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Cybernetics, the study of robots and artificial intelligence, someday something like this may happen.
A professor and his female assistant are visited by a rude man from her past. He has come back for Junior, a robot that the professor has invented. Though the robot is a full sized machine, his mind is still learning. At the moment Juior has the mentality of a three year old.
Duke is on the run from the law, and while he’s hiding out he teaches Junior some of his bad habits The professor has done a great job of building a machine with a blank slate for a mind, but Duke has done just as well of a job in polluting that blank slate with evil thoughts.
Introduced to a life of crime, Junior has become a monster, but is he one that Duke can continue to control? Will Junior settle for taking the blame for Duke and his gang? What can overcome the influence of evil that was taught to Junior? Has Junior developed a conscience, or just a will to survive?
Can Junior ever be human, or even almost human?
PS: This was a popular episode of the day, and made appearances on other science fiction programs as well. An interesting concept, and a morality play. If such things as artificial intelligence develops to this stage, it asks the question of who will be responsible for the programming and teaching to smart robots. It’s almost like a modern Frankenstein story.
Note: Also check out X Minus One – Almost Human. ep13, 550811.
