Photo by: Yarnspinnerr
Sixteen-year old Raul pointed up at the window and sighed, “Pia is so beautiful. What should I do, Grandpa?”
Grandpa Ernesto grinned, “You have to go ‘get’ the girl.” Mentally, he prepared a talk about poetry, music, and flowers.
“You’re right, Grandpa!” interjected Raul. “Thanks!”
Days later Raul brought a lovely girl to him. “Grandpa! This is Pia.”
Surprised and grinning, he said, “Hello Pia.”
Pia beeped. “FXM-22413, awaiting directives.”
Grandpa’s face drooped. “Ah, Raul…”
“It’s still downloading a personality, just like Pia’s.”
“It’s a robot.”
“Right? I decided to ‘get’ a girl the way everybody else does these days.”
_______________________________________
Written for the Friday Fictioneers: https://rochellewisoff.com/2018/04/11/13-april-2018/
EagleAye
Momus News 
Well, I suppose it’s safer than wooing an actual human being.
As a disturbing aside, I had just mentioned to another blogger my short story “The Girl from Svay Pak,” where mothers will sell their daughters (virgins are especially prized) into sex slavery in the Phnom Penh neighborhood of Svay Pak in Cambodia. I combined this with the disturbing (and very real life) trend of at least one Japanese company making life-like child “sexbots”.
Although your tale was certainly meant to be lighthearted, there is a much darker side and it exists in real life.
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I know. I’m familiar with these issues, though I didn’t know specifically about Svay Pak. I did know about the general practice. I saw a documentary about people that purchased love dolls. These fellows eat and watch movies ith the dolls even though, they cannot interact with them meaningfully. I think it’s odd, and it’s the source of my story. What will life be like when robots can interact with us? How many people will prefer the robots?
Thanks much for your thoughts.
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Some of these companies are already advertising how they’re “improving” their products with AI.
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I know. The high-end models are incredibly life-like. Apparently there is a demand for them.
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Sadly enough. When doing the research for the Svey Pak story, I found a news article about a Canadian man who was arrested when he attempted to take possession of a “unit” he had shipped to him from Japan. The trial was still pending when the article was published so I don’t know the ultimate disposition, but the company that makes these products is rather guarded about the names and locations of their customers.
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Interesting. Isn’t this entering a legal grey area? I mean, the guy didn’t have an actual child sent to him (it was a robot), repulsive though that is. How do the laws work on that?
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I imagine it goes country by country and maybe even state by state. They may be using the same laws that make it illegal to possess and transmit child pornography since the robot is an “image” of a child to be used for sexual purposes.
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That’s what I was wondering. Is it being treated as an image. Well, I do hope they successfully prosecute him.
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They probably will. Haven’t heard any news about any customers in the U.S., but I’m sure (sadly enough) there’s a market for these sorts of things.
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Shape of things to come? I do hope not! Nicely done. 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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I hope not too. I like things the old-fashioned way, even though my singing voice isn’t what it used to be. 😉 Thanks Susan!
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I suppose that with enough money, nothing is out of reach!
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That’s true, but even money can’t buy true love. Though it can buy iLove v2.2.1. 😉
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Ah, if only it were that easy! As someone who’s been on dates with far too many schmucks, idiots, and narcissists in recent years, the idea of being able to download a personality I would actually enjoy is sounding better and better… 🙂
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I think this might be one reason why people like dogs and cats. Everyone’s been on their share of horrible dates. At least a dog is happy to see you when you get home and he’s never condescending. 😉
I’ll have to see if they program foot rub expertise into those downloadable personalities. 😉
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Foot rubs are pretty far down on my list. I’d prefer expertise in asking about my day while cooking dinner. 🙂
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Haha! I’ll put that in the suggestion box.
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Well, there’s a vision of the future I could do without!
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Same here. I think I’ll be long gone by the time that rolls around. Thank goodness for small favors. 😉
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Dear Eric,
Raul is nothing if not resourceful. That’s certainly a surefire way to ‘get the girl.’ I wonder what would happen if he pursued the real Pia. Clever and imaginative as always. (Nope didn’t spew 😉 )
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hehe. I’ll keep trying. 😉 I guess if all you need to do to ‘get the girl’ is place an order through Amazon, anybody can do it. 😉 Thanks Rochelle! 🙂
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What a sad state of affairs… Do you happen to watch “Black Mirror”?
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I’ve watched a little bit of it. It was depressing my wife, so not a lot. Was there a similar story there?
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Some of the stories are very weird And scary (because plausible in the near future). Yes. There was one where the wife’s husband dies and end up with a “doll” that looks exactly like the husband, sounds like him and has all the ahh working parts…
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Woo. Yeah, if it was just me I would watch more of it. It’s like a newer version of Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits. Unfortunately, the wife doesn’t care for it and it’s inappropriate for my daughter. Oh well.
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So… you do like me and watch it.when you are alone 😉
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Precisely! 😉
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Wait till Grandpa sees his Credit Card bill 🙂
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Haha! Good point. Goodbye Pia! 😀
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Raul is very forward-thinking. Good lad 🙂
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He’s good at staying current with the times. 😉
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I have a motto: Artificial intelligence will never replace natural born stupidity.
There’s a story in my first book about a guy who’s in love with an inflatable love doll named Mona. 🙂
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Oh Russell – that name! – how could you…?
Teehee!
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Haha! You are so right. It’s our human advantage. 😉 I’ll bet that story of yours was very funny. I guess I’m not the only one to consider this avenue of the future. I’m sure I’m not the last. 😉 Thanks Russell!
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That’s technology for you, always making our lives easier for us.
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So true. Easier, but not necessarily better. 😉
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Nicely written, EagleAye. Thought provoking as well as funny.
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Thank you, Penny! Glad it struck such different notes.
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Oh god I do hope this is not the future! Although I have heard robots might take over the work force so it’s probably not that far off. Great story.
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I hope it isn’t too. Where’s the challenge in that? And it hardly helps with maintaining the species. There’s alternatives for that of course, but they’re not nearly as much fun. 😉 Thanks so much!
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Online dating on steroids. Really creative story.
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Hehe. Yep, or a dating service provided by Amazon. 😉 Thanks kindly! 🙂
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It’s not the personality that they are interested in. Nicely done.
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Sadly, this is often the truth. Thanks much!
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I expect artificial intelligence will come later. Fun read.
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Oh yeah, it’s coming. It’s not an if but a when. Glad you had fun. Thanks much!
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Super cool!
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Thank you kindly! 🙂
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I guess that is one way to get the girl. Scary though. Well done.
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Yeah, it’s scary to think that might come to pass one day. I hope not. Thanks much! 🙂
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