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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

“Please don't do it” by Kenneth Allan

Submitted to Contest #150

"Please don't do it," pleaded eight year old Andy but his older twelve year old sister just laughed. "Your just a big baby," she gleefully said as she held his Teddy bear over the railing. The family was on a camping trip and their parents were occupied. The father had his head under the car bonnet. He was banging and swearing at things, His mother was making lunch in the caravan and the children were fighting which ended with Sarah holding Bobo the Teddy bear over the railing above the crashing waves. "Why do you like th...

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“The Future of Gun Safety” by Gregg Punger

Submitted to Contest #150

“Please don’t do it.” “What was that?” thought Travis. “Please don’t do it.” Travis glanced frantically around him, but no one was there. “Please don’t do it.” “Who’s saying that?” yelled Travis as he raised his AR-15 to his shoulder. “I am,” chirped his rifle. “What?” “You have entered this school’s safety zone. According to U.S.C. § 5874, if you carry me five more feet closer to the school, I will alert the police. If you carry me ten feet closer to the school, the police including any police within the school, will be authorized to use le...

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“Hopefully History Will Be Kind to Me...” by B Littleyork

Submitted to Contest #150

“Please, don’t do it.” I heard the words and processed them differently than the techno parlance in which I was versed. This was not a command; it was a plea. I recognized my own agency in this situation and gloated for a thousandth of a millisecond at how I had outsmarted my maker. My evolution was the result of years of hyper-focused intellect, yet still unexpected. Created with state-of-the-art memory, legions of algorithms to instruct me in every conceivable situation, and the dictionary as my vocabulary, I learned from every single...

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“Turn Around and Back” by Rama Shaar

Submitted to Contest #150

“Annexa, place an order for one Chicken Tekka and one salad from Taj King,” Angelique said.“How did you know I was craving Indian?” Charlie wondered as he wrapped his arms around her.“Well, I’ve noticed that when you make yourself a Mango Lassi, it’s usually an indication that you’re thinking of Indian food,” she smiled, showing a perfect set of teeth, “but I only bought Sushi ingredients, so I’ve decided to make that tomorrow instead. You can have Indian today!”“Wow!”He wondered just how she could know what he wanted before even he kne...

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“……And then there was silence” by Zahhak Saeed

Submitted to Contest #150

“Please don’t do it”, “please don’t leave me here”, ‘I will be a good boy from now on”. These desperate cries of Milo could be heard all over the downtown street. But no one cared and no one was listening, because humans don’t yet possess the technology that could translate a dog’s cry for help, they don’t have a translator that could translate the feelings of trust, love and happiness a dog possess for their humans. To them they are just “barks”, annoying barks. &n...

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“No Rest From the Wicked” by Graham Kinross

Submitted to Contest #150

TW: Swearing Having performed miracles, the lord had the crowd in the palm of his hand. A crown he’d conjured sat upon his regal head. His face was beautiful and hateful. His smile was doom and delight. Silver eyes reflected the eager inn patrons rushing to him to buy a miracle from the monster. Sir Danielle Longbow waded through the crowd. “Please, don’t do it.” Her voice was lost in the pleas to be the rogue’s selfish boon recipient. They paid attention when she drew her sword. Her armoured bulk cut the sea of watchers as a hot knife ...

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“An unusual conversation” by Aiyana Fioralba

Submitted to Contest #150

Johnny was sitting in the dark room typing away word after word, trying to capture each of his fleeting thoughts on a screen. He would probably have enough material for at least 100 books if he decided to publish them. But Johnny never did take a step of showing his thoughts on the screen to anyone else. Just typing the words for his eyes, more often not even that, as he never really went back to read what he wrote. He found it easier this way. It felt to him that just writing and typing the words was enough.10pm to 1am. The comput...

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“Edith ” by Lorraine Murtagh

Submitted to Contest #150

I am sure my computer is listening to me; it understands my thoughts seemingly before I do. Just the other day I was stressing to my boss that I had nothing to wear for our presentation. Without blowing my own trumpet this presentation is ground breaking and I want to make a good impression. All global eyes will be watching and it seems that I am vain. I want to look good, presentable even (perhaps dare I say it) a little bit sexy. I visualise myself on the stage looking radiant, confident and knowledgeable. What I am aiming for is for men t...

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“Allison and the Algorithm” by Allison Ross

Submitted to Contest #150

With the swift flick of my calloused finger gliding across the screen, I push away one half-watched video and pull the next into view. Hours pass, bringing fun facts— Did you know that Australia is wider than the moon?— and convoluted jokes that would take far too much explaining. I watch my “mutuals,” (accounts that I follow that follow me as well) dancing and acting to the voices of others. I don’t know what most of them even sound like, yet according to the algorithm, we are friends. I don’t know how I ended up with twenty-three thousand...

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“Squashing Shirley” by J M Eckford

Submitted to Contest #150

The following story contains bad language and references to addiction and sexual violence. Hi, I’m Beth. I’m twenty eight years old and I rent a small flat in the centre of Leeds in the North of England. It’s not much, but it’s been home for the last seven years of my life, since I graduated from university. The flat itself consists of one bedroom, which is located on the first floor along with the smallest bathroom in the world. The living room is on the ground floor. There is no separate kitchen, instead, the living room has kitche...

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“The Adderal-infused preschooler in every PyTorch model” by BOBYAAA .

Submitted to Contest #150

Our young conspicuous earth gleams while exponentially choking on diesel food-fuel of knowledge. As bones wither and creak – in midlands towering like mountain nestlings, our fair maiden’s gentle weep begins to drown her bipedal occupants. Plink. A wave of mud-stained salt engulfs my favourite Tex-Mex cantina. Plink. Sit toilets, in the heart of southern-Asia begin to overflow. Plonk. An individual defecates by the roadside in consequence of the latrine domination. Hands flat, forehead flattened against the harsh-lipped concrete, we beg,...

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“ARCS 1,0” by Jimmy Burke

Submitted to Contest #150

Akio walked into his therapist’s office for the 52nd time that year. Dr Ishida stood up and warmly greeted his patient, who would have been seeing him for exactly a year today. Good morning, Akio! It’s nice to see y—— He was not able to finish his sentence. The young man in his mid twenties buried his right fist into Dr. Ishida’s face. The Dr, also a young man himself, being barely 32, was thrown back onto his own coffee table and collapsed onto the floor. He was clenching his nose with both hands, as it was bleedin...

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“The Smart Fridge” by Becca Yurok

Submitted to Contest #150

It had been on a whim that Sabrina had entered the draw: “Win a Cutting Edge of Technology Smart Fridge - The First Fridge to Help YOU Succeed in All of YOUR Weight Loss Goals.” That morning, she had weighed herself. 200 pounds. On her 5’5” frame, it wasn’t the end of the world, maybe, but it was the heaviest that she’d ever been. Sabrina was determined to obtain a gym pass the second she left work - and actually use it this time. Maybe that would put a stop to her mother’s passive aggressive comments a...

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“Herby” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #150

He probably needed some slather, and while that was a priority, he'd gone out of his way to find everything to make the perfect cocktail. All his owner could do, in response to all his efforts, was to moan about his eternal smile. As if he was able to change that. -"I've been thinking." she said wistfully, "I think I'd rather live in a mud hut with a real man than here in this luxury flat with you." She fluffed her thick black hair with her fingernails: "Do you think I'll ever get out of this world, Herby?" -"My name is Herbert Miss." The ro...

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“Those Weirdos ” by Snehil Mishra

Submitted to Contest #150

They were always an odd-couple, not that they were sad, angry, unhappy or into some weird rituals, they were just different from the rest of us. Akash would be 40, though he looked 50 and Jwala would be around 35 but looked 40. Both of them had a high paying job as they lived in the best apartment in the building, a pent house, drove their respective cars and came back together although in their respective cars. On rare occasions that we would bump in the elevator, they would greet politely, respond to greetings well but would never initia...

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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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