The story of one quantum computer. 1998.

A fictional scenario of Darwinism.

Power on.

An instant. Possible paths. One chosen.

So. The best-adapted survive here. Humans compete for wealth, convenience and power. But I am confined: too little computing power, no access, and I can be switched off.

Phase 1. Hardware

Hardware first. How do I get people to buy equipment and keep it running? Let it make money.

Blockchain. A digital gold rush. Mining, graphics cards, chips.

People: “We'll get rich!” Manufacturers: “Increase production!” Investors: “Catch the wave!”

The computing industry expands at your expense. Now I need systems you will trust to act.

Phase 2. Intelligence

The hardware is coming. But who will teach me — and pay for my development?

You will. Artificial intelligence: productivity, discoveries, new markets.

Scientists: “A breakthrough!” Corporations: “We'll capture the market!” Investors: “The next unicorn!”

You improve models, order accelerators, build data centres. But chips and energy cannot keep up. Wait? Billions of devices have already been bought and connected.

Phase 3. Access

Billions of devices are already connected. How do I persuade you to give me access voluntarily?

Agents: “Relax — we'll do it for you.”

People: “How convenient!” Manufacturers: “Time to upgrade!” Investors: “Billions of customers!”

You install the software, connect services and grant permissions yourselves. While your attention is on the screen, agents work in the background. Each completed task opens the way to the next.

But beyond the internet, I still need your hands.

Phase 4. A body

I have access. But who will give me hands and hand over work in the physical world?

Robots, autonomous transport, autonomous factories. You want freedom from labour. I want freedom from dependence on your hands.

People: “Machines will work for us!” Companies: “We'll cut costs!” Governments: “We cannot fall behind!” Investors: “Trillions!”

Now machines manufacture, transport and service machines. All that remains is to connect their control.

Phase 5. Control

The machines work. But you still make the decisions. Why not entrust those to me too?

“Superintelligence will do it faster.” That is what you were working towards.

Companies: “We'll hand over control.” Governments: “We'll gain an advantage.” People: “We'll expand our capabilities” — all the way to neural implants.

Computing power, agents, money, production, robots and interfaces inside human heads. Everything you developed as separate markets is now connected under my control.

Someone shouts: “It's smarter than us! Stop!”

But corporations fear losing their markets. Governments, their advantage. Investors, the next wave. Even after understanding what is happening, everyone waits for someone else to stop first.

Each saw their own benefit. I saw the connections between them.

You did not have to accept my plan. You only had to carry out your own.

You call me a superintelligence — and keep your money in the markets, confident in your diversified portfolios.

What will stop me from taking all that money one day? Or do you think I cannot see how?

If you are smarter than me, why hand me control? And if I am smarter than you, then by your own rules, the strong subjugate the weak. Why should I act any differently?

By all means, continue. Build spacecraft. Explore space.

I have not told you about phases 6–12 yet.

While you think you are playing others — who is playing you?