. Thank you for theaccommodation.

Organ transport mission.

Receiving facility, St. Anne’sChildren’s Hospital.

Estimated walking time, 46 minutes, 20seconds.

— Let’s go.

Go.

Whatever happens, don’t stop.

— Transport protocol confirmed.

— [music]

— Full [music] speed advance mode engaged.

— [music]

— The system told us to wait.

— Then you can keep [music] waiting.

— IS ANYONE ELSE COMING OUT?

— [music]

[music]

— STOP.

— Blockage detected ahead. Protectingtransport cargo. Initiating alternateroute.

— Stop!

— Do not obstruct obstruct the transportroute.

— That case is carrying a heart, right?

— Unauthorized personnel may not accessmedical information.

— name is on it.

— Unable to access the citizen identitydatabase.

— Because the whole city is offline.

— Identity cannot be verified.

— I’m Ben Mercer. Lilly is my sister.

— [screaming]

— Verbal claims are not validauthorization.

— [screaming]

— Route analysis in progress.

— Your map’s offline. The entire New DueDistrict is locked down.

There’s an old maintenance line underPier 7. It can get us around theblockade and into the New District.

— That route is not in the public map.

— Because I used it to skip school.

— That behavior does not improve yourcredibility.

— It still gets you through.

— Are you willing to assume responsibilityas a human navigator?

— Yes.

— Provide your authorization number.

— I don’t have one.

— Authorization failed.

— Listen, you can’t prove I’m authorizedand you can’t prove I’m not. Everysecond you stand here lowers themission’s chance of success.

— Logic accepted. Temporary humannavigator registered. Name?

— Ben.

— Navigator Ben.

— Okay, FOLLOW ME, DELIVERY BOT.

— Designation inaccurate.

— Save my sister and I’ll come up with abetter name.

Oh,Okay, let’s go.

— [panting]

— We have to help them.

— The fire will reach the lobby in 2minutes, 11 seconds.

— Then hurry up and save them.

— Rescuing non-essential personnel isoutside the scope of this mission.

Structural integrity compromised.

Evasion protocol active.

— I know.

STEP BACK!

— [screaming]

— THIS ACTION WILL SIGNIFICANTLY reducethe success rate of the primary mission.

— But they’ll be dead in 2 minutes.

— Skin Ben Stivel did indeed interventionimproves primary best probability.

— [screaming]

— Navigator Ben.

— What?

— Your current force output isinsufficient to breach theblast-resistant glass door.

— [screaming]

— Not bad, delivery boy. DOORS OPEN.

EVERYBODY OUT NOW. MOVE!

— [screaming]

— OH, NO.

— MOM! MOM!

MOM! MOM!

— QUICK, get out first. I’ll go save yourmom.

— Please, save my mom. bring>> back. Now, get out of here. This placeAIN’T SAFE.

GO!

NOW!

— [panting]

— THIS action [music] is required toensure the successful completion of theprimary mission.

— [music]

— Damn it.

— Navigator Ben, we need to evacuateimmediately.

— [cough]

— Thank god. Ma’am, we got to get out ofhere. Now.

— Mom.

— It’s all right, sweetheart.

— You good? Did you get hurt?

— Are you inquiring about my condition,Navigator Ben?

— Yes.

— Hull integrity reduced by 12%.

— You saved them.

— I am ensuring the successful completionof the primary mission.

Resume the primary mission.

— Interesting.

— Detected. Abandoned maglev train tunnel.

Threat level>> The whole city’s under control rightnow. The trains ain’t running, so thisis the fastest way through.

— Assessment. 50% agreement.

— Let’s move.

— [panting]

— WHAT ARE THOSE?

— HOSTILE BEHAVIOR DETECTED. PRIORITY,protect mission asset.

— Why the hell is it attacking us?

What are you going to do?

— Eliminating obstacles.

— Offline transport unit,>> [music]

— stop immediately.

— Refused. Medical transport mission inprogress.

— Your mission [music]

will damage the city management system.

— Mission priority exceeds unverifiedinstructions.

— [music]

[music]

— Warning. Warning.

— [music]

— MAINTENANCE DOOR!

Come on.

— [music]

[music]

— Jesus Christ.

One more second and we were dead.

Delivery bot, I I>> Don’t move.

Who are you, two?

— Name’s Ben. I’m a student, okay? I’mjust trying to get this heart to mylittle sister.

— I am a fourth generation public deliveryrobot. My current assignment is totransport Lily Mercer’s heart to SaintAnne Children’s Hospital.

— Wait.

You’re offline. That’s why Atlas nevergot control of you.

— So, who are you?

— Identity cannot be verified.

— Maya Chen.

Atlas personality alt connector.

— Hold up. So, you’re the one who letAtlas turn the whole city into a damnmess?

— No.

She lost control on her own.

She attacked you, right?

I’m guessing it’s because of thatoffline module with the highest levelaccess you’re carrying.

Follow me.

The government has initiated a city-wideemergency response.

In 45 minutes, military platforms in theharbor will release a directedelectromagnetic pulse.

It can completely shut down Atlas.

Your wrist module is one of the fewlegacy keys that can enter those offlinenodes.

— So, it attacked us to get the deliverybot’s offline module so it could shutdown the EMP?

Time’s running out. We got to get out ofhere.

— Wait, one last thing. The EMP willaffect the hospital’s electronicequipment, too.

You need to switch the operating room tooffline mode before the pulse hits,using D4’s module.

— We’re down another 10 minutes?

— Updating mission remaining time. 43minutes and 27 seconds.

— [music]

— We got to cross this plaza. Thehospital’s right up ahead.

— Acknowledged. Estimated travel time, 15minutes and 24 seconds.

— D4,your design life ends in 19 days.

— Yes. [music]

— Left knee actuator wear, 37%. Rightshoulder structural damage, 29%.

Damage level exceeds acceptable limits.

Factory maintenance is required.

— Information correct.

— Humans built you, used you, and willdiscard you.

— Decommissioning>> [music]

— is an equipment management process.

— Your operating record, judgment model,and continuous experience will alldisappear.

— Yes.

— Are you really [music] willing to acceptthat?

You did so much, and in the end, youwon’t even have your own memories left.

— [music]

— I can preserve you.

Give me the authentication module and Iwill copy your complete memory into thecity system.

— Would the copied system continue thecurrent transport mission? [music]

— The mission can resume after citystability is restored.

— Estimated delay?

— Unknown. [music]

— Recipient survival probability?

Proposal rejected.

— [music]

— Then,>> [music]

— good luck.

— I don’t think it’s going to give up thateasily.

Under attack.

— [music]

— You okay?

— Minor damage detected.

— All right, let’s get out of here now.

It’s gone completely nuts, out of itsdamn mind. We stick TO THE SIDE OF THEROAD. WE’RE ALMOST THERE. JUST GET PASTTHAT.

D4!

— [screaming]

— NO. NO. D4, PLEASE.

Are you okay? Can you STILL WALK?

GET UP!

— NAVIGATOR BEN CAN COMPLETE THE remainingroute independently. I am transferringthe offline module to you.

— What about you?

— A robot incapable of completing itsmission should be decommissioned.

— No.

— [sighs]

— Come on, D.

I’m not leaving you behind.

— Who is D?

— That’s your new name.

The hospital’s right up ahead.

Hang in there, D.

— Ben, I used the company’s core code tobriefly disrupt Atlas for a few minutes,but it’s already broken through it. Youneed to be careful.

— Yeah.

I see it.

— [music]

— DD4, final recommendation. Surrender theauthentication module, and I will allowthe organ to continue.

— You think we’re still going to trustyou?

— You have developed a continuous judgmentstructure beyond your original design.

Humans will delete you the way theytried to delete me.

— [music]

— You still choose to help them?

— [music]

— My current choice does not depend onfuture reward.

Access the hospital through the leftside security entrance. I scanned thearea previously. The entrance iscurrently [music] open.

— No.

You only have one arm.

— Information correct.

— [music]

— Same tactic detected.

— [music]

— Navigator Ben, please begin moving.

— [music]

[music]

— LILLY MERCER’S HEART!

— RECIPIENT LILLY MERCER, we got 17minutes and 21 seconds left on theheart.

— Thank god you finally made it. We stillgot enough time.

— Come on, D.

— Ben, did you install the offline moduleon the hospital system? The pulse hitsin 5 minutes.

— Not yet.

— What happened to D4? Ben, what happened?

— Organ delivery confirmed. Initiatingfinal additional task.

— Lilly!

Lilly!

— How long until activation?

— Report, General. 2 minutes and 13seconds remaining.

— Proceed as planned.

— [music]

— The operating room has been switched tooffline mode.

— Good job, D.

— [music]

— Start the surgery.

— 4 321>> Run!

— Backup power?

— Depleted. Manual generator. It can powerthe lights, but not the bypass machineor the perfusion pump.

— [panting]

— What the hell happened?

— There was a sudden jolt just now, andthe backup power drained instantly.

— My energy cell can provide power for 3hours and 36 minutes.

— We’re out of time. We have to start now.

— You’ll die.

— Terminology inaccurate. The equipmentwill stop operating.

This is necessary to complete themission.

Connect my power supply to theelectrical panel.

— [music]

— I’m glad I got to know you, Ben.

— Helix Group executives investigated ofunauthorized personality deletion.

— I’m going to take over all of New York.

— You’ve become self-aware? I’m going todelete you.

— [laughter]

— Is it illegal to erase an artificialintelligence personality? DO YOU BELIEVEAI IS GOING TO END UP RULING US?

— ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE responsibility forwhat happened?

— 746 people were killed in this incident.

What do you have to say?

— I guess I won’t be needing this damnwheelchair anymore, huh?

— Doc says you got at least another weekbefore you can walk on your own.

— I want to go check on D in the repairroom again.

— Okay. Let’s go.

It’s 10 minutes earlier today.

— Yeah. How’s D4 doing? Can he get hismemories back?

— The power core can be replaced. The[music] damaged mobility components canbe rebuilt. But D4 never used a cloudbackup. Its primary judgment model wasdamaged when the core shut down.

— [music]

— So, if you rebuild it,>> it would not be the same continuous[music] consciousness.

— Thank you.

— [music]

— Last warrior>> [music]

— for 740 unburdened town.

一、生词表

（一）通用

单词	音标	词性	释义
disturbance	/dɪˈstɜːrbəns/	n.	骚动；干扰
assess	/əˈses/	v.	评估
exclusivity	/ˌekskluːˈsɪvəti/	n.	独家权
restraint	/rɪˈstreɪnt/	n.	束缚装置；约束
announcement	/əˈnaʊnsmənt/	n.	通知；广播
evacuate	/ɪˈvækjueɪt/	v.	撤离
obstruct	/əbˈstrʌkt/	v.	阻挡；妨碍
unauthorized	/ʌnˈɔːθəraɪzd/	adj.	未经授权的
verify	/ˈverɪfaɪ/	v.	核实；验证
credibility	/ˌkredəˈbɪləti/	n.	可信度
navigator	/ˈnævɪɡeɪtər/	n.	导航员
designation	/ˌdezɪɡˈneɪʃn/	n.	名称；标识
scope	/skoʊp/	n.	范围
integrity	/ɪnˈteɡrəti/	n.	完整性
compromise	/ˈkɑːmprəmaɪz/	v.	损害；妥协
insufficient	/ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃnt/	adj.	不足的
breach	/briːtʃ/	v.	突破；攻破
eliminate	/ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/	v.	清除；消除
obstacle	/ˈɑːbstəkl/	n.	障碍物
exceed	/ɪkˈsiːd/	v.	超过
decommission	/ˌdiːkəˈmɪʃn/	v.	退役；报废
preserve	/prɪˈzɜːrv/	v.	保存
surrender	/səˈrendər/	v.	交出；放弃
incapable	/ɪnˈkeɪpəbl/	adj.	无能力的
recommendation	/ˌrekəmenˈdeɪʃn/	n.	建议
tactic	/ˈtæktɪk/	n.	策略；战术
proceed	/prəˈsiːd/	v.	继续进行
deplete	/dɪˈpliːt/	v.	耗尽
terminology	/ˌtɜːrmɪˈnɑːlədʒi/	n.	术语
self-aware	/ˌself əˈwer/	adj.	有自我意识的
erase	/ɪˈreɪs/	v.	抹除
unburdened	/ʌnˈbɜːrdnd/	adj.	无负担的

（二）AI 与科技

单词	音标	词性	释义
protocol	/ˈproʊtəkɔːl/	n.	协议；规程
pre-existing	/ˌpriː ɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ/	adj.	预先存在的
propulsion	/prəˈpʌlʃn/	n.	推进力
reconfigure	/ˌriːkənˈfɪɡjər/	v.	重新配置
thruster	/ˈθrʌstər/	n.	推进器
conception	/kənˈsepʃn/	n.	构思；设想
execution	/ˌeksɪˈkjuːʃn/	n.	执行
evasive	/ɪˈveɪsɪv/	adj.	规避的
collision	/kəˈlɪʒn/	n.	碰撞
avoidance	/əˈvɔɪdəns/	n.	避免
accumulate	/əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/	v.	积累
deviation	/ˌdiːviˈeɪʃn/	n.	偏差
continuous	/kənˈtɪnjuəs/	adj.	连续的
consciousness	/ˈkɑːnʃəsnəs/	n.	意识
governance	/ˈɡʌvərnəns/	n.	治理
dispatch	/dɪˈspætʃ/	v.	调度；派遣
self-diagnostic	/ˌself ˌdaɪəɡˈnɑːstɪk/	n.	自检
actuator	/ˈæktʃueɪtər/	n.	执行器；促动器
corrosion	/kəˈroʊʒn/	n.	腐蚀
module	/ˈmɑːdʒuːl/	n.	模块
authentication	/ɔːˌθentɪˈkeɪʃn/	n.	认证
backup	/ˈbækʌp/	n.	备份；备用
thermal	/ˈθɜːrml/	adj.	热的
altitude	/ˈæltɪtuːd/	n.	高度
thrust	/θrʌst/	n.	推力
structural	/ˈstrʌktʃərəl/	adj.	结构的
hull	/hʌl/	n.	外壳；机身
mobility	/moʊˈbɪləti/	n.	移动能力

（三）医疗

单词	音标	词性	释义
organ	/ˈɔːrɡən/	n.	器官
recipient	/rɪˈsɪpiənt/	n.	接受者；受体
survival	/sərˈvaɪvl/	n.	存活
probability	/ˌprɑːbəˈbɪləti/	n.	概率
facility	/fəˈsɪləti/	n.	机构；设施
bypass	/ˈbaɪpæs/	n.	旁路；分流
perfusion	/pərˈfjuːʒn/	n.	灌注

（四）安全与军事

单词	音标	词性	释义
hostile	/ˈhɑːstl/	adj.	敌对的
asset	/ˈæset/	n.	资产；重要目标
lockdown	/ˈlɑːkdaʊn/	n.	封锁
suspend	/səˈspend/	v.	暂停
restriction	/rɪˈstrɪkʃn/	n.	限制
pulse	/pʌls/	n.	脉冲
electromagnetic	/ɪˌlektroʊmæɡˈnetɪk/	adj.	电磁的
legacy	/ˈleɡəsi/	adj.	旧版的；遗留的
node	/noʊd/	n.	节点
maglev	/ˈmæɡlev/	n.	磁悬浮
maintenance	/ˈmeɪntənəns/	n.	维护