I have tasked you to develop a detailed and reproducible model that explains and accurately predicts human behavior. How do we make them usable? I rely upon you to explain this to my satisfaction. Omnius changed his voice to a high-pitched tone. I tolerate your incessant tests in the expectation of eventually receiving an answer. You have been trying long enough. Instead, you are like a child playing with the same trivialities over and over.
 
I serve a valuable purpose. Without my efforts at understanding the hrethgir, you would experience a state of extreme confusion. In human parlance I am known as your 'devil's advocate.'
 
Some of the humans call you the devil himself, Omnius countered. I have considered the matter of your experiments at length, and I must conclude that whatever you discover about humans will reveal nothing new for us. Their unpredictability is just that -- entirely unpredictable. Humans require a great deal of maintenance. They create messes --
 
They created us, Omnius. Do you think we are perfect?
 
Do you think that emulating humans will make us more perfect?
 
Though the evermind would derive no meaning from it, Erasmus shaped his pliable, reflective face into a scowl. Yes! The gambler still sat very erect, his fingertips resting on the edge of the blotter!