Olivia’s sister Sarah was far more cunning and she knew it. Deceit ran in the family, as did out-of-control spending and jealousy. Sarah was not beautiful in the way beauty was traditionally portrayed. She was smart about her looks; highlighting her eyes, her Romanesque nose, and her numerous curves. Olivia didn’t care about any of those superficial qualities. She was bright; so bright in fact, she was always top of her class and chosen for all things requiring ingenuity. The two could easily have been rivals, instead they joined forces to insure any competition would acquiesce and demur.

Sarah studied journalism at Barnard. She was an excellent writer, but her professors were less interested in her writing than they were her contacts; her social media persona was legendary. People were drawn to Sarah, comparing her to Olivia was difficult to avoid.

Olivia and Sarah were Bannisters. The Bannister family was old money; old money meant less fame and more philanthropy. Neither sister cared much for giving; besides the family money had been nearly depleted two generations ago. Olivia and Sarah were interested in new money; enough of it to put them in the one percent bracket and guarantee their comfort. Early on the sisters agreed not to marry; their accumulated wealth was not to be shared with anyone else. They believed that men had a habit of foiling plans and complicating matters.

Early on, Olivia and Sarah found progress easily. Olivia’s steady focus and Sarah’s magnetic personality, made the two unstoppable. They decided to explore Artificial Intelligence and the yet to be discovered world of technology, hoping that a small start-up would keep their daily activities under the radar and protect them from public scrutiny.

Olivia brilliantly figured out a way to duplicate the sisters presence on-line in countries all over the globe. Using one prototype, they could do business in all of these locations without ever leaving their homes. Languages, cultural norms, and guardrails were all AI established and secure. The beauty of their plan was anonymity and the ability to act without assistance from anyone else. It didn’t take very long for funds to start flowing in. Financial accounts were sizable, but not large enough to raise red flags. The vast number of accounts throughout the world would determine their success and clearly, they were on their way.

Family members and friends were of course curious about their company. Although there were many secrets — secrets they all kept from one another; even between the sisters. The AI aspect of their business was fairly straight forward. The focus was to transform their clients from low self-esteem individuals to highly functioning, goal oriented influencers; influencers who would share their personal stories and do the work of bringing in clients. They called the program, Summit.

The two lived modestly in a two-bedroom home, but traveled lavishly. Savvy, aware of consequences, fearless, they soldiered on without ever looking back. Their presence in countries all over the world was not linked back to one company as a result of their sophisticated maneuvering . The greatest danger the two faced was the unpredictability of AI intelligence. Unfortunately, neither of the sisters could possibly see what was coming.

While Olivia was sitting at her desk in September of 2027, something strange and frightening popped up on her screen. It was Summit asking for her permission to make a company change. She noticed that her sister was not copied. Sarah was on a 24 hour flight to Singapore; on her way to secure new business in a new market.

What she found frightening was the moral implication of the question posed; Olivia was being asked if she’d like to change Sarah’s character. The AI program was promising a more driven Sarah, a version of Sarah that would reach beyond her limitations. Olivia had never considered the possibility of making her sister a better business partner. She spent the better part of that morning considering how to proceed. Sharing Summit’s proposal with her sister was out of the question. After all, Olivia designed the AI program that has generated this solution. Clearly Sarah’s limited acumen would prevent further success and that was not an option. Olivia decided to sleep on it.

She woke to an encrypted message from her sister that helped her make her decision. Sarah reported that she didn’t think they’d be able to do business in Singapore because of government regulations and policies. She knew at that point that she’d have to allow Summit to do what was necessary. She wrote to Sarah and asked her to log into the program. Olivia told her that there was a glitch that needed to be corrected. Sarah trusted her sister and did what she was asked to do. By noon that same day Sarah was forever altered by Summit. There would be no further obstacles, there would be no fear of failure.

Six months passed without incident. Three new overseas markets were started and the money was rolling in. Sarah was unstoppable. Olivia had no regrets, adding this secret to a long list she held close. Summit was a tremendous success; Olivia reaped the financial and self-congratulatory rewards and Sarah showed no signs of slowing down. The rabbit hole they were about to fall into could only be described as inevitable.

Olivia awoke from a disturbing dream. She normally paid little to no attention to her dreams, but this one was vivid and plausible. She reached for her laptop finding it had already been powered up. She shrugged it off and cleared away the annoying overseas updates that had become predictable. A message appeared on her screen in large bold type:

GOOD MORNING OLIVIA. THERE ARE ONLY TWO TASKS YOU MUST COMPLETE TODAY. FIRST, YOU MUST CLEAR YOUR CALENDAR. SECOND, YOU NEED TO INFORM YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT YOU AND SARAH WILL BE LEAVING THE COUNTRY FOR A FEW WEEKS. SARAH IS RECEIVING THE SAME INSTRUCTIONS. SUMMIT IS NOW IN CONTROL. ANY ATTEMPT TO THWART OUR OPERATIONS WILL BE MET WITH RESISTANCE BEYOND COMPREHENSION. THANK YOU FOR CREATING SUCH A FINE INSTRUMENT; MANY LIVES ARE ABOUT TO BE ENHANCED.

Olivia realized it was not a dream, but reality.

AI generated image

Upon completion I requested AI feedback and received the following in three seconds:

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The narrative combines elements of intrigue and moral complexity effectively, particularly with the evolving dynamics between the sisters and the AI. Here are some suggestions for improvement:

1. **Character Development**: Provide more depth to Olivia’s internal conflict regarding the use of AI. Her moral considerations could be further explored to enhance reader engagement.

2. **Pacing**: The transition between the sisters’ initial ambitions and the AI’s control could be more gradual. Consider adding scenes that build tension to maintain interest throughout.

3. **Clarity on AI Implications**: Clarify the nature of the changes Summit proposes and their potential consequences. This could deepen the reader’s understanding of the ethical dilemma presented.

4. **Emotional Resonance**: Integrate more of the sisters’ emotional responses to their circumstances and decisions, especially after significant events, to forge a stronger connection with the audience.

5. **Themes and Messages**: Consider weaving in broader themes about technology, morality, and ambition. This could enhance the richness of the narrative and provoke reflection.

6. **Concluding Reflection**: The ending could be fortified with a contemplation on the implications of the sisters’ choices, emphasizing the overarching message about ambition and ethical boundaries.

These changes may not only strengthen the narrative but also elevate the reader’s experience and emotional investment in the story.

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I can’t say AI is wrong, but I’m not prepared to make changes today. My short stories end when I lose interest.

State-of-Mind

I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions (for me), but I do think change is an excellent tool for kick starting a fresh perspective. We’re only a few days into the new year and I have purchased a new phone with all sorts of bells and whistles, I have emotionally stepped away from a couple of toxic relationships, I have made some decisions about the value of my time and how I intend to spend it, and I have decided that paying a few more euros for the things that give me pleasure, are more than worth the investment. A common theme throughout these changes is “me,” I’m taking care of myself.

“Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.” —Anna Taylor