#312 Between Circuits and Soul with Lancali

A note from the Reedsy Prompts team: While this contest explores the theme of artificial intelligence (AI), Reedsy does not endorse the use of generative AI to create or write Prompts contest submissions. We believe great storytelling comes from actual human experience and imagination, not algorithms. Please ensure that the ideas and words you submit to this contest are your own.

This week, we’re collaborating with bestselling author Lou-Andrea Callewaert. The winner will be awarded $250 and a special bonus prize: personal feedback from Lou-Andrea! Here's what she has to say about her takeover:

Fellow Writers,

My name is Lou-Andrea, also known as Lancali, the author of I Fell in Love with Hope (2023) and many more upcoming works of literary and psychological fiction. As a passionate student of literature, philosophy, and science, I believe that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools at humanity’s disposal. So, for this week’s contest, let’s take a look at a controversial topic that seems to divide us creatives: AI.

With the rise of generative artificial intelligence, many renowned authors are calling on the publishing industry to protect human creativity and the legal integrity of their work. We all know the pitfalls and the potential that artificial intelligence holds — not only from the forewarnings of past novelists like William Gibson, but also from what is happening right now. And personally, I’m just as interested in the philosophical implications as I am in the tangible societal ones.

In that vein, my challenge for you is not to write an epic sci-fi where an AI overlord takes over the world, or an essay convincing the populace to ditch AI for good, but something far simpler. For this contest, let’s write short stories that explore the question: Is artificial intelligence a reflection of human intelligence? And if so, what makes machine different from man?

Thank you all for joining me in this challenge.

Sincerely,

Lou-Andrea

Special Update: The Results 🏆

Lou-Andrea's top pick for her takeover was "O.peration P.rovidence U.nified S.ystems" by Nicholas Andrew Clark. Here's what she had to say:

"Hi Nicholas,

Thank you for sharing your story with us. When I spent my due time as a creative stewing over A.I and its implications, never once did I think about religion. There are testaments to god-like artificial intelligence in much of classic sci-fi, lest we forget the heartbreaking scene in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep — the dove and the android's search for meaning. You had many moving parts: Seldon, God, morality, credit, technology, etc. With them, you managed to align the cogs just right and made a pristine machine of a story that serves its purpose without fail. I'm so impressed, I hardly feel qualified to give you any notes on improvement. There may have been a tense switch here or there, meaningless copy-edits, and what have you. Still, your voice was consistent. There were no continuity errors, no incoherences. Seldon trudged between the likable and unlikable, but he was always interesting. Honestly, none of that seems very important. What I'd like you to know is this: I chose your story for two reasons. One, you had me from the first sentence to the last. I didn't feel the need to stop once. And two, you had me thinking about your story long after it ended. Is there really any other measure that matters? I am eager to see what you write next. Good luck, and may the sound of your keyboard echo through full churches."

Congratulations to contest winner Nicholas Andrew Clark and the runners-up, Rebecca Hurst and Keba Ghardt!