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“You should definitely bring that,” he says. Grandpa laughs and Grandma giggles.
“If I do, I’ll definitely be wearing the jacket over the top,” I tell them.
“Spoilsport,” Titus says, and smiles.
“So you’re doing business with Acheron Pharmaceuticals?” Grandpa wants to know.
Titus nods. “I’ve been working with a colleague using Artificial Intelligence in IVF. Alan Woodridge from Acheron has offered to invest a significant amount of money in the research. His daughter apparently had infertility issues and had three unsuccessful rounds of treatment, and he’s keen to help others in the same situation.”
“How can AI help?”
“In the grading and selection of gametes, or reproductive cells—eggs in women, and sperm in men—and of embryos for transfer. Success is often based on an individual’s ability to select the right embryos, but AI takes the subjectivity out of the process. It can also help in the formatting of a treatment plan.”
As he speaks I can imagine him standing in front of an audience at a conference, delivering his talk. He switches into work mode, and he sounds authoritative and knowledgeable. And sexy, although that might be just me.
“Interesting,” Grandpa says. “What’s your opinion on using AI in art and literature?”
“Grandpa’s writing a book,” I explain.
Titus nods and stretches out his long legs, turning his coffee cup in his fingers. “Obviously it’s a hot topic at the moment, and a sensitive subject. People don’t like to think about computers being involved in the creative process. These fears have been around since the Industrial Revolution. But we’re a long way from the scenarios you see in science fiction, where computers take over the world. And even though AI is being used in some basic art, it’s done by programming in real artwork, so in that sense it’s not the same as creating from scratch. The human’s ability to put dreams on paper won’t be superseded for many years, in my opinion.”
“That’s a lovely way to put it,” Grandma says, and he smiles.
“What’s your book about?” he asks Grandpa.
“It’s a local history,” he replies. “I’ll show you some of my research if you’d like to see it.”
“Oh Gray, don’t bore the lad,” Grandma scolds.
But Titus replies, “I’d love to, I’ve been getting more into history since Heidi’s been showing me around,” and so the two of them get up and go into the house.
Grandma smiles at me. “Gramps loves him,” she says. “He doesn’t show his work to just anyone.”
“Titus is a nice lad,” I reply. “One of the good guys.”
Grandma meets my eyes, and her lips curve up.
“He also lives in New Zealand,” I remind her wryly.
“But he’s here to discuss the possibility of staying here for two years, isn’t he?”
“He’s here to try to convince Alan Woodridge from Acheron that he can run the project from New Zealand.”
“Sounds like this Alan really wants him to stay though. Cocktail parties and murder mystery evenings and balloon rides? They’re pulling out all the stops.”
“Titus is pretty single-minded. I can’t imagine him being talked into anything he didn’t want to do.”
“What about you, then? You’ve had a great adventure here. Might it be time for you to move back home?”
I hesitate. “I feel like I’m just settling in. I mean yeah, I miss home sometimes, but I love England.”
“What happened with Jason hasn’t put you off being here?”
“Of course not. There are obnoxious men in New Zealand too. Besides, Titus sorted him out. I don’t think I’ll be seeing him again.”
“Ooh, did he get physical with him?”
My pulse picks up at the memory of Titus pushing Jason up against the wall. “Oh yes. He was quite… um…”
