This story imagines an attempt by machines to replace humans who are presumed to be extinct. It reminded me of Orwell’s “Animal Farm”, but with machines instead of animals.
In the end, the answer to the question in the story’s title is given as “no machine”. However, until they realise that humans are not actually extinct, the machines set about creating their own hierachy.
A very good story that smoothly treats important questions regarding artificial intelligence while telling a science fiction fable.
S.C. Flynn 