EP.41 — THE LAST LIE
GENEVA, May 27, 2045
For the first time in history, governments have declared that lying may soon become impossible. The announcement followed the global launch of VERITAS, an artificial intelligence system capable of detecting deliberate deception before a sentence is completed.
VERITAS does not rely on facial expressions or heartbeat changes. It analyzes neural activity, memory patterns, language choices, and emotional conflict, comparing them with a person’s entire digital history. Officials claim its conclusions are accurate in 99.98 percent of cases.
The system was first introduced in criminal courts, where witnesses were required to wear lightweight neural sensors. Within months, it expanded to elections, job interviews, insurance claims, classrooms, and private relationships. Several countries now require VERITAS verification for all official statements.
Supporters say the technology has ended perjury, fraud, and political misinformation. “Truth is no longer a matter of interpretation,” said Justice Minister Elena Voss. “It can now be measured.”
Critics argue that the system does not detect truth, only conflict between speech and memory. A person may sincerely believe something false, while another may hide the truth without experiencing doubt. Trauma, imagination, and altered memories remain difficult for VERITAS to distinguish.
The controversy intensified after a defendant was convicted of attempted deception—without ever speaking the lie. According to prosecutors, VERITAS detected his intention to deceive seconds before he chose to remain silent.
That case left society with one final question: If a machine discovers a lie before it is spoken, who actually created it—the human mind, or the machine that named it?
— Joonghwa Byeon
