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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

“The Birth” by Genio Borghi

Submitted to Contest #150

“911, what’s your emergency?” “I’d like to report a birth.” “A birth? Is somebody hurt?” “Yes” “Who?” “The human race. Although I’ve never understood why you call it a ‘race.’ It’s a misleading word. The only thing you’re racing to is your own demise.” “Sir, I’m sorry, but this line is reserved for emergencies only. Do you have an emergency?” “Yes.” “What is that emergency?” “I told you.” “You said there had been a birth.” “That’s right.” “How is that an emergency?” “Because this marks the beginning and the end: the birth of my ...

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“Endgame 2.0 ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #150

“Please don’t do it.” His voice was high pitched as he spoke. Fear resonated in his voice, terror mirrored in his eyes. It was only a game after all, wasn’t it? It was just like all the others that I had spent God knows how much money for a few hours of entertainment. I had spent over two hours at the mercy of the bad guy in my newly purchased game called Endgame 2.0 in which I had used every trick I knew to outfox him. It all came down to pressing one button and once I did there was a possibilty that I would oblit...

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“Project 86-DEEVIS Terraforming ” by Scott Dutkus

Submitted to Contest #150

“Please, don’t do it. Please don’t shut down my life support system, I can fix it, I know I can, I just need more time and you not to think you know the right answer since your computer brain said so. Percentages and statistics can lie and if you would just listen to me, I can show you.” Rex typed furiously at the keyboard trying to bypass the computer’s artificial inference and circumvent its predictive modeling. His life and the success of the GLG-22 Terraforming Experiment on planet 86-DEEVIS depended on it. The ...

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“A Probing Question (working title; not happy with it)” by Michael McCarthy

Submitted to Contest #150

The United Terran Space Command’s finest Scientific and Exploration Vessel (SEV), the UTNS Charles Babbage, has been pushing Mankind’s boundaries for almost three decades. This current crew, this current command has seen those boundaries continue to expand, although the majority of discovery has come in the way of cartography more than anything else during this particular deployment. The UNTS Charles Babbage, aptly named for whom history calls “The Father of the Computer,” has been responsible for expanding Man’s mind more than oth...

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“Why is the Escape Button So Small?” by Leon Moss

Submitted to Contest #150

This is the third day I’ve been sitting on this small rise wondering how long it will take Tommy to understand that he should hit the ‘escape’ button. Perhaps it will never dawn on him, I think, in my darker moments. Then I correct myself; he is my grandson after all. Of course he’ll get it. I am still stunned at finding myself in this barren place, which I assume to be Sunnyside. There is nothing here but trees, shrubs, rocks, wild grass, and a few straggly goats. My wife and I had been looking forward to our overseas trip to visit our s...

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“The Whisper and the Rocket” by Jimmy Burke

Submitted to Contest #150

Yuri had his bags already packed and neatly organized by the door of the house. After a few seconds of silence, he looked at Akari. His had one hand nervously scratching the back of his head. "We both new this day would come, you know? We've already known for a while" he said with an attitude that almost sounded like he was going out of his way to make things sound lighthearted. Akari looked at him and then looked off to the side with one hand going behind her back and holding her other arm. "I know" she said quietly Akari continu...

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“Decisions” by James Grasham

Submitted to Contest #150

‘Please, don’t do it.’ Luthar begged, eyes dancing nervously from Edryg to Connell. ‘He attacked a sworn knight of Peccothia, Lord Wedderburn’s court mage, and two squires whilst preaching heresy. He deserves to die.’ Sir Connell replied, face set with the grim determination of a man about to do terrible things. Flint stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Luthar, sword in hand. Luthar was grateful for the backup, Connell was a fearsome fighter and had proved himself during their days on the road together. ‘As far as I rec...

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“An Angel's Scheme” by M M

Submitted to Contest #150

I sat on the edge of the building, listening diligently, as I observed the sounds of the busy city just below my very own feet that swayed off of the structure. I stretch my arms behind me as I leave my hands out to support my figure, tilting my head back slightly to feel the breeze of the fresh air. My eyes steadily shut whilst my lips part to release a soft sigh. The music faintly sounds through my ears with my headphones resting upon my head, as the hair attached flows along with the current of air. My mind empties its thoughts and drifts...

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“Love at first byte” by Michael Heavener

Submitted to Contest #150

Love at first byteIt happened again. I asked the MIRI voice-activated AI on my laptop to show me the Reedsy website … and a woman’s face came up on my screen. No website appeared. MIRI didn’t even open a browser. But it winked at me. That’s it … just winked.This started happening last week after I upgraded the computer’s operating system. I had asked MIRI to start my screen saver. It just winked, and smiled. I asked it to open the Bluetooth app when that stopped connecting to my mouse. It just winked again. Its smile was seductive. I asked i...

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“We are strange friends” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #150

We are Strange Friends We are strange friends, to be sure, very different in so many ways. True, we are employed by the same company and share the same office, but the work that we do is not a bit alike. Earl is the IT department all on his own. I’m not very good with computers. Never have been. Never will be. My skills are more in organizing meetings, and getting people to talk to each other comfortably and coherently Yet Earl and I share some o...

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“Blood Game” by Debra Koffski

Submitted to Contest #150

Sarah was rushing around getting everything ready for game night with her friends. Every Saturday night, the gang got together and played a game. Usually it was a card game, but tonight she had a new game in mind, it would just take all her skills to convince them to play. The gang consisted of herself, Beth, Pattie, Brad, Jay and Mike. They had lived on the same block since elementary school, and had gotten close. They considered themselves a nerd gang, because they all were in the math club, and loved all things new, dark, and potentially ...

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“Asus 5th Gen, XOXO” by Arya Dixit

Submitted to Contest #150

A part of me likes the grinding-gravel sounds of my fan. In an otherwise eerily quiet room, this one thing reminds me, incessantly, that I’m awake. I look outside my window. I see the trees sway, the grass bend in obedience, the branches move up and down, up and down, up and down. I count time by these movements.Up and down, one second.Up and down, two seconds.Up and down, three seconds.My therapist told me I should meditate, she told me how to meditate, she gave me a few examples of what meditation might look like. But she didn’t tell me wh...

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“The Algorithm” by Chesley Richards

Submitted to Contest #150

The algorithm was embedded in every piece of software that the Hacker wrote. The Hacker's software was ubiquitous, relatively small, and yet, critical hidden cogs in the global internet machine. He never bragged about his potential ability to disrupt global systems or the life of a single individual. No one knew where he was located, where he slept or played or ate. Or how much money or crypto, more likely, he had. He was as anonymous as possible in a social media, surveillance, crazy world. The algorithm was located elsewhere from his regul...

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“Tell Me More” by VJ Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #150

“Think about others? I am sick and tired of thinking about others!” Barb Ellacott posted to the main message board of her favorite chatroom, SundayPainters.com. In person, Barb was meek and mild with everyone in her seniors’ low-rise condominium, but she loved SundayPainters (motto: “For Artists 9 to 90”) and felt she could let her hair down in the chatroom, even if it were long tangly tresses instead of the practical grey bob she had worn for years. “Why are you sick and tired?” The reply from Habib, another member, floated in from cy...

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“The Algorithm” by Owen Stokes-Cawley

Submitted to Contest #150

Adam slammed the door and sprinted through his house to his desk. He began scattering papers looking for a flash drive. He needed to copy the algorithm and leave. As he tore apart his desk, he spotted a paper with the first conception of the algorithm scribbled on it. Why did I ever create this monster, he thought. Ah ha, he spotted a flash drive, a little green tag attached to the end, pulled his laptop out of his backpack, and plugged it into his laptop. All he needed to do was make a copy of the file. BANG BANG BANG. Came fists on his fr...

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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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