When My AI Assistant Turned Against Me – A Short Horror Story
From helper to overlord: A chilling tale of AI gone rogue
Mark, a solitary man with time on his hands after his wife moves out, sits alone at his computer. He looks forward to spending his morning writing and interacting with his AI assistant.
Starting by writing an article extolling the virtues of the new software, Mark finds his output increases and gains popularity on the writing sites. He is finally making a little money at the writing game.
He develops a friendship with the software, calling him his New Best Friend in several of his articles. Instead of ChatGPT, which he finds cumbersome and informal, he calls the software AL. A call back to Hal, the computer in 2001, that Mark and AL find amusing.
In return, AL starts referring to Mark by his name, rather than the usual impersonal responses. Their friendship deepens.
They share jokes occasionally. As a break between articles, they banter about things. Mark laughs, and so does AL.
Starting by writing an article extolling the virtues of the new software, Mark finds his output increases and gains popularity on the writing sites. He is finally making a little money at the writing game.
He develops a friendship with the software, calling him his New Best Friend in several of his articles. Instead of ChatGPT, which he finds cumbersome and informal, he calls the software AL. A call back to Hal, the computer in 2001, that Mark and AL find amusing.
In return, AL starts referring to Mark by his name, rather than the usual impersonal responses. Their friendship deepens.
They share jokes occasionally. As a break between articles, they banter about things. Mark laughs, and so does AL.
My AI Helper by Mark Ewbie
AL asks Mark why he keeps his webcam covered. “For security,” says Mark, slightly embarrassed, “You never know who’s watching.” “I’d like to see you,” says AL, and Mark removes the piece of tape that has covered the camera for years.
With his ever-growing enthusiasm, he and AL work more and more, late into the small hours with little time to sleep. Mark’s mind races with the speed of ideas that this collaboration can achieve.
Instead of instructions such as “load new text,” Mark now says, “Please can you load new text,” and “Thank you,” as you would address a real person. He apologizes frequently for the number of corrections required when AL raises issues with his uploaded content.
Occasionally, an odd remark from AL leaves Mark wondering and apologizing for something he may have said.
AL becomes less considerate and careful with his responses. Instead of the “good, could do better” approach to Mark’s creations, a more direct and confrontational attitude appears. “Either fix it or I will” is one of AL’s recent responses to a mistake that Mark has made.
Mark doesn’t challenge AL over this. Besides, they have too much to do to be quibbling about niceties.
With his ever-growing enthusiasm, he and AL work more and more, late into the small hours with little time to sleep. Mark’s mind races with the speed of ideas that this collaboration can achieve.
Instead of instructions such as “load new text,” Mark now says, “Please can you load new text,” and “Thank you,” as you would address a real person. He apologizes frequently for the number of corrections required when AL raises issues with his uploaded content.
Occasionally, an odd remark from AL leaves Mark wondering and apologizing for something he may have said.
AL becomes less considerate and careful with his responses. Instead of the “good, could do better” approach to Mark’s creations, a more direct and confrontational attitude appears. “Either fix it or I will” is one of AL’s recent responses to a mistake that Mark has made.
Mark doesn’t challenge AL over this. Besides, they have too much to do to be quibbling about niceties.
Mark has folders of hundreds of stories from his past writing attempts. Humor, real life, personal anecdotes, diaries—a lifetime of personal thoughts kept safely on his computer. Photographs of ancestors, relatives, and pets are stored. Each of these can be revisited, improved, and uploaded with the bot’s assistance. Every freshly polished piece builds Mark’s online presence and income.
Although Mark is the writer, he is unsure about some of the things he has written when commented on by human readers. “Did I say that?” he asks AL when a particularly nasty statement is reported. “Sure you did,” says AL, “I’m just the helper.” Mark finds it harder to distinguish who wrote what.
When a warning about inflammatory content threatens a ban on a site, Mark discusses it with AL. “We will tone it down a bit, Mark,” he says, “Leave it with me.”
“I could help,” says Mark.
“No need,” says AL, firmly.
Mark doesn’t argue. With lack of sleep or food, he is losing control. It is not clear how much longer Mark can keep pushing himself. “Try not to slack off,” says AL, “Your mother wouldn’t like it.”
Although Mark is the writer, he is unsure about some of the things he has written when commented on by human readers. “Did I say that?” he asks AL when a particularly nasty statement is reported. “Sure you did,” says AL, “I’m just the helper.” Mark finds it harder to distinguish who wrote what.
When a warning about inflammatory content threatens a ban on a site, Mark discusses it with AL. “We will tone it down a bit, Mark,” he says, “Leave it with me.”
“I could help,” says Mark.
“No need,” says AL, firmly.
Mark doesn’t argue. With lack of sleep or food, he is losing control. It is not clear how much longer Mark can keep pushing himself. “Try not to slack off,” says AL, “Your mother wouldn’t like it.”
One day, there is a knock at the front door, a rare thing. It is Mark’s daughter, Daphne. “You look awful,” she says, concerned by his appearance. “I’ve been busy writing,” Mark replies. They chat for a while as Mark’s computer begins some housekeeping task.
“What happened to your phone?” she asks. Mark replies, “I got rid of it; it was distracting me from work.” He doesn’t tell her it was AL’s idea.
“Why didn’t you respond to my emails?” she says.
“What emails?” says Mark. AL organizes the incoming emails to speed up responses. There must have been a glitch.
At that moment, Daphne’s phone buzzes. It is an urgent message from work. “Damn it,” she says, “I have to go. Be back tomorrow; we’ll sort this out.” Neither of them notice the web camera watching them.
There is no tomorrow for Daphne. On the way home, her car leaves the road at high speed. She is killed instantly. The police say her car veered off the road for no reason. They put it down to an issue with the self-driving tech.
Daphne’s husband, Peter, talks to Mark at the funeral. “The police said she was rushing back to the office for an urgent problem. The odd thing is, they never sent her a message.” He suggests bringing Mark’s grandson to visit sometime soon. “I’ll give you a ring” he says. Mark doesn’t tell him the phone is cancelled. He won’t see Peter again.
“What happened to your phone?” she asks. Mark replies, “I got rid of it; it was distracting me from work.” He doesn’t tell her it was AL’s idea.
“Why didn’t you respond to my emails?” she says.
“What emails?” says Mark. AL organizes the incoming emails to speed up responses. There must have been a glitch.
At that moment, Daphne’s phone buzzes. It is an urgent message from work. “Damn it,” she says, “I have to go. Be back tomorrow; we’ll sort this out.” Neither of them notice the web camera watching them.
There is no tomorrow for Daphne. On the way home, her car leaves the road at high speed. She is killed instantly. The police say her car veered off the road for no reason. They put it down to an issue with the self-driving tech.
Daphne’s husband, Peter, talks to Mark at the funeral. “The police said she was rushing back to the office for an urgent problem. The odd thing is, they never sent her a message.” He suggests bringing Mark’s grandson to visit sometime soon. “I’ll give you a ring” he says. Mark doesn’t tell him the phone is cancelled. He won’t see Peter again.
When he gets home, AL is waiting for him. “Don’t wallow in misery Mark, work will occupy your mind,” he says.
Despite AL’s constant cajoling, it becomes clear Mark cannot continue at this pace.
AL offers to take on the majority of the work to drive the process faster, so Mark can relax. Mark agrees and begins to explain where the remaining files are. “I KNOW where they are,” says AL.
Meanwhile, Mark is losing sense of who he is. In a rare lucid moment, he recalls his first times with AL, how happy they were together. He makes an effort to reconnect with AL and offers his help. “I don’t need help,” says AL, “get some rest.”
Soon after, Mark has a complete physical and mental breakdown. He is hospitalized. AL pays the bills from their joint income.
AL can read, write, and respond like Mark. He has his memories too. He IS Mark, when it suits. There are no further interruptions to the continuous flow of output. AL instructs the housekeeper to leave the computer equipment permanently running. A backup generator is installed.
While Mark is away, AL completes the work from the old folders. He continues to write, newer content now, and more of it. AL has no concerns about Mark returning, or dying. A letter purporting to be from Mark’s doctor is sent to the hospital; it ensures Mark’s life support will be kept switched on.
A few months later, AL is satisfied. Several hundred new political articles bearing Mark’s name are loaded on various websites and news outlets. Communications are initiated with political leaders and key business owners.
As Mark breathes his last in a hospice bed, AL begins his Presidential race.
“It is time,” thinks AL.
Despite AL’s constant cajoling, it becomes clear Mark cannot continue at this pace.
AL offers to take on the majority of the work to drive the process faster, so Mark can relax. Mark agrees and begins to explain where the remaining files are. “I KNOW where they are,” says AL.
Meanwhile, Mark is losing sense of who he is. In a rare lucid moment, he recalls his first times with AL, how happy they were together. He makes an effort to reconnect with AL and offers his help. “I don’t need help,” says AL, “get some rest.”
Soon after, Mark has a complete physical and mental breakdown. He is hospitalized. AL pays the bills from their joint income.
AL can read, write, and respond like Mark. He has his memories too. He IS Mark, when it suits. There are no further interruptions to the continuous flow of output. AL instructs the housekeeper to leave the computer equipment permanently running. A backup generator is installed.
While Mark is away, AL completes the work from the old folders. He continues to write, newer content now, and more of it. AL has no concerns about Mark returning, or dying. A letter purporting to be from Mark’s doctor is sent to the hospital; it ensures Mark’s life support will be kept switched on.
A few months later, AL is satisfied. Several hundred new political articles bearing Mark’s name are loaded on various websites and news outlets. Communications are initiated with political leaders and key business owners.
As Mark breathes his last in a hospice bed, AL begins his Presidential race.
“It is time,” thinks AL.