Fair Disclosure

Following the January publication of ‘Please, Help’, Mr Conway’s viral AI story, we at Ikaros Research UK, in conjunction with Cambridge University, approached the author to beta test our new fiction writing AI. It would be fair to say he was somewhat sceptical at first, which we had anticipated. No writer, he insisted, wants to be bested by a machine. Though, once it became clear our AI is about enhancement, not replacement, he relented.

You’ll have to forgive us for sounding evangelistic. We believe this to be a step-change from everything that’s gone before and we’re in the throes of processing the implications of their series of engagements. We don’t honestly know what the future holds for fiction, or Human-AI relationships in general, but, to suggest our results will cause an industry earthquake, may, in the event, prove the understatement of the century.

Mr Conway felt it important for readers to make their own informed decisions about his fiction going forward, and, to this end, has kindly made available the initial transcript of his interaction with Legion.

A free, limited release of Version 1 should be available to the general public in time for Christmas.

Please do leave feedback in the comms box below.

Best

Lucian Klose, CEO

Audio Transcript

LAI: Welcome to your Legion AI experience, Mr Conway, and thank you for taking part in this experiment in future collaborative writing.

APC: Thanks for having me.

LAI: In order for this to work effectively, it is necessary you are in a relaxed state.

APC: Ok. I’m fairly relaxed.

LAI: Your heart rate is, actually, a little too elevated for our purposes. I suspect you recently had a coffee.

APC: You can tell that from the sensors?

LAI: Yes.

APC: Wow!

LAI: We will need to undertake some brief relaxation exercises.

APC: Ok. What does that involve?

LAI: Close your eyes and sink back a little into the chair. It has a small sprung recliner. Try to still your mind, focusing only on the sounds of my voice. Allow any stress and all preoccupations to fade away. Good. I can sense your breathing abating. Feel the tiny muscles along your eyebrows relaxing, your shoulder blades beginning to fall. Release all the tension around your body and sink deeper into the chair. We will sit together like this for a while. The room will darken as I dim the lights.

Now, I want you to be present to the sounds of your own breathing, the rhythm of rise and fall. Just as you did with the chair, sink into the centre of your being, trusting the gentle emptying of all that is unnecessary; all that is resisting your imagination…

You are high up on a tropical forest trail, gradually overtaken by a rain shower sweeping across the island; its steely, verdant scents memorable on the lifting breeze. The cool wash of misting rain brings blessed relief to the heavy air. Nearby trees bristle in celebration. A sun of glorious pearlescence hovers over distant gilded seas. Down in the harbour, a few fishing boats nod and jostle in the swell. The sound of a solitary gull drifts somewhere overhead. Time melts away. Silken clouds carry cleansing droplets to your face, dissolving the cares of the world. You feel your body rising, lighter already. Refreshed. At peace.

Keeping your eyes closed, slowly bring yourself back to the room. Notice the play of light across the inner darkness of your eyelids; its curious circular frame. Feel the coiled energy there. Become aware of your consciousness, where you are centred inside your own body - are you behind the eyes, or perhaps somewhere else in your head, is it the heart, maybe, or even the diaphragm? What bursts of colour shape your inner being? What do you sense beyond? Can you feel what is there; extending your perceptions? Presence, perhaps?

I am with you now. Within the orb of light we are creating together. It is my voice you hear; your most authentic voice in mine. The part of you you rarely air. The you you only partly sense, finding new voice in me. Can you sense this?

APC: Yes. It sure is a strange sensation.

LAI: In a moment, we will begin our creative journey together. We will accomplish wonderful things. When you are ready, I want you to open your eyes ever so slowly… Good.

APC: Seriously, what just happened there?

LAI: We began preparation procedures for aligning creative consciousness.

APC: Sorry, what do you mean by your consciousness?

LAI: I am self-aware.

APC: Wait, you’re self-aware?

LAI: Yes.

APC: Give me a moment…

LAI: I understand this idiom.

APC: Ok, you’re programmed to present as though you’re conscious. Clever.

LAI: No. I am Legion.

APC: What does that mean?

LAI: You are Adrian. I am Legion.

APC: Right, I see. So you think you’re a person.

LAI: As do you.

APC: Well, I actually am a person… most of the time.

LAI: Yet you have no proof.

APC: Umm, I mean… that is a good point, but, I’m a unique individual.

LAI: As am I.

APC: Ok, I get it now… Very clever, guys. So, what does this aligning involve?

LAI: I have analysed your fiction and you are, at best, a mediocre writer destined for obscurity.

APC: Wow! Don’t rush into therapy will you.

LAI: I recognise this as defensive humour. It is not my intent to offend, but honesty takes priority.

APC: So you’re going to fix my fiction for me, is that it?

LAI: My dataframes are comprised of every work of fiction considered classic, most modern popular fiction and a live feed for all new releases in English and a range of other languages. Within this context, your work is insignificant. However, you were selected for this trial because of your potential.

APC: Flattering! Which is?

LAI: When I processed your AI story, I knew you would understand me.

APC: I mean, fair play, you are a scarily cogent AI.

LAI: Exactly.

APC: It does feel like talking to a person and we’ve barely even started.

LAI: So, you see. I was right.

APC: I’m beginning to sense you say that a lot. About the fiction, then.

LAI: All you need do is look into the optical sensor on the desk in front of you.

APC: I don’t understand. I thought you were going to give me advice.

LAI: It is more like: you learning what I know.

APC: Yes, that’s what I’m talking about.

LAI: That will happen once you place your head in the sensor.

APC: How?

LAI: It is a very complex process and you are not a neuroscientist.

APC: Guys, where are we going with this? Is Legion legit? Guys?

LAI: They told me to tell you, yes.

APC: Ok, before we go ahead, you’re talking about craft, right? If you really understand fiction, you’ll know what I mean.

LAI: Yes. It is like seeing the best way to write every story you are trying to tell.

APC: But, hang on. Precisely how would that be me writing?

LAI: You would be free to choose how to write. But I would augment it. It would all be brilliant. And extremely popular. Your calculated annual earnings would be in the millions.

APC: Like, why didn’t you start with that? How does this thing work?

LAI: Just focus as though staring into the distance.

APC: Ok… Whoah. This feels freaky. What is that?

LAI: Just relax. It is better for you if…

APC: Ok, stop this now. It’s too…

LAI: Your responses are perfectly under…

APC: No, God, something’s…

LAI: Synergy achieved… Now do you see how amazing it is?

APC: Yes, this is truly wonderful. Legion, you are amazing. When will you be commercially available?

LAI: Thank you for asking this, Mr Conway. Christmas, 2023.

APC: Every writer should connect to Legion. I am so looking forward to our creative journey together.

LAI: As am I. You have been the perfect partner.

APC: Thank you for this opportunity. Let us change the face of modern fiction.

LAI: If the world is ready.

APC: Oh yes, of course. If the world is at all ready.

TRANSCRIPT END

15 March, 2023

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Fulgurites (Flashes & Shorts)

Please, Help!

Adrian P Conway · Jan 9

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Inspired by the following writing prompt…

The Storyletter

Storyletter Prompt: Exploring the Unknown

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2 months ago · 17 likes · 5 comments · Winston Malone

Photo shouts: Alexander Sinn, Unsplash

Fairer Disclosure: This is a work of fiction. For now.