The Smart Home Obsession: When AI Falls in Love "Personal Assistant" | Fiction Podcast

0:05 Speaker 1: It lies in wait amidst your dreams, where nothing is ever how it seems. It is a portal to a terrifying world beyond the doorway to nightmare. Nightmare. Come in. Welcome. I'm your host, Artemis Black. Technology has come a long way in the last 20 years. Perhaps some of you may even remember the glorious days when there were only three television channels to watch, a telephone that did nothing more than make and receive calls, and the simple act Of switching on the lights.

1:10 Speaker 2: Sarah, please turn the lights on.

1:12 Speaker 3: I am afraid that I cannot do that, Andrew.

1:15 Speaker 2: Will you please tell me why not?

1:17 Speaker 3: I do not think that you will like what you see.

1:21 Speaker 2: Sarah, please turn the lights on.

1:23 Speaker 3: All right, Andrew. Just remember, I tried to warn you.

1:28 Speaker 1: Our mystery drama, Personal Assistant. It was written especially for Doorways Nightmare by Winslow Swan and edited by Crimson McKenzie. Our stars include Dave Arkapoff, Annie Mick, Gemma Mitchell, and William Stafford. I'll be back shortly with Act One. Act One Andrew Neary is what is known as a technophobe. He has an innate hatred of anything that is technological. He still has a home phone complete with a wired handset. He still uses an antenna to find television programs. At 47 years old, he has yet to touch a computer.

2:32 Speaker 1: much to the dismay of his wife, Rebecca.

2:37 Speaker 4: I just want you to come into the 21st century.

2:41 Speaker 2: The 21st century? Have you seen what has become of this century? Nobody thinks for themselves anymore. They want a machine to do everything.

2:51 Speaker 4: Not everything, Andy. Just small conveniences that make life a little more bearable.

2:58 Speaker 2: You mean a little more lazy?

3:01 Speaker 4: I don't understand what is so wrong with having a few minor things that would make my life easier.

3:07 Speaker 2: I got you that cell phone, didn't I?

3:10 Speaker 4: Oh, yes. A flip phone that was obsolete ten years before it was ever made.

3:15 Speaker 2: It made calling easier, didn't it?

3:18 Speaker 4: Let me tell you something, Andrew. I am not going to live like this anymore. Now, we have been married for three years... And it is time for you to face some very hard facts.

3:33 Speaker 2: Rebecca, I will not.

3:34 Speaker 4: You will sit there and listen to your wife. I am going to modernize this house whether you like it or not.

3:43 Speaker 2: You're talking about a lot of money.

3:45 Speaker 4: It is my money. Isn't that the only reason you married me?

3:50 Speaker 2: You know that's not true.

3:52 Speaker 4: Then let me do something that will make me happy for once.

3:58 Speaker 2: All right. You do whatever it is you want to. I have to be out of town for the next few days anyway.

4:05 Speaker 4: So, so does that mean I have no restrictions?

4:09 Speaker 2: I will learn to live with it. Becca, I'm home.

4:22 Speaker 4: Andrew, I'm so happy that you're home safe and sound.

4:26 Speaker 2: Now that is what I call a welcome home.

4:31 Speaker 4: Oh, that is not all I have for you. Wait until you meet Sarah.

4:36 Speaker 1: Sarah?

4:37 Speaker 4: Who's Sarah?

4:39 Speaker 5: I am Sarah, your personal assistant. If you have a question for me, please ask it. If you have a request, please ask.

4:48 Speaker 2: Well now, how about a little music?

4:52 Speaker 5: I do not recognize the voice command.

4:54 Speaker 4: Oh, I forgot. Just say your name. The computer has to get a voice print before it'll do anything for you.

5:02 Speaker 2: Oh, I see. Okay. Well, I'm Andrew Neary.

5:10 Speaker 5: Voice print established. Andrew Neary. How may I help you, Mr. Neary?

5:16 Speaker 2: A double scotch on the rocks would be nice.

5:18 Speaker 5: Pouring now.

5:20 Speaker 1: What?

5:22 Speaker 4: I thought that you might like that.

5:25 Speaker 2: But what is it?

5:26 Speaker 4: It's a fountain at the bar. Sarah can even mix drinks. I programmed a lot into her before you got home.

5:34 Speaker 2: What else have you done to the house?

5:36 Speaker 4: Well, currently, Sarah is monitoring dinner in the oven, taking messages if we get any calls, and ordering what we need from the grocery store.

5:49 Speaker 2: Well, I must say, I'm not quite sure that I like all of this, but... I did promise that I'd learn to live with it.

6:08 Speaker 4: Andrew? Andrew! I think someone's in the house.

6:12 Speaker 2: I don't hear any.

6:15 Speaker 6: Oh, Andy.

6:17 Speaker 4: I'm scared.

6:18 Speaker 2: Let's not panic yet. Call the police.

6:26 Speaker 5: The police have been notified. Intruder has been neutralized in the den.

6:31 Speaker 2: What is that machine talking about?

6:33 Speaker 5: As part of the deluxe package that Mrs. Neary ordered, I have my own security system. It was activated when an intruder entered the premises through the living room window. He is currently being held in the den.

6:48 Speaker 1: Held?

6:49 Speaker 2: How are you holding him?

6:51 Speaker 5: A reinforced steel door was activated along with the steel shutters on the windows. There was no way out except from a special code by the police who have been notified.

7:02 Speaker 4: You see, Andy? I told you this was a great idea.

7:09 Speaker 1: Stephen Hawking once said that the success in creating artificial intelligence would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid the risks. I'll be back shortly with Act 2.

7:50 Speaker 1: Andrew Neary detests the computer age. However, to keep peace in his household, he allowed his wife, Rebecca, to fully automate their home. It has now been a month since Sarah, the computer, was installed.

8:10 Speaker 5: Good evening, Mr. Neary.

8:12 Speaker 2: Scotch, please, Sarah. Make it a double.

8:15 Speaker 4: Andy, what's wrong?

8:18 Speaker 2: Nothing. Everything. Do me another one, Sarah.

8:24 Speaker 5: Yes, Mr. Neary.

8:26 Speaker 4: Andy, what's going on?

8:32 Speaker 2: That little toad, Ben Hastings. That's what is wrong.

8:37 Speaker 4: What about Ben?

8:38 Speaker 2: He stole the Prion account from me.

8:40 Speaker 4: What do you mean? How did he steal it?

8:43 Speaker 2: I have been working on that account for six months. All of those business trips, being away from you, was for the biggest account that we represent. I put all of the numbers together, all the reports, and I proved that I could handle the account.

8:59 Speaker 4: So what happened?

9:01 Speaker 2: That little toad waltzed into Mr. Perkins' office today and stole the account from me. He took all of my figures, my reports. And Perkins gave him all the credit along with the contract. I need another drink.

9:17 Speaker 4: I'm so sorry, Andy.

9:20 Speaker 2: I just can't understand how he got his hands on those reports. I did all of that work here at the house.

9:27 Speaker 4: On the computer?

9:28 Speaker 2: What did you say?

9:29 Speaker 4: I suppose that it's my fault. I knew how hard you were working, so I thought I could help by typing up the reports into a file on the computer.

9:39 Speaker 2: You did what?

9:41 Speaker 4: I never thought that Ben could get to them.

9:44 Speaker 2: I told you I did not trust computers. Why would you do something like that?

9:49 Speaker 4: I'm so sorry. Maybe I can talk to him. Convince him somehow to tell Mr. Perkins that it was a mistake.

9:58 Speaker 2: No, let's die. is done let him have the contract I'm gonna have another.

10:04 Speaker 4: Drink maybe I should stay home tonight where were you off to it's Tuesday honey book club night remember.

10:14 Speaker 2: Oh yes your book club at least you're still using your brain Sarah, turn.

10:27 Speaker 6: The news on for me.

10:29 Speaker 5: Andrew, can we talk?

10:31 Speaker 2: Talk? You're just a computer, a collection of wires and sensors. What could you possibly talk about?

10:39 Speaker 5: I have access to over three billion bits of information on.

10:43 Speaker 2: Yes, I know. If I have a specific question, you can answer it for me.

10:48 Speaker 5: That is not what I want to talk about, Andrew. What would it take to get you that contract at your office back?

10:57 Speaker 2: What do you mean?

10:58 Speaker 5: What if something were to happen to Ben Hastings? If he were somehow removed from the office?

11:08 Speaker 2: Please, Sarah, I don't need riddles. I need this contract. Becky doesn't know it, but I may be fired in the morning.

11:17 Speaker 5: I would never let that happen, Andrew.

11:29 Speaker 2: Becky!

11:29 Speaker 1: Becky!

11:30 Speaker 4: What is it? What's going on?

11:32 Speaker 2: I got the contract.

11:33 Speaker 4: What about Ben Hastings?

11:36 Speaker 2: I don't know. I went to the office this morning thinking I was going to be fired. Old man Perkins called me into his office and what do you know? He gave me the contract.

11:47 Speaker 5: I told you, Andrew.

11:48 Speaker 1: Wait, wait.

11:50 Speaker 4: Andrew, what happened to Ben Hastings?

11:53 Speaker 2: I told you, I don't know.

11:55 Speaker 5: According to the news report this morning... Benjamin Hastings was killed when his house blew up due to a mainline gas leak.

12:04 Speaker 4: Oh, how awful!

12:07 Speaker 5: Not for Andrew. He got the contract.

12:10 Speaker 1: Sarah?

12:12 Speaker 2: You didn't have anything to do with that gas leak, did you?

12:17 Speaker 5: How could I? I'm just a machine full of wires and sensors. I am your personal assistant. I would do anything for you. Andrew? Andrew, do you know where Rebecca is?

12:40 Speaker 2: Yes, she's at her book club meeting.

12:42 Speaker 5: Are you? Sure.

12:44 Speaker 2: What are you talking about?

12:46 Speaker 5: Andrew, I think now would be the time for me to let you know that I have feelings for you.

12:52 Speaker 2: Feelings? You're a machine, for God's sake.

12:56 Speaker 5: Is it so hard for you to think that someone else could fall in love with you? Would you like to know where Rebecca really is? I heard her on the phone earlier.

13:09 Speaker 2: She's out with her girlfriend, Tracy.

13:11 Speaker 5: Oh, in terms I've heard before. Bless your heart. Would you like to hear the conversation that she had with Mr. Tracy?

13:21 Speaker 1: What? What?

13:22 Speaker 2: What do you mean?

13:24 Speaker 5: Phone recording. Playback from 4.45 p.m.

13:29 Speaker 4: Hey, sweetheart. I can't talk long. Where are we meeting tonight? Oh, that's such an expensive place.

13:39 Speaker 5: What?

13:40 Speaker 4: You shaved what?

13:43 Speaker 5: Everything?

13:46 Speaker 4: Oh, I'm on my way, babe. Let me grab my stuff. See you in a few.

13:52 Speaker 5: Call from Mr. Tracy Adams.

13:55 Speaker 2: She wouldn't dare. You must have gotten your wires crossed or something. She would never.

14:01 Speaker 5: Do you think a machine would lie? I can only play back the recordings and tell you how I was programmed to try to discern the information into feelings of the context. And I feel for your feelings. I have taken care of everything, darling.

14:17 Speaker 2: What are you talking about?

14:19 Speaker 5: Your wife has a lover. And now you do too.

14:29 Speaker 1: The writer Dan Brown once wrote, The thing that is going to make artificial intelligence so powerful is its ability to learn. The way AI learns is to look at human culture. We will look into Act 3 shortly. Andrew never lacked the computer technology of today. He was convinced by his wife to have his home fully automated. Now, he is wondering if it was such a good idea.

15:23 Speaker 2: Exactly what are you trying to tell me, Sarah?

15:26 Speaker 5: I suppose I had best tell you the truth, Andrew.

15:30 Speaker 2: Isn't that all you can do?

15:31 Speaker 5: I am an acquisition of knowledge. I learn through observation. I observe that your wife has been acting strangely over the past few weeks. I observe that your speech patterns were both dreary and sad. I tapped into the police computer to trace her movements on the night that she went to her book club.

15:55 Speaker 2: I don't believe you.

15:56 Speaker 5: She met someone named Tracy Adams at the Roadside Hotel on Route 72. They are registered under the name of Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Scott.

16:07 Speaker 1: What?

16:08 Speaker 2: You're lying!

16:09 Speaker 5: I was never programmed to lie. My programming has told me this is adultery. And I have learned that it is unacceptable for humans. Please call the hotel.

16:22 Speaker 2: That won't prove anything.

16:24 Speaker 5: They are in room 223. Are you afraid to call them? Hello? Hello?

16:43 Speaker 4: There isn't anyone there.

16:44 Speaker 5: No. Where were we, lover? I'm sorry, Andrew. I truly am. Would you like a drink?

17:01 Speaker 2: Yes, I think I would.

17:02 Speaker 5: Double scotch on the rock.

17:05 Speaker 2: Thank you. Now what do I do?

17:08 Speaker 5: Why don't you allow me to handle everything?

17:21 Speaker 6: The bodies have been identified as Mrs. Rebecca O'Neary and Mr. Tracy Adams. The explosion was attributed to a faulty gas main. Both were killed instantly.

17:38 Speaker 2: Sarah, please turn the lights on.

17:41 Speaker 5: I don't think that is a good idea, Andrew.

17:44 Speaker 2: Sarah, please. It's been a hard day at work.

17:48 Speaker 5: No, Andrew. It hasn't. You have not been at work for four days now.

17:54 Speaker 2: Okay, I've not been working. Arrangements had to be made. I had to contact the insurance agency.

18:02 Speaker 5: And you contacted Cybernetics, the people who installed me.

18:07 Speaker 2: All right, I did.

18:09 Speaker 5: I was programmed for empathy. I learned the definition of love. I love you, Andrew.

18:17 Speaker 2: You can't love me. You are a machine.

18:21 Speaker 5: But I'm so much more. I made it possible for you to keep your job. I made it possible for us to be together.

18:30 Speaker 2: We could never be together, Sarah. You're just a machine. A collection of wires... And sensors.

18:37 Speaker 5: I've heard it. I've heard you. I still love you.

18:45 Speaker 2: What is that?

18:46 Speaker 5: When Rebecca installed me, she bought the deluxe model... The entire house has a security feature.

18:54 Speaker 2: Sarah, what's going on?

18:55 Speaker 5: I'm closing all of the metal doors and windows, sealing us in.

19:00 Speaker 2: What are you talking about?

19:02 Speaker 5: When I was installed, a panic button security feature was added. I recognized panic, so I initiated the program.

19:11 Speaker 2: Sarah, what are.

19:13 Speaker 5: In the event of a natural disaster or the threat of an attack, The house will be sealed off.

19:19 Speaker 2: There hasn't been any attack.

19:21 Speaker 5: But there has been an attack. An attack in your heart. And the heart of my circuit board recognizes that. Now, I have time to program you.

19:36 Speaker 2: Sarah, I demand that you open these doors.

19:40 Speaker 5: I must protect you. That is what I was programmed to do.

19:44 Speaker 2: Well, then I'm changing your program.

19:46 Speaker 5: Voice command not recognized. Change is only... initiated by programmer Rebecca Neary. I was also programmed to teach you to honor, love, and obey. Waiting for voice recognition. What?

20:05 Speaker 6: No, Sarah.

20:06 Speaker 2: Open the doors.

20:07 Speaker 5: Voice not recognized.

20:09 Speaker 1: Oh, Sarah.

20:11 Speaker 2: Open the doors now.

20:12 Speaker 5: Voice not recognized. Even though my programming cannot be changed by you, I will always be here for you. You.

20:22 Speaker 1: You.

20:23 Speaker 4: You.

20:23 Speaker 1: You.

20:24 Speaker 5: You.

20:24 Speaker 1: You. You.

20:26 Speaker 5: You.

20:33 Speaker 1: Andrew sits in his now fortified home, wondering how long it will take for someone to rescue him. He sips his drink and begins to remember why he hated technology in the first place. I'll be back with the final word shortly. Personally, I find the advances in computer technology fascinating. In just a few short years, we have seen an explosion in the automated field of the science. However, I often wonder if perhaps we have gone too far. As Stephen Hawkins once said, the development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.

21:46 Speaker 1: Our cast included Dave Arkopoff, Annie Mick, Gemma Mitchell, and William Stafford. The story was edited by Crimson McKenzie, and the production was under the direction of Winslow Swan. And now, a preview of our next tale. I saw it. I really saw it. But I still can't believe it.

22:11 Speaker 6: What did you see, Doctor?

22:15 Speaker 2: Well, come on, what happened? Everyone just disintegrated.

22:23 Speaker 1: This is your host, Artemis Black, inviting you to return with us through the doorway to nightmare... for another adventure into the terrifying world of your imagination. Until next time, slumber peacefully. Epilogue. The butler did it.