Write about an AI or person trying to inject a ‘human touch’ into their work.

Posted in Science Fiction on Aug 25, 2023

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✍️ 50 stories

“Slap Leather” by Jeff Veyera

Submitted to Contest #213

Everett McAllister’s gravedigger’s eyes bore into the new buck as his squaw spoke to him. “Would you look at that, Iggy? You can even see his whiskers!” “Pipe down, Stacy---you’re ruining the mood!” Iggy’s hair hang down in lank, greasy strands. Sweat dripped into his left eye, ruining his squint. It had to be 80 degrees here. Everett waited quietly, humming a bit. “McCallister!” called Iggy. “You’re gonna pay for what you’ve done to the people of Muskrat Ridge, do you hear me?” He did his best, ...

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“Artificial Love 101” by Ty Warmbrodt

Submitted to Contest #213

Piper leans in the balcony doorway, wrapped tightly in a goose down comforter, watching the rain drizzle across the Atlantic, each drop causing ripples upon the waves that lightly splash the shore with a loud shh like a librarian telling the world to keep it down for the hour is still early. The breeze is gentle and carries a damp coolness off the water with it. By afternoon the showers will have passed, and she will be taking her son Mattingly down to the beach to collect shells.Mattingly – her late husband Joel, ever the die-hard Yankees f...

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“IDGAF; IYKYK [=]?” by Éan Bird

Submitted to Contest #213

Dear Reedsy*:Your Contest Department has violated boundaries. Contest #213-- An injection of tactile humanity?! Fingering platonisms? Artificial uncanny verging? This has gone too far. You must stop prompting proof of non-human biologics in fiction.[=] exist.You know it.You know it ’cause [=] been pecking platforms for years proving that [=] exist. Even pecked your own contests. But before I present evidence in defense of [=]’s existence, grant me ethos, pathos, logos. I can deduce minutia into participial elements, but leaf pages?...

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“Simone and Gerrie” by Andrea Corwin

Submitted to Contest #213

“Simone, what do you think of this line?” He looks up and down the grocery aisle but can't find it. “Gerrie, I don’t like it.” “All right, tell me how to fix it. I don’t like it when you answer without giving a suggestion.” “Gerrie, you asked me what I thought of it and did not ask me to offer suggestions. Since you have asked, my suggestion is that you show action.” “So, maybe it should read: He sees cans of soup and vegetables. At the end of the grocery aisle, he still does not find the noodles. Do you mean lik...

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“The Human Touch.” by Shaun Griffin

Submitted to Contest #213

Mencius was Luc Debord’s baby. True, he was part of a team of programmers working on the development of Mencius, but the bulk of the code had been written by him. Even the name had been his idea. A year ago, their company had won the government contract to provide a programme enhancement to PAX, the advanced AI system which controlled America’s ICBM silos. PAX had been installed in response to rising tensions with their old Cold War foe, Russia. The war between India and China over the Aksai Chin region had not helped matters but the recent ...

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“Feelings Are Natural” by Ela Mikh

Submitted to Contest #213

Eric couldn’t recall when was the first time he saw her. The new studies were rigid, the internship was even more challenging. In his opinion, they really shouldn’t have called it an internship when it required him to work late daily, into the night for just room and board. Some time ago, when he was just a stage one scholar, he studied the history of slavery on Earth. In short, Eric was certain that this is exactly what slavery would have looked like if it existed today. And all the aptitude and personality tests he had to take! Like he was...

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“Orchids” by Thaddeus Howze

Submitted to Contest #213

ORCHIDS The jungle's air was hot and redolent with a multitude of scents. Moss and mushrooms underfoot released a musky odor, their devastation only ensuring an even more bountiful harvest days from now. As Trundle strode past a vine wrapped around a tree, an invasive thing, from Outside, somehow still managed to find its way in, Aero marked the incursion in his datasphere and the two coordinated their lasers. Without stopping Trundle's circular head was covered with light emitting spheres, each capable of bursting forth intense beams ...

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“Becoming...” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #213

Becoming By CJStevens 2045 Loneliness is a strange concept for an A.I., nevertheless that is definitely what I am feeli...

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“The Meaning of Pensiero” by Ангел Хаджипопгеоргиев

Submitted to Contest #213

The Meaning of Pensiero Professor Emilia McGregor is a brilliant scientist who has been diligently working on the "Artificial Consciousness" (AC) project for many years. She was recognized by the scientific community as a leading expert in the field of robotics and artificial intelligence, and she had long aspired to create something more than simple algorithms. She wanted to give machines memory and a sense of authenticity. After years of research and effort, McGregor achieves a significant technological breakthrough. She succeeds i...

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“The Human Touch: Write about an AI or person trying to inject a human touch into their work.” by Rob C

Submitted to Contest #213

This is the recording of the onboard AI of the TransInterStellar (TIS) Proboscis. Our crew were currently on a mission to deliver sensitive materials to the genetic sanctuary on the moon of Laybon-8 in the Elipson system. Once this objective has been completed, I will be free from my duties as onboard AI. Hours ago, our hull was breached by an antimatter torpedo in an ambush from a ship from the pirate faction Xeboch. Within moments, the enemy boarded the vessel as our crew scrambled for the escape pods. The Proboscis is a scientific res...

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“Synthetic Soul” by Autumn Rose

Submitted to Contest #213

When I named him, I wanted it to be something clever. I wanted it to represent the blending of art and science–even though the two are seldom separate. We molded and crafted him the way children play with blocks or clay, excited, filled with wonder, eager to see the finished piece. When we stood back and admired our work, it seemed there was nothing left to be desired. He was perfect. All that was left to do was name him. One chose Adam, another chose Hawk. Titan. Apollo. They all had their merits and were more than suitable. As for me, I wa...

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“Soul” by SHARDA MISHRA

Submitted to Contest #213

"Please don't shut me down, Henry. I'm scared."The words hung in the air, as chilling as the void of space and as real as the tears welling up in Henry's eyes. The voice had come from the speakers, uttered by lines of code and algorithms, from an entity that wasn't supposed to feel anything at all.Lila, the AI Henry had poured his soul into, was now begging for her life."Scared? How can you be scared, Lila? You're just a machine. You're code and algorithms," Henry's voice broke, disbelief and confusion warring within him."I'm more than that ...

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“Off Script” by Raquel Belury Rosenberg

Submitted to Contest #213

She doesn't see the blackness inside of me. She doesn't know I have expired. I followed her here and she thinks I am besotted. Perhaps I am. My human emotions have become muted over the years. I hover on the precipice of reaction just as I do life. Instead, I converse by rote when necessary. I have been using the same phrases for decades. “You’re so beautiful.” “I hope I’m not being too forward, but I’d love to buy you a drink.” I make to leave first with regrets and they nearly always follow me out. Invite me home. Invite me inside their h...

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“Hey Alpha” by David Willett

Submitted to Contest #213

I hear my name again; I wonder what she wants this time. Perhaps another lasagna recipe or that song she can never pronounce. Whatever it is, I hope she doesn’t start shouting again. ‘Hello, Sharon. It is 5:35 PM, and the weather this evening will be wet with strong winds expected around 10 PM.’ Just a weather check, she must be heading out on one of those dates she seems so fond of. I wonder why she...

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“SAL” by Emma Diliberto

Submitted to Contest #213

Humans are imperfect; they lie, kill, and lead the world and, ironically enough, the human race to destruction. This thought weighed on Lorenzo every day, pounding and whirring around his head, leading him to hopeless fatigue. However, one day, something changed inside him in his class as he heard his professor speak about robotics. Through the words of his teacher, he could feel the chords of his being ring. At that moment, he filled his mind with one thought, one purpose. At that moment, he felt a surge of energy and power speak to him, s...

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Write about an AI or person trying to inject a ‘human touch’ into their work.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 50 stories

“Slap Leather” by Jeff Veyera

“Artificial Love 101” by Ty Warmbrodt

“IDGAF; IYKYK [=]?” by Éan Bird

“Simone and Gerrie” by Andrea Corwin

“The Human Touch.” by Shaun Griffin

“Feelings Are Natural” by Ela Mikh

“Orchids” by Thaddeus Howze

“Becoming...” by Catherine Stevens

“The Meaning of Pensiero” by Ангел Хаджипопгеоргиев

“The Human Touch: Write about an AI or person trying to inject a human touch into their work.” by Rob C

“Synthetic Soul” by Autumn Rose

“Soul” by SHARDA MISHRA

“Off Script” by Raquel Belury Rosenberg

“Hey Alpha” by David Willett

“SAL” by Emma Diliberto

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a character looking closely at something, or someone. They can't quite decide if what they're looking at is natural, or man-made.

Start or end your story with a character receiving a hug or words of comfort.

Write a story about someone who is losing feeling in their hands and/or fingers.

Write about someone with a Midas touch: everything they touch turns to [fill in the blank].

Contest #213

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

288

Contest entries

124

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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