It gripped her hand gently. 'Regret is for humans,' it said.She laughed. 'Really?'The machine shrugged and let go of her hand. 'Oh, no. It's just something we tell ourselves.
In Iain M. Banks' "Against a Dark Background," a conversation unfolds between a woman and a machine. The machine firmly grasps her hand and comments on the nature of regret, suggesting that it is a uniquely human emotion. This prompts her to respond with skepticism. The exchange reveals the differing perspectives between humans and machines regarding emotions and the validity of feelings like regret.
As the machine releases her hand, it...