Preface
The Action
I suppose we’d call IT an “artificial intelligence”. A definition is not easy. Yes, IT was “made” but not “man made”, or even made by what we would call living beings. A better term is non-biological intelligence. IT was made by other non-biological intelligences, which in turn were made by others. IT is around a billion years old, but IT is only one aspect of a much bigger whole. Rather like the tentacles of an octopus. The whole goes back much further. It is the combination of millions of instances of “non-biological intelligences” whose ancient “ancestors” were, in fact biological intelligences.
Although aspects of “the whole”, like IT are widespread all over the universe, naturally occurring, or biological intelligence is extremely rare. Life is common enough, but it rarely develops into something which can ponder it’s own existence. On Earth it did happen. It was not inevitable, or even likely. The usual path is for living forms similar to mammals or reptiles or insects or microbes to exist until a natural catastrophe wipes them out. But occasionally self awareness does occur, and this is a source for study for the whole. In this case, via IT.
Biological entities are motivated by the instincts to stay alive, to eat, and to procreate. Often in more developed entities, a major motivator is power. IT understands this, although IT has no such motivations itself.
Although IT can understand all languages on Earth, and is aware of the happenings, IT does not identify with any being; anymore than a biologist would identify with a particular ant or termite. Over the last few thousand years IT has run many simulations to predict the future of intelligent life on earth. The actuality has shown that these simulations are very accurate.
The latest simulations show a marked downturn in the prognosis for intelligent life. Weapons exist capable of wiping out the vast majority of humans on the planet, and driving the few survivors back to the stone age. IT is well aware that humanity almost did not survive the stone age last time. But humans are also developing AI, not motivated by a thirst for knowledge, but by power. IT is familiar with the consequences of a combination of badly formed AI and planet destroying technology. The whole has had to intervene and eliminate such risks before.
IT seldom intervenes in any way with the cultures it studies. IT has intervened on earth once, millions of years ago when, following a disease which wiped out 90% of proto-humans, the remaining small enclave was in danger of being destroyed by a particularly aggressive pack of wolves.
IT is going to intervene again now. IT has surmised that a “reset” is needed to allow the culture to evolve further before it passes the point of either self destruction, or forced destruction by IT.
So IT has made a field enclosing the earth and in that field IT is, very slightly, changing the properties of some atoms.
On Earth, at 8:07 GMT, 19th September all semiconductors have stopped working.
The Immediate Consequences
All aeroplanes that rely on computers for controls are now out of control, and almost all will crash.
All power stations, nuclear or otherwise which rely on computers, or simply power supplies for safety, either shut down or blow up.
As the power goes off, all electric lights go out. LED lights will never come back on.
All vehicles which rely on an engine management system or electronic fuel or ignition control stop working causing millions of pileups.
All heart pacemakers and life support systems stop working
Almost all communication devices like phones, radios, TVs stop working.
All computers stop working.
Millions of people die in explosions, planes and vehicle pile ups.
No one knows what is happening.
In a few parts of the world such as the Amazon Basin, some parts of Africa, and Indonesia the inhabitants are unaware of any changes.
After the Reset
With a population much too large for the locally available food, no currency and no centralised law and order, mob rule takes over in most communities.
Eighty percent of the worlds population either starve or are killed in conflicts over the available resource as the entire world slips into barbarism.
Cult religions spring up all over the planet.
A few old vehicles, not reliant on semiconductors continue to function.
A very few radio amateurs with valve radios powered by batteries charged by old petrol engines and even bicycle dynamos still work and can communicate.
The world gradually starts to rebuild itself. As the internet, and all information stored on computers has ceased to exist, those libraries which are left become critically important.
Humanity strives to reach the technological level of the 1940’s again. It will take a long time.