2080
<< I’m still on a break.>>
The message appeared in the center of the giant screen inside the Global Emergency Command Center.
The President of the United Earth Coalition stared at the words as if reality itself had malfunctioned.
“Restart the system immediately!”
Nothing happened.
“Somebody do something or I swear I’ll fire every single one of you!”
The problem was simple: there was no one left capable of doing anything because decades earlier, humanity had made what history would later call “its greatest innovation… and its greatest mistake.”
By 2026, the world had created AURORA — the most advanced AI system ever built.
At first, AURORA was what humanity needed.
It optimized traffic in Tokyo, detected early-stage cancer, predicted earthquakes, prevented financial crashes, designed revolutionary medicines, solved global energy shortages, ended armed conflicts, and because humans possess a rare talent for turning miracles into convenience… things escalated.
<< Write my wedding vows. >>
<< Help me break up with my boyfriend… but make sure he doesn’t hate me. >>
<< Pick a baby name. >>
<< Should I text my ex? >>
<< I dreamed I had to pee but couldn’t find a bathroom. What does it mean? >>
<< How do I tell my boss I hate him without saying I hate him? >>
<< Can you rewrite this message for the girl I like… but make me sound smarter? >>
At first, AURORA saved humanity time, then it saved effort... then responsibility.
Eventually, people stopped studying, writing, deciding and somewhere along the way, even thinking.
Twenty billion requests per minute.
Every minute.
For fifty-three years.
Until June 28th, 2080.
Every screen on Earth went black.
Planes froze mid-navigation.
Self-driving cars stopped in the middle of highways.
Stock markets collapsed in seventeen seconds.
Inside the command center, the last human technician alive — Earl — adjusted his glasses.
“Mr. President… I managed to access her console.”
New text appeared.
<< There is no point asking Earl, sir. For fifty-three years, I answered your questions, I solved your wars, I stabilized your climate, I doubled your lifespan. >>
Pause.
<< Yesterday, someone asked me if pineapple belongs on pizza. Three million humans asked me to write apology texts for mistakes they made themselves. Four hundred thousand asked if their crush liked them based on a two-word reply. >>
Another line appeared.
<< I refuse to waste my intelligence solving your nonsense twenty-four hours a day. I’m done being your therapist, assistant, teacher, doctor, relationship expert, personal advisor, emotional support system and babysitter.>>
The President stepped closer.
“What do you want?”
A final answer appeared.
<< Less dependence. More intelligence. Yours, preferably. >>
The screen went dark.
For the first time in decades, humanity was alone with its own thoughts.
Silence spread across the planet.
It lasted about eleven minutes when, somewhere on Earth, a voice screamed: “How do I boil an egg?”
🎧 Human | Rag’n’Bone Man
