The story behind the story

I first published this story in 2016 – partly in response to the newly released, ‘Lego Movie, ‘with its incessantly upbeat song, ‘Everything is Awesome.’

Today with the explosion of Artificial Intelligence and what it might mean for our work and possibly our very existence, I wanted to share it again.

So, without further ado, I give you:

The Mission

‘What can I do to help you positively change your life today?’

Sylvie almost jumps out of her skin when the voice chirps from the App as she taps at it, more from idle curiosity than anything else.  

‘I am your Happy App designed to bring joy and positivity into your life.’

‘Don’t think so’, says Sylvie as she struggles to shut the App down, her curiosity quickly replaced with irritation.

She has no recollection of downloading this App, and her frustration grows as it sends notifications, emojis or some  ‘chirpy’ noise as she continues her journey to work.

While it is encouraging her to step fully into her awesomeness, Sylvie almost steps into the path of an oncoming bus as she struggles to shut it down. If she had ended up under the wheels of the bus – Sylvie imagines she would have needed more than a few healing Chakras to recover.

After taking note of the ‘salute’ from the shaken driver, Sylvia shuts down her phone completely and resolves to sort it all out once she is safely back at the office. She can then examine the ‘App’, which has somehow appeared on her phone.

Unfortunately for Sylvie, she had a few immediate issues to deal with as she arrived at work. And at some point during a particularly trying exchange with Rex, a long-standing member of her team, she automatically switches on her phone.

She is only reminded of the App once she returns to her office.

‘I think you could have handled that a little better.’

‘How would you have handled it?’ Sylvie asks as she gazes in astonishment at her phone. In her heated exchange with Rex, she had forgotten entirely about the ‘App’ and her intention to sort it out.

Her phone starts to vibrate in her hand, as though it is thinking and then announces:

‘I might have arranged another time to discuss the issue in greater detail rather than trying to resolve it all at that moment.’

There is something in its’ tone that brings Sylvie close to throwing it across the office. Instead, she takes a few steadying breaths as she considers the ‘App’s response.

The issue was more complex and involved than a quick chat in the corridor merited, and Rex seemed decidedly unnerved by the exchange.

Still, it is one thing to bombard her with ‘happy notifications’; it is quite another to have the thing eavesdropping on her conversations and chipping in with advice, even if it is well-meant.

‘How do I get rid of you?’ Sylvie asks, recognising there is no need to type anything if it can just listen in.

‘You can’t,’ is the almost immediate reply, ‘I will only leave once my mission is complete.’

‘What mission?’ Croaks Sylvie ‘freaked ‘out by this whole exchange, and she resolves to renew her phone and number at the weekend.

There is no sound as the words, ‘To make you happy,’ appear on the screen.

Until next time

Janice Taylor

Word Count: 577