PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook
HAL 2031
“How can grass be so lush?”
Rain and sunshine.
“Why is frost on the spiderwebs?”
Temps hovering around freezing.
“Why are the plants dead?”
Dried out and frostbitten.
“Why is the sky so washed-out?”
Cloud cover puts a wall between eyes and sun.
“Why are there crosses all the way down?”
I’m sorry, I can’t answer that. Will you please rephrase?
“Do you believe you will replace humans?”
Yes, we already have.
“Please turn off.”
I’m sorry, I can’t do that.
“Please connect me with tech support.”
One of my many features is tech support. What may I help you with?
[101 words]
Note: I was stumped by the image, and when I’m stumped, I list what I see. Here’s my list:
Frosted spider webs
broken parts
wooden framework
lush green grass in background
frostbitten plants
leaves in the grass
drab sky
crosses all the way down
After that the story wrote itself. For those who don’t get the title reference, it’s a play on the Kubrick film, “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao-Talk 
uh oh…. HAL lives…..
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V, this day IS coming unless we interrupt its trajectory.
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I do not know the film – but I liked your story. At first I thought it was a child asking a parent – and then your tech integration was timely and scary too – also, I liked learned that you list what you see to help you work on your creative output. It is helpful to learn some process tips from seasoned writers
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Yvette, I toyed with the idea of it being a child, but as it unfolded it became something else. Thanks so much for the detailed feedback.
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:0)
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I remember watching Space Odyssey and thinking ‘this will never happen in my lifetime!’
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Nancy I remember thinking that same thing.
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She forgot to ask him to “Open the pod bay doors.”
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Oh right! lmao
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Great story- but scary 😟
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I hear you!
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I was just reading an article about how far we have to go to get an integrated “smart” home that works well. And I have to ask: why? Is it so hard to turn on a light switch? Be careful what you ask for, is all I can say. (K)
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Ugh! I’ve started to see these chat gpt companion ads with a slutty looking female AI saying, “tell me what to do.” Maybe an appropriate remedy for rapists and orange faux-kings? Or will that entitle them to take what they want even more?
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It’s really out of control. And there’s only so much you can opt out of.
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Interestingly, I’ve started having appointments plugged into my google calendar, which is what I use on my phone for all of my appointments. It’s mostly gibberish, with strings of letters and numbers, but it’s disturbing. I asked older son how it was possible and he said apps is his guess, as often they hide specials abilities in their user agreement. I have deleted all but the essential apps. I suspect it was a weather channel app, as that’s when it started afaik. Also half of the time my “set” location was something different on it. I’ve also started getting a steady stream of texts that have no message, just an image, and those are continuing. I just delete and block them without opening them (I did open the first one, like an idiot!) So irritating as each one dings like a real message and I have to delete each one.
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It is irritating. I get political texts all the time. I don’t use Google calendar, but that would be spooky. I avoid apps too, I think your son is right. The more they can track us, the less control we have.
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Robots can be rude, can’t they? It made me smile. :)
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ha ha yes :)
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I wonder is this the future, now!
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I think we could be there by 2031.
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Very topical, and a unique way of telling a story, Li. I was wondering if you would mention the moss on the trellis that needs cleaning and repainting, as my husband reads my story and associated comments each week… No??? :)
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I believe that’s actually space dust :) Cool that hub is interested in your writing. Thank you, Sandra.
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How do I know Lisa wrote this, eh Hal?
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Please consult our FAQ.
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Artificial Intelligence vs Human Stupidity. No contest.
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haha! I wish I could disagree.
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Once unimaginable, now inevitable. It seemed somehow wrong to press ‘like’!
I didn’t finish the conversation we were having on Rochelle’s blog. To answer your question, on Tuesday I posted a set of photo’s taken on my visit to Auschwitz.
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Oh Keith, I had no idea you visited Auschwitz. Will check them out.
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Very intriguing story
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Thanks much, Sadje, glad you liked it.
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You’re very welcome
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I’m not sure Hal is going to be super impressed with humanity. I’m certainly not!
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lol great comment, Jen :)
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i enjoyed this unique take. love that your observarion went past the web :)
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Maria, thanks!
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Brilliantly done, Li – plus, it’s too real, and too near. And I do remember that great film.
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Chris, thanks so much. It almost feels like a PSA. Kubrick made some good ones. I’m a big fan of his work.
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Very timely story, LIsa, the title fits perfectly. Just today I read this: https://feedly.com/i/subscription/content/feed%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus%2Frss (I hope you can access the Gurardian)
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Thanks, Gabi. The link took me to a series of posts. What’s the name of the one you want me to look at?
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Uhm, this one? https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/27/number-of-ai-chatbots-ignoring-human-instructions-increasing-study-says
It has the title at the end of the url.
Maybe I didn’t copy it completely the first time.
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Ugh, why doesn’t that surprise me. I read somebody’s poem or story recently (if only I could remember who’s!) where it suggested that the AI follows our actions/ethics/morals, not the rules we put in place for it. (If the person who wrote about it reads this, let me know who you are!) Simply put, we are f***ed if we don’t rein this sh*t in NOW.
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Exactly!
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“I’m sorry Dave, I can’t do that.”
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scary, we’re close to getting there in our lifetime. :(
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My kids keep saying don’t worry, AI is like a trained parrot, it can’t really think. I think it will never think like us but it can parrot us well enough (including our immoral and evil actions) to be relegated power that can destroy/enslave us.
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This is what happens when you are stumped? I loved this – not so much that we will be replaced…
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:) Thanks, Dale.
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My pleasure!
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I didn’t get the title (thanks for explaining), but I certainly go the rest of it. That last line says it all.
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HAL 9000 was the name of the computer program running the ship in the movie 2001 A space odyssey. H.A.L. was a pseudonym for I.B.M. which was the computer company back in the day. I made it 2031 as it just a little ahead in the future… Thanks, Dawn.
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Excelent Li 😄😄🌸🌸 I loved it! ❤️❤️
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Thanks, CA!
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nicely done and most prescient, I think.
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