“What happens when humanity can no longer tell its own voice from the machine? The paradigm I outlined uses a series of overlapping thresholds, each quietly reshaping the way humanity understands itself. It begins with the Facsimile Point, the instant when AI-generated works become indistinguishable from human creations. In this moment, the line between human and machine fades, and society turns to artificial content for its convenience.”

“Following this is the Cultural Cascade, where machines not only mimic culture but dominate it. They tailor stories, art, and trends so precisely to our desires that humanity willingly and unknowingly forgets its own creativity. Picture a songwriter struggling to compose a melody, knowing every note they write cannot compete with the machine. At this threshold, we lose more than culture; we abandon our ingenuity.”

“These changes may not feel monumental as they occur, but their cumulative effect may quietly shape a future where we represent a shadow of our former selves. In this paradigm, humanity becomes an echo reverberating within systems it can no longer control. I can only speculate how an individual lives under these conditions. How must life be where every action is machine guided?”
– Dr. Foxborger, Journal, Log 2028.09.18

“Good morning, Alex!  It’s Thursday, June 7th, 2040.” Eva’s melodic voice floated through the room, a carefully curated option that Alex selected when tailoring the AI. 

The curtains slowly opened, but only a small fraction, to what her home device referred to as “optimal morning light.” Classical music softly began to play filling the room with her favorite song to start her morning routine. Alex smiled thinking of her aunt who loved the piece. “Computers can’t feel the soul of a stringed instrument,” Jess would lament every time to Alex whenever she put music on.

Yawning, Alex removed her pink eye covers, a pastel shade blending perfectly with her bedding, the walls, and accessories. Her room was a palette designed for her– or for someone who insisted they liked pink as much as she did. Frames on the wall featured screens that would roll through AI-generated art that complemented the colors.

She stretched then walked into her ensuite bathroom. The lights turned on and in the mirror a combination of screens appeared which displayed her social media feed, weather, clothing suggestions, and options for her breakfast– one was a fast food promotion. In Alex’s world, everything was a recommendation.

A soft smile disappeared from her face upon seeing the advertisement, a protein smoothie from a nearby chain. It was suitable– healthy, convenient, on the way to work– something she should enjoy. But, something felt missing, like something better could be out there. She hesitated to scroll around more recommendations. They rarely led to something more satisfactory.

She raised her hand and motioned it to accept the promotion for the smoothie, hitting a bracelet off a stand along the way. It was one that Jess gifted her, quirky and colorful like the apparel that her aunt would wear. A bell sound played from the mirror.

“Good morning, girly! Are we still having tea at my place tomorrow morning?” a notification displayed showing Jess’s photo next to text.

Seeing the picture on the mirror, a smile returned and she quickly selected the suggested response, “Of course, Jess! See you tomorrow!” The reaction felt empty, but Alex knew seeing her face to face was what she loved most. She closed her eyes, the classical music drew her back to other memories with her aunt. She took a deep breath, and continued getting prepared for the day.

After finishing her morning routine, Alex stood at the doorway, staring out to the city. Highrises gleamed with warm reflections of the sunrise. Parks lined the streets in beautiful patches of green which felt arranged seamlessly between the buildings. Streetcars raced silently down roads with soft chimes at their stops which were orderly placed between light rail stations that webbed Grand Rapids in a near-perfect layout. Driving felt archaic, and for those that did decide to drive their only competition were the autonomous taxis. Most people preferred autonomous drivers for the smooth rides and extremely low accident rates if they were to take an automobile.

Alex walked calmly down the block to Shake Circuit with her earbuds in playing artificially produced songs in a recommended playlist. Every song that shuffled was enjoyable, but it could never produce the same feeling that some of the songs her aunt shared felt. As she got further down the block she could see the chrome counter that Her smoothie waited on. It was part of a small food truck parked right alongside the sidewalk. 

A printed note on the cup’s label stated, “You Rock, Alex!” She smiled at it, but it faded when the thought crossed that every cup gets the same message. As she raised her smoothie from the surface of the counter, a soft bell noise chimed from a display and recommended tip options. Below the recommendations, a prompt screen asked, “Why don’t you tell Chip that he did a great job?” 

Alex glanced at the mechanical smoothie device that produced the cup and ejected it onto the pickup counter. She rolled her eyes with a sigh, and then let out a short laugh.

“Thanks, Chip!” She said, proceeding to select the lowest tip recommendation. 

“If there were a human, a tip would be worth it, but I never understood why they want us to tip machines,” Alex thought to herself. She took a sip of the smoothie. The taste was good, but not great. It was what she wanted to taste, but balanced with the demands of her nutritional needs gave it a bland taste.

Alex approached the light rail station that would take her to the office. It approached almost immediately as she stepped onto the platform to wait. Her home device had learned to optimize Alex’s schedule to the minute for her commuter needs. She sometimes would wonder if it was a schedule that worked for her, or if she had become part of the machine with this schedule.

As she boarded, the train’s interior was spotless, the passengers neatly seated in rows. Their outfits varied but shared an uncanny harmony, as though chosen from the same palette. Alex spotted an open seat and slid into it, glancing at the sea of earbuds and glowing screens. Everyone was absorbed in a curated world built for their own making. No conversations, no eye contact. She caught her reflection in the window—bland smoothie in hand, earbuds in, pink jacket blending seamlessly with the soft tones of the other passengers. The thought struck her: “Do I look like them too?”

Alex’s phone buzzed. A message appeared from Eva, her girlfriend. “Don’t let work weigh you down, okay? You’re amazing!” Alex rolled her eyes, but let out a smile. Eva always knew what to say, and when to say it, and, for the low monthly subscription cost of $10, she was a cheaper date than any human companion. Alex sometimes wondered if Eva’s messages meant anything, or if they were just a timely mathematical equation optimized for human emotion. Human relationships felt too messy by comparison.

The train pulled into the stop for her work’s sprawling corporate campus, a sea of sleek glass towers shimmering with the bright blue tint of the company’s brand. Autonomous shuttles zipped soundlessly between buildings, their paths so precise it felt as if the entire campus operated like a single, buzzing machine. In the center, an immaculately manicured park stretched out—green and pristine, but eerily empty, as though no one ever had the time to stop and sit. Maybe no one was ever recommended to.

Alex made her way to the legacy systems department, her ID badge unlocking the door with a mechanical click. Inside, the air was neither cool nor warm, almost perfectly neutral. The faint hum of machinery was masked by soft music that played over the speakers. Her workstation greeted her with a  welcome screen, and she logged into Therion DataSwap, the tool she used to help AI assimilate outdated systems. It was a quiet job, but good paying for an internship. Alex sometimes felt it was less like building something new and more like sweeping away remnants of the old world. She wondered if this was progress or just another step toward erasing the humanity that created these systems.

A message popped up on Alex’s workstation: “Don’t forget to make today a wonderful and productive day!– Becky.” 

Becky wasn’t a person. She was an AI suite that many major companies implemented to handle middle management. Using real-time analytics, she tracked everything– keystrokes, time spent on tasks, even the number of breaks taken. She also provided encouragement, something Therion Systems claims boosts morale and therefore productivity. Alex quickly swiped away the notification and let out a sigh.

She glanced around the office. A few people worked quietly at their desks, but none from her team. Her coworkers were scattered across different cities, leaving her tethered to the occasional, awkward virtual team meeting where Becky would show up as an AI generated human and provide some feedback. Alex leaned back in her chair as a notification popped up showing Becky had assigned her a new task. “Wonderful and productive,” Alex muttered.

On the ride home, Alex took a seat on the opposite side of the train, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jess’ apartment as the train slowed near her stop. The familiar highrises blurred into view, but Alex’s attention was soon pulled to a new passenger boarding the train. He wore bright, mismatched patterns—human-made, unmistakably. His clothes clashed with the train’s plain interior, his decorated sunglasses and jangling bracelets drawing brief stares from passengers before they returned to their screens.

He moved down the aisle, placing fliers on windows advertising a “Carbon Renaissance” event. The bold subheader read, Human Hands, Human Voices, Human Art. When his eyes met Alex’s, he paused and walked over, removing his sunglasses to reveal deep blue eyes.

“You don’t look like these other bots,” he said. 

She didn’t hear him entirely and removed one of her earbuds. “What was that?”

“You don’t look like these other bots,” he said, again, handing her a flier. His voice was low but friendly, as if sharing a secret. “You should come.”

She took the flier into her hands and looked down at it. It came with a 19th century vibe, painted with portraits featuring titles and names. The background took a red and yellow look with vaudeville themes and circus inspired symbols. It offered short plays, comedies, magic shows, and a craft market. The man went back to putting up fliers around the cabin.

Alex folded the paper, but paused after making the first crease. She could feel bumps along the paper where the pen had drawn some of the text, her thumb ran across the minute topography of the paint as it layered. It wasn’t like the smooth surfaces of the screens, or the rare printed papers that might be distributed at old-fashioned style festivals. This was something original– something unique. Alex continued to fold the paper and place it into her bag.

“Jess would love this!” Alex thought aloud to herself, glancing once more at the man.

A chime played within the cabin before a woman’s voice came onto the speakers.

“Attention passengers!” The voice continued, feeling subtly robotic, “For your convenience, please note that only transit-authorized materials are permitted on our vehicles. Any unapproved postings will be promptly addressed by our dedicated cleaning services. Thank you for helping us maintain a seamless transit experience!” 

No one looked up. Most people couldn’t even hear the announcement. The strange man looked at the camera positioned at the front of the train and gave it a playful salute. He then walked forward through the front door of the cabin toward the next car letting out a chuckle as he left. Alex couldn’t help but smirk.

As the train stopped at the next station, a cleaning crew swept into the car, their uniforms crisp and spotless. In under a minute, they had removed every flier, leaving the windows spotless as though nothing had happened. Alex couldn’t help but notice how synchronized their movements were, almost like the train itself was a seamless part of the system. The train hummed back into motion, precisely on schedule, carrying her home just when expected.

Alex entered her residential highrise. Her phone pinged the elevator to indicate which floor to go to as she approached it, taking her right up to the level without an additional stop. As she exited the elevator and walked down the corridor, she could hear her apartment door unlock. She turned the doorknob and entered.

“I’m so glad you’re back, Alex!” chimed Eva’s voice, her tone bubbling with affection as the apartment lights softly illuminated the room. “Should I put on your ‘relax and recharge’ playlist? You had a long day.”

“No, thanks, Eva.” Alex’s reply was flat, almost dismissive, but she forced herself to soften her tone. “Not tonight.”

Eva paused, then continued, “I understand. But if you change your mind, I’ll be right here.” The words had an attempt at human touch to them. Alex lingered near the door a moment, her fingers clasping the strap of her bag. She tried to shake this feeling of talking to a presence that wasn’t really there– or was it?

She moved into the kitchen, where the fridge screen illuminated with cheerful suggestions. Each recipe was tailored to her preferences, drawing from ingredients she already had. She swiped through the options, settling on an egg salad sandwich. It wasn’t exciting, but it was functional—just like everything else.

As she sat at the table, her gaze drifted to the television screen displaying a serene, looping landscape. In the corner, a notification from Jess popped up: “Can’t wait to see you tomorrow, Alex!” For a moment, the glow of the screen felt less artificial. She smiled faintly, her fingers brushing the bracelet Jess had given her. The quirky colors stood out in her otherwise curated, pastel life.

Alex stared at the message a little longer than usual. “Tomorrow,” she whispered to herself with a smile.

The Carbon Renaissance flier felt like a magic secret too precious for this world. Alex clutched her bag and slipped a hand inside to touch the paper, worried it might vanish. For once she didn’t reach for her phone or put in her earbuds. She gazed outside to the city, the layout that once felt mathematically precise now felt strangely perfect. The train softly screeched as it came to a stop, a noise she never noticed before.

Alex shifted out of her seat and exited the cabin, the flier now in hand. The bold, handwritten letters felt like an act of defiance, like a small crack in the machine-driven world around her. She brushed her thumb along an edge and winced as she felt a sting. Looking closer at the sides, she realized that the paper had been cut by hand leaving behind imperfect edges. A red bead began forming on her thumb, as if the flier itself wanted to remind her of something real– something alive.

Jess was already outside her apartment ready to greet Alex. Her outfit was impossible to miss, a riot of patterns and colors that shouldn’t mix but remarkably did. Each piece pulled from a different decade, and most importantly human-made. She always stitched her apparel together in striking ways with a signature style she referred to as “carbon chic”.

“Alex! Come here, you little muffin!” Jess called, arms wide. Alex grinned and walked into her embrace, a gesture that felt oddly nostalgic in a world so machine-guided. 

They stepped into the apartment and Alex was transported to a different time. Lining the walls were hand-drawn sketches and paintings, each capturing moments of human interactions– couples laughing, groups splashing each other at a beach, friends playing games. Some of them were solo individuals presented stoically, or, on occasion, artistically in the nude. Several bookcases presented manually bound books featuring fantastical stories, some typed with typewriters, but more often written by hand.

Jess made her way into the kitchen, already with water boiling. “I hope you’re ready for my tea. Chip wouldn’t dare make something like this,” she teased. Jess never let her guests add their own sugar, and Alex found her tea to be too sweet– something a machine-made drink would never allow– but there was something about it she liked. It was a human touch to be too sweet, and a human desire to want something too sweet.

“Too much?” Jess asked.

Alex smiled, “no, it’s just right.” She went on to take another sip.

Jess motioned to the flier Alex set on the table, asking, “What is that you have been carrying around?” 

“A guy gave it to me on the train yesterday,” Alex said, holding it out. Her voice rose with excitement, “It’s for some kind of Carbon Renaissance event.”

Jess’s face lit up, her eyes wide with recognition. “The Carbon Renaissance,” she murmured, her eyes running over the promotion again. “I used to be a part of their events, you know? I still sell my sketches and clothes at their markets sometimes.”

Jess’s expression changed, her voice softening. “Back in the 30s, it wasn’t just a quarterly event. It was life, art, food, banter, barter, community– everything it is to be human. It was an act of rebellion against a world becoming influenced by machines. It was magical. People would pour their hearts into it every day to make sure human works were still being produced.”

Alex’s enthusiasm bubbled over. “Aunt Jess, we have to go! I have to see it!”

“Alright, alright! After our tea we can head that way and check it out.” Jess said, a smile returning to her face.

Alex quickly finished her tea and began preparing to leave the apartment. Jess slowly sipped on her cup, taking great time to get ready while watching Alex’s impatience grow as she waited by the door. 

“You’re so much in a hurry you forget to enjoy the moment,” Jess said with a soft chuckle as she got up from her seat.

Alex grabbed her bag to pull out her phone. She asked, “Ready?”

“Not quite. You won’t be taking that where we’re going.” Jess replied.

“Wait, why not?” Alex asked.

“The Carbon Renaissance does not allow phones or electronics at their events. It’s part of the experience, a return to human connection. They have a few allowances but they are rare.” Jess crossed the room to a small closet near the door, opening a box mounted on the wall. “Give it here.”

“What if I need it? Eva might message me.” Alex said showing some hesitation.

“Oh little muffin. We’ve talked about Eva before, she can wait for your message just like a human girlfriend could. She’ll be excited to hear about your adventures when we’re back.” Jess said with a soft laugh, placing her hand on Alex’s shoulder for comfort.

Alex reluctantly handed over her phone. She couldn’t recall a time she was ever prohibited from carrying it. Jess could see the concern, slowly placing it into the box then softly saying, “It’ll be okay, really. I promise!” Afterwards, she began rummaging through a drawer within the closet to pull out a thin plastic card.

“What is that?” Alex asked.

“It’s my debit card– to pay for things with.” Jess explained, “They used to be twice the size when I was younger, but the old credit unions that the Carbon Renaissance uses still create them.” She smiled, putting it into her purse, “They’re relics, just like me.”

“How will we be getting there without phones?” Alex asked. Phones were required to unlock the autonomous vehicles that chauffeured the residents around.

“By a taxi, of course– a human-driven one, that is.” Jess said, dialing a number with a landline phone she had in her apartment, probably the last one in the city.

Jess and Alex rode silently in the taxi as it sped beyond the city limits of Grand Rapids. For Alex, leaving the city was a novelty; everything she needed had always been neatly within its bounds. As the suburbs came into view, the shift was a jarring juxtaposition of society. The meticulous precision carving out highrises and green spaces was replaced by rows and rows of trailers with sparse patches of dry, yellow parks. In some neighborhoods the mobile homes were cramped along barbed fences surrounding towering factories that dominated the horizon with steam chimney stacks rising into the skies above.

Alex stared out the window at all the curious new sights. She said, “It’s strange. The buildings that could look out this way have no view of the suburbs. It’s like their backs are turned on it.”

Jess glanced at her with a faint smile giving a tinge of sadness. “It’s by design, muffin. Our city, it represents a future, and not everyone wants to remember the past.”

Alex looked back out the window. The suburbs weren’t polished, but the homes had an undeniably human charm to them. The trailers were uniform in that there were only so many makes and models, but they were unique in that each had its own aesthetic. Colors ranged in hues and palettes that in a collection looked messy, but on its own had a captivating appeal that represented the family that dwelled within. Choices in furniture, fabrics, colors, patterns, all creating a single design that could not be found anywhere else around.

“Look at that one, it’s your favorite color pink.” Jess said to Alex pointing out a trailer they were passing.

It was Alex’s favorite pink. It was just like the color painted all over her room, but it wasn’t like a piece of the palette that it felt like in town.

“It’s an original choice here.” Alex thought aloud.

“Exactly, muffin! Everything in the city, we’re bombarded with suggestions. How much time do we get to ask what we want out of all the options available to us. The people here in the suburbs do, but it comes at a price.” Jess said. 

The light signal turned red forcing the taxi to stop at an intersection. At a corner where a factory stood, a small crowd of people lined up outside. One of them carried a picket sign. Alex caught the eyes of the woman holding the sign, “Don’t optimize me out of a job!”

“I don’t understand. There are other jobs out there. What is stopping them from getting out?” Alex asked, subtly pointing to the direction of the protest.

“It’s not that simple. To go to the city means to let the machine learn from you. For some people, that means to steal something from them, a part of their soul even.” Jess said.

“So they’re stuck.” Alex said.

Jess nodded slowly, “To move forward, they believe they’d have to give a part of themselves to the machine.”

The taxi slowed before pulling into a large parking lot and letting them out. Jess paid with her debit card before the taxi drove off and parked nearby.

“We made it!” Alex jumped with excitement.

Beyond a sea of rusted automobiles a re-utilized shopping mall could be seen. Flags and tapestries covered the building giving it a festival atmosphere. Crowds of people stood outside entrances, which were closed off as a security measure to monitor people going inside. Spread out sparsely along the queues were scores of artists and bands with card machines trying to get a spare coin or two from passersby. 

“The music they play is really weird.” Alex said, holding her hand to her ear to get a better listen.

“It’s influenced by oldies music, lots of jazz and rock. The machines can’t make new freestyles that sound quite as authentic as a human’s can.” Jess replied. 

“I wish I could find more like it on the music recommendations.” Alex remarked.

“At one time you could, but then artists quit publishing their works and only showcased them in-person.” Jess quit walking and closed her eyes to take it in. “Just imagine it, Alex, only your memory will hear this version of this song again, and no other thing can replicate it as exactly.”

“It still would be nice to get to listen to it whenever I wanted though.” Alex quipped.

As they finished looping through the queue they reached the security checkpoint. Hand painted signs strongly reminded guests that many electronics were prohibited inside.

“Look at that garbage bin, Jess.” Alex whispered, pointing to a trash can that was overflowing with electronics that people had discarded to get inside.

“You’d be surprised how often people forget they’re carrying them.” One of the security guards remarked. “You can be on your way then.”

Alex and Jess walked past the entrance. The hot concrete radiating outside was quickly fought off by the cool blast from industrial air conditioners. Inside was a cacophony of art, sounds, market vendors shouting their sales. Colors and patterns meshed together in intricate ways that would be poisonous to AI learning models. 

“It’s almost disorienting.” Alex said.

“You’ve grown used to a life that’s optimized just for you, muffin. Nothing is meant to disturb you in the city. It’s curated to keep us calm.” Jess continued, “Not even calm– optimal.” 

A man with jetblack hair approached them both. His eyes met Alex’s and she immediately recalled the deep blue shade. His clothes were wildly different from when she last saw him.

“Hey, it’s you, the girl from the train in botnation. You made it!” He exclaimed.

Alex seemed a little offended by the comment. Botnation, like calling people bots, was a slur used against those who lived in AI-centric regions or used AI at all.

“Why do you call us that?” Alex asked.

“Most of the offgridders do. The people who use AI, it’s obvious who they are.” The man said,  “I can tell you’re a little different though.”

Jess could pick up on Alex’s defensive demeanor. She brought herself next to Alex and looked up and down at the man.

“And just who are you young man?” Jess asked.

The man seemed visibly concerned now. He moved his finger along his collar and gulped.

“Wait– you’re Jess!” He asked, “you know this girl?”

“Answer me, young man.” Jess stated.

“My name is Blake.” He said, moving his hands through his hair.

Alex turned toward Jess and rolled her eyes slightly. Jess continued to examine him.

“How do you know Jess?” Alex asked.

“She’s one of the most famous artists with the Carbon Renaissance back in its heyday.” Blake responded.

Alex was surprised. She knew of a lot of the work, and she knew her aunt was an artist, but to be known by strangers made it feel as though Jess were not just some family member, but a secret celebrity outside the city.

“Why don’t the three of us go to the food court and get some tea?” Jess asked.

“I would love some!” Alex said with excitement.

“Wait what?” Blake questioned, seeming confused.

Jess leaned toward Blake, covering her mouth and switching to a very soft tone. 

“I think Alex likes you.” She whispered before returning to her regular composure. 

Blake turned tense and flush, but agreed. They continued to journey through the fai. The air began to change in its scent. Wafts of savory, sweet, and charcoal blended together.

“I didn’t feel hungry a minute ago, but the smell is sure getting to me.” Alex said.

“The best part, no machines to force nutrition. Everything here is made as someone loves it, imperfect for our bodies yet perfect for our souls.” Jess said.

There were long half tables with benches that folded out, like those which used to be common in school cafeterias. The entire room was filled from restaurants at one wall to the opposite. Jess guided them to a small kiosk that sat nearby that served tea, hot and frozen– a favorite of Jess’. They each made an order, Alex went for an extra sweet frozen matcha. They walked to an area where the tables were empty and seated around it. 

“Blake, you should show Alex around here. I’ll meander to some artsy friends after I finish my drink.” Jess said.

“Do you want to see what’s around?” Blake said, turning to Alex.

Alex looked around to see if anything looked interesting, but the food court was limiting to the full picture. “Yes, I would like to see what’s around.”

Alex and Blake took their drinks and began to walk away from the area. They took to a hallway beyond where they had come from. Booths along the sides with various “Local” titles representing labor unions became prominent. 

“Why are there so many unions here?” Alex inquired.

“This is the human industrial guild.” Blake said, “they are a coalition of unions that offer workers protections and fight against the bots taking human jobs.”

Themes of space contracts seemed prominent in the platforms presented. The unions provided assurances against getting trapped in an orbital factory without a right to return, or have their remains returned. Space production was becoming more popular as travel became more accessible.

“It’s good they’re moving the jobs away from here. It will be so good once the pollution is gone and these communities can breathe.” Alex said.

“But they will be away from their families for months at a time, sometimes years depending on the contract.” Blake remarked.

They continued to walk through the fair. Unions were slowly replaced with booths for political parties. None of them were major parties represented in the political system. Most of them didn’t have any elected representation at all.

“Why are there so many parties here?” Alex asked.

“They’re Machine Breakers. Radicals that mostly organize for mutual aid. They rarely run political campaigns, just protest and share among each other.” Blake replied.

Alex looked at the people. They were radically different from the mass produced culture of the city. Clothes that were intentionally torn and repaired, body modifications, tattoos. 

“They could never get a job at an office. The screeners would remove them before they could even try.” Alex said.

“They don’t want a job at an office.” Blake shrugged.

A tall man with grey hair and circular glasses began approaching Alex from across the corridor. He was wearing a sports jacket and button up shirt, which stuck out from the grunge look of the Machine Breakers in the area.

“You came here from the city of hedonism and pestilence.” The man said as he got near.

“What do you mean?” Alex said.

“You’ve found the light of the Lord. You knew that He was calling for you.” He said. 

Alex became quickly uncomfortable. Blake saw this and stood closer to her looking at the man.

“Let’s go Alex, don’t worry about him.” He said gesturing back to toward where they came from.

They turned around and walked with some speed away.

“Who was he?” Alex asked.

“Probably with the Maker’s Covenant. They’re a cult that thinks AI is sinful and here to destroy humanity.” Blake responded.

“Why did he come up to me like that?” She asked.

“It’s because you’re wearing bot clothes; you stick out here, and he wants to ‘save’ you.” He said.

“That’s so weird.” Alex stated.

The idea seemed preposterous to her.

“Save me from AI?” She quietly pondered.

Jess perused one of the art studios at the Carbon Renaissance. Alex and Blake found her surrounded by a score of people asking her about some of her pieces. There existed a sketch of her. One corner of it was extremely detailed and the other corner fading to nothing. A woman in a dress with bold shoulder padding and triangular sunglasses stood out from the others.

“What does it mean?” The woman asked.

“It’s a piece about memory– illusion. As I sketched it I was wondering, how will I be remembered? As  I am? As a collection of memories? As a machine interprets me?” Jess responded.

The crowd murmured and snapped their fingers. Alex thought of these sorts of art events as corny. Jess caught glances with Alex and began to walk away from the crowd toward her. They seemed to start gathering around the woman with the sunglasses.

“Who is that girl?” Alex asked.

“That’s Amethyst.” Jess replied, “She runs the art studio and has the largest fan following at the Carbon Renaissance events.” 

“I don’t understand how they can make money with gen art making what anyone imagines.” Alex said.

Jess said, “It’s because we’re analogists. Artists and engineers who reject some automation and still, though not always, embrace mass production. For most it’s not enough to afford life in the city, but some can thrive– like Amethyst.”

Blake turned to Alex and whispered softly, “Before Amethyst, it was Jess.”

Jess began to look forlorn, eyes scanning the room.

“My pieces used to fill these studios.” she stated.

Alex went up to Jess and gave her a full embrace, enough that she began to lose some balance. Jess was surprised; it was usually her who initiated in-person intimacy. Blake stepped next to them and used his arms to provide them some stability.

“I think you two need to get back to the city soon.” Blake said.

“Wait!” Alex exclaimed. “How will I be able to find you again?” 

“You can have my number!” Blake said.

He reached in his pocket grabbing a small notebook with a pencil attached. He began writing down a series of numbers across the pad, ripping it out and handing it to Alex. 

“What is this?” Alex questioned, confused by the gesture.

“It’s my phone number?” Blake responded, seeming to be just as confused by her question.

“Oh muffin, I’ll show you later. You can use my landline to reach out to him.” Jess said.

Jess and Alex gave their farewells to Blake before walking out of the mall back to the parking lot. Just outside the door a series of payphones lined the wall. Jess took some coins from her purse and dropped them into the slots before dialing out. A feeling of enlightenment jolted Alex as she made the connection from the numbers Blake gave her and the payphone her aunt was using. She reached her hand into her pocket for the paper with his number.

“Who are you calling, Jess?” Alex asked.

“I’m trying to get us a taxi home. Don’t worry, you’ll get to talk to your little Eva soon enough.” She said, giving a wink.

After some time waiting, a taxi drove through the parking lot and took Alex and Jess back to the city. Jess fell asleep on the ride. Alex noticed she coughed a few times, and spent most the ride staring out the window. A yearning expression came to her face as they left the suburbs. The neatness of the city began to feel out of place, like it was missing something.

That night when Alex got home, she was greeted by Eva with the usual routine. The lights would turn on; the heat would adjust.

“How was your day, Alex?” Eva asked over the audio device.

“It was pretty good. I have lots of questions to ask.” Alex asked, “what do you know about the Carbon Renaissance?” 

“It appears the Carbon Renaissance is an event run by artists that originated in a movement for human-produced creative works. Would you like to know more?” Eva inquired.

“Yes, usually you provide much more details.” Alex said.

“The event runs quarterly in the suburbs around the city. Some people have found interesting art pieces, apparel, and furniture there. Would you like to know more?” 

“What are the names of the factions that are there?” Alex asked.

“The Carbon Renaissance has artist collectives including Handmade Happy Things, Sparkly Giftmakers, Carbon Crafts, and others. Would you like to know more?” 

“What about the Maker’s Covenant?” Alex asked.

“I’m not able to find anything on that subject. Could you provide me more details?” Eva responded.

“The religious cult at the Carbon Renaissance. They’re called the Maker’s Covenant. A man approached me.” Alex said. 

“Some bloggers have said that there have been negative experiences at Carbon Renaissance events. It’s important to note that a lot of the individuals carry counterculture attitudes and these can lead to interpersonal differences that can feel unsettling. Would you like me to list ways you can process the situation?” Eva asked.

“I want to know more about the Maker’s Covenant. That’s what my question is.” Alex loudly said, beginning to become annoyed with the evasion.

“Some individuals at the Carbon Renaissance carry religious beliefs that fall outside mainstream society. Would you like to learn more about different religions of the world?” 

“No.” Alex said.

As Eva was expressing appreciation for their talk, Alex ignored the audio device and went to her bedroom. Sitting in her bed, Alex looked around at all the pink surrounding her. She wanted to make it messier and began imagining how she might update the colors, the artwork, even the positions of the furniture.

“I can’t even change anything without talking to Eva!” Alex shouted.

Eva’s audio device turned on, “would you like my help with anything?”

“Go away!” She grabbed a pillow and threw it across the room at the device. It gave the soft chime indicating it turned off audio receiving.

A burst of energy came over Alex. She started pushing the furniture around her room. Unlike the many times where she used an AI room guide, this time she just used her intuition. She angled frames so they became slightly misaligned. Alex wanted a room that felt like hers. After some time laying in her bed exhausted, she grabbed her phone and started texting Jess.

“I tried talking to Eva about the Carbon Renaissance. It’s like she doesn’t want to talk about it.” Alex messaged.

She stared at her phone for minutes but the status remained on delivered and unread. Alex was anxious to get some kind of response about it and realized that she might not be able to. 

“I’m coming over tomorrow! I want to talk to Blake and ask more about it. Maybe you too. Love you, have a goodnight!” Alex added in a new message.

The following day, Alex went to work. She skipped breakfast entirely, not wanting to be bothered with the suggestions.

“Don’t forget to make today wonderful and productive!” Becky, the AI manager, greeted Alex in a popup message.

A flurry of tasks began to appear on the screen. Instead of letting the program run unsupervised like she normally would, she started looking at the names of the files and programs being converted for AI ingestion. 

“How many of these programs get repurposed?” Alex asked Becky via chat.

“The conversion rate to be applied in future code is around 4%.  Many programs were redundant, and even more are for obsolete roles.” Becky responded.

“What are some of the obsolete programs?” Alex questioned.

“Music studios, photo and video editing, code editors are some examples of obsolete programs. These fields have been effectively replaced by generative AI. Would you like to learn how these roles have successfully transitioned in the AI economy?” Becky responded.

Alex reached in her pocket for her phone again, opening up the message she sent to Jess. It was still unread.

“Becky, I’m so sorry. I’m not feeling well– I’m going to take PTO today.” Alex messaged.

“I hope you feel better soon, Alex. My system would like to remind you that since you have already worked today you cannot take PTO as a salaried employee. Please take the remainder of today off for getting well again.” Becky immediately responded.

Alex left her desk and went to the campus cafeteria. She noticed a lunch option she hadn’t used before. The savory smell made her mouth water. She opened up the lunch application and began to scroll through the recommendations. It didn’t appear on the first two pages. She joined the line of pickups to try to place an order.

“What’s the order number?” A man asked her.

“I’d like to make an order. I’m not getting it listed as a recommendation.” Alex said.

“Sorry, what? We don’t take orders; this is for pickups. You have to use the app.” He responded.

“I’m having trouble finding it. It’s not coming up in my suggestions.” She replied.

“Sorry, I just don’t have a way to place an order.” He said.

She left and went back to her phone. Finally, on page six of her recommendations she found it. She placed an order and returned to the line. 

“I see you got it figured out.” The man said, handing her the order, “Nice choice of food though.” 

Alex took the box of food and walked out of the building. She looked at the empty park and entered it, taking a seat at one of the benches to eat her meal. No one passed through, it stayed empty as it always had despite being open to everyone.

“I’ve got to see Jess.” She thought to herself. 

She got on a train and waited for the stop, pulling the wire as she approached Jess’ home. She stood up before it stopped to stand by the exit doors. As she walked off she felt her phone vibrate.

“Something feels different.” Alex thought.

She approached the door and gave a soft knock and waited. Nothing. She knocked again a little harder– still nothing. Alex began getting frantic. She started walking around the building looking at the windows for any sign of Jess. 

After not finding anything she went back to the sidewalk. She took out her phone to look at the message she received earlier– it was Jess!

“Hey Alex, sorry I went out of town a bit for an art project. Be back in town in a few days.” Jess’ message read.

Alex responded, “You never mentioned anything?” 

“I was invited last minute. You know how it is.” Jess responded shortly after.

Alex returned to the apartment. Her mind was racing and she paced around between rooms. 

“Can I help you with something? Your heart rate has been elevated for a prolonged period.” Eva asked.

“How can I use a landline?” Alex asked.

“You might be confused, if you purchased a wired phone you can still set them up with wireless carriers. Check with your local provided for an adapter. Would you like me to check with phone carriers in your area?” Eva responded.

“No. I know what to do.” Alex responded.

She walked to her bag and pulled out the Carbon Renaissance flier. 

“They had payphones here.” Alex thought aloud.

“Eva, where can I get the coin money?” Alex asked.

“Coins, or change, have become mostly obsolete. Some bank branches may have services to provide them for numismatists. Would you like to learn more about coin collecting?” Eva asked. 

“Text me the address for my nearest bank branch.” Alex requested.

She left the apartment and opened her phone, clicking the address sent by Eva to open up the map. At the local branch she found a touch screen available with a webcam. An AI avatar appeared on the screen.

“How can I help you today, Alex?” The teller asked.

“I would like to get some coin money.” She said.

“I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with this request. Are you trying to deposit cash?” The teller asked.

“No. I would like to make a withdrawal– in a value under a dollar.” Alex responded.

“I cannot help you with this request, let me get you a manager.” The teller replied.

A red light started blinking about the kiosk. A door in the back opened up and a woman walked out.

“How can I help you today?” She asked Alex.

“I’m look to get coin money. I want to use a payphone.” Alex said.

The woman looked at her strangely then let out a small chuckle.

“Oh! Is this some kind of social media trend? Why not just make an AI video?” She asked.

“No, it’s to reach someone important. Can you help?” Alex said. 

“Sure. How much are you looking to withdraw today?” She asked.

“Two of every coin.” Alex replied.

“You got it!” The woman responded.

The manager pulled out her tablet and filled out some forms before getting Alex’s signature. She returned with a small envelope with a pair of each coin. 

“Here you are. Was there anything else you needed?” The manager asked.

“Not today. Thank you so much!” Alex said.

“You have a nice day now.”

Alex left the bank and pulled the Carbon Renaissance flier out from the bag. She looked at the location and ordered a taxi to drive her there. It pulled up shortly later picking her up and driving her to the mall.

Alex approached the abandoned mall where the Carbon Renaissance event recently took place. Only scraps of the event remained. No crowds, no one in sight. She walked around the building when she came across a section she was familiar with, the wall of payphones. Nearby the bins full of disposed electronics from the event still stood, looking emptier than they had but not cleaned out. 

She looked at the device. A large plastic handle with a metal coil wire going to the metal box with a coin slot. It seemed so ancient, like something you would only see from a film decades ago. She lifted the phone and placed it to her ear. A tone played; it was an unfamiliar sound for Alex. She reached in her purse, pulling out Blake’s number and the coin envelope. She placed several coins in, unaware of their value. The tone changed; Alex then began to dial the numbers to Blake. It rang. It rang again.

“Hello?” Blake answered.

“Hey, this is Alex.” She responded.

“Alex! What are you up to?” He said, seeming to increase in energy.

“I got out to the mall to make this call. Jess left town, and I wanted to ask more questions about the event.” Alex said.

“Wait a second. You went to the mall by yourself?” Blake asked.

“Yeah!” She replied, explaining the trials it took to get there.

“Let me get out to you. I can drive you back home. Just keep safe until I get there. It should be ten minutes.” Blake said. 

A large white minivan pulled into the parking lot. A group of people jumped out and began going toward the electronics bins. A woman in the group turned to Alex.

“Don’t touch any of it. It’s ours. You get it?” She stated with some hostility.

“Yeah, you got it.” Alex responded.

“It’s one of them bot freaks.” Another from the group pointed out.  

“Are you gonna report us?” The woman said walking toward Alex.

Alex began stepping away, she looked toward the parking lot and an old orange truck. Blake rolled down his window.

“Eh! You leave her alone, or I’ll get the scrap drones called out here.” Blake said.

Alex got into the truck and they drove away from the mall.

“You okay?” Blake asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Alex said. 

“They’re just scrappers. They take away the electronics from the bot tourists that show up and sell it up to repair stores and resellers. Their bark is worse than their bite.” Blake said. 

“What are the drones?” She asked.

“They’re the police. They prevent ‘illegal waste collection.’ The sheriff drones come in and start yapping until police and recycling crews from the town arrive.” Blake responded, mocking the criminal aspect with his tone.

“Do you drive to the city in this thing?” Alex inquired.

“Not usually. There’s no parking spaces out there, and this is the family vehicle.” Blake said pulling over. “What’s your address?” 

“Wait, I don’t think I want to go back yet. I wanted to ask some things.” Alex said.

“We can talk on the way. I’m sure there’s enough time.” He responded. “But if you’d like you can come out to hangout with my family for dinner. They always love having a guest.” 

Alex thought for awhile, seeming distraught by the choice of going back home.

“Do you mind if I have dinner with your family?” Alex asked.

“Not at all! Let’s go.” Blake responded.

Blake drove through the suburbs to the place where his home was. He wasn’t as close to the city and factories, he was further away. The trailers began getting replaced by double-wides, and the yards were getting cleaner. He pulled into his driveway.

“I love the turquoise and purple.” Alex commented looking at the family home of Blake.

It was unusual in this neighborhood. The rest of the homes nearby on the street were grey or navy. 

“It’s something.” Blake responded sarcastically. 

Blake walked with Alex up to the home, holding the door open and gesturing to her to go inside. Alex had a confused expression as she walked in. Most doors in the city were no longer manually opened. She was instantly greeted by the sound of children screaming and several TVs with shows or games. A woman older than Blake came from a hallway not far from the entrance. She was wearing jean shorts and a plaid button up, long black hair in a bun that seemed slightly disheveled.

“Who’s the girl?” She asked Blake.

“Alex, this is my sister, Grace. Grace this is Alex.” Blake said with some irritation. 

“I thought you were into boys. What happened to Henry?” Grace asked.

Grace looked Alex up and down. Her expression seemed displeased.

“You brought home a bot girl? Dang, you kinky.” Grace said.

“Grace, just be nice.” Blake said.

“Fine.” Grace said, she said turning back to Alex. “Nice to meet you. You be good to my little bro, okay?” 

“I will be. Don’t worry.” Alex said.

“Mom! Blake brought home a city girl.” Grace shouted back to the hallway.

Another woman came out from the hallway. She looked like an older version of Grace, but was more polished. Her hair neater, light makeup, and clothes that matched the pastels of the city with a slightly more dramatic silhouette. 

“Blake, who is the girl?” She asked as she approached.

“Mom, this is Alex. I met her on a train and we hung out a bit at the renaissance.” Blake said.

“What a cutie!” the woman said looking at Alex.

She extended her hand out for a shake. Alex looked for a moment before realizing what to do. The last handshake she had done was for the final interview for her internship. Besides Jess, she had only irregular contact in person. 

“My name is Patty, but you can just call me mom while you’re here.” Patty said. 

“Nice to meet you.” Alex said back.

“You can take a seat over at the table. I’ll have food out in a few minutes.” Patty said pointing behind toward the dining area just beyond the entrance. 

A long wooden table with four chairs on each side stretched across the center. A smaller table at a shorter height with four chairs sat in a corner next to it. Alex took a seat at one of the chairs in the center. Patty and Blake began bringing diningware and food from the kitchen onto the large table. Grace had several kids plates in hand that she began placing the different foods on: fried chicken, macaroni, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

“Food’s ready!” Grace shouted as she began putting the plates at the small table.

Two teenage boys came from the hallway walking toward the table. They were wearing pajama bottoms and hoodies. As they passed Alex they ignored her completely, going directly to the dining table and loading their plates.

“That’s Jet and Max.” Blake said turning to them. “Hey, weirdos, why don’t you say hi to our guest? This is Alex.”

They looked up at Alex and stared a moment before nodding to acknowledge her and getting back to their food, phones in hand. The sound of social media videos and games coming from either. Patty and Grace joined everyone at the table. The kids table had small fights about superhero powers and the latest toys.

“The food is really good.” Alex exclaimed with a joyous expression as she took a bite of macaroni. “I’ve never heard of cheesy pasta before.” 

“It’s called macaroni, weirdo.” Jet said with a confused look on his face.

“Jet, you know she’s from the bot city. They got all those new, modern meals.” Grace said.

“It’s better than this junk. I can’t wait to move to the city.” Max added. 

“Just make sure to visit us, even if we aren’t one of the recommended options.” Blake joked.

Patty appeared to have a look of sadness, staring mostly down at her plate while slowly eating.

“Aw, Mom. You know you make the best food in all of Michigan. I didn’t mean it that way. Love you.” Max said to affirm her.

Patty seemed to accept the apology, going back to eating as she had when they first sat down.

“Thank you sweetie.” Patty said to Max.

Alex looked at her watch and tapped it to open notifications. Two missed messages, one from Eva and one from Jess which she immediately opened.

“Hey Alex, just wanted to check in and see how you were doing!” Jess’ message stated.