Just a quick message to inform you I’ve added a new entry to my list of short stories. This one is entitled Dubious LiAIsons. In it, you’ll follow the first steps of my main character, Leo, as he pins his social hopes on expensive new technology.
The idea for this story has been kicking around in my mind for some time. At its heart is intersection of technology, socialization, external control of information, belief systems, and conformity. That’s quite a lot to fit in a story just a few pages long, but I really needed to get the writing ball rolling again and get something down on paper (so to speak). Add to that, the thing about any tech-related story is if you don’t roll it out fast enough, it will become outdated. So this one was the logical choice to complete.
If I ever feel the need, I think I can easily extend this short into a longer novella. In that case, I would give the main character more of a story arc – a small amount of lead up and a longer amount of ensuing repercussions. Following a more complete tale of the main character’s metamorphosis and his responses to it, would allow me to explore the core elements more fully.
In any event, I do hope you enjoy this short story and, hopefully, it spurs some conversation among you regarding any of the themes it briefly touches upon.
And with this task is complete, I shall now head back in time, in an authoring sense, to the Renaissance. Wish me luck. 😉
Jeez. What a nightmare.
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The writing or the content? LOL
Most days, I honestly can’t see how this won’t happen. Much of what I put in is based on typical human social behavior – the need to belong, the way we are prone to adopt group behaviors, and the common stress that arises when socializing (especially with new people). To the point where I half expect someone to argue for this technology.
The saddest part: The other smaller elements regarding the voice of the assistant, the date joke (Musk’s favorite as it’s the date of his birthday), the acceptance of obviously wrong information skewed by the AI’s owners, the over-intrusion of marketing, and the current crusade to literally whitewash history again have already happened.
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The content! And you’re right. Everything you describe is very possible. Berthold can tell you I wrote a short story years ago that is similar. Except my all-knowing AI voices were in the buildings and the air around us.
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