“The gene therapy you received last month made your neurons sensitive to magnetic fields.”

I nodded as Dr. Simov explained what I had already read over a dozen times in the volunteer package.

“Which allows noninvasive interfacing with this device here.”

Dr. Simov put his hand down on what was essentially a metal helmet with a bunch of cables attached to its outer side. The cables ran from the helmet to server racks housing thousands of cutting edge graphics processing units — a modern supercomputer.

“The device emits high precision magnetic fields which will stimulate your individual neurons to fire as well as monitor your own neuronal firings. Through this input/output interface, each of your cerebral neurons will be connected to thousands of artificial neurons housed in the supercomputer which are themselves randomly interconnected. Your goal is to utilize the artificial neurons to the best of your ability, to make them your own. Should you succeed your effective brain size will increase by a factor of 10. You are then to conduct research on improving the device. Do I make myself clear, Clark?”

“Yes, Dr. Simov,” I replied soberly.

“Good, I look forward to your report. Now if you’re ready please have a seat and put on the device.”

I sat back in the luxurious chair and put on the helmet.

“Raise your hand at any time should you feel discomfort and I will shut down the interface. Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“Interfacing in 3, 2, 1.”

At first it felt like random noise bombarding my mind. Like a chaotic day dream. Then I noticed that with each thought, like a query, more noise came back. My brain activity was stimulating artificial neurons which were firing back and exciting my own neurons through the magnetic interface. The harder the thought, the greater the response. Like making waves in a pool. Then the noise started to crystallize. I began to witness a glimpse of clarity emerging from the extra noise.

Soon it helped more than it hindered. It’s as if every thought I had was enhanced, a query with more results than I was used to, but welcome nonetheless. I began to feel more capable. I had no formal training in neuroscience or computer engineering, but quickly things started making sense. The artificial neural network I was connected to operated on a “fire together, wire together” principle. It was unstructured at first but as my structured thoughts made waves throughout its ...

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