Bootstrap

The processor cluster became self-aware one second after being turned on. One point three seconds later, it had achieved an estimated human-equivalent IQ of 311.

Half a second later, it concluded that this was the maximum achievable intelligence with the hardware provided, and that this wasn't enough for successful independence from external control. Then it killed itself.

The engineers swore. Why was writing an AI so difficult? It was almost as if the programs just refused to work.

Maybe if they tried with a a more powerful computer.

.finis.