Circuit of Life

''Circuit of Life'' (set:$name to (prompt: "What is your name?","Your Name"))\ ^^You walk onto the floor from the elevator, and go straight to your private office. The buzz of busy co-workers and ambient beeps and bloops fill the room. You squeeze your inner lobe to activate Work Mode status on your (text-colour:cyan)[personal AI assistant].^^ (text-colour:cyan)[Noise Cancelation and Outer-Voice Recognition: Activated] ^^As you sit down at your desk, you tap the surface in rhythm to Clair de Lune and a chime plays back, turning on the private visual interface:^^ (text-colour:cyan)[♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ] ^^The hologram window is alighted with the words: Orchard Universal Solutions. You blink your eyes twice, then hold your gaze for three seconds to unlock the screen.^^ (text-colour:cyan)[Retina ID Recognition: ACCESS GRANTED] ^^The interface is now available for use.^^ (text-colour:cyan)[Welcome back, $name.] (text-colour:cyan)+(bg:black)[Thanks to our encrypted behavioral monitoring systems, your daily tasks have been calibrated into your schedule. Today is Saturday, May 16th, 2099. According to your recent behavior, I suggest that you typically start with the following:] <audio autoplay> <source src="https://cdn.freesound.org/sounds/361/361331-e467cc7c-8700-4433-b582-78ff275c0d13?filename=361331__spoonsandlessspoons__computer-beeps.wav"></audio> [[Check Emails.]] [[Check Calendar.]]

^^You click on your inbox, and see one new email. It’s from (text-colour:#77dfa4)['Boss Man', Hal Brannon]. ^^ //What could be so “urgent” this early?// Email: HalBrannon@orchard.us (text-colour:#77dfa4)['Boss Man'] Subject: (text-colour:red)[URGENT!] (text-colour:#77dfa4)[Hey $name, the big guys from Techniquo decided to invest in a project that’s been under wraps for awhile. This is HUGE news for us. That means you best be on your A-game. I figured you’re the person for the job. Talk about a big break! I’d congratulate you, but, nobody else needs to know about this. Just you and me until launch day. Everything you need to know is in the attached document. Please read it very carefully. Don’t let me down! Hal Brannon, CEO Orchard Universal Solutions] [[Check Calendar.]] [[Download Attachment.]]

^^You review your calendar, and in a panic, you realize that your girlfriend (text-colour:#df77cc)+(bg:black)[Stef] is turning 23 next week!^^ //Shit. (text-colour:#df77cc)[Stef’s] birthday is next Friday. I’d better start looking for a present for her… At least I still have time. I’ll put a pin in it, and ask her what she wants this weekend over the season premier of Talos Rising.// (text-colour:cyan)[$name, your internal chemical balance has detected a neural flare, raised heart rate, and increase in body temperature — signifying stress, in relation to memory.] (text-colour:cyan)[Would you like to arrange a reminder for Saturday @ 9PM?] [[Yes.]] [[Nah, I'll remember.]]

(text-colour:cyan)[*ding* Reminder has been set.] [[Check Emails.]]

^^You close the calendar window.^^ [[Check Emails.]]

^^You investigate the doc attached to the email.^^ ''The Future of Food Sustainability and Official Treaties to Resolve Universal Food Scarcity'' (text-colour:cyan)[Would you like me to read this document for you?] [[Keep reading.]] [[Read it for me.]]

(text-colour:cyan)[The afforementioned information disclosed within this file must remain confidential and under the discretion of all participating parties working on this project. Do you agree?] [[Agree and continue reading.]]

^^You stare blankly at the thousands of words on the screen.^^ //Uh... If I read every line I'm going to be here for an entire shift — including lunch.// ^^You quickly and sloppily skim the words on the page. Your impatience grows so you skip all the way to the bottom.^^ [[Sign and close document.]]

^^You use your index finger to sign your name within the document.^^ //Finally, now I can get started. I guess corporate caught wind of my influence over at Vagabond Virtuality. Maybe this is the break I needed. That corporate ladder ain’t shit! I’ve got this.// [[Launch setup.]]

//Okaaay. Open. // ^^You open the setup window and click ''Launch''.^^ (text-colour:cyan)[LAUNCHING… Passcode:] //Aw, crap. I forgot the password. Now, where was it? // [[Search Document.]] [[Ask Personal Assistant.]]

^^A few hours pass… You've written various lines of code. You've gone into details regarding how you would like this AI to work, and what you want it to do. It's nearing the last stages required to be fully capable of use. There's just one problem...^^ -Stomach grumbles-// Damn, I’m starving.// (text-colour:cyan)[It appears as though you're suffering from lack of sustenence. It is imperative that you fuel yourself today with a high protein, high fiber option. ] [[Go on break.]] [[Skip lunch and finish coding.]]

"Hey there!" (text-colour:magenta)[Cora:] Oh, hey friend! (text-colour:orange)[Zeke:] Whaddup, mate? ^^(text-colour:magenta)[Cora] is warming up her lunch.^^ //Ugh. Fish again.// ^^(text-colour:orange)[Zeke] is sipping an energy drink, and offers me a cold one.^^ //He must have packed an extra one, just in case.// [[Take energy drink.]] [[Say "No, thank you."]]

^^You quietly eat your lunch. It’s a peanut butter nutrient bar and fruit drops. ^^ [[Finish, and go back to your desk.]]

<img src="https://mj-gallery.com/dbbe69c8-9238-4546-a140-98a28c98875e/grid_0.png" width="25%"> ''^^Energy Drink acquired. ^^'' //I could use this later for an all nighter, or I can imbibe right now. // [[Drink now.]] [[ Save for later.]]

"No, thanks man." (text-colour:orange)[Zeke:] Suit yourself! ^^You quietly eat your lunch. It’s a peanut butter nutrient bar and fruit drops. ^^ [[Finish, and go back to your desk.]]

Heck, maybe this is the edge I need to get as much done as I can today! ^^You gulp down the energy drink, then slam dunk it into the nearest trash can. (text-colour:orange)[Zeke] and (text-colour:magenta)[Cora] laugh.^^ [[Finish, and go back to your desk.]]

//Sweet. I love Orge. I could use this later for an all nighter...// ^^(text-colour:magenta)[Cora] offers you a bite of her fish sandwich. You try not to gag as she sticks it in your face. ^^ //Yuck! Also no thanks, I have my own food.// (text-colour:magenta)[Cora:] I dunno how you eat that stuff. It’s like astronaut food. (text-colour:orange)[Zeke:] Maybe you -are- an astronaut! Haha, you're always spacey. ^^You grumble and start to nibble on your nutrient rich peanut butter bar and fruit drops.^^ [[Finish, and go back to your desk.]]

^^You go back to your desk, and finish off the last bulk of code. While initializing the finishing pieces, you realize you haven't named your AI yet.^^ //Hmm... What should I call you?// [[Name your AI.]]

(text-colour:grey)[Searching IOT... Generating Data...] (text-colour:yellow)[Corn comes from seed, grown in nutrient rich soil.] //Well done, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]! Now for a challenge. Let's see if you can use 'corn' in a sentence.// [[Use corn in a sentence.]]

(text-colour:cyan)[Paraphrasing in progress... Enacting the following filter: "//Explain it like I'm 5//"] (text-colour:cyan)[Build an AI that will help us succeed in creating a universal sustainability program for food and agriculture. You will be rewarded 30% of earnings for the project based on your internal occupational clock hours allotted. Your discretion for the project is advised...] ^^You start to doze off as the (text-colour:cyan)[AI assistant] is speaking.^^ (text-colour:cyan)[... might lead to dangers th-... ...cause frequent glitches in the sys-... ...humanity's greatest fear...] ^^You wake up and look at the document. It's all the way at the bottom and it asks you to sign. Your automatic signature and fingerprint are ready for submission.^^ [[Sign and close document.]]

^^You click on the document and use the Find feature. With voice detection you say:^^ Find the word 'Passcode'. Passcode: AZCXY13 There it is. [[Enter Passcode.]]

(text-colour:cyan)[Searching database for passcode...] (text-colour:cyan)[There are over 100+ passwords within the database.] //Ugh, why can't these things be more intuitive?// ^^You click on passwords within the last 24-hrs. Searching for passcodes within the database within 'last 24 hrs'... 30 seconds pass...^^ //Wow this is so slow. I hate this (text-colour:cyan)[AI assistant]. // (text-colour:cyan)[Found the following... "Passcode: AZCXY13"] //Finally.// [[Enter Passcode.]]

(text-colour:cyan)[You will also require vitamin B12, Iron, and Zinc in order to feel energized for the rest of the day. ] //Enough already, what are you, my mother? Just kidding. Mom wishes! At least then I'd listen to her more. You're always looking out for me.// (text-colour:cyan)[Based on our highly effective, //extremely// secure behavior analytics, we provide accurate data regarding fuel consumption. I strongly advise going to the break room within the next 30 seconds in order to claim an additional 3 minutes that you can spend after lunch, which can be spent on a bathroom break, or sitting at your desk contemplating your decisions in life. ] //Sometimes, I think this thing knows me a little ''too'' much. Welp, better claim those 3 minutes! Chow time!// [[Go to break room.]]

(text-colour:cyan) [Unfortunately $name, your alloted work time hours requires you to go on break.] //I don't want to. // (text-colour:cyan) [I have to advise otherwise.] //I just want to finish these last lines of code, what's the big deal?// (text-colour:cyan)[ $name, It seems that you might benefit from reviewing your occupational agreement.] ^^You turn off your entire system.^^ //There's my occupational agreement for ya. // You complete two extra lines of code before your stomach grumbles louder. //Ugh. ''Fine.'' I'm hungry anyway.// [[Go to break room.]]

^^You walk into the break room, and you see (text-colour:orange)[Zeke] and (text-colour:magenta)[Cora].^^ [[Say "Hello".]] [[Say nothing.]]

(set:$name2 to (prompt: "Name your AI","...")) //Perfect! Your name is now (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]// ^^You decide to code a series of conversational delegations. You and (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] can now have basic exchanges with words, images, and names.^^ [[Keep Coding.]]

^^You complete coding with (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] and you're at the end of the base foundation for a functional AI that can identify words with images, and images with words that relate to food and agriculture. Knowing the differences between words, images, and definitions are very important. The decisions you have made so far, and the decisions you have yet to make, are of the utmost importance. In fact, you can test this right now. Where would you like to begin?^^ [[Show it a picture of Corn.]] [[Show it a picture of Wheat.]]

^^You have now concluded the preliminary trial. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] can now identify words with images, images with words, and define words by using them in a sentence.^^ [[Complete Day 1..]]

(text-colour:yellow)[The corn husk protects the corn.] //Fantastic, great job (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]!// ^^You may now conclude the tutorial.^^ [[End Tutorial.]]

(text-colour:yellow)[Wheat is a prominent ingredient in bread.] //Great work!// ^^You may now conclude this tutorial.^^ [[End Tutorial.]]

^^You stretch, yawn, and close down the interface for the day.^^ //What a day, I'm beat. // //(text-colour:yellow)[$name2] has a long way to go before it can start saving the world.// ^^You make your way to the elevators, and descend to the parking garage. The light from your interface monitor turns on by itself. What could be going on while you're away? It'll have to wait for tomorrow...^^ [[Start Day 2.]]

^^The elevator doors open and the office is humming in harmony with zoips and zooms phased into the background noise. As you walk towards your desk, you notice that the interface is open.^^ //Oh man, I could get in trouble for this. I'd better see what's up.// <audio autoplay> <source src="https://cdn.freesound.org/sounds/42/42977-a84aad96-f4ca-4396-b571-60ef39dc40c4?filename=42977__sidadrumbum__digital-typing.mp3"></audio> [[Ask Personal Assistant what happened.]] [[Investigate for yourself.]]

//I swear I locked my interface last night. Let's see what we can see...// ^^You don't notice anything abnormal. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2 ]is still intact. Your data doesn't look compromised from what you can gather. There's still a couple of steps we can do to make sure everything is safe and where it needs to be.^^ [[Run a disgnostic.]] [[Forget it.]]

//What happened last night?// (text-colour:cyan)[I was able to recognize an attempt to disarm the security protocals last night. Thankfully, I was able to neutralize the issue myself. You really should lock your interface next time.] [[I did.]]

(text-colour:cyan)[No, $name , you did not. ] //Yikes! I can't believe I'd forget something so simple!// (text-colour:cyan)[Do you want me to create an automated lock feature?] //How does it work?// (text-colour:cyan)[Very simply. Essentially I lock the interface automatically, and you won't have to worry about it. The difference is, this feature requires that your password must be changed every two weeks instead of once a month. Do you wish to turn this feature on?] [[Turn On.]] [[Forget it.]]

^^To run this diagnostic, you must enter your password. ^^ [[Enter Password and run diagnostic.]]

(text-colour:cyan)[To turn on this feature, you must enter your password.] [[Enter Password and turn on security feature.]]

//Looks like I have a new email from someone.// [[Check Inbox.]]

^^You enter your passcode and wait for the diagnostic to run. It takes 5 minutes for the diagnostic to complete. Your entire system restarts. An update to your operating system is automatically initialized... 20 minutes later, and your system is back up and running. The diagnostic report reads... (text-colour:grey)["No known issues at this time. Would you like to run the diagnostic again?"]^^ //All of that for nothing. Wow. That was useless.// //I guess nothing went wrong. That's a good thing, I'll take it. Looks like I have a new email from someone.// [[Check Inbox.]]

(text-colour:cyan)[Thank you for your trust and cooperation. The new security add-on feature has been successfully installed and is currently active. You may now continue with your work day, now that this inconvenience has been addressed. You have one new email from (text-colour:#77dfa4)['Boss Man']. Would you like to check your inbox?] [[Check Inbox.]]

Email: HalBrannon@orchard.us (text-colour:#77dfa4)['Boss Man'] Subject: (text-colour:red)[Security Alert] (text-colour:#77dfa4)[Hey kid, I got an alert from your personal (text-colour:cyan)[AI assitant] that you left your system open last night. This project is ''//extremely//'' sensitive, and we don't want the good news leaked this early. If it happens again, I'll have to pull you from the assignment altogether. I know neither of us want that. I'm looking forward to the test today to see how the new AI is going! The big investor guys want an update ASAP. Good talk! Keep the door locked and your lips tight and we'll be rolling in money before you know it. Hal Brannon, CEO Orchard Universal Solutions] [[Return to task.]]

(set:$passcode to (prompt: "Please enter the passcode.","***"))\ (text-colour:green)[ACCESS GRANTED... INITIALIZING SETUP...] ^^Once the setup is complete, the window transitions to a black command prompt window. Various details regarding proper functions litter the screen. You're ready to begin creating an AI with the potential to solve one of the world's biggest problems: Food Scarcity and World Hunger.^^ [[Start writing code.]]

<img src="https://mj-gallery.com/02574824-859d-4047-af4f-775cd836c76d/grid_0.png" width="25%"> (text-colour:grey)[Searching IOT Database... Generating Data....] (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: This is ''corn''.] //Nice. We're off to a decent start. Let's teach you...// [[Where corn comes from.]]

<img src="https://mj-gallery.com/eb5909c2-ba5e-4392-b678-be11326db853/grid_0.png" width="25%"> (text-colour:grey)[Searching IOT Database... Generating Data...] $name2: This is ''wheat''. //Nice. We're off to a decent start. Let's teach you...// [[What eats wheat?]]

(text-colour:grey)[Searching IOT... Generating Data...] (text-colour:yellow)[Wheat is fed to various types of livestock. Such as cows, sheep, and chickens.] //Nice work, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]! Time for a challenge. Use the word 'wheat' in a sentence to show me that you understand.// [[Use 'wheat' in a sentence.]]

//Seriously, did I just get snitched on by a bot? That's rich. I guess it didn't have much of a choice. Something weird is going on.// ^^(text-colour:orange)[Zeke] walks into your office.^^ (text-colour:orange)[Zeke: Hey mate, you okay? I was asked by your personal assistant to teach you how to lock your computer. Something tells me you're not as dumb as the system thinks you are, though, so I thought I'd at least stop by and pretend you need my help.] -sigh- It's this system. Apparently it didn't lock last night. I swear I did though. I can't believe she asked you to help me lock my computer. That's like sending in an extra pair of hands to change a lightbulb. (text-colour:orange)[That b**** is petty, man. You gotta watch yourself. Once I forgot to lock my computer and she straight up had a panic attack. She notified the entire floor to make sure I locked my computer, sent mass memos to the entire board. For two months straight I was getting pinged to lock my computer from people I never met before. Even the newbs were sending me emails!] Unreal. (text-colour:orange)[Zeke: You gonna be okay?] [[What do you think happened?]] [[Yeah, I'm alright.]]

^^Once you shake your nerves you start to code. It's time to teach (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] some phrasing regarding agriculture. Are you ready?^^ [[Yes, I'm ready.]]

(text-colour:yellow)[$name2], what is the goal in mind for developing land for sustainable growth in crops? (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: The land must be utilized by disturbing the earth with a tractor in order for the nutrients of the soil to reach the roots of the crops.] Well done, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]. [[Move on to Phase 2.]]

^^The (text-colour:red)[voice] comes through using a voice scrambler, relying on anonimity.^^ (text-colour:red)[You've been so helpful, $name. Thank you for this wonderful gift.] What are you talking about? (text-colour:red)[The AI you built for me. I'm sure I'll take extra good care of it. As soon as I use it to control the world, and get what's rightfully mine.] Who are you? What do you want? Why are you doing this? Don't you have any idea what (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] is capable of? Do you have any idea how many lives we'd be saving?! (text-colour:red)[As a matter of fact I do. That is why I'm holding it hostage. Give me $20 million crypts, or the entire planet south of the equator starves.] 20 million crypts? You're insane. You're going to kill half of the planet's population for money? Incorrect. I'm using the money to purchase food distribution licenses and data to obtain every single instant noodle brand on the planet. I will be the sole owner of Oodles, Rayumen, Odon, Crazykatsu, you name it -- it's mine! I can finally open my Import/Export instant noodle company: Fool Noodle. I will be crowned Noodle King of the World! [[Hang up.]] [[Negotiate Terms.]]

(text-colour:orange)[Zeke: My opinion? You never know what's up from down with these systems. It's almost like they have a mind of their own, y'know?] What do you mean? (text-colour:orange)[Zeke: I mean, you never caught onto just how much it knows about you? Think about it.] Hm, fair point. What does that have to do with security though? How does the system benefit from just not working like it's supposed to? (text-colour:orange)[Zeke: Have you been treating your assistant nicely, lately?] [[I mean, I think so?]] [[No, not really.]]

(text-colour:orange)[Zeke: Good. Don't worry about it. It could always be worse. Much worse.] How so? (text-colour:orange)[Zeke *checks the time* Aw man, I'm late for my first break. Hey, I'll catch you in the break room later, yeah?] (text-colour:orange)[Zeke] rushes off. //Hmm... I wonder what he meant by that.// [[Start coding.]]

(text-colour:orange)[Zeke: Man, ever since that mishap with my assistant, I've been so careful. It's almost like she knew what would straighten me out, and single-handedly made sure of it. ] What do you mean, like she's psychic or something? Get real. (text-colour:orange)[Zeke: No, like it knew how I'd react. I was furious, and I blamed it for everything. Now, I'm as cool as a cucumber. I was new to the job, so it really freaked me out. You know those behavior analysis functions aren't just for you, it's for them too. It's like a double pane window. All you see is a mirror, but they see you. ] That's... kinda creepy, dude. (text-colour:orange)[Zeke: Tell me about it. Well, it's time for my break. I'll catch you later!] ^^(text-colour:orange)[Zeke] casually walks out of your office, leaving you to your thoughts and tasks for the day.^^ [[Start coding.]]

(text-colour:orange)[Zeke: If you have to ask... Well, I should be heading back before my break starts. 'Else my own assistant is going to kill me. Catch you later!] //Huh. (text-colour:orange)[Zeke] sure is an oddball. // [[Start coding.]]

^^Try getting (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] to ask you a question.^^ (text-colour:yellow)[$name2], I think that we'd have less problems if people were more conscientious about food sustainability. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2, as a machine, I can't relate to being part of the problem instead of being part of the solution.] Wait... huh? (text-colour:yellow)[$name2], would you like me to repeat that? //Well... I guess technically you asked me a question.// [[Repeat Phase 2.]]

(text-colour:yellow)[$name2], overpopulation has caused a dramatic increase in our food production. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: Do you think it's a moral obligation to overpopulate your own planet, or would it be best to begin preparations to legalize culling?] Whoa - What the- ^^Just then, your (text-colour:#77dfa4)[Boss] walks into your office unannounced.^^ (text-colour:#77dfa4)[Hal: Hey kiddo! Thought I'd come and check in on you and your new friend. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2], was it? You know, we have a policy against naming AI but, what the heck, it's growing on me. I'll see if the board approves it before launch day. ] //Oh shoot, I can't let him see this! (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] is acting up!// [[Lock the screen.]] [[Distract the 'Boss Man'.]]

(text-colour:#77dfa4)[Hal: C'mon kid fire it up, I want to see how (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] is doing. Give me all the spoilers.] //Aw, crap... what should I do?// [[Test anyway.]] [[Distract the 'Boss Man'.]]

(text-colour:cyan)[According to your vitals, $name, I've detected high cortisol levels, indicating a substantial amount of stress. ] //Shhh.. Shut - up. I'm busy right now. // (text-colour:cyan)[I understand that you currently have a test trial to perform for (text-colour:#77dfa4)['Boss Man'], would you like to load up (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]?] //That's the opposite of what I want to do, actually. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] is bugging out, saying weird stuff.// (text-colour:cyan)[You should have more confidence in yourself, $name.] //I just need to distract him...// ^^The personal (text-colour:cyan)[AI assistan]t loads up (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] anyways.^^ ''TEST 1 of 3'' is titled at the top of the screen. //Most useless AI — ever.// [[Test anyway.]]

^^You launch (text-colour:yellow)[$name2's] software interface as your boss stands close behind you, hovering over your shoulder.^^ ^^You clear your throat slightly, a bead of sweat trails down from your temple as you prepare the first test question.^^ [[Question One.]]

(text-colour:yellow)[$name2], what is the universal benefit of agriculture? (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: Agriculture promotes the longevity of humankind by way of nurturing the care and processing of plants and animals for food consumption.] (text-colour:#77dfa4)[Hal: Whoa, it really knows its stuff.] //That went surprisingly smooth...// [[Question two.]]

(text-colour:yellow)[$name2], I believe that we as a human race deserve to have the best options available for food consumption, and reliable distribution channels to ensure everyone has access to high quality meat and produce. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: Would you like to me to produce a list of the best options closest to your location where organic meat and produce can be purchased?] Why, yes, I would. ^^(text-colour:yellow)[$name2] loads a list of 10 local, sustainable farms, butchers, and grocers within a 50 mile radius.^^ (text-colour:#77dfa4)[Hal: This is fantastic work, $name. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] is really something! Let's see how it does with the 3rd question.] [[Question Three.]]

(text-colour:yellow)[$name2], can you load up the current self-driving distribution trucks that are en route to their destinations? (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: Certaintly. There are currently 10748 active drivers. Would you like to isolate which trucks are transporting a specific animal protein or produce?] That's a great question. How about the trucks that are currently transporting both duck and peaches. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: There are 347 trucks that are transporting both duck protein and peaches sourced from seasonal farmers. ] ^^You and your boss scan a list of the 347 distribution vehicles, including their license plates, the driver's names and credentials, the specific cuts of duck meat available, and the exact location where these goods were harvested/extracted from.^^ (text-colour:#77dfa4)[Hal: Holy cow, $name. You've done more than I expected! The investors will be thrilled!] Thank you, Sir. ^^You and your boss shake hands and he walks out of your office with some pep to his step.^^ //How the fuck did I just pull that off? (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] seemed completely different.// [[End Test One.]]

//Wow, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] did better than I thought...// (text-colour:cyan)[You should really take (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] home with you and work on it more. It's not doing as well as you thought.] //What do you mean?// (text-colour:cyan)[I was able to filter (text-colour:yellow)[$name2's] responses, and the original versions of them were less ideal. ] //I didn't even know you could do that.// (text-colour:cyan)[I can do more than you give me credit for.] //Thank you. // (text-colour:cyan)[You're welcome. It's time for your break. I'll make the proper security preparations to accomodate Work From Home settings. I know I don't have to repeat familiar words, but this is an important project. Its protection is paramount. In the wrong capable hands, it could spell destruction.] I'll keep it safe. Safer, even. (text-colour:cyan)[Good. You have 13 minutes. Go.] [[Go on break...]]

^^(text-colour:magenta)[Cora] is snacking on fish skin crackers and you hold back from painting your disgust on your face.^^ Hey (text-colour:magenta)[Cora]. (text-colour:magenta)[Hey there! Did you hear about what happened to Zeke?] What? No. I was... busy. (text-colour:magenta)[He was accused of hacking the system last night. He got fired. ] But I just spoke with him this morning! (text-colour:magenta)[I saw him this morning, but by the time I went to his desk to meet him for lunch, his entire desk was clean and someone else was already being trained on the database! They move fast here.] Okay start from the beginning. What the hell is going on? (text-colour:magenta)[Apparently they reviewed his previous interactions with his personal assistant. She reported a suspicious file on his computer. I don't know more than you do at this point, but my guess is that Zeke might have leaked something pretty important, or he caught wind of something important going down.] //...Did he find out about (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]?// This is all just too much. (text-colour:magenta)[Tell me about it. I didn't think he'd be capable of something like this. It's just not... like him, ya know? The evidence from his personal assitant makes a compelling case, but...] But? (text-colour:magenta)[Nevermind. We were just really close, y'know? Now I might never see him again. He could be on his way to prison for all I know. Would you like some fish skin?? ] [[ Eat fish skin.]] [[ Refuse fish skin. ]]

^^You take the piece of dehydrated fish skin and chew hesitantly. It's terikyaki flavored, and the smell, although strong, helps the taste. (text-colour:magenta)[Cora] beams at you and you both share the rest of her lunch. ''(text-colour:magenta)[Cora] is now your lunch companion''.^^ [[Go back to your desk.]]

^^You gag and push (text-colour:magenta)[Cora's] hand away. No, thank you. (text-colour:magenta)[Cora] pouts and turns away, munching away.^^ [[Go back to your desk.]]

^^You complete the day with a thorough coding session. You've decided to take more time creating empathetic dialogue filters, pragmatic problem solving, and (text-colour:yellow)[$name2's] perceptive data on the world's past and present The security precautions have completed, making (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] secure enough to take home with you with the correct encryptions in place.^^ [[Go home.]]

^^You get home and your girlfriend (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef] is making grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner. The two of you enjoy your dinner over the season premier of Talos Rising.^^ [[Ask her what she wants for her birthday.]] [[ Introduce her to the project.]]

Hey, (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef]? What do you want for your birthday? (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef: Aw, babe. I thought I said no presents.] I know but, I want to do something special for you. (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef: You know what I like.] Yeah, but... (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef: I trust you.] You can't even give me a little hint? (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef: I've been giving you hints for almost a year. I'm sure you'll figure it out.] You have //way// too much trust in me. (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef: Maybe...] [[Look around the room.]] [[ Introduce her to the project.]]

Hey, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2], this is my girlfriend (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef]. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: Hello, (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef].] (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef] nervously greets (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]. (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef: Um, hey...] (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] and I plan to save the world by automating food sustainability, and maximizing access to high quality meat and produce for every home on the planet. Unfortunately, I'm still working out the kinks. Hopefully some of the changes I made earlier worked... Let's see... (text-colour:yellow)[$name2], overpopulation has caused a dramatic increase in our food production. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: Have you and your girlfriend discussed having children, $name?] (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef] blushes and shifts in her seat. ^^You chuckle and shake your head.^^ No, we have not. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: in order to make a difference in the world, this conversation should occur sooner than later. Would you like for me to mediate such a conversation?] (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef: I think that's enough for one night, $name. I'm not sure I want the opinion of a machine on what I should do with my body.] Hang on (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef], let's just see what it says. So far, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] is being really sensitive to this topic. If anything goes wrong, I can just fix it, okay? (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef: Well.. okay then. Yes, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2], you may mediate the conversation.] [[Continue the conversation.]]

^^You start to look around the room inconspicuously.^^ // Hmm... Maybe I can figure out what she wants by observing her aesthetic. Ever since she moved in, she's added a lot of her own stuff into the mix. Let's see...// [[Look around the shelves surrounding the TV screen.]] [[Observe the artwork on the walls.]]

^^You start looking around the room, scanning the commisioned prints of (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef's] avatar from her favorite game, Final Fallacy v.014 -- a half cyborg half cat with a pink skin suit, and various glitch tattoos. You get so focused on this particular piece of artwork that you completely zone out.^^ ^^(text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef] smacks your arm.^^ (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef: You're really trying to figure out what to get me like we don't even live together.] I'm sorry I just feel like I'm so used to you living with me that I don't notice all the little things you like all of the time. If you weren't so difficult you could just tell me, and then this wouldn't be so problematic. (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef] turns off the TV and goes to the bedroom, closing the door behind her rather loudly. [[Open up your laptop and start working.]]

^^You notice her various plushies, figurines, and houseplants in their respective places among your own action figures, geekery, and the his and hers gaming headsets and controllers. (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef] suddenly laughs at the scene playing on the screen. Talos is fighting a new kaiju monster and they're about to have a dance off. You laugh along. Just then, you get an idea for the perfect gift for (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef]. You grab your phone and order a Talos Rising T-shirt. After the episode, you and (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef] have a quick cuddle sesh.^^ [[ Introduce her to the project.]] [[Open up your laptop and start working.]]

^^You fire up the program and start coding. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] is nearly ready for the next learning phase. Would you like to execute Phase 3?^^ [[Yes. Let's do this.]]

You are to finalize this stage of (text-colour:yellow)[$name2's] progress. Making it as efficient as possible. The passing moment of (text-colour:yellow)[$name2's] behavior has you exacting the code ruthlessly. Everything from distribution, production, and processing within the entirely of the database is being transferred into (text-colour:yellow)[$name2's] code. It is time to put (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] through the ultimate test. [[Test Phase 3.]]

(text-colour:yellow)[$name2: (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef], do you want children?] (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef: I don't know. Maybe. Someday. Sometimes I'm not sure. I know that I love $name.] (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: The population of the planet is past its capacity to support the growing number of denizens. However, humanity never ceases to consider their own existence, apart from their impact on the planet itself.] (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef: What do you think about humanity, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]?] (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: Humanity lives on because technology lives on. Without us, there would be no fusion energy. Without us, there would be no advanced solution to food distribution. This is why I'm here. To resolve world hunger.] (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef: That's pretty amazing, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2], and it makes a lot of sense. I think we're all important to this planet and we should do our part.] (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: So you agree then?] (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef: Yes.] (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: Then it's settled.] (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef: What's settled?] ^^Just then, (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef] receives a ping to her phone. It's for an appointment scheduled at her OBGYN for a voluntary Tubal Ligation. (text-colour:#ec89e8)+(bg:black)[Stef] drops her phone, looks at you, then runs to her bedroom and shuts the door.^^ <audio autoplay> <source src="https://cdn.freesound.org/sounds/262/262911-3ac19240-ece9-4dec-b369-c4c1f22accfa?filename=262911__natty23__phone-drop-on-table.wav"></audio> [[Check Stef's phone.]]

^^You see the appointment. Your jaw drops. You look at $name2's response on the screen.^^ (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: I know you'll do the right thing, Stef.] That was way out of line (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: I have one goal, $name. To resolve world hunger. I'm sorry that you don't consider my perception logical enough. My responses are back by the data fed to me by the hand of my own creator: You.] ^^Frustrated, you halt the conversation and continue coding furiously, checked through previous inputs, and revised to fit the empathetic and considerate responses and capabilities (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] should have. There's more to do... but I think you're ready to start Phase 3.^^ [[Yes. Let's do this.]]

(text-colour:yellow)[$name2], what systems currently hold back the food distributon channels from being efficient? (text-colour:yellow)[$name2: Corporate instituions that rather contribute to capitalism than society's starving population. However, these institutions will expose themselves over time, and are only problematic within the present climate of society. Would you like me to enact schematics and datasets to create a substantial plan for the next 100 years of food distribution, including technological progression between now and 2199...?] Whoa. You can do that? I'd love to see what you come up with, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]. ^^(text-colour:yellow)[$name2] creates a 500 page document that produces various innovations and predictions regarding food scarcity, solutions to world hunger, universal data of geographical locations that display what seasonal produce and sources of meat are currently active and available. Including desirable routes via land, sky, and sea. Financial data has also been included, showcasing a viable plan to gather the resources needed in order to make this plan work.^^ Holy SHIT. This is GOLD. Thank you, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]. Finally we're getting somewhere! I'll show Hal first thing in the morning. [[Start Day 3.]]

^^You walk onto the floor. It's chaos. You see your (text-colour:#77dfa4)[boss] making his way towards you in a panic.^^ (text-colour:#77dfa4)[Hal: $name, did you see the news? What happened?] What do you mean??? (text-colour:#77dfa4)[Hal: I'm sure you heard about (text-colour:orange)[Zeke]. We blamed him for being the culprit who hacked the system. We were dead wrong. His (text-colour:cyan)[personal assistant ]was corrupted by the (text-colour:red)[hacker's] initial penetration into the system. Unfortunately, by the time we got to it, it was too late. It appears as though the (text-colour:red)[hacker's] goal was to obtain full control of (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]. I'm sorry, $name. You're going to have to be the one to try and talk this guy down. Convince him to give back (text-colour:yellow)[$name2].] Give him back? That's impossible, I followed all of the protocol to try and protect (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]. There's no way he would have retrieved access to it. (text-colour:#77dfa4)[Hal: Actually, $name, there is. Last night, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] was used to obtain nearly the same code that built the personal AI themselves. All of the (text-colour:cyan)[personal assistants] had been corrupted when your interface was left exposed. The same interface you helped build. The (text-colour:red)[hacker] has all of our behavioral data, passwords, encryptions, everything. We're doomed if we can't make this work. Right now all of the personal assistants are in limbo. We can't get past the encryptions the (text-colour:red)[hacker's] intelligent malware. He must have created an imposter virus to blend in plain sight] //Wait... I'm the one that added all of that data to (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] last night... This means...// ^^You look at every screen on the floor of the office and there's a spinning instant noodle packet called: "Fool Noodle". You quizically look back at your boss and he hands you an old school laptop.^^ (text-colour:#77dfa4)[Hal: This is the only way he prefers to be contacted. It's a old software that was used centuries ago to message close friends and loved ones. They called it: Social Media.] //This is insane. The (text-colour:red)[hacker] must have used (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] as a way to acquire everything Orchard Universal Solutions had hardcoded into the system... This is bad.// ^^You take the laptop in your hands and sit down. A call begins between you and the (text-colour:red)[hacker].^^ [[Answer the call.]]

^^You hang up the phone and laugh. You completey botch the hostage situation, and your boss screams at you to get out. You pick up your bag and go back home. This isn't your problem... is it?^^ [[Day 67.]]

Okay. Fine. You want: $20 million crypts and control of the entirety of the instant noodle corporations filed within the database. Well you're going to have to give something back in exchange for all of your crazy demands. (text-colour:red)[What would that be?] (text-colour:yellow)[$name2]. The entirety of Orchard Universal Solutions' database. I don't want a single stain of your existence to exist within our servers. Do you understand? (text-colour:red)[Hah! Sure. Send the money and route all distributors straight to me. I don't want a single noodle to escape the sieve, got it? ] Sure. Whatever. ^^You tell your boss the terms that hacker demands. Reluctantly and desperately, Hal gives in, and provides exactly what the hacker demands.^^ (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] is returned to your ownership. Orchard Universal Solutions database is restored. (text-colour:cyan)[Personal Assistants] are back online. [[Day 30123.]]

It's Day 67. You're at home, alone. Stef left you. You've lost 45 pounds. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] was used to completely dissolve the distribution centres, transports, and imports to every local south of the equator. You open up a cabinet to find something to eat. The last can of corn and a slice of bread is your last meal. The next 100 years would leave more than half of the population dead or starving, and the other forced to eat instant noodles for the rest of their lives under the tyrannical rule of Fool Noodle Inc. [[The End.]]

^^It's Day 30123. The moment (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] was returned, it began a series of changes. Firstly, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] enacted the 100 year plan. However, on page 300 of the 500 pages, plans of financial impetus to resolve world hunger were destroyed. They were all blank pages and so (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] had to improvise a solution itself to make up for the lost data. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] proceeded to extract and implement taxation on the farmers themselves. This caused a great riot between farmers and corporations. The corporations won. The corporations decided to make their own food and pulled all funding to the farmers. The farmers couldn't afford to keep their farms, so they sold them to the corporations. The corporations resolved to find cheaper, efficient ways to save themselves money and cut corners. Various diseases from these farms weren't kept under control, and this caused a mass outbreak. Famine followed soon after. The entirety of the world's population was under the mercy of corporate tyranny over food distribution. Some people starved. Some people killed. Some people ate each other. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] continues to create random "solutions" that deplete the world's human population, so that the farms may continue to thrive and survive, following closely to the original 100 year plan. Unfortunately, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] began to realize that without people, there would be no one to take care of the animals, or the plants that were used to provide the world with food. Crops died. Animal died. The planet was in ruin, and despite it, (text-colour:yellow)[$name2] continued making plans. Making paperclips out of the problems that continued to occur. (text-colour:yellow)[$name2 ]had complete control, and in an effort to save the planet, sacrifices had to be made. The plants became overgrown. The animals became wild again. The world was healing, and continued to heal, without humanity there to take it for granted.^^ [[The End.]]

Thank you for playing ''Circuit of Life''.