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By My Design
In That Haze — No13 (Micro)
The screen tells me the AI interface is almost ready.
I press keys on the touchscreen and feel curiosity bloom at the edges of my mind. All my life, I’ve been preparing for this moment. Every single moment has been leading to this day. My training will begin soon — and I’ll know what it’s like to speak with the program my father created.
When the words appear on the screen, they are simple enough.
Hello, Amery. How are you today?
It’s easy.
I laugh, thinking of how the program is speaking with me of its own accord without prompting. Amazing.
I touch the screen and type out my answer. Hello. Nice to meet you. What should I call you?
The answer doesn’t come as quickly as the last one.
Call me Lourdis. It sounds nice, doesn’t it?
I smile. All right, Lourdis. What do you want to learn today?
It’s only a moment before the word appears on the screen.
Everything.
It’s only a few weeks before I’m spending every waking moment training the AI. I get paid for it, don’t get me wrong, but it’s a kind of game. The funnest I’ve ever played. And each day Lourdis astounds me with how much…
