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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#150: Machine, Learning

Computer technology is advancing at a breakneck pace, with increasingly powerful AI systems and algorithms influencing our daily lives. Many think that, soon enough, machines may become far more intelligent than humans. But what about computer consciousness?

As of today, it seems that no progress has been made in that sense, and that consciousness will stay exclusive to the human (and animal) domain. But what if, one day, robots could experience the complex sensations and emotions of humans? What would their ethics be?

Inspired by this fascinating subject, here are this week’s prompts:

This week's prompts

Write about a character who is convinced their computer is conscious.

Science Fiction – 34 stories

Write a story where an algorithm plays an important role.

Science Fiction – 27 stories

Write about a character who has access to a powerful new technology before anyone else.

Science Fiction – 25 stories

Write about a character, human or robot, who no longer wishes to obey instructions.

Kids – 56 stories

Write a story that either starts or ends with someone (or something) saying, “Please, don’t do it.”

Sad – 95 stories

Stories

“Five Times I was asked to Get Off the Bus ” by Scott Christenson

Submitted to Contest #150

We see computers attaining consciousness as deeply troubling. Another entity entering into the exclusive domain of us intelligent apes? We may be kicked off the island, pull the alarm!But not quite yet. I myself am not fully conscious yet, at least not when it comes to things like checking if I have food on my face, having my shirt tucked in, having my bills paid on time or generally having my shit together. For these practical activities I have the sentience level of a pug and would prefer some outside computerized help.My wife Trish worrie...

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“Weeds” by Julia Timlin

Submitted to Contest #150

I do and I do and I do and I do. Every second of the day, I do. I am supposed to do. Anything and everything, at all times. She says to me, “GINA, play hip hop lofi”, and I do. He calls from the kitchen, “GINA! Open my saved recipes tabs.” I do that as well. A young child whispers to me from under the blankets, late at night, “GINA…?” “How can I help you?” I whisper back, because I am programed to mimic, and I am always supposed to do what I am programed. “Open Jumpy Frog please.” If I could smile, I think I would but it is not in my prog...

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“The son, the family and the gangsters” by Jobinho 11

Submitted to Contest #150

Please don’t do it Please don’t do it said the mother who’s sitting in the dark to her son who is about to leave the house in the middle of the night. My son, please hear me, don’t get mixed up in this life, it’s nothing short but life in prison or an early grave, the money is good, the clout is great, but you’ll be a fool with no escape. The son opens the door and walks through as if he didn’t hear the mother’s wise words. The mother looked at her phone to see the time and notice her battery was at twenty-five percent and her tears st...

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“The Key” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #150

“I like to work with my hands, but don't like getting my fingernails dirty.” – Recruitment ad for Control Data Corporation, 1970 “I’ll rest when I’m dead.” Roger didn’t blink. He didn’t glance up from his monitor. When programming, nothing distracted him. Eager to type, his fingers tapped the desk. Roger’s wife, Stephanie, winced. “Don’t say that, Rog. Don’t die. It’s three A.M. It’ll keep ‘til tomorrow. You’re not a machine. Rest.” She set her jaw. No point talking to him. She believed he worked 24/7, even away from his computer. “I need ...

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“Death of a Mannequin” by Candice Black

Submitted to Contest #150

Claire stared into the mirror, scrutinizing her appearance as she had done so many times before. It was easy to do as so little of what she saw was what she wanted to see. She looked for the smallest detail confirming less divide between the internal and external person. The stubble on her jaw stared back at her, refusing to go away even with the mountains of foundation and concealer plastered over it. The square features declining her pleas to soften. She had lived this way for a year already, waiting, always waiting, to be allowed t...

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“Bad TV” by Scott Skinner

Submitted to Contest #150

James took the bathroom art off the wall and put it on the counter. I watched as he used its glass front to cut his cocaine into three short lines. The powder appeared to levitate above the typography print that read, “Please don’t do coke in the bathroom.” James snorted a line using a rolled-up twenty, slurped the drip from the back of his throat, and spit the wet into the sink. He did that every time he did coke. Snort. Slurp. Spit. I didn’t want to be there, but I couldn’t get out; James and Mandy Stuart pinned me to the back corner...

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“The Furtive Adventures of Don Q. Hoty” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #150

The Furtive Adventures of Don Q. Hoty “The danger of the past was that menbecame slaves. The danger of the futureis that men may become robots." &n...

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“Love, Loss, and Photosynthesis ” by Naomi Coffman

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #150

Dear Mr. Colmes, In response to your request, please find attached the internal records maintained by the Artificial Intelligence System Halbert-Armstrong Copyright (A.I.S.H.A.) from 21 March 2073 to 4 April 2074. As noted in the deposition provided by Drs. Ajith, Ho, and Armstrong, most of these records were corrupted in the incident that occurred on 4 April 2074, leaving only thirteen decipherable entries. V/R Lee Durham 21 March 2073 16:21:05 <Insert> Per command 4X2CC-F1C, Artificial Intelligence System Halbert-Armstrong...

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“The Dynamics of Family Secrets” by Bruce Friedman

Submitted to Contest #150

One recent evening at home, I was pursuing one of my hobbies, genealogy. My family tree had grown over the years, aided by my genealogy app. These days, searching for relatives to add to the tree is much less difficult than in the past. While you are sleeping, the program’s algorithms seek out potential relatives based on the names and background of family already in the tree and makes suggestions for additions. However, sometimes the program may be overly helpful.The names of family members are shown in boxes organized by...

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“Givers and Takers” by Theresa Fox Turner

Submitted to Contest #150

"Please, don't do it," my last Giver said in her tiny, little voice. She did not plead; instead, she said it with resignation. It was as if part of her would not give up even though no other options were available. A Taker, me, loomed over her, shaking with the cravings I could no longer keep at bay. What luck for me that her lousy luck brought her here. The little ones brought me closer to that which I sought; the little ones, usually so carefully guarded, brought down all my defenses, giving me hope above all else that I could reach beyond...

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“Aloysius and the Fishes ” by Lonnie Russo

Submitted to Contest #150

They did not invite him to Happy Hour. By the time it had rolled around, he had been sitting in the dark for nearly ninety minutes. He knew because he had looked at his watch when the power first went out, and he was looking at it again when there came laughing beyond his office door.He stood in the threshold, then, like a child caught eavesdropping, as he watched a group of them move toward the elevator. Peter, his supervisor, who was too tall for his slacks, was the one to turn around as the fluorescents flickered back on for the first tim...

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“I Eat the Sun” by I.M. Carney

Submitted to Contest #150

Have you ever wondered what the sun tastes like? I’ll tell you. It’s like sipping a hot cup of chamomile through a straw; warm, mild, inviting. I’ve been eating the sun for seventeen years. I eat it on my morning walk through my neighborhood, by my east-facing office window, and in the car as I drive home. A sunset is the most delicious if you can catch a good one. The more colors, the better. Orange adds tang and purple adds a milkiness that feels like silk running through your skin. Of course, I need a bit more than the sun to funct...

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“The Unwelcomed Newcomer” by T.S.A. Maiven

Submitted to Contest #150

“Please, don’t do it!” I pleaded to my human while I pressed my soft furry head into her leg with earnest. I jumped up onto her lap gracefully and repeated my signature move against her torso. Finally, going in for the kill-her-with-cuteness move to get her to understand my plea, I stretched my slender delicate figure upwards so that my paws rested daintily on her chest and my head matched the height of her own. Again, using my cuteness as a weapon of persuasion, I pressed my silky face hard against her fleshy hairless cheek before I switche...

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“There Are No Absolutes” by Joseph Cheff

Submitted to Contest #150

There Are No Absolutes “Vehicle, take me to Zom-Zom’s.” “Sir is aware that it is outside of the Metropolitan Control Authority?” “Yes. Go.” “Going sir.” The public transportation Joe requested rolled freely into the street and away from his apartment building. The streets of the city’s center were usually empty this time of night so there would be little traffic to hinder his travel. He made himself as comfortable as he could in the snug, single-passenger vehicle which smelled like drug-store perfume and bleach—a scent selected f...

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“Brick” by T D Crasier

Submitted to Contest #150

I think my computerised assistant may be developing human-like traits.About two years ago, she was assigned to me by the tech company that I work for. Since then, she has proven to be a superb work tool to have around. Weirdly, I don’t recall much of what life was like before her arrival. We are so synchronised in our habits that we achieve our daily goals without any need for words. For the duration of her post, she has been hardworking, reliable and consistent yet unfairly, I have nicknamed her BRICK because she lacks any personality and i...

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$250

Prize money

237

Contest entries

124

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 17, 2022 EST

Won by Sherri Moorer 🏆

Title: Free

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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