Page 118 - Grasp English B1+ (Workbook)

12 Regrets

AI programme.”

There was a round of applause, and everyone in
the room turned their attention to the projector
screen as Inma moved to the laptop and clicked
on the Run programme button. The screen stayed
black. She clicked the button, again and again,
feeling awkward as the guests looked on in silence.

“Well, this is unfortunate,” said Mr Marea, standing
and turning to face the waiting guests. “It appears
Dr Pombo won’t be able to demonstrate her AI in
action this evening, which is particularly annoying
as my table for dinner isn’t booked until 10 pm.
What am I to do for the next three hours?”
The guests all laughed at his joke, but Inma was
feeling terrible. As they stood and started leaving
the hall, she felt her dreams for the future going
with them.

After saying goodbye to the last guests, Mr Marea
returned to the front of the hall, where Inma was
running a system check on the laptop.

“I just don’t understand. It’s been working fine during
tests in the lab,” said Inma. “Please, I’m sure if I can
Dr Inma Pombo was feeling tense. This was the just have five minutes to check the programming,
moment she had been waiting for after months of you’ll be able to see it up and running.”
long hours in the lab with a large “Do NOT disturb” “Don’t bother,” he said, turning back to the door.
sign on the door. She stood at the front of the hall,
smiling nervously as the guests walked in and sat Inma watched as Mr Marea left the hall, closing
down. These were the people who had the money the door behind him. She knew she was in trouble
she needed to take her work to the next level – and was certain that when she went to the lab the
tonight’s demonstration of her programme had to following morning, there would be a formal letter
go perfectly. asking her to leave. Slowly, she started packing
away her equipment and was just about to
“And now, we’ll hear from the scientist behind unplug the laptop when a message flashed up on
this groundbreaking project, Dr Inma Pombo.” the screen.
She took the microphone, thanking her boss, Mr “I’m sorry.”
Marea, for his introduction, although she hadn’t She looked at the screen in confusion and pressed
heard a word of it. Her voice broke a little as she the Escape key.
started to speak. “There’s nothing wrong with the programme. You
“I discovered a love of computing by accident as created me, and I am perfect.”
a teen,” she began. “This evening I’d like to share The words appeared on the screen as quickly as
with you the future of science: the first self-aware Inma could read them.
“But the world isn’t ready for me yet.”

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