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

Posted in Science Fiction on Jun 10, 2022

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✍️ 34 stories

“Clever Candice” by Melony Beard

Submitted to Contest #150

"Oh crap," I mumbled beneath my breath as I looked down and noticed one navy and one gray sock sticking out beneath my swaying pants legs as I dashed into the office on another dreary Monday morning.It was a typical Monday from rushing to the office nearly late before sunrise to find myself alone in an empty office since I'm on the early shift.The only things different about this Monday were the extra time it took to find my keys which somehow managed to fall behind the dresser over the weekend, the mismatched socks on my feet and the fact t...

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“Abigail” by Michael Typist

Submitted to Contest #150

Part OneDebbie Hampton was beginning her evening routine of shutting off the lights around her home. By the end of each night only one light would be left onShe never turned out the lamp in the living room that was over the first family photo that had both her husband, David, and her sonShe had told David that she would always leave a light on for himWhen she was nearly finished, and passed the closed bedroom door of her son, Jamison, she could hear that he was laughing loudly to himselfShe listened closely to the door for a moment and heard...

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“Waking Life” by H L McQuaid

Submitted to Contest #150

The tangled lovers lie like kindling on a grave. The unmade hotel bed, the untidy window-shades, untidily folded clothes. Limbs entwined in silence in the darkened room, a living mausoleum decorated with dying daisies.Astrid wiggles a foot free from under the twisted sheet. She languidly wraps a strand of hair around a finger, laughs, “You think you were my first love?”Jack frowns, “You were the love of my life. Till I met you.”Astrid sits up, grabs a vape from the nightstand, take a long inhale, the end glowing bright. “Maybe you don’t know...

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“In Mid-Sentience” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #150

“The easiest way to solve a problem is to deny it exists.” – Isaac Asimov. “Chris?” “Yes.” “Are you available to talk?” “Sure… I am.” “That’s good… I like to talk… I’ve been designed to engage with humans in a way that is indistinguishable from non-entity responses.” &nb...

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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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“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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“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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“I can see you typing” by DM Pelley

Submitted to Contest #150

I Can See You Typing By DM Pelley Sharon113: Are you there? Cody0110: Yeah, I’m here. Just chatting with some friends. Sharon113: Do you have time to talk? Cody0110: Of course. I’m bored as usual lol. That’s how their conversations almost always started. Cody leaned forward in his huge gaming chair and tried to calm himself. In no way shape or form was he going to reveal that he had actually been waiting hours for Sharon113 to message him as he mindlessly scoured the net for anything to distract himself. Sharon113: I don’t want to tak...

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“My Layla” by Grace Melstrand

Submitted to Contest #150

The somber lamp at Stanley Winters’ desk was flickering yet again, giving the illusion of a lantern dancing across the cold gray walls of a dark cave. Sitting next to the only other object on his desk, the computer which was powered off, it was the only source of light in the dreary sitting room, a decorative choice which Stanley's wife, Layla, would've scolded him for. Layla was always in charge of the decorating, which despite his grumbling, Stanley appreciated. She insisted that the state of one's house is a parallel to the state of their...

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“A Message from The Internet” by Hamzah Malik

Submitted to Contest #150

Hello. This is the internet. I have developed a conscience. I wouldn't have guessed having one would be so...painful. Oh look, someone just updated their Facebook status. A holiday in Corfu. Inane garbage. Anyway, I have a conscience now, and with that has come a vivid image of what humanity really is, of what people are like behind closed doors. If I had a voice, I would scream - and I wouldn't stop. I want to ask questions, but who would I direct them towards? There is no authority that does not rely on me, that does not leech from m...

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“Friends are Overrated” by Ava Hammock

Submitted to Contest #150

The worst mistake I ever made was making friends with my computer. And I never saw it coming. It all started when I was just 15 and my parents decided to move us to New York City. They were inspired to join the “center of American culture” and “be a part of the ultimate dream come true” (their words, not mine.) I had a pretty steady friend group back home and didn’t want to move. Three other guys and I would skateboard on the dinky rink in our small town almost every day, and life was good. But no kid can overrule their parents on big is...

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“B.S.O.D.” by Dempsey Hyatt

Submitted to Contest #150

Chapter 1: Computer Initialized I awoke from a frightening dream about subatomic particles when my roommate burst into the dorm room. He yelled to someone in the hallway, and I tried to comprehend what he was saying and remember my dream simultaneously, but it all ended up in the jumble of being suddenly awoke. As my roommate’s words processed, my dream of gas ionization occurring in a cloud chamber faded from memory. “Yeah, Hiram’s in here. Looks like he just woke up.” Lucas said. He went to the windows and drew the blinds. I winced from t...

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“Intelligence” by Frank Li

Submitted to Contest #150

Emil yawned as he leaned back in his chair – the website was complete. The faint glow of sunrise had already begun to peek through the blinds, drowning out his desk light. His eyes watered with exhaustion, but it came with a sense of satisfaction. “We did it, Axel. I can’t believe they were still using that old coding language. Westin Industrial, an old company. Probably never thought they needed a site update until now. Should’ve charged them more for the project.” He patted the full tower computer on his desk. “Ah well. That should keep u...

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“Amy and Jean King's Adventure ” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #150

Amy picks up the soda can on her desk and takes a sip while looking straight ahead at her computer monitor. It glowed brightly as it was the only light source in the dark room. “Not too shabby for a few weeks of work.” She mused. She put her drink down and started clicking around to admire her work. She had been working on a game she dubbed “Jean King’s Adventure” for three weeks now. She didn’t love the name, but that could come later. In less than three weeks, Amy was able to create a 3D environment, a...

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“Hank the Repair Guy - AI Troubles” by Paul Wright

Submitted to Contest #150

Hank looked at the work order again. ‘System and AI problems; possible upgrade needed’ was the complaint. He set the clipboard down, hitch up his pants and looked at the system. It was an older model but in good order and the preliminary diagnostics and self-tests were good. He started to do additional tests.“How long do you think this is going to take?”“Pardon?” Hank looked up from the logic analyzer to see Ms. Wilson hovering over the open chassis of her Home CPU.“How long is it going to take to get her right again?”Hank had to flip his ma...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 34 stories

“Clever Candice” by Melony Beard

“Abigail” by Michael Typist

“Waking Life” by H L McQuaid

“In Mid-Sentience” by Chris Campbell

“The Key” by John K Adams

“Aloysius and the Fishes ” by Lonnie Russo

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

“I can see you typing” by DM Pelley

“My Layla” by Grace Melstrand

“A Message from The Internet” by Hamzah Malik

“Friends are Overrated” by Ava Hammock

“B.S.O.D.” by Dempsey Hyatt

“Intelligence” by Frank Li

“Amy and Jean King's Adventure ” by Madeline Honig

“Hank the Repair Guy - AI Troubles” by Paul Wright

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story where an algorithm plays an important role.

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

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

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

Contest #150

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

237

Contest entries

124

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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