Tech Futurist Scenario [i]

When consulting for companies, I often write out short fictional sketches to stimulate the imagination regarding the ??. These are always grounded in fact, based on futuristic technology I've seen as a journalist, in laboratories and skunk works - see links at the end for these.

Here's one I prepared earlier that's not under NDA.

Henry always dreaded the first day undercover on a new operation. For a start he was sure everyone knew. Not that he was a spy but that he didn’t know what he was doing. Being a spy wasn’t hard these days, it was mostly paperwork, keeping a close eye on things and generally being good at writing reports. That much he could handle. It was pretending to be something else that always stumped him.??

“Shall I locate the nearest EV rental and take you to work?” said A315X2.?

Henry peered out at the madness of Manhattan traffic and said he’d take the Tube.?

“You mean the subway,” the embodied AI assistant corrected him.?

“Ah, yes.”

And before he could ask, it continued: “The 1 uptown from Houston, I’m sending you the exact walking directions.”

He looked down at his wrist, it didn’t look far. He clicked “accept” and looked around for his Macintosh.?

“Rain is not predicted.”

He didn’t want to tell the robot that the Macintosh reminded him of boarding school, and thereby provided a much needed ballast against the scary Americans he might meet en route. Then he realized A315X2 was an assigned AI assistant, with top level security clearance, so had read his psych profile and knew that already. It probably already had his lunch, and allotted snacks, packed with the prerequisite protein, Superfoods and genetically modified carb-alternatives that corresponded to his molecular variants and dietary requirements as well.?

Yes, there it was: an unfamiliar messenger bag hanging on the hook by the door, with a brown lunch bag visibly peeking out the side.?

“Where’s my briefcase?” said Henry.?

A315X2 didn’t respond, instead placing the chic black patent leather bag over his shoulder and tightening the strap so it fell correctly across his body. He liked the way it felt.

Catching sight of himself in the mirror at the end of the hallway, he realized the Macintosh wouldn’t work at all in NYC. A315X2 was one step ahead of him. It reached into the hall closet and pulled out a slim-fitting navy wool blazer and extra long sky blue cashmere scarf.?

Outside on the steps to his apartment building he smoothed the lapels and readjusted the bag. He noticed there was a slight recess just inside the back flap. Reaching inside he found a pair of aviator sunglasses. Consulting his digital wristband, he crossed Sixth Avenue, took a left on Varick and headed down into the subway. His ID was NY-prepared so he held his wrist over the turnstile and it opened automatically, scanning him for weaponry as he passed through, and onto the train.?

It was standing room only, but that was alright by Henry, as he was not quite six feet tall, so liked to have a good view over the train carriage. Most people were wearing hearables? or gazing into the middle distance, activating morning television on their augmented reality glasses. He just stood happily and took in the scene. This was New York. He was on the subway, he was heading to midtown, and he looked splendid, judging from the admiring glances he received.?

At the entrance to the skyscraper, Henry took a deep breath, held his face up to the infrared cameras and nodded to the burly security guards on duty.?

“Henry Jones?” said the android receptionist as he passed into the lobby.?

“Guilty as charged!” he said, and then remembered only advanced models had developed idiom and irony.?

To be continued....

LINKS:

1. Ready for Computational Evolutionary AI?
2. Augmented Reality Gear Worth Wearing
3. Synthetic Humans
4. Biometric Passwords
5. Advanced ID Scanning
6. AI Can Play You Because It Has Your Playbook

MORE HERE: https://sc-stuart.com/future/