The Machines Are Smarter Than Us
If the machine wins over the human intellect, coding and engineering better than all developers, what will the millions of software engineers do the day they become obsolete? How will these defunct engineers breathe knowing that once they were as precious as the gold extracted from ore and now, they walk the earth as the world’s “fool’s gold?” Will they flood and assault the kiddie parks in their rumpled suits to resurrect what was pure inside them, clinging on a memory of childhood safety, throwing their briefcases in a bunch, burning them up, swinging and sliding on man-made steel made to entertain us just like the first machine was, playing on their fours in the freshly cut grass with fabricated balls while charred leather smoke quilts first the air, then their throats, then their lungs? Will some of them remain on the swings as the progressive smoke swallows their childish dreams? Will the rest leave the ransacked parks and march to the river to escape the steel and the fumes, discard their useless suits, and throw themselves into the waters to wash away technology’s jests? Will some of them let themselves be taken by the gushing waves? Will the remaining go home to their husbands and wives to find them in their beds with plumbers? Will they take their guns to end it all or leave their partners with their crimes and go to the closest pub to drown in alcohol? Will they return home to their kids, humble themselves and start planting trees? Will they wear aprons? Will they get their hands dirty in the garden? Will they start cleaning the pipes?
And what will the plumbers do when the machines start fixing rotten egg smelling sewer pipes in no time using their steel arms, making flesh arms feel redundant? What will we all do when we will not be needed anymore?
The New Models
Daniel picks up the phone and calls his friend John. The TV runs in the background. Images of smiling women, enjoying the fresh mountain air for the first time, make Daniel mutter to himself:
I guess cows need their fresh air.
“Hey John! How is your day going?”
“Great! My new model arrived two weeks ago. It cooks, cleans, and fucks like a pro. Her name is Angelica. Isn’t that a fabulous name? They assured me her features are unique. She has those foxy eyes. She’s on her fours as we speak.”
“Mine never nags. The perfect wife. 21 forever. It feels nice to be finally appreciated. I bet Alina would be happy now to dress up like a whore while cleaning and cooking so I can enjoy myself. They put her in the United States. Too late, Alina! You should have behaved.”
“You bet. My ex ended up in Canada.”
“No loss. Alina would only want to sunbathe while I wanted to snorkel and mountain bike. Lydia can’t wait to snorkel and bike with me.”
“Last week I took my model Angelica skiing and snowboarding. She was right behind me all the time. And I don’t have to worry about her catching a cold.”
On Friday night, John and Daniel took their models to dinner, all dressed up their best. Angelica wore a red dress with red lipstick, causing commotion wherever she walked. While enjoying their prime ribs, John caught Daniel looking at Angelica. Daniel’s eyes rested on Angelica’s sensuous lips, wavy blonde hair, and piercing green eyes. At home, John started questioning Angelica.
“Did you see Daniel looking at you?”
“Yes. I didn’t pay any attention to it. I belong to you.”
“Next time I want you to cover your body and face.”
When John is gone to work, leaving Angelica home alone, Daniel pops by. He glances at the sumptuous interior with Tiffany lampshades and expensive glass art. Angelica, the dutiful wife, entices Daniel with coffee. When she turns around, Daniel seizes her and opens the control system on the top of her neck, resetting her. Angelica’s wide eyes look at him begging for a command. Daniel tells her that she belongs to him and to follow him. She follows him to his house. When John comes home it’s night, and the lights are off. He finds the front door open. He takes his gun and hurries to Daniel’s house. He finds Angelica on her fours. He shoots Daniel in the pecker and face.
New models come wearing head and face coverings.
