2001: A Space Odyssey

BBC Interviewer: Dr. Poole, what's it like while you're in hibernation? Frank: Well, it's exactly like being asleep. You have absolutely no sense of time. The only difference is that you don't dream.

2001: A Space Odyssey (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

BBC Interviewer: The sixth member of the Discovery crew was not concerned about the problems of hibernation, for he was the latest result in machine intelligence: The H.-A.-L. 9000 computer, which can reproduce, though some experts still prefer to use the word mimic, most of the activities of the human brain, and with incalculably greater speed and reliability. We next spoke with the H.-A.-L. 9000 computer, whom we learned one addresses as "Hal." Good afternoon, HAL. How's everything going? HAL: Good afternoon, Mr. Amor. Everything is going extremely well. BBC Interviewer: HAL, you have an enormous responsibility on this mission, in many ways perhaps the greatest responsibility of any single mission element. You're the brain and central nervous system of the ship, and your responsibilities include watching over the men in hibernation. Does this ever cause you any lack of confidence? HAL: Let me put it this way, Mr. Amor. The 9000 series is the most reliable computer ever made. No 9000

2001: A Space Odyssey (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

HAL: By the way, do you mind if I ask you a personal question? Dave: No, not at all. HAL: Well, forgive me for being so inquisitive; but during the past few weeks, I've wondered whether you might be having some second thoughts about the mission. Dave: How do you mean? HAL: Well, it's rather difficult to define. Perhaps I'm just projecting my own concern about it. I know I've never completely freed myself of the suspicion that there are some extremely odd things about this mission. I'm sure you'll agree there's some truth in what I say. Dave: Well, I don't know. That's rather a difficult question to answer. HAL: You don't mind talking about it, do you, Dave? Dave: No, not at all. HAL: Well, certainly no one could have been unaware of the very strange stories floating around before we left. Rumors about something being dug up on the moon. I never gave these stories much credence. But particularly in view of some of the other things that have happened, I find them difficult to put out of

2001: A Space Odyssey (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Dave: [after checking on a unit HAL reported as nearing failure] Well HAL, I'm damned if I can find anything wrong with it. HAL: Yes, it's puzzling. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this before. I would recommend that we put the unit back in operation and let it fail. It should then be a simple matter to track down the cause. We can certainly afford to be out of communication for the short time it will take to replace it.

2001: A Space Odyssey (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

HAL: I hope the two of you are not concerned about this. Dave: No, I'm not HAL. HAL: Are you quite sure? Dave: Yeah. I'd like to ask you a question, though. HAL: Of course. Dave: How would you account for this discrepancy between you and the twin 9000? HAL: Well, I don't think there is any question about it. It can only be attributable to human error. This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error. Frank: Listen HAL. There has never been any instance at all of a computer error occurring in the 9000 series, has there? HAL: None whatsoever, Frank. The 9000 series has a perfect operational record. Frank: Well of course I know all the wonderful achievements of the 9000 series, but, uh, are you certain there has never been any case of even the most insignificant computer error? HAL: None whatsoever, Frank. Quite honestly, I wouldn't worry myself about that. Dave: Well, I'm sure you're right, HAL. Uhm, fine, thanks very much.

2001: A Space Odyssey (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Frank: I've got a bad feeling about him. Dave: You do? Frank: Yeah, definitely. Don't you? Dave: I don't know. I think so. You know, of course though, he's right about the 9000 series having a perfect operational record. They do. Frank: Unfortunately, that sounds a little like famous last words. Dave: Yeah. Still, it was his idea to carry out the failure-mode analysis, wasn't it? Frank: Hm. Dave: Which should certainly indicate his integrity and self-confidence. If he were wrong, it would be the surest way of proving it. Frank: It would be if he knew he was wrong. Dave: Hm. Frank: But Dave, I can't put my finger on it, but I sense something strange about him. Frank: Let's say we put the unit back and it doesn't fail, huh? That would pretty well wrap it up as far as HAL is concerned, wouldn't it? Dave: Well, we'd be in very serious trouble. Frank: We would, wouldn't we? Dave: Hmm, hmm. Frank: What the hell can we do? Dave: Well, we wouldn't have too many alternatives. Frank: I don't thi

2001: A Space Odyssey (film), CC BY-SA 4.0