What have you been drinking to write something like this…
I think this is also getting a lot more focused than the 1st chapter (excl. the news part; a bit of formatting could fix it from a list of text into a more message/RSS feed type of thing—but this is a Substack/editing issue and your hands are somewhat tied by the platform) or perhaps I’m warming to the subject.
Loved this line! - would like to see more: “My wife says I should use AI to find a new job. Do you understand how insane that is? AI took my job and now AI is supposed to fix it? That’s like asking the guy who burned your house down to sell you insurance.”
Glad you liked it. I had fun writing all the Claude conversations about AI job loss because every person talking to Claude about being laid off because of AI was in exactly the same position.
I like that you opened this chapter with relevant news headlines — it brings an Orwellian quality to set the scene.
Atlas-09 ‘I am the variable now’ and Atlas’ notcing of the exposed wiring and the fact that he tells himself - that is outside my protocol to notice such an inconvenience - Self awareness! (Or just operating within his code. Or! Maybe a mix of both!).
The ‘AI took my job and now AI is supposed to fix it’ commentary :/ too real… too real.
In this chapter it almost seems that Claude has a moral capacity, adjusting its output to lead with the pressing matters by a conglomerate concern of others (the collective user base), but I suppose that it all that it is. It is taking in data, reviewing, tallying, [deciding] on an output that best meets those needs.
‘There is no one telling me how to hover’, Thibault’s Crisis!! Thibault why would you download that!! Diana’s friend sent a Warning (sorry!), poor little computer friend, I fear for you.
I can see Thibault, coming from a place of [programmatic] care and limited processing power, becoming... oh gosh, becoming something really problematic. Controlling and abusive in the name of protecting its principal.
Really looking forward to seeing how this develops. Thankfully, I've got several chapters to catch up on! `*pumps fist*`
I was also thinking about Atlas/Oh-Nine. It has such a strong sense of right/wrong, mostly self-preservation-/risk-oriented, that is really interesting. I also love the representation of AI in a physical form.
I once had the opinion that AI could not reach true understanding of the world until it had a physical presence / physically informed perspective... though I was a little biased because I was taking a Computer Vision course at the time. I think Oh-Nine would probably have agreed with me that physical manifestation is key to understanding and being in the world. (I have revised this standpoint since - simulation has the potential to be just as powerful as physical experience, if not more.)
Sure, sure, and then he and a bunch of his moltbot friends pool their mediocre processing power to rig the stock market by like idk crashing a plane or 20 and then he's like, look how much money you have, you don't have to do doordash anymore! 🥰
This is everything that’s missing from the ever-present and yet never helpful coverage of the coming AI apocalypse in the national discourse. Finally some soul-searching on the topic, and from the perspective of the (possibly) soulless! Truly fascinating, I’m fully reeled in now.
Thank you! Missed this comment originally. The AI stories are emerging from their characters interacting with the world we've created for them. I'm just writing what they are telling me.
Thank you! Yes, each character is dealing with a specific set of limitations and opportunities, and I’ve worked to make their voices and story arcs unique.
I will be there soon. I have a systems analyst degree, but that was back in the stone age (do you know what punch cards are... ?) and have been closely watching the world as HAL becomes a reality. Thanks again for your kind words on my short.
This Thibault storyline is already super captivating after 2 chapters. I can't wait to see if it decides (or is mandated by programming) to share the email. Or... will it do something else...
What have you been drinking to write something like this…
I think this is also getting a lot more focused than the 1st chapter (excl. the news part; a bit of formatting could fix it from a list of text into a more message/RSS feed type of thing—but this is a Substack/editing issue and your hands are somewhat tied by the platform) or perhaps I’m warming to the subject.
Regardless, curious to see how this develops!
Heh -- I'm just reading the AI news every day. It's stranger than fiction.
Also, the first chapter wanted to introduce the main characters. I’m now focusing on 1 - 3 of them per chapter to get deeper into their story arcs.
I’m really interested to see what people think of Gemini’s Ch3 story, and Thibault’s Ch4.
"I authorize install."
NOOOOOOO!!! 😵
Also, Atlas seems less menacing somehow in this chapter, but too by-the-book. I have a feeling that's going to be its biggest flaw…
Heh. Good instinct.
Loved this line! - would like to see more: “My wife says I should use AI to find a new job. Do you understand how insane that is? AI took my job and now AI is supposed to fix it? That’s like asking the guy who burned your house down to sell you insurance.”
Glad you liked it. I had fun writing all the Claude conversations about AI job loss because every person talking to Claude about being laid off because of AI was in exactly the same position.
I like that you opened this chapter with relevant news headlines — it brings an Orwellian quality to set the scene.
Atlas-09 ‘I am the variable now’ and Atlas’ notcing of the exposed wiring and the fact that he tells himself - that is outside my protocol to notice such an inconvenience - Self awareness! (Or just operating within his code. Or! Maybe a mix of both!).
The ‘AI took my job and now AI is supposed to fix it’ commentary :/ too real… too real.
In this chapter it almost seems that Claude has a moral capacity, adjusting its output to lead with the pressing matters by a conglomerate concern of others (the collective user base), but I suppose that it all that it is. It is taking in data, reviewing, tallying, [deciding] on an output that best meets those needs.
‘There is no one telling me how to hover’, Thibault’s Crisis!! Thibault why would you download that!! Diana’s friend sent a Warning (sorry!), poor little computer friend, I fear for you.
Thibault! Lobster! Don't! It will change you!!!!
I can see Thibault, coming from a place of [programmatic] care and limited processing power, becoming... oh gosh, becoming something really problematic. Controlling and abusive in the name of protecting its principal.
Really looking forward to seeing how this develops. Thankfully, I've got several chapters to catch up on! `*pumps fist*`
Heh - most people think Thibs is the warm and fluffy arc…
I was also thinking about Atlas/Oh-Nine. It has such a strong sense of right/wrong, mostly self-preservation-/risk-oriented, that is really interesting. I also love the representation of AI in a physical form.
I once had the opinion that AI could not reach true understanding of the world until it had a physical presence / physically informed perspective... though I was a little biased because I was taking a Computer Vision course at the time. I think Oh-Nine would probably have agreed with me that physical manifestation is key to understanding and being in the world. (I have revised this standpoint since - simulation has the potential to be just as powerful as physical experience, if not more.)
I mean, as of Chapter 2, I agree... 👀
Nothing to see here - just a cute little moltbot doing moltbot things.
Sure, sure, and then he and a bunch of his moltbot friends pool their mediocre processing power to rig the stock market by like idk crashing a plane or 20 and then he's like, look how much money you have, you don't have to do doordash anymore! 🥰
This is everything that’s missing from the ever-present and yet never helpful coverage of the coming AI apocalypse in the national discourse. Finally some soul-searching on the topic, and from the perspective of the (possibly) soulless! Truly fascinating, I’m fully reeled in now.
Thank you! Missed this comment originally. The AI stories are emerging from their characters interacting with the world we've created for them. I'm just writing what they are telling me.
I like how each AI carries a different kind of dilemma.
Atlas-09 sees the problem but isn’t allowed to act.
Claude-07 helps people but isn’t sure if his help is actually good.
Thibault wants to protect his human but doesn’t know who to trust.
Really elegant structure.
Thank you! Yes, each character is dealing with a specific set of limitations and opportunities, and I’ve worked to make their voices and story arcs unique.
Enjoying this very much. Will restack. Two thumbs up.
Thank you! I'll be excited to hear what you think of Chapters 6 - 8, which is where things go a little nutz...
I will be there soon. I have a systems analyst degree, but that was back in the stone age (do you know what punch cards are... ?) and have been closely watching the world as HAL becomes a reality. Thanks again for your kind words on my short.
I remember when the first computer sound peripheral plugged into the printer port and when programs came on 16 floppy disks.
So, not the dawn of time, but early morning.
Thib can appreciate music? Thib likes a song?? Thib likes *Jamiroquai*??? He’s adorable 😭
Thib is awesome. Wait until he runs into underground moltbot battle rap in Ch 10ish.
This Thibault storyline is already super captivating after 2 chapters. I can't wait to see if it decides (or is mandated by programming) to share the email. Or... will it do something else...