AI

    The cursor lazily blinked at the bottom left corner. It waited for her mind. It was this magical computer – people still get stuck with the name “computer” even though it was nothing like that anymore. It was a slim tablet that immediately took form of a hand once it was touched. “There was nothing more comfortable on the Earth than this” – said so the slogan. Even when it was in BETA version, people started to use it already – despite the warning of the medicinal company and other renown scientists. How cool is that! why don’t they want us to use it? – these and such exclamations could be heard once it was out on the market. Indeed, it was cool. You could just slip it in the suitable slid of your smart-table and a keyboard appeared from nowhere, you could hold it close to your forehead and it formed into smart-glasses, giving updates on weather and historical constructions, wherever you went, you slipped it on the wall according to the instructions and it became a smart-board, covering all the walls in the room, using itself as a projector in one. Everyone wanted to have a smart-computer like this.

    A computer, that understood every language, that could talk to you in your own mother tongue without accent, no matter where you came from, and a tool that could even read your mind. It was hard to believe in all, that this thing does not have an entity and it can be thrown out and updated to a newer one once it has served out its lifetime.

    Honestly, many people – including Ada – didn’t even remember what life was before AI. You could go to sleep and just think of a time you wanted to wake up the following day – it all became real. And, unlike other previous models, Smart-Mag-Comp.BETA didn’t want to correct you at all. If it occasionally did, it did it in a gentle, subtle way, making you feel as the corrections came to your mind and not to its.

Dust and pollen level is high today. Just think and I will transmit your thoughts on my screen. No need for you to talk. The tool announced it over and over until Ada registered what it said. The cursor lazily blinked at the bottom left corner, then suddenly words filled the screen: I wanna see Prague and the Dancing House. When Ada blinked, the picture of two glass silhouettes became visible on the screen. It wasn’t even enough time for Ada to register her flow of thoughts, suddenly newer and newer pictures of landmarks have appeared in front of her eyes. Taj Mahal, the lush green hills of Chiang Mai, a whale park from Southern Florida and others. Ada only realized that she started tearing up when suddenly the tissue-advertising software started to pour out its advertisement. She only needed to blink one and think that she needs a package of tissues, but instead, she wiped her tears away and slowly sat up in her bed.

    There were empty beer bottles anywhere, her make-up was torn and her flat looked like a disaster but without realizing it, pieces of advice filled up her room and her invisible speakers. Pick up the trash – call us immediately. 1777! We will help you and double cleaning service will be included. and after the age of 31 it is not advisable to drink beer at night – remember that you want to look fresh and available at the age of 51, too! Take care of your skin! or WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY! Do you realize how lucky you are that you are awake? No? Then what are you waiting for? Ada switched off the Smart-Mag-Comp.BETA with a look, but then thought of it again and made it start to play some soft music. Occasionally, it gave some advice on break-up and heartbreak and also how to get over it.

    Ring, ring! Try our new partner-service, only perfect bodies, only perfect souls – psychiatrically tested by our software and partners. Escort services at any time of the day – or anti-loneliness spirits if you like! “Okay, I want to hear more about this.” said Ada and by the time she finished her sentence, she was already at her other worry: what would her new escort say when she saw her apartment in such a state. Shouldn’t she ask for a cleaning lady to come and help her? Ring, ring! A new payment has been completed to Smart-Mag-Comp.BETA Cleaning! Your cleaning woman is on the way! Ring, ring! A new payment has been completed to Smart-Mag-Comp.BETA partner-service “perfect bodies, perfect souls”. Your selected partners are as follows: “Let me see!” – screamed Ada excitedly, blinked away the advertisement about “what our vain souls desire and what about our bodily nature”. That was the only truly annoying thing in the Smart-Mag-Comp. That some advertisements were like the conscience. It went all well until you thought of a time and date, and it jotted it down for you, it went all well until you were sitting at a work meeting, and it reminded you, but it also reminded you to your own pettiness and littleness. It reminded you to your idle decisions which were vain, as well as your existence at some point. It reminded you to your imperfectness, to your wrong decisions, to your faults. The worst point was that you could easily grow addicted to it. It just did everything for you, like planning your route to your holiday and choosing the best resort for your own needs and necessities, but also giving you advice – whether you liked it or not – how much you should spend out of your budget on your holiday.

Why, oh why. Smart-Mag-Comp.BETA, you’re really smart, you might have outsmarted the human species itself!

Ring, ring! Here is the chosen person for you. Her name is Iza. I must admit, it’s a bit unusual that you chose a woman for tonight, but I can totally understand it. Anyway, here are some topics I prepared for you, in case there wouldn’t be anything to talk about: books, characters, messages, holidays….. Ring, ring! Your cleaning lady has just arrived! The lock let up and Ada explained a bit still tipsy why she is still in bed. Good that Smart-Mag-Comp.BETA can take care of unlocking the door itself, that only you need to think about it, and it’s done for you. How silly those people were back in the 21st century, denying the existence of AI, denying so much comfort! What an old-fashioned idea it is to go and open the door for someone when you can just have this tool and direct it with your thoughts itself. A lot of energy consumed by a lot of unnecessary activities could be spared now! Genius! – At this point, Ada was not sure, if these were her own thoughts or the siren was screaming them from the invisible speakers, but she could swear she could hear them from the Bluetooth walls.

The cleaning woman just came and go, changed the beddings, Ada was well taken care of under the shower meanwhile, and preparing for her “perfect” date. In the meantime, she watched her favourite series on the bathroom walls “Not only comfort but also filling up your day entirely!” – was the slogan of Smart-Mag-Comp’s brand, and indeed, it was something very comforting in the fact that all minutes of the day spent awoke was used for entertainment or work or both. As soon as Ada came out of the shower, there was another Ring, ring!, and Iza arrived.

‘Hi. Nice to meet you.’ – she breathed slightly, then looked at Ada. ‘Actually, I was never called to another woman… but I believe, that’s why you chose me.’

‘It wasn’t me who chose you. It was my AI-device.’ – and these were the only sentences uttered by Ada because other than that she was shocked. How could the Smart-Mag-Comp.BETA choose such a perfectness to her? Or was it herself? She couldn’t even recall it. Anyway. From the invisible speaker and the Bluetooth walls, nice, smooth music sounded, which was occasionally interrupted by food orders and deliveries which just showed up in front of the doors with the mindful-locking system. Ada and Iza were looking for each other’s hands and lips instead of words. Words were spoken by their Smart-Mag-Comps. Wasn’t it wonderful? You could talk AND kiss at the same time, get to know someone without having spoken a word! What’s more, you could even order food and find out what cuisine both you and your partner like and thus guarantee further bonds with each other. Honestly, who needs slow conversation nowadays? Getting to know each other slowly, only to be turned out in a couple of months, when your heart is all tangled that you have some slight differences that cannot fit with! Was it fast? Yeah, hell it was fast! But this didn’t take away the excitement of it! Only some reassuring don’t worry and no, it’s alright what’s happening murmuring broke up the munching of the girls. It got dark by the time they finished the last slice of their pizzas.

    Ring, ring! Your evening psychologist is here! Reflection time! – announced Ada’s Smart-Mag-Comp.

    Ring, ring! Another booking for you. – announced Iza’s.

    “I guess, I gotta go…” said Iza and slowly buttoned her shirt. “I hope to see you soon, but… it’s not my decision, hey.” She spoke slightly but Ada could feel some remorse in her tone. She blinked at her AI and ordered it to scan Iza’s contact. Unsuccessful. Escort is not allowed to share contacts. Iza shrugged, made the face of “whatever”, whereas Ada’s AI announced that her reflection time is on, and her daily horoscope and future telling will be soon followed up by that.

    “Update your submission at perfect body-perfect soul. Then you can see me among your saved contacts. And you can have my company anytime soon.” Iza winked at Ada, kissed in her neck and left. She didn’t even have to close the door, AI locked it after her, immediately. The walls became dark blue and different questions showed up on it, such as: How did it feel to kiss someone from the same sex? What was something that you cannot take in for a long-term relationship? Which lover of yours did you like the most? What’s next? What is your escape plan? to all of which Ada replied with her thoughts: not bad, I think I would feel guilty, I liked Iza of course, but that always happens with a new lover; setting in my alarm because of work tomorrow, and I think I’m okay now because I managed to forget Dan with this experience for now, but now I’m falling for Iza.

    No worries – the smooth, calming voice of her AI made her pretty relaxed – that’s not your burden to decide. I’m here for you, to help.

    True, true, thought Ada, I have nothing to worry about. The decision is not mine, anyway. – and she dozed off easily again, calm, feeling that she is well taken care of.

(Image: https://www.shutterstock.com/hu/video/clip-30873553-futuristic-hologram-smart-device-technological-concept-4k)

©elzazi