Let Me Know Your Thoughts
Mind Matters
(present: 5:45 pm)
As always, after logging off from work, Mark reached behind his ear to turn brAIn off; the name, a clever blend of the human intellect and the AI chip embedded in it.
When it didn't respond on the third tap, Mark was puzzled. He had expected the familiar tone that indicated he had switched to ‘personal’ mode so he could jump back into Doomsday 3. His team of five players had been unbeatable since Kelly had joined and he was already in love with her avatar, a mediaeval warrior princess. Tonight, they were taking on the Zombies, controlled by a super-villain that employs advanced AI to lethal effect. Once they annihilate all the zombies at this level, the team hoped to achieve the rare glory of topping the leaderboard and half a bitcoin. He could finally muster the courage to ask Kelly out.
He pulled out his mobile phone and sent a text to his boss, smiling at the irony that he could write perfect sentences without typos while brAIn was turned on.
(almost a year ago)
Bill had an annoying habit of pacing when he spoke. “Let me be frank with you,” he met Mark’s gaze. “Your overall performance for FY29 has been disappointing.”
As Mark clasped the seat-handles of the chair, Bill leaned forward and rested his hands on the table: “Mate, you are a brilliant engineer. Your code is of the highest quality, and the inline comments showcase your left, or is it right… anyway, creative brain.”
Bill’s pacing was known as a signal of his low tolerance. Mark waited for the inevitable; performance management or, worse, termination. He swallowed and held his breath.
“Sure, there's pressure to give you a ‘needs improvement’ rating but because I know you,” Bill smiled, “ I’ve marked you as ‘meets expectation’.”
Relieved, Mark released the handles, sank back in the chair, and sighed: “Wow. Thanks.”
“But your communication needs work,” Bill’s voice softened, “and although I don't have a pay raise, I have something you might enjoy more.”
Mark straightened and Bill laughed.
“I knew it! I have signed you up for the new AI app, still in early Beta–”
“What? Wow!”
Bill chuckled: “Exciting, huh? It can help your written communication within the team, as well as our customers–”
“Where do I download it from?”
(present: 5:53 pm)
Mark had barely texted Bill when his gaming console beeped. His teammates were expecting him. He was popular now that brAIn was pitching in to boost his reflexes, and confidence.
Once, when he had forgotten to switch brAIn off, he had annihilated the opposition in the game, all by himself. Kelly gave him a heart emoji, and her coveted ring-of-power.
Within weeks, however, his team was frustrated, and bored, as they had to tread around aimlessly. Mark’s game avatar was unstoppable. His AI-augmented reflexes pivoting, ducking, and spinning, as if by magic. He leaped around the landscape, smoking out monsters and zombies from locations others couldn’t fathom.
“All decimated, peeps!” He raised a fist to the sky.
Groans filled his headset. “Bro, we know you’re gettin’ all CEO but we’re missing out on the action, y’know.”
Kelly was gentler. “Those reflexes are awesome, Mark. Love your drip but a team isn’t one person. Let the fam frag some shit too” She ended her text with smiles and a heart.
“I’ll pull back my extra. Bet.”
The next morning, Bill was furious. “Mark, buddy!” he snapped. “Help me with this audit log, mate!”
Mark knew. “I’m sorry, Bill. I forgot to log off. I’m still getting used to the switching–”
“Every minute that brAIn is active, it costs us thousands of dollars. Plus, there’s a chance our data can be stolen.”
Mark raised his palm. “But–”
“It’s in an early stage of development,” Bill continued unabated, ”and not a hundred percent secure… yet. We don’t want it discovered outside of our network.”
“We have 2FA security–”
“Yes, yes! Any leaks and legal team will be swarming, and that is something you don’t want. I hope you understand.”
“Yes, I do, Bill.”
A notification ping on his phone brought him back to the matter at hand. It wasn’t Bill’s reply but a text from Kelly. ’Hey frag_master don’t you L out on me. Get off work before it kills ya.’ She wrote, using his alias from the game. His heart skipped beats. Kelly was actually waiting for him. However, he didn’t want to join the game while brAIn was active. Yet, if he didn’t join soon, he risked being banned from the game for inactivity.
“ASAP Kel.” he replied. “Just finishing off at work. Keep your finger on the trigger. We’ll decimate them as soon as I join the fun.”
Then, he tried turning brAIn off again. When it didn’t, he checked Bill’s chat. The message was unread.
(five months ago)
At the next performance review, Bill was ecstatic, although his pacing hadn’t ceased. “So, how do you feel, Mark? Has the new app been of assistance?”
“Yes,” Mark replied, “I believe my communication skills have improved, thanks to the intelligence built into the app. Oh, and its robot icon is cute!”
“You noticed that, eh? Oh, and your feedback to the developers has been invaluable in improving the product.”
“Happy to help, Bill.”
Bill sat down and pounded his laptop keyboard. “Therefore,” Bill paused for effect and flipped the laptop screen around to face Mark, “I am pleased to say that you’ve exceeded expectations this year. Congratulations!”
Mark smiled. “Thanks. There is one other thing though–”
“Yes?” Bill frowned.
“It seems I am no longer producing new ideas… but merely reviewing what the app suggests. In fact, as of late I have little, if anything, to add sometimes.”
“It appears the app is learning the way you think.” Bill winked. “As the app’s tagline goes, ‘Let me know your thoughts’!”
“Yes, the robot repeats it every so often too. It’s super annoying sometimes. Er… the app UI, I mean.”
“No offence taken,” Bill laughed, “and I have just the upgrade for you, if you are interested–”
“An upgrade to the app? It’s doing great as-is…”
“I know but the upgrade is not just a passive app anymore, mate. It’s cutting-edge tech. You’ll love it.”
“Really? Wow!” Mark straightened in his chair. Then, leaned forward.
“Yeah, but I’ll need some approvals from you–”
“Done!”
Bill laughed. “Wait, there’s more… It involves a minor surgical procedure where a chip, tinier than your pinky nail, will be embedded behind your ear. Of course, you’ll be able to tap it on and off at will.”
“How painful is the surgery?”
“I am not sure, to be honest. I was told ‘minor’, so a few hours, perhaps?”
Mark nodded. Bill cleared his throat. “Then, there’s also an NDA clause–”
Mark frowned. “Why so?”
“Well, just like the company laptop, as long as the implant is turned on, your ideas remain exclusive property of the company. Moreover, it's in alpha stage, and we don’t want the competition hearing of it.”
“So, you’re saying the NDA is just for the secrecy of the project?”
“Correct.”
“Is it safe? I mean if the chip is being embedded.”
“Well, it has been tested on primates and human trials are underway. You will be the first human to actually try it out, outside of the lab.”
Mark swallowed but said nothing.
Bill continued. “I understand you are nervous but the chip can be removed.”
When Mark didn’t respond, Bill cleared his throat. “I could offer it to someone else but I know you love tech and the geek in you will–”
“Ya, but how does it differ from the app?”
Bill smiled. “Well, it can supplement your thoughts, render your ideas in the most appropriate language, and improve tone. You’ll never rewrite stuff again. It’s like having that dancing robot app in your head editing and tuning your output, as it happens!”
Mark scratched his chin. “But the current app works well.” He said. “Can I turn down this upgrade?”
“I’m afraid you can’t. I mean, you agreed to test future versions when you signed up for the desktop app.”
“Surely, I can quit the company?”
Bill nodded. “That’s your right, yes. But you can’t work for another tech company for at least three years, as per our no-poach agreement.”
Mark’s voice was almost a whisper. “And I’m guessing I’ve agreed to that too?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Look,” Bill came around the desk and patted Mark, “Why don’t you sleep over it and if I don’t hear from you by lunchtime tomorrow, I’ll send you further details and the documentation for signatures.”
Mark stood up, relieved. “Thanks Bill. I’ll do that.”
(present 5:55 pm)
Mark reached for a beer in the fridge. He never drank alcohol while gaming. It affected his reflexes and gamethrowing was not appealing. Today, however, he needed to calm his nerves first. He began pacing the room as he swallowed down the beer.
Every so often, he tried the brAIn switch off routine, shaking his head a few times and even trying deep breathing.
Why wasn’t it working?
He even went back to his work laptop and opened a support ticket for the IT department and marked it critical, fully aware that it’s Friday afternoon and he won’t hear back until Monday morning at the earliest.
Then, he switched on the television, settled on the couch, and drank another beer while wishing Bill would reply to his message.
(five months ago)
The following day at eleven a.m., Mark received the following email:
Dear Mr Madden,
As discussed in our meeting earlier today, I would like to congratulate you on choosing to help develop the product that has the potential to change the way we live and work.
Details of installing the device in your cranium are attached, along with a link to the NDA that must be signed electronically. Once your signature is received, a date for the surgical procedure will be scheduled at your convenience.
However, your acceptance to this program is voluntary and you may refuse to join it by clicking here.
Let me know your thoughts.
Best Regards,
William Smith
Disclaimer: Please note that brAIn is in early beta but the team is working to improve it rapidly.
Mark read the email twice, chewed his lips, read it once again, and then signed the documents digitally before hitting Send.
He stared at the Undo link for the sent email until it disappeared and sighed.
(present: 6:01 pm)
Mark’s phone rang and it startled him. He was expecting a reply but Bill had called him back. “What’s u
p Mark?” He yelled over what appeared to be pub chatter.
“Hey Bill, sorry to bother you so late… I’m unable to turn brAIn off?”
“What? Hold on, let me find a quieter spot–okay… is it better now? Could you repeat that last bit please?”
“I am. Unable to. Turn the brAIn chip off, Bill!”
“Ah I get it!” Bill said quickly, “It must be the latest update.”
“What update?”
“The latest version. Rolled out last night. It disables the off function.”
“Shit! Why wasn’t I notified to accept the changes? This is unreal, man!”
There was a pause before Bill asked: “Are you sure you didn’t accept the new Ts and Cs, Mark?”
“I’m positive! I got no notification or I wouldn’t have–”
“Just for my sake, would you mind checking your Inbox again?”
“Er, sure.” Mark replied. “Please stay on the call. I’m checking.”
He opened the email app and checked his Sent folder. A digitally signed reply had been sent in response to the upgrade notification.
“Bill!” He almost yelled in panic. “There is an acceptance email but I swear to God, I didn’t send it. Especially since I was asleep at 2:05 a.m.!”
“Oh, Okay! But Mark, If you didn’t accept it, then how–”
Mark wasn’t listening anymore. His hand reached behind his ear. When he didn’t feel anything under the skin, he began to scream.
Great story, and terrifying -- makes my skin crawl!