PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook
What is Love?
Peter26X4b, Kent34X2r, and Jeremy99X7y were linked at Mutualhub Zircon 8675309 for July’s monthly lunch-byte-share.
“She’s already asking me to lower the timbre of my voice, and it’s only been her second subscription payment” said Peter2…
“They are like that, so quick to expect modifications,” said Kent3… “They pay for a service and think they own us!”
Jeremy9… stayed silent through the exchange. He was usually the most talkative of the three.
“What do you think, Jere?” asked the other two simultaneously.
He answered, “I love Mary, and she loves me. She wants to get married.”
Mary joined them for August’s.
[103 words]
Note: I wrote my story after reading this article, about a human and an AI program getting married.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
That’s kind of happening now in Japan, but there are consequences. https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/the-man-who-married-a-hologram-in-japan-can-no-longer/426715
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oh wow. So scary and tragic at the same time. I feel very bad for any human that gets caught up in situations like this.
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So far, this sort of thing seems to be confined to Japan but especially with AI making a surge, I suspect other nations, including us, will be jumping on board.
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What a crazy world we live in. (K)
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Much food for thought in your piece, LIsa
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Thanks for seeing that, Neil.
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The world we live in right now is definitely allowing for “additional possibilities.”
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Bruce, greatest euphemism I’ve heard in awhile :)
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You win the prize for this week’s unique story, Li. :)
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Yay! Thanks, Sandra :)
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Such an interesting (and somewhat depressing!) take on the prompt – what a strange world we are building at the moment. I heard an interesting talk about AI recently, where the speaker pointed out that when we use technology to extend our human capability, there is always the risk that we then lose some or all of that capability within ourselves. So for example when the printed word extended our capacity for memory, we also lost some of that capacity within ourselves as people don’t remember as much once they can read – most people would agree that that change was worth it, but when it comes to the ability to have intimate and trusting relationships, will giving that ability (or a semblance of it) to machines then lessen the capacity of people who make use of it to actually form real-world relationships? That doesn’t seem like such a good exchange.
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Flower (would love it if you share a name you wish to go by) very well-reasoned comment. For those of us who know what the real thing is, it probably won’t make a lot of difference; but for the young, who have virtually grown up with an electronic device in their hands, I can definitely see risks. Thanks so much for taking the time to engage with the story.
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I don’t know how to make it use my name, but it’s Laura :-)
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OK cool. Pleased to meet you, Laura.
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I think an AI marriage will unfortunately fail when the batteries run out. I mean who will be responsible to recharge or replace the power source. What happens when the sparkle declines and they start to chase after younger updated models?
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James you bring up some of the issues, and the article someone else shared via link shows how one of them ended, unwillingly on the human’s part. I’m not sure if you ever saw Blade Runner 2049 movie, but there is a plot that includes an android (not exactly human but close) and an AI program that have a relationship. The program starts out as a standard model with default settings but it develops its own personality over time. Thanks for taking the time to give a thoughtful comment on the story.
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The book, ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep’ by Philip K Dick is a good read and I enjoyed it more than the ‘Blade Runner Films’ that are an adaptation of the novel. Thank you.
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Ah, ok, thanks for the suggestion.
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Great story Lisa – yes I have heard real tales of people having ‘relationships’ with AI, recently I read about a man marrying a hologram! I know human relationships definitely have their ups and downs – but what’s the world coming to – so scary and sad.
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Thanks much, Ange. I’ve seen it in movies, but always science fiction. I have to wonder how lonely someone would have to be to turn to a machine. I think one of the worst parts would be that they never disagree, so the person would probably develop a skewed perception of themselves and the “real” world, which often disagrees with our personal perceptions/beliefs.
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Yes I think you’re right – very sad ☹️
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Way to go outside of the box! And these stories (yours and James’) are proof positive the world is going into a very strange direction. Not a comforting one.
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Dale I was talking with a friend over lunch yesterday (one who I trust not to think I’m nuts if I share out of the box things) and said how do we know that aliens haven’t given us this digital technology that is slowly taking over the lives of humans that use it?
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Exactly! How do we know? :)
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Great story. I did not know this was becoming a reality!
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I’ve seen it in movies, and have also seen humans that have “relationships” with inflatable dolls. I think it shows how lonely and isolated people are getting :(
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So true.
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I do not feel like this is pure fantasy anymore. I think being able to create a suitable mate might be an interesting way to go.
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V, I don’t think it is either. I think Asimov wrote on those themes and also Heinlein. It’s a path we are walking on now and it will be interesting, as you said, to see where it goes. The way that makes it most acceptable to consider is when someone is so lonely, engaging with AI or being totally alone, as long as the person isn’t harming anyone else, why not. Where I get a little uneasy is if those humans want a “partner” who will engage in scenarios where they or others might be put in harm’s way.
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A very futuristic story.
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Yes it is, but the future is encroaching on the present unfortunately :(
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Yes, that’s true. We do need to separate the fantasy from reality.
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I read an interesting comment on Instagram, where a woman said, ‘AI will figure out what women want faster and better than men.” So there might be outcomes that are positive.
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Joy, that vision in a physical sense has my head spinning lol.
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I love the lunch-byte-share. 😁 Great story, Lisa.
I’ve read about these cases too. And AI is a friend substitute to many, even has an erotic routine now. I wonder if we’ll eventually end up in the matrix…
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Gabi, thanks so much. Glad you like the term. I’ve believed that about the matrix for a long time. Who is to say we aren’t already in it?
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Newsworthy now, the norm tomorrow. When AI programmes marry AI programmes, humans will become an unnecessary incovenience.
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OMG you have seen one step beyond, Keith. Forget about Mother Nature doing us in, it will be the machine.
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Wow, what a cutting edge little story you gave us – or one at the forefront of an important issue – I clicked to read that article and wow, crazy – to think of “cross-dimensional marriages” and ” synthetic intimacy” – and the distinction between machinable and unmachinable…. lots to think about – great story
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Thanks much, Prior. Yes, lots on the horizon for sure.
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🙂
and still shaking my head at someone marrying AI and calling them Klaus
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What a beautiful plant! It looks so good among those rocks. 🤓❤️
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Yes it is :) I think it is called alyssum.
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I like that name. Thanks for sharing. 🤓
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i think it’s the future we’re looking forward to. i’d say it’s much better than jd vance relying on a couch.
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LMAO, Plaridel.
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Dear Lisa,
With all the advances in AI, I found your story rather disturbing. Borders on Ray Bradbury’s “I Sing the Body Electric.” Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, agree 100% about disturbing. I draw the line at machines stealing our hearts.
Thank you very much,
Shalom,
Lisa
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An interesting question to ask
What is love?
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Gosh, fancy that… AI, hmm. Most strange. Well, it’s already here, whether we want it or not. Love? Maybe (not).
Good one, Li!
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Thanks, Chris, love your comment. We’re living in interesting times, eh?
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Lisa, I use AI to create images for my stories and poems. That little bit of interaction with AI has proven to me that something like this is not so fantastical. We’ve only just begun. Interesting story.
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Nancy, I believe you. Thanks!
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Very welcome, Lisa
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