This was dark, clever, and incredibly unsettling, but such a brilliant read. ‘Every problem Ren solved made Ren a little less necessary’ was a hard pill to swallow. It put words to something that already feels uncomfortably real. Really glad I stumbled across this :)
Great story. Anyone writing code and using AI will find this very realistic. What I'm taking from the story, is that those machines won't notice an anomaly smart enough, and that's us.
I've actually be chewing on your story all day. Of course there's something scary about work drying up but this feels like it could be a retelling of the proverb about the man who lost his horse. There must something good for Ren around the corner that she'd never have considered.
Yes, that is kind of creepy and I can well imagine that some people feel that way.
But let us widen the view. What about new areas of work? For example, the topic of infrastructure. Building an infrastructure that is independent from the model providers and also independent from large vendors, that is a big task and creates many new jobs.
Then the topic of security. Everyone has to make sure that their AI agents are not taken over from the outside. Also many new jobs.
And what about all the jobs that AI can never rationalize away, but that urgently need AI support, like for example in agriculture, especially for small farms.
I can imagine that there are companies going in the direction you describe, the question is just how long something like that stays stable.
I am a rebel. And I believe that there are many like me who do not sell out and do not adapt to everything and who will not swallow everything. They are everywhere, they can make a difference too. I mean, we are still at the beginning of this story, we can still shape things now.
Do you live in the US? I once lived in France for 3 years. It took me 1.5 years to get to the same relaxed level as a French person. Now nothing throws me off balance anymore 😎
Bianca I really love your response. I guess this is why I wrote a story, not an essay. I think a lot of people are like me - seeing a grim future when big corporations lay off a whole town of people in a snap, but feeling a bit hopeful when AI creates new opportunities for people. When I wrote this, I had it in mind that the real story will be written by the readers themselves. and yes, i do live in the US, and I need to touch more grass!
Read it. Loved it. Hated it...not the story, that was beautiful and haunting. I hated the experience of being inside the world you created, the hollow building, the hum of the machines. Really well done. I found myself thinking though, if ai agents can do those jobs, do humans really want them? Yes, I understand the real world impact and implications of engineers losing their jobs, their income and what the ripple effect could do to humanity, the economy, etc. And yet, I do wonder...
Love how the story is grounded in real world objects and scenarios. If I were Ren I'd know that it's not AI which is the issue but the timeless dynamics of inequality, greed and power. In a better utopian world, AI would fully automate production and leave us humans to enjoy life freely beyond survival work with UBI.
This was dark, clever, and incredibly unsettling, but such a brilliant read. ‘Every problem Ren solved made Ren a little less necessary’ was a hard pill to swallow. It put words to something that already feels uncomfortably real. Really glad I stumbled across this :)
I’m glad you liked it Jade!
Great story. Anyone writing code and using AI will find this very realistic. What I'm taking from the story, is that those machines won't notice an anomaly smart enough, and that's us.
This kept me on my toes right up until the end. Such a good story, and a really timely reminder that humans still have the final say.
Ps. Oracle letting people go while having the AI World Tour, smh… 😖
Thank you Anna! Yes, the way Oracle handled this layoff is sociopathic
You’re an amazing writer. I want the rest of the story.
Thank you Tyler. What would you do if you are in Ren's position?
I've actually be chewing on your story all day. Of course there's something scary about work drying up but this feels like it could be a retelling of the proverb about the man who lost his horse. There must something good for Ren around the corner that she'd never have considered.
Yes, that is kind of creepy and I can well imagine that some people feel that way.
But let us widen the view. What about new areas of work? For example, the topic of infrastructure. Building an infrastructure that is independent from the model providers and also independent from large vendors, that is a big task and creates many new jobs.
Then the topic of security. Everyone has to make sure that their AI agents are not taken over from the outside. Also many new jobs.
And what about all the jobs that AI can never rationalize away, but that urgently need AI support, like for example in agriculture, especially for small farms.
I can imagine that there are companies going in the direction you describe, the question is just how long something like that stays stable.
I am a rebel. And I believe that there are many like me who do not sell out and do not adapt to everything and who will not swallow everything. They are everywhere, they can make a difference too. I mean, we are still at the beginning of this story, we can still shape things now.
Do you live in the US? I once lived in France for 3 years. It took me 1.5 years to get to the same relaxed level as a French person. Now nothing throws me off balance anymore 😎
Bianca I really love your response. I guess this is why I wrote a story, not an essay. I think a lot of people are like me - seeing a grim future when big corporations lay off a whole town of people in a snap, but feeling a bit hopeful when AI creates new opportunities for people. When I wrote this, I had it in mind that the real story will be written by the readers themselves. and yes, i do live in the US, and I need to touch more grass!
Read it. Loved it. Hated it...not the story, that was beautiful and haunting. I hated the experience of being inside the world you created, the hollow building, the hum of the machines. Really well done. I found myself thinking though, if ai agents can do those jobs, do humans really want them? Yes, I understand the real world impact and implications of engineers losing their jobs, their income and what the ripple effect could do to humanity, the economy, etc. And yet, I do wonder...
Great story...but the "bad ending lover" in me sooooo much wanted a sudden TV flash message...
"Ren code intercept, move in"
Followed by robotic stormtroopers grabbing the group...
Sorry...evil thoughts...lol
Love how the story is grounded in real world objects and scenarios. If I were Ren I'd know that it's not AI which is the issue but the timeless dynamics of inequality, greed and power. In a better utopian world, AI would fully automate production and leave us humans to enjoy life freely beyond survival work with UBI.