S.A.M. - Global Perception

For the next few days, it seemed that the electronic stores were flooded with people desperate to get their hands on this new technology, if the news was anything to go by. Videos of huge lines that wrapped around shopping blocks and people pushing and shoving to get into the stores first popped up all over the web. Fights broke out when questions about line cutting came into play. It was vicious, the way these people acted when presented with a new toy, only to be replaced by something new a couple months later. Some places were even sold out of the computer chips, unable to keep the supply around long enough to meet the demand.

Already, there was a protest group based in Los Angeles against the release of such technology, spouting about the downfall of mankind, and that whatever was left was losing it’s humanity and moral compass. It wasn’t very influential, but enough of a mark that they were featured on a news report on the nightly news.

It was unimaginable how positive the overall perception of the invention was, even more popular than the introduction of the iPhone. Abby was just frustrated that it had so much media attention. She’d rather sit in a room full of people trying to talk to her than continue to have the advertisements shoved down her throat all day long. It was giving her a headache.

A few people from Abby’s work talked about the new AI system, saying that it was really cool and that everyone with the money to buy it should. She never really payed any attention to the gossip, choosing instead to keep to herself. Less drama and social responsibility that way.

Even now as she typed away at her laptop, entering invoices into the computer, she could hear Brian and Tami talking about it somewhere behind her.

“So it talks back to you, right? It’s not like Siri?” Brian asked, causing Abby to glance sidelong in their direction.

“Yeah, it’s really cool! You can talk, joke around, even change the AI’s name if you want. I changed mine to Derick.” Tami admitted, pretending to swoon a little. “He’s my bae now.” They laughed a little louder than what Abby would have preferred, sending her teeth grinding. Why couldn’t they just be quiet?

“Well, maybe with my bonus coming up I’ll buy it. Can it be a girl as well?”

“I don’t know. The system’s pretty gender neutral so maybe.”

‘They’ll leave before too long.’ Abby reassured herself, trying not to yell at them. She was too socially awkward to yell anyways. All she could really do was stew in her grow irritation.

It was several minutes before they walked away, continuing their conversation somewhere else. She breathed a sigh of relief. If she had the choice to work from home, she would. Unfortunately, the clinic had a special program for inputting files that couldn’t be used anywhere other than the facility.

Her only comfort was knowing that she only had another twenty minutes before her shift was over and she could head home. Then she’d be in the quiet of her living room with nothing but the tv to disturb her. And even then at a low volume setting.

Luckily the twenty minutes passed quickly and without incident. No one else disturbed her and she was able to exit the building without anyone talking to her. And once in her car, it was a straight-shot home. On the way, the news came on over the radio.

“Hey listeners, tonight we’ve got special guest, Dr. Prince, creator of the S.A.M. AI system with us! He’s here to answer all your questions about his new creation.”

Abby sighed. She was getting very tired of all this talk of ‘new AI systems’ and ‘revolutionary inventions.’ Something new would be invented after a couple years and overtake whatever had been touted upon before. The name S.A.M. would fade away after awhile, lost within the sea of new advancements.

She switched the radio off, focusing on the road home instead.

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