Alcarus

A short story by Alayna Rasler

Look, I had nothing to do with my father creating AI, I was just asked to test his

creation.

My father is an inventor, and when he comes across a problem, he’s going to create a solution for everyone. So when I told him that I, someone who wants to be a doctor, didn’t want to have to read a whole book and write a two page paper about it for my eleventh grade English class, he was determined to make something so I didn’t have to. And who would I be telling my dad not to invent? The day that my essay was due, he ran into my room.

“I did it son!” He exclaimed. “I created a platform to help you. You will never have to create an original thought again!”

I jumped up from my bed in excitement. Now I would be able to spend more of my time playing video games and less of my time doing homework, I thought.

He comes over to me to show me his computer. His screen shows what looks like a messaging system, but he explains that I won’t be messaging a real human. Instead, I will message something called Artificial Intelligence. He tells me that this system knows

everything and can help with any homework.

To test out my father’s invention, I first ask it to summarize the book I was supposed to read and it does! I look at my father in shock and see a smug look on his face, but of course this was going to work. Next, I ask the system to write a paper about the main theme of the book, and to no one’s surprise, it does just that. I then copy paste this work into my assignment drop box and hit submit. Now I can play more Rocket League!

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I continue to use my father’s AI creation to complete all of my assignments for all of my classes and not just English.

But then, I came across a problem. It was time to take the SAT. I was going to use my father’s creation to get a good grade on the SAT, but I found out it is an in person test. How am I supposed to pass if I don’t know any of the material I was supposed to?

Naturally, I ask AI how I can pass this test and the system tells me. I aced the test and got through medical school the same way.

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The time comes where I get to perform my first surgery. I have been preparing for this my whole life, or my AI has. Going into the surgical room, I bring my phone in case I have to ask AI a quick question mid-surgery. Good thing I did that because I did have a question!

AI is thinking of an answer when I hear it: the flatlining heart monitor.