#Android Developer Challenge

[aestheticsworldasmr]

"Whispering Controllers and Tapping Keys: The Soothing Symphony of ASMR Games"

In the ever-evolving landscape of gaming, enthusiasts are constantly seeking new and innovative ways to enhance their gaming experience. One such trend that has gained immense popularity in recent years is the marriage of ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) and gaming. ASMR, known for its ability to induce tingling sensations and relaxation through auditory stimuli, has found its way into the gaming world, creating a unique and immersive fusion. Join us as we explore the enchanting world of ASMR games, where the soothing sounds of whispers, taps, and clicks blend seamlessly with the virtual realm.

The Rise of ASMR Culture:

ASMR, originally a niche phenomenon, has grown into a global cultural phenomenon. Its gentle whispers, soft tapping, and other subtle sounds have become a source of relaxation and stress relief for millions. ASMR creators on platforms like YouTube have amassed huge followings, paving the way for ASMR to expand into various niches, including gaming.

ASMR in Gaming: A Harmonious Duo:

ASMR and gaming might seem like an unlikely pair, but the combination has proven to be a match made in audio heaven. ASMR gaming content typically involves gamers utilizing delicate sounds to enhance the gaming experience. Whether it’s the rhythmic tapping of controller buttons, the soft clicking of a mouse, or the gentle whispering of in-game commentary, ASMR games provide players with a new level of immersion.

ASMR Gaming Categories:

a. Let’s Play ASMR: In this category, gamers play popular titles while incorporating ASMR elements. The sounds of button presses, mouse clicks, and soft-spoken commentary create a tranquil atmosphere for viewers.

b. Virtual ASMR Environments: Some games are designed specifically to cater to the ASMR community. These virtual environments focus on soothing visuals and calming sounds, allowing players to relax and unwind.

c. ASMR Soundscapes in Games: Developers are incorporating ASMR elements into their game designs to enhance the overall experience. Whether it’s the rustling of leaves, the sound of raindrops, or the crackling of a fireplace, these in-game sounds contribute to a more immersive and relaxing atmosphere.

ASMR Game Streamers:

The emergence of ASMR game streamers has brought this unique genre to a broader audience. Creators often use high-quality binaural microphones to capture nuanced sounds, providing viewers with an ASMR experience akin to being in the same room.

The Therapeutic Benefits:

Beyond entertainment, ASMR games offer therapeutic benefits. The calming nature of ASMR can help alleviate stress, anxiety, and insomnia. For individuals looking to unwind after a long day, ASMR games provide a welcome escape into a world of soothing sensations.

ASMR games represent a captivating fusion of technology and relaxation, creating a unique subculture within the gaming community. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, the integration of ASMR elements is likely to become more prevalent, offering players a new way to enjoy their favorite pastime. So, the next time you pick up your controller or mouse, consider delving into the world of ASMR games for a truly enchanting gaming experience.

DOWNLOAD NOW : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.theasmrgames.glassplatepinpuzzle

[jcmarchi]

New Wave Technology Makes Android Emotions More Natural

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/new-wave-technology-makes-android-emotions-more-natural/

New Wave Technology Makes Android Emotions More Natural

For those who have interacted with an android that looks incredibly human, many report that something “feels off.” This phenomenon goes beyond mere appearance – it is deeply rooted in how robots express emotions and maintain consistent emotional states. Or in other words, their lack of human-like abilities.

While modern androids can masterfully replicate individual facial expressions, the challenge lies in creating natural transitions and maintaining emotional consistency. Traditional systems rely heavily on pre-programmed expressions, similar to flipping through pages in a book rather than flowing naturally from one emotion to the next. This rigid approach often creates a disconnect between what we see and what we perceive as genuine emotional expression.

The limitations become particularly evident during extended interactions. An android might smile perfectly in one moment but struggle to naturally transition into the next expression, creating a jarring experience that reminds us we are interacting with a machine rather than a being with genuine emotions.

A Wave-Based Solution

This is where some new and important research from Osaka University comes in. Scientists have developed an innovative approach that fundamentally reimagines how androids express emotions. Rather than treating facial expressions as isolated actions, this new technology views them as interconnected waves of movement that flow naturally across an android’s face.

Just as multiple instruments blend to create a symphony, this system combines various facial movements – from subtle breathing patterns to eye blinks – into a harmonious whole. Each movement is represented as a wave that can be modulated and combined with others in real-time.

What makes this approach innovative is its dynamic nature. Instead of relying on pre-recorded sequences, the system generates expressions organically by overlaying these different waves of movement. This creates a more fluid and natural appearance, eliminating the robotic transitions that often break the illusion of natural emotional expression.

The technical innovation lies in what the researchers call “waveform modulation.” This allows the android’s internal state to directly influence how these waves of expression manifest, creating a more authentic connection between the robot’s programmed emotional state and its physical expression.

Image Credit: Hisashi Ishihara

Real-Time Emotional Intelligence

Imagine trying to make a robot express that it is getting sleepy. It is not just about drooping eyelids – it is also about coordinating multiple subtle movements that humans unconsciously recognize as signs of sleepiness. This new system tackles this complex challenge through an ingenious approach to movement coordination.

Dynamic Expression Capabilities

The technology orchestrates nine fundamental types of coordinated movements that we typically associate with different arousal states: breathing, spontaneous blinking, shifty eye movements, nodding off, head shaking, sucking reflection, pendular nystagmus (rhythmic eye movements), head side swinging, and yawning.

Each of these movements is controlled by what researchers call a “decaying wave” – a mathematical pattern that determines how the movement plays out over time. These waves are not random; they are carefully tuned using five key parameters:

Amplitude: controls how pronounced the movement is

Damping ratio: affects how quickly the movement settles

Wavelength: determines the movement’s timing

Oscillation center: sets the movement’s neutral position

Reactivation period: controls how often the movement repeats

Internal State Reflection

What makes this system stand out is how it links these movements to the robot’s internal arousal state. When the system indicates a high arousal state (excitement), certain wave parameters automatically adjust – for instance, breathing movements become more frequent and pronounced. In a low arousal state (sleepiness), you might see slower, more pronounced yawning movements and occasional head nodding.

The system achieves this through what the researchers call “temporal management” and “postural management” modules. The temporal module controls when movements happen, while the postural module ensures all the facial components work together naturally.

Hisashi Ishihara is the lead author of this research and an Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University.

“Rather than creating superficial movements,” explains Ishihara, “further development of a system in which internal emotions are reflected in every detail of an android’s actions could lead to the creation of androids perceived as having a heart.”

Sleepy mood expression on a child android robot (Image Credit: Hisashi Ishihara)

Improvement in Transitions

Unlike traditional systems that switch between pre-recorded expressions, this approach creates smooth transitions by continuously adjusting these wave parameters. The movements are coordinated through a sophisticated network that ensures facial actions work together naturally – much like how a human’s facial movements are unconsciously coordinated.

The research team demonstrated this through experimental conditions showing how the system could effectively convey different arousal levels while maintaining natural-looking expressions.

Future Implications

The development of this wave-based emotional expression system opens up fascinating possibilities for human-robot interaction, and could be paired with technology like Embodied AI in the future. While current androids often create a sense of unease during extended interactions, this technology could help bridge the uncanny valley – that uncomfortable space where robots appear almost, but not quite, human.

The key breakthrough is in creating genuine-feeling emotional presence. By generating fluid, context-appropriate expressions that match internal states, androids could become more effective in roles requiring emotional intelligence and human connection.

Koichi Osuka served as the senior author and is a Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Osaka University.

As Osuka explains, this technology “could greatly enrich emotional communication between humans and robots.” Imagine healthcare companions that can express appropriate concern, educational robots that show enthusiasm, or service robots that convey genuine-seeming attentiveness.

The research demonstrates particularly promising results in expressing different arousal levels – from high-energy excitement to low-energy sleepiness. This capability could be crucial in scenarios where robots need to:

Convey alertness levels during long-term interactions

Express appropriate energy levels in therapeutic settings

Match their emotional state to the social context

Maintain emotional consistency during extended conversations

The system’s ability to generate natural transitions between states makes it especially valuable for applications requiring sustained human-robot interaction.

By treating emotional expression as a fluid, wave-based phenomenon rather than a series of pre-programmed states, the technology opens many new possibilities for creating robots that can engage with humans in emotionally meaningful ways. The research team’s next steps will focus on expanding the system’s emotional range and further refining its ability to convey subtle emotional states, influencing how we will think about and interact with androids in our daily lives.

[simple-logic]

#PollTime Which is your preferred Mobile Development Framework?

a) React Native 🚀 b) Flutter 💙 c) Xamarin 🛠️ d) Swift 🖥️

Cast your vote in the comment session below! 🤔

[swapplethegame]

5 days 11 hours to try the weekly challenge on Swapple,

Are you up for the challenge?

Download Links below

[sapphiresoftware]

Advantages and Challenges of iOS vs Android App Development 

Explore the landscape of app development in our insightful guide: Advantages and Challenges of iOS vs Android App Development. Delve into the pros and cons of each platform, helping you make informed decisions for your next app project. Navigate the complexities and harness the potentials of both iOS and Android ecosystems.Read More

[stellardigital]

Developers face a variety of obstacles while creating apps, from security to visibility. However, the instant you approach experts, they have answers or remedies for all your problems. Stellar Digital is a Top Android app development company in Gurgaon and Delhi NCR that offers full-service mobile app development services. By producing solid apps, our talented team of developers overcomes all obstacles. Please contact us at contact@stellardigital.in  for further discussion.

[starlightwritcr]

I can fix him, literally. (Android au!Sukuna)

(@poe-daydreams this is for you <3)

warning/s: Minors DNI, Smut, exhibitionism but not really? idk how to describe it, light degradation, use of "whore", Sukuna's two dicks

Imagine android!Sukuna used to be a popular fighter in an underground fighting ring. Key word: used to be. He went up against Jujutsu Technology's newest Gojo model, S4T0RU (or Satoru, as most fans call him), but suffered a humiliating defeat at his hands. This caused heavy damages on Sukuna which led to his owner throwing him out to the trash. After all, why keep the old model around when the latest model was far superior?

But you didn't believe in such. You were surprised to find a Sukuna model in the trash at the back of a dingy building. Who in their right mind would throw away a million dollar android in this economy?! You took the android in, seeing as how the previous clearly didn't want him.

It was a challenge to repair the Sukuna model but as someone who used to work for Jujutsu Technology, you were able to do it. His mind chip seemed to be working fine. It was just the external parts that suffered heavy damage, which should be easy enough to replace. All it took was ordering spare parts online and giving it a new coat of paint to match his original model's tattoos to make him look good as new!

When android!Sukuna's systems started operating again, he woke up from sleep mode and saw you. You explained that you fixed him up after finding him in the trash. There were still some tests to run, just to see if there would be any possible bug fixes needed.

In true Sukuna fashion, he wasn't very cooperative at first. This wasn't your first rodeo though and managed to convince him to do it so that it could be over with. It didn't come as a surprise to you that a fighter android would be aggressive. Plus, the Sukuna line was designed with that personality to elicit reactions from audiences when he trash talked his opponents. It was pretty much just how he was designed.

While running the tests on Sukuna, you decided to check his memory file to see what happened before he was thrown out. You saw how badly he got beaten by the S4T0RU model.

Perhaps it was a strange thing to do, but you empathised with the android. Getting abandoned and replaced would be painful for any regular human after all. Even if Sukuna was an android, it wasn't uncommon for androids to develop a capacity for human emotions. This tended to be the case for fast-learning androids.

So, you kept him around. Sukuna wasn't too pleased about it but it wasn't like he had anywhere else to go. He was rough and brash at first, blowing a hole into your finances with how much fuel he needed to consume. He calls you soft for treating him like he's human.

But despite the difficulties, despite the insults, you couldn't bring yourself to abandon him. You'd be no better than the person that replaced him so easily. You taught him how to navigate human life, dealing with human emotions, all the essentials needed. Soon enough, you noticed a change in his behaviors. Sukuna hovered around you, never leaving your side. It was almost like he was attached to your hip.

In a way, Sukuna did what he was created to do. He became a bodyguard of sorts, protecting you from creepy dudes whenever you went out. His trash talking feature especially came in handy during gossip sessions where you just had to vent about a rude coworker.

android!Sukuna found a new purpose in you. It was odd going from being a fighter android basking in cheers from the audience to being a companion android protecting his owner like a guard dog. But perhaps this life was more meaningful than his previous one. He'll never admit that though. It's only through his actions that you understand how he felt.

Feeling your touch on his synthetic skin felt even more exhilarating than all the cheers from the audience he's received in his fighting career. Sukuna cursed at himself, realising that he's become whipped for you. He was lucky that it was you, the person who's never abandoned him.

Sometimes android!Sukuna can be pretty possessive. You worked with repairing other androids so deep down, there was a fear that you'd find another android you liked more and replaced him with it. Even if he knew you wouldn't, there was a lingering fear that was deeply rooted ever since he was abandoned.

The height of Sukuna's possessiveness came to its peak when you brought home a sex android from the S4T0RU line. Its previous owners had a really good time with it and accidentally damaged it. You were baffled by this, seeing as how Jujutsu Technology usually equipped its Gojo models with tough materials. They must've went really wild with it.

While repairing it, Sukuna pulled you close. He glared at the S4T0RU model that was in sleep mode. You gasped as his fingers slipped into your clothes, going up your thighs.

Your cries of pleasure echoed against the walls as Sukuna fucked you in front of the android. His hands held you tightly, keeping you in place while he drove his synthetic cocks into you.

"When did you get two dicks?!" "Shut up and take them, whore."

You felt your brain turning to mush while he rearranged your insides with his thick cocks. Sukuna smirked in satisfaction when he knew your attention was completely on him and not that android on your work desk.

[homewrecking-lore]

The thing about the fandom’s interpretation of Data and Pulaski is that it makes both characters extremely flat and boring while also erasing their whole relationship. Data’s made into this flawless, naive baby that can’t defend himself (when he does - when Pulaski mispronounces his name, he tells her exactly why she should pronounce it correctly), while Pulaski is an ugly bitch-hag who is morally reprehensible. Most fanfics portray Data as being uncomfortable or scared of her, while Pulaski’s chomping at the bit to break him into parts. Their whole relationship in season two is based around the fact they both have flaws, and that Data is still learning about what exactly he is capable of as an android.

In “Elementary, My Dear Data”, the big question of the episode is if Data can solve a narrative mystery without it being based on his knowledge of the original stories. Geordi doesn’t know the answer. Pulaski doesn’t. Data doesn’t. From what they know of Data, Pulaski outright dismisses the possibility that Data can, which sparks the episode’s plot.

So when Geordi goes back later and prompts the computer to alter the program to be more challenging, both Data and Pulaski are excited! They want to see where this goes! They are openly having fun with this.

In her first episode, Pulaski dismissed Data when he tried to stay during Troi’s labour, and only relented when Troi said she wanted him there. But by “Penpals”, she assures Sarjenka that Data will be at her side the whole time. When Data expresses doubts, she assures him that this is what’s best for Sarjenka, but that his memories of her will still be important. This is also the same episode where Pulaski defends both her and Data’s personal involvement in the situation to Worf.

In “Measure of A Man”, the game opens with some of the crew playing a poker game. Data and Pulaski are obviously friendly and comfortable enough to socialize together outside of professional circumstances. And again, the scene shows Data calling the game simplistic and assuming he will win, but he turns out to be wrong.

Later in “Peak Performance”, Pulaski sets up Data to compete in Strategema, only for him to end up losing, to everyone’s surprise. The reason why Data’s confidence falls is because he had the exact same assumption about his computational abilities as Pulaski. They were both wrong! When she sees how much losing has affected him, she apologizes:

Data says that he must be malfunctioning. It’s not until Picard tells him that failure can happen even when you do everything right that Data accepts he can make mistakes - and that making mistakes is okay! By the end of the episode, they both know that Data is not infallible, and that he can be affected by failure as much as any human.

Pulaski makes assumptions and mistakes, and so does Data. They learn and grow from them, and their relationship is overall a very positive one despite their very different personalities. It’s an interesting dynamic that gets rewritten by fans entirely, despite the fact that it’s weirdly one of the more developed dynamics in the show.

[yetitakinginventory]

Rise of the Guardians Dash n Drop

The mobile game by PikPok and released in the App Store and Google Play. It stayed online for years but ultimately was taken down in 2016.

This game, by every right, should have been what was released on game consoles everywhere. The graphics, music, and gameplay are all brilliantly done. The game is fun, addictive, and incredibly challenging without being frustrating. It has only one single control, something that should make this unbelievably simple to play but creates a difficulty in maneuvering around the constant enemies approaching from all sides.

This likely encourages the purchase of boosts in the workshop, but the lack of negative consequences to losing a level means you don't experience the frustration that fuels in-app game purchases.

The price of coins is reasonable for the cost of each lower level boost. For $20 you can get 1,500 Holiday shields, protecting you from 4,500 nightmare attacks. (In 2012 I was making $10 an hour, the cost of the ticket to see this movie was $8)

And that's not the only boost, as you progress across the cities you begin to gain support from your fellow Guardians, who will attack or block the Nightmares to protect your sliegh.

From Sandy turning them into Coins, recouping part of your purchase, to Jack freezing them in place making them harmless or easily breakable if you run into them. These boosts are not just a purchase item, you can collect them as you go, either by themselves or by rescuing Elves on the way.

Like all mobile games they keep you coming back with daily goals, and get you started with rewards for logging in on Facebook and joining their group or liking them. So you don't have to spend real money on coins if you didn't want to.

And a Leaderboard so you could see how you were stacking up with fans around the world.

If you never got the chance to play this, or are feeling Nostalgic, TouchGameplay on YouTube has a video with 15 minutes of gameplay.

And shout out to Pokémon Trainer Ryan on Youtube for attempting to archive the music.

Although its no longer in the app store if you have an older Android phone, or download the Vmos app and run an older version of Android on your phone, you may still be able to download and play the game HERE. This is a fully downloadable app, but I have not been able to verify if it still works disconnected from the developers.

All my love to game archives that do their best to preserve old mobile games.

[aestheticsworldasmr]

"Colorful Mind, Serene Soul, Embrace Relaxation with Wood Color Matching!"

Are you ready to embark on a journey that engages your mind, relaxes your soul, and challenges your cognitive skills? Look no further than the captivating world of the Wood Color Sort Puzzle Game! This classic yet refreshing take on color matching and sorting will transport you to a realm of vibrant hues, soothing sounds, and satisfying gameplay. Let’s delve into what makes this game a must-have for brain teasers and relaxation enthusiasts.

Stunning Wooden Coins and Colorful Cards

Immerse yourself in the beauty of meticulously crafted wooden coins, each boasting a spectrum of rainbow colors. Your task? Slide and match these captivating pieces with corresponding color cards, creating harmonious patterns that delight the senses. With an array of vibrant hues at your fingertips, every move is a step closer to unraveling the game’s mysteries.

Engaging Slide & Sort Puzzles

Prepare to be captivated by over 1000 handcrafted levels, meticulously designed to challenge and enthrall players of all skill levels. As you progress, the puzzles evolve in complexity, ensuring that boredom remains a distant memory. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned puzzle enthusiast, there’s always a new challenge awaiting your keen eye and strategic mind.

Oddly Satisfying & Relaxing Gameplay

Indulge in an ASMR experience like no other as you navigate the tranquil world of wood tapping and sliding. Each move is met with a symphony of soothing sounds, providing a sense of calm amidst the cerebral challenges. Lose yourself in the serene ambiance as you hone your sorting skills and unravel the game’s intricacies, one satisfying move at a time.

Brain-Teasing Challenge

Challenge your logic and spatial reasoning skills with each twist and turn of the puzzle board. As you match colored cards and sort wooden coins with precision and efficiency, you’ll find yourself on a journey of self-discovery and mental growth. Prepare to test the limits of your intellect and emerge victorious as the ultimate sort master.

Offline Play & Extra Skins

Whether you’re on a relaxing retreat or simply seeking a moment of respite during your daily routine, the Wood Color Sort Puzzle Game is your perfect companion. With offline play capabilities, you can enjoy endless hours of entertainment anytime, anywhere, without needing an internet connection. Additionally, explore alternate skins featuring wood nuts & bolts and metal plates, offering fresh perspectives on the timeless art of sorting and matching.

The Wood Color Sort Puzzle Game is more than just a game — a journey of self-discovery, relaxation, and mental stimulation. So why wait? Immerse yourself in this enchanting world today and let the soothing sounds of wood tapping and the vibrant hues of rainbow-colored coins guide you to victory. Happy sorting!

DOWNLOAD NOW:https://apps.apple.com/no/app/color-wood-coins-sort-puzzle/id6478002488

[jcmarchi]

Meta to Release a Major WhatsApp AI Update (August 2024)

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/meta-to-release-a-major-whatsapp-ai-update-august-2024/

Meta to Release a Major WhatsApp AI Update (August 2024)

Imagine a world where messaging apps are not just communication tools but powerful assistants that enhance your daily life. Messaging platforms are no longer just about simple text exchanges. They have evolved into powerful tools that use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve productivity and communication.

For instance, one such app is WhatsApp, which has transformed from a simple messaging and calling app to an AI-driven creative platform.

The market for smart chatbots is expected to rise by $19.9 billion by 2023. Meta has gradually integrated AI features, such as idea generation and language translation, into WhatsApp over the last few months to meet this demand.

This process began with the introduction of LLaMA (Large Language Model Meta AI) in February 2023, which marked a significant advance in its AI capabilities across its suite of apps.

Since then, Meta has upgraded its AI capabilities and delivered regular updates. As WhatsApp gears up for another major AI update, let’s first look at the current features and their benefits.

WhatsApp AI Features

WhatsApp’s current capabilities are powered by Meta AI’s open-source Llama 3.1 405B model. This model has 405 billion parameters, an increase of 335 over the last version. The AI is available directly in the app and offers a variety of functionalities designed to streamline tasks and enhance user interaction.

Source

Here’s a closer look at some of the key features:

1. Information Retrieval

WhatsApp AI can provide answers across various prompts, from mathematical problems to coding queries. Travelers, for example, can use it to get local information while booking a stay within the app.

2. Text Summarization

It can summarize texts, including personal notes, documents, and long messages. This feature is useful for professionals who need to access main information quickly.

3. Creative Assistance

WhatsApp AI can assist in creative tasks like writing, brainstorming, and idea generation. For example, you can create a content calendar and share it immediately.

4. Translation

Another feature of WhatsApp AI is its ability to overcome language barriers. It can translate text between different languages, enabling easier conversations.

5. Image Generation

The WhatsApp AI image generator feature allows the creation of images based on text prompts.  Users can quickly make images based on various descriptions.

Benefits of WhatsApp’s AI Features

These AI features provide multiple benefits to both regular users and businesses:

1. Convenience

Integrating AI directly within WhatsApp means users can access these powerful features without leaving the app. This convenience enhances the user experience by keeping everything within a single and familiar interface.

2. Efficiency

WhatsApp AI can quickly provide information and summarize it, significantly improving productivity. This means faster correspondence, streamlined information gathering, and a smoother workflow for teams and businesses.

3. Creativity

WhatsApp can help solve problems and generate fresh ideas by fueling creativity. This can spark innovation and lead to faster idea generation in various domains, from marketing to sales.

4. Language Assistance

The translation capabilities are invaluable for breaking language barriers. For instance, this feature can help businesses converse with and sell to people with different native languages.

5. Fraud and Spam Detection

A robust feature of WhatsApp AI is flagging fraudulent calls and messages. Identifying and blocking potential scams enhances security and protects individual users and businesses from being defrauded.

6. Improved Messaging

Beyond its practical uses, WhatsApp AI enriches the user experience by offering entertainment value. The ability to generate fun and engaging content, such as unique images or creative responses, adds a layer of enjoyment to any messaging experience.

After understanding WhatsApp AI’s benefits, let’s explore the details of the upcoming update and its potential impact.

Upcoming WhatsApp AI Update: What to Expect

The next major update to WhatsApp AI will introduce voice activation. This feature will particularly benefit users who prefer voice commands over typing.

This update, currently being rolled out through the Google Play Beta Program for Android version 2.24.16.10, will allow users to interact with the AI hands-free. The AI will prompt users to re-record commands when necessary, ensuring accurate responses and minimizing errors.

Source

In addition to voice activation, upcoming updates will include AI avatars similar to those seen on Instagram and Snapchat. These avatars will allow users to create personalized representations of themselves, adding more interactivity to the platform.

Furthermore, WhatsApp is developing features that enable users to edit photos quickly and use AI to detect objects within images. This will improve the texting experience by making creating and sharing images easier without leaving the app. It can also help parents use AI to simply explain pictures and objects to children.

Another exciting development is the ability to share voice messages with the chatbot. This feature will allow users to interact with the AI more naturally and conversationally, reducing the gap between human and machine communication.

Considering the upcoming advancements, there are also problems that WhatsApp must fix.

Current Limitations and Challenges

While the advancements are impressive, WhatsApp must address several limitations and challenges.

One of the most significant issues is the AI’s limited accuracy. For example, it can answer simple mathematical problems incorrectly and has difficulties in providing optimal travel routes. This flaw is present across all Meta AI products, highlighting the need for continued improvement in computational and reasoning capabilities.

Trust issues with AI and privacy concerns also obstruct widespread adoption. Many users are wary of using AI due to fears that their personal data could be used to train AI models without their consent. Additionally, existing biases in the training data can lead to suboptimal outputs, further reducing user trust.

Another challenge is the AI’s inability to understand linguistic nuances, such as colloquial language and regional dialects. This limitation can result in miscommunications and reduce the AI’s effectiveness in certain use cases, i.e., translation.

Lastly, a significant challenge is that WhatsApp’s AI features are not fully known in many countries, particularly regions with limited awareness and understanding of AI and its benefits.

This lack of awareness is another significant barrier to adopting WhatsApp AI—a barrier WhatsApp must address through localized awareness campaigns.

Future Outlook

As the technology evolves, we can expect to see even more innovative features. Future updates will improve user experience while helping WhatsApp become a market leader in AI chatbots. In the immediate time frame, users can look forward to a more intelligent, efficient, and personalized messaging experience.

Explore Unite.ai for more resources on AI Chatbots.

[secretariatess]

Artificial

This is the story I am working on and conceived for the Inklings Challenge 2024. I do not know if I will even come close to completing it before the deadline, as this week is going to be very busy and attention to the story might have to be put on the back burner. I do want to complete it, though, as I've intrigued myself with the plot and I'd like to see it through.

So the themes may not come through before the end of the challenge, but the themes I aim to work with are: Instruct the ignorant, bear burdens patiently, and forgive all injuries. It's possible that the themes of admonish the sinner and comfort the sorrowful will also come up.

@inklings-challenge

Team: Chesterton Genre: Earth dystopian, intrusive fantasy Title: Artificial

Story:

* * *

          The year was confidential information.

          Information I was not high ranking enough to know.  I was even programmed to not keep track of how many times the spokesperson of the federal office got up and said that tomorrow was the start of a new year.

          I could only surveil, watching the spokesperson hyping up the people for celebrations that evening.  As the people cheered, I scanned the crowd, trying to catch any suspicious activities or criminals.  I was programmed with a database of criminals and all those with authorized permission to be in that district- to catch those who did not have such permission.

          The latter of which is rather common.  The people of New Boston would anticipate the date of the new year and move across districts to be with their family.   They were determined and denials of their requests to visit served only as encouragement.

          My third sweep of the crowd watching the town square television screen revealed two unfamiliar faces.  I reported them, and the report went to the authorities and the nearby security androids.  In only a few beats, I could see two security androids in the peripheral of my vision move to the hoppers, as our developers called them.  The security androids’ neon blue hair made them stick out among the crowd, an indication that people needed to move out of their way.  Quiet followed in their wake as the people they passed realized what was going on.  The quiet alerted the hoppers. One took off the second he saw the blue hair, pushing people out of his way in an effort to get away.  The other fell to her knees, having no chance of fleeing and instead pleading fruitlessly with security android approaching her.  But there was nothing she could say or do to persuade him.

          I was programmed with three emotions: Anger, happiness, sadness.  The purpose of which to match the energy of certain interactions such as surveilling at a politician’s funeral.

          Security androids were programmed with one: Anger.

          The rare human concept of compassion was the farthest thing from their programming.  That female hopper would have had better luck convincing a prison cell to open its door.  The security android dragged her to her feet, her cries of pain falling on deaf ears.  Not even those around her did anything in her defense. 

The male hopper barely made It ten feet away from where he initially stood.  No one was going to help him escape or make too much of an effort to step out of his way.  It would have been futile anyways.  There was another surveillance android in the direction he was headed, anticipating him, and there were plenty more security androids waiting for action.

          The security android giving chase hardly needed to pick up his pace.  He seized the male hopper from behind and pulled him back hard, slamming him to the ground. The hopper struggled as the security android lifted him to his feet and half-dragged, half-marched him away.  The gaps left by them in the crowd were closed in in seconds.

          Those hoppers would be taken to interrogation, where they would be questioned likely by other security androids.  Human authorities did not bother themselves with such minor incidents.  The hoppers would receive jail time. 

          That much I knew because I could inform citizens of the consequences.  What I was not authorized to share but had learned because of developers talking with each other was that hoppers upon release would have difficulty obtaining the proper documents to return to their district and find work.

          “It’s not worth it,” the developers chuckled as they mused over the people’s stupidity.

          And yet they would still do it.

          It wasn’t any of my business, though.  I was not there to prevent human error.  Just observe it and report it.

          In a few moments, the incident was seemingly forgotten.  the citizens began clearing out for state approved celebrations.  As they filed past me, they avoided looking at me directly.  Some were bolder and made a threatening expression, but they wouldn’t try anything.  Not with other surveillance androids, street cameras, and security androids spitting distance from me.  Other times, when they thought they could get away with it, there were those who would attack surveillance androids and leave them for scrap.  Which was the case from time to time.

          As it dwindled to the last few, something on a far wall caught my attention.  I focused on it, the towering letters blaring out their message in bright colors in contrast to the gray walls around them, demanding people’s attention.

          I was not the only one to report it.  Even as I informed the authorities of the graffiti, I could register all of the reports coming in from other surveillance androids.  Security androids rushed to cover it, though the letters were taller than them.  We were sent messages that humans were being dispatched to clean and investigate.  In the meantime, we were to watch the area for the culprit.

          So I kept my eyes on the glaring yellows, oranges, and blues that spelled out the message:

          THERE IS HOPE

[thatskynews]

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Learn more about what this means for Sky Kids far and wide in our latest blog!

[slashersgostabbystabstab]

Taste (NSFW)

Lmao basically using all 5 senses for Hux!

Anyways, here we have a fic that I am rushing to post because I want to write more lmao. I don't promise that this is my best considering how I did not revise(I need to stop being so lazy) and this is just me testing something about with Hux...I'm obviously still getting the hang of writing robophilia smut too so please bear with me ^^

Warnings/Notes: SMUT! AFAB Reader, Robophilia, Cunninlingus, Hux being Hux, Weird stuff, Slight tentacles???(Please tell me if you guys think I should add anything else)

Words: 3,250

“I have made a discovery.” 

The times when such a phrase came out from Hux’s voice box were not always the prettiest moments. Although he had started off as an android, he proved to be just as eccentric as the typical “mad scientist” trope entailed.

Afraid wasn’t the word to describe what you felt before asking “What is it you discovered, Hux?”, but perhaps it was uncertainty. An apprehensive feeling that would have never expected what would happen after Hux demonstrated his “latest physical development”. 

His theory was that the organic parts of himself had grown accustomed to the crystal displayed on his body, evolving him further than he believed possible. Rather than affect him conscious-wise, Hux instead…grew an extension of some sort. Extensions in fact. Miniature, snake-like extensions that protruded from within his face’s orifice. 

It had started with a simple demonstration that had quickly led to indecent thoughts on your part, and after all this time Hux knew how to read your mind perfectly. 

Thin tendrils that seemed to have bloomed from his organic flesh, sprouting from his mouth to fully exhibit to your curious eyes. Thin tendrils that snaked and toyed with your fingers that you had brought up to Hux’s features to better examine them. Thin tendrils that you quickly found slithering over your cheek before they came close to your lips.

Could you really blame yourself for having your mind be flooded with obscene thoughts?

Things had quickly progressed from you strolling through the tranquil land of Dvarka Deepwood to you gripping onto Hux’s body, face practically melding with his own as he stood as still as possible. But even with Hux’s stoic mannerisms, he himself could not remain in a single location as you fought against him. The robot stumbled backwards when you pinned your body against his, and he was soon able to catch himself when your lips away from him. 

“What the hell am I doing?” you breathed out once a sense of clarity hit you, mind pondering at how you basically threw yourself onto Hux once a fervor struck you so suddenly. Kissing Hux was a rather simple task, especially when considering that he frequently demanded that your affections befell him. But Hux kissing you…now that was a task that was impossible to challenge when taking into account that he did not possess such an ability due to his lack of lips and muscle movement. And now that he presented himself with a tool he could use for a form of kissing...you just couldn’t help yourself. 

“You are indulging yourself in what appears to be an attempt at the human act of ‘kissing’.” Hux replied to your rhetorical question which only caused you to release him to cover your face. Attempt.

“I know Hux.” you mumbled behind your hands before showing your face again, looking at him while his unemotional lights stared back at you. “I think I just got a little carried away with your…tentacle-tongue-whatever-it-is. Think I got excited at the thought of…”

“Reciprocation.” Hux chipped in with a twitch of his body, craning his head sideways as you realized his miniature tendrils were still out and about. Practically teasing you.  “It felt satisfactory.”

“What?”

“Your attempts…exceeded typical human limits.”

A chuckle escaped you at the sound of Hux’s attempted compliment, you at least hope that’s what it was. You could honestly say it made your heart skip a beat hearing a robot say your kissing skills weren’t disappointing. 

“So…what exactly does that entail?” You tilted your head before Hux moved forwards, just enough to lower his head that was buried into the crook of your neck. It was seriously getting harder to push certain thoughts away…

“This body requires more.” He announced which prompted you to widen your eyes, though it wouldn’t be the first time he’d ever insisted on something like that. Your own hormones were probably getting the best of you. “It lacks the perception of flavor.”

You furrowed your eyebrows and prepared yourself to pull away from Hux to look at him, but you were startled the second you felt his tendrils hit your exposed skin. Your hands shot up and grabbed onto his body, clawing into his figure once the realization hit. 

Everything was coming back to you, you couldn’t hold back the excitement that prompted you to take Hux’s head into your hands to resume your actions from before. Your own tongue slithered out from in between your lips before entangling itself with the many tendrils Hux provided. 

While you were able to taste the fleshy bits of his skin on the tendrils, you were sure Hux was savoring the desperation that dripped from your tongue. Hell even your body reacted with such an intensity, beginning to sweat while your chest rose both quick and without any rhythm. If anybody had advised you that you would experience such venereal instances with a murderous robot, you probably wouldn’t have believed them. 

But here you were with legs feeling weak despite no other physical pleasure being inflicted on you. Though perhaps that statement was wrong in its own way, and this was yet another thing Hux could sense. 

His left arm came around your body to press itself against the lower part of your back, caging you against him like every other time. 

You whined at the feeling as though you had been deprived of physical touch for too long. And you could admit that it was also so damn rewarding when Hux provided you with whatever form of intimacy his robotic self allowed. So damn gratifying like right now as his miniature tentacles toyed with your tongue before wriggling themselves in between your lips to explore your wetness. 

And you knew the feeling to be mutual with how Hux used his second arm to hold you, folding his scythe-like claw in an angle that prevented it from ruining the mood. While he pushed you further against him as if you were bound to leave him, his mouth pushed you back as he deepened the reach of his tentacles.

To your misfortune however, your body’s limitations were beginning to show when your lungs begged for some oxygen. Your hands removed themselves from Hux’s head to place a hand on the metallic parts of his right shoulder with your other hand placed flat against his chest. 

“Hu…Huxlee…”

“Why have you stopped?”

“Hol…hold up…I need to-” You let out a stammer after inhaling as deeply as you could, your breath of air immediately cut short when Hux’s tendrils attacked your mouth again. You were definitely NOT getting out of this one. Or perhaps…

Hux took back his actions and pulled himself away from you much to your surprise, finally giving you the time to catch your breaths with weary pants. 

“This is not enough.”

At this point, you weren’t sure if that was a good or bad statement. 

“This body requires more.” he repeated his phrase from before a mechanical whirring followed soon after, and Hux forced you to stand erect before removing his claws from you. Speaking of erect… “I sense your body is also in need of additional fulfillment.”

“Yeah…you could say that.” You panted before wiping your own saliva from your lips, staring intently at Hux who stepped forwards. You in turn stepped back, not to keep away from him but instead to find the stone structure you had been previously studying amongst the plantlife. 

“My sensors detect an increase in heat in your lower body.” Hux followed you until your bottom and legs clashed with the stone ramp that was meant to be a jumping location during trials, and you made sure to slightly lean back on it as comfortably as possible. He towered over you like every other time,visor looking straight at you before you peered down at the practically non-existent space between your and his lower halves. “Your form requires fulfillment.”

You could see that his self-made phallic apparatus had revealed itself, no doubt a while ago with how it stood and leaned against the cozy coveralls you wore. A jumpsuit you graciously borrowed from a locker in the colony ship, and a jumpsuit that was beginning to stain with whatever fluid was dripping from Hux’s appendage. With how it twitched against you, you were convinced it could sense the excitement radiating from your groin.

Fuck, if Dvarka’s humid nature wasn’t getting to you then clearly it was the hotness between you and Hux. A warmth bothersome enough that you unzipped the coveralls to reveal your tank top that had been clinging to your dampened skin. And your skin only proved to humidify further when Hux brought his head back to your neck, gliding his tendrils down to your collarbone  and eventually near your chest.

Fuck, it was hot. Too damn hot. Hot enough to have your hands scrambling on the zipper of your suit, desperately trying to take it off to cool yourself while also exposing yourself to the robot. 

However, Hux wasn’t having any of that. He didn’t have time to wait, he needed more now. And the twitching his body gave when he pulled away from your body was telling enough.

His left claw took you by surprise when he took hold of your jumpsuit with it, particularly the crotch area, before he ripped a portion of the material with complete ease. Hux’s head craned down to study your shocked self, your gasp signaling that he had revealed more than enough. 

“This body lacks a sense of taste,” his voice box rang out once he positioned himself, phallus placed against your wet sex. “I have studied the worms enough to know your flavor can be enhanced with enough pleasurable stimulation.”

“Wait, wait, wait. You what?” You weren’t surprised that he of course had been stalking your fellow survivors to learn-

“Ah-!” your thoughts were interrupted when you felt him easily fill you up without warning, and you threw your head back while gripping onto the structure beneath you. “Fuck, Hux!”

You removed your left hand from the stone to hold onto Hux’s metal arm once more as he continued to insert himself, your wetness allowing him to smoothly slide back out as you threw your head back. It was then that you parted your legs to both ground yourself a bit more and give Hux easier access, and he took this opportunity to step forwards so that he could plunge himself even deeper into you. 

The whirring of his mechanical parts sounded as he pulled out almost excitedly, robotic member in full view and drenched in your juices as he lay it against your hole again. After so many heated sessions with you, and the occasional “observing” of the survivors’ and killers’ sexual acts, the machine really had been learning. 

He knew the sudden emptiness would elicit a whimper out of you, that it would have you crying for more before he blithely obliged. He knew it would have you humping yourself against him, holding his hips in a desperate attempt to have him inside you again. 

It felt almost poignant, rubbing yourself against him before you reached out to his phallic device with a hand. It was crazy how crazy this robot made you feel, head dizzy at the thought of his sex and how it felt as though it was made for you. 

“Huxlee…please.”

“You succumb so easily.” The robot announced as he felt you pump him, and he finally moved his hips so that you could slide him right back into you. 

“So do you.” You gave out a breathy chuckle as you returned your hand to Hux’s side, pushing his body toward you so that he could completely bury himself inside you. A sigh of relief escaped you before Hux resumed his movements, sloppy thrusting resulting in Hux’s left claw moving up to take hold of your hip. 

He gripped onto you as if trying to steady himself, every thrust making his legs tremble just as your body began to slightly quiver. To steady himself even more, he threw his scythe beside you and over the vault, this being enough to scare some sense into you.

But even then you didn’t give a damn, instead shutting your eyes with an elated smile. The pleasure was beginning to take over you, mind becoming hazy the more Hux pushed his hips into yours. And in between all his thrusts you let him go with your dominant hand, now bringing your fingers to your wet clit. You began with some careful rubbing, making circular patterns that were quickly building up a sensitivity. And as that new feeling grew in your bud, you increased your pace before your back began to arch into Hux.

But the moment Hux caught sight of this, he removed his claw from your side before forcefully grabbing your fingers, bringing up your hand to his visor as he scanned the new fluids that coated it. Never once did he cease his pumping into you, in fact you were pretty sure his humping had sped up and increased in some force.

And when you opened your eyes to look at him, you were now certain of how eagerly he wanted to experience taste.  Once he took a proper look at your fingers, he brought them to his mouth where his tendrils immediately wriggled back out to lap up everything he could. 

You weren’t certain if the desperate licks were because he was trying so damn hard to taste something, anything…or if he finally acquired a new sense and was completely reveling in it. 

“Huxlee…” You lifted your head slightly higher to better watch him, soon enough feeling as his movements slowed down before coming to an easy stop. “No, no, no. Don’t do this to me aga-”

“This is not sufficient.”

Then what fucking was!? 

With your mouth agape, you watched in horror as Hux removed himself from you once he released your wrist and removed his scythe from behind the ramp. After how many times he had pulled such a stunt, you were almost sure it was now done on purpose. 

“Where are you going?” you questioned him with a fully flushed face, seeing as he took a step back to overlook your entire body. “Hux!”

“Get comfortable. Fast. Please.”

“Comfortable?” you made a face before his fingered claw placed itself on your chest, gingerly pushing you backwards so that your entire body lay on the stone ramp. Something told you it was best to bring your body as high on the ramp as possible, and thank the Entity you did. 

Despite Hux’s hunched stance, he proved to be too tall to reach his goal. Having you get up made it easier for him to bow his head down to the area between your legs, visor fixated on the wetness you continued to provide for his inquisitive self. 

“Something great is about to happen.” Of course he always had to bring in his damn lines like this was some damn video game. But as it seemed, something great was indeed happening. 

Before you were able to question Hux any further, you quickly found one of the robot’s tendrils lapping up the entirety of your slit, eliciting a sudden upwards jerk from your hips. Holy shit he had no mercy with the way those tendrils attacked your sex; it was almost as though each individual one had a mind of its own with how they parted your lips to pace their way inside you. 

You couldn’t help but writhe under Hux, whimpering, whining, nearly crying at this new sensation. Never in your entire life would you have imagined a makeout session with a robot that would eventually lead to him eating you out in this way.

The tendrils, despite being an extension of his damaged flesh, had their own kind of texture that proved to be softer and exceedingly nice against your flesh. And they were feeling up every inch they could find, every bit they could reach, letting you feel each and every one of them at all times. 

“Aah….Hux-” you managed to choke out before a gasp escaped your lips when one and then two tendrils found themselves deep inside you, your hands shooting out to hold his head that remained motionless unlike his new tongues. “Shit! Please…!”

“Your blabbering is satisfactory.” Hux voiced before his left claw held onto your waist, holding you in place after you jerked into him once more. “As is your squirming. Climax levels are swiftly rising.” 

And he was so right, because that usual knot in the pit of your stomach had been forming for a good minute now, tightening the longer Hux licked and toyed with you. More of his tendrils inserted themselves inside you, squirming inside your walls as if exploring some new cavern. Guess in a way that’s what it was to Hux. 

“Huxlee, I’m…” you panted with one more arch of your back, gripping onto his head with quick breathing that was as hot as your body felt. The heat only furthered your incoming orgasm while the cold feel of Hux’s claw brought a tingling. Oh fuck…it was becoming too much to handle on top of the feeling of Hux pulling you towards him as if it were even possible, spreading your walls ever so slightly. “I’m…I’m-”

Hux’s tendrils slid out from your hole to all collectively rub themselves against your clit, almost furiously to make your coming arrive even faster than you anticipated. And the robot was successful, catching you off guard by playing with your sensitivity that almost immediately made you cry out and throw your head further back. 

But although Hux knew you had finished against his mouth, fluids glazed over his orifice and tongues, he never stopped his licking. You squeezed your eyes shut while your sex had you twitching and squirming intensely, Hux taking full advantage of your current vulnerability. 

“Hux, please!” you whined as you continued to ride out your high, never able to catch a break or even a damn breath. “Hux…oh my god…please, I don’t have anymore…”

As your chest rose and went back down rapidly, your lips agape to try and catch your breath before you finally felt Hux removed himself. Quite hesitantly, but he managed to break himself away from you to give you your moment of recovery. 

You reopened your eyes to peer at the robot, vision almost blurry as the lustful fog remained in your mind. And looking into his visor’s lights, something told you he had the same sentiment.

“Did…did you get a taste?” you cleared your throat, ultimately shutting your mouth to ease your breaths. 

“Negative.”

Your eyes widened at Hux’s reply, shock coursing through you enough to make you instantly forget about your exhaustion. Meanwhile, Hux twitched his head before glancing down at your wet crotch in what you considered a predator-like stare.

“You’re joking.” You rubbed your eyes, not being able to contain a chuckle before you also took notice of his member that had not yet reached its satisfaction. 

“We must make another attempt.” Hux stepped close enough to rub said member against your still sensitive clit, making your legs wince before you looked up at him with pleading eyes. “Perhaps more stimulation involving insertion is required.”

“That just might be it.” you gave a breathy smile as you took hold of him, ready for the machine who was already gripping onto you. 

[android-anthology-hub]

Caretakers

“So, why then do you wish to work for us? Biorobotics is a challenging field.” “Honestly?” she looked past the Overseer, her gaze tracing the fine circuits and servos that glimmered in the light. “Hoping to be a designer one day.” The Overseer walked around the front of her desk, watching the smaller woman through the eyes of the drones, “Ambitious, miss Himari..."

Here is another character short, this time exploring Himari's past. Before she joined the Workshop, before she'd changed...

Explore this story below the cut, on Ao3, Fictionpress, and Tapas (Parts One and Two).

OS-R-311 was unlike any model she'd seen before. Most androids were built with function in mind, shaping the body to purpose. But this android was a showcase, every joint and bit of metal polished and beautiful. She stood with authority, golden mechanical eyes studying her from across the desk.

“You may refer to me as Overseer 311 or simply Overseer,” the android said, straightening her dark gray suit as she sat down. “And you must be-”

“-Himari. People just call me Himari, ma'am,” she said with a smile. “Thank you for taking the time to see me.”

Overseer 311 smiled as she leaned back in her chair, tapping the link in her temple. A pair of drones whirred to life at her command, orbiting them both with a dull hum.

Her office didn't feel like something that belonged in a factory. It was more like an art gallery, with glass cases and projection panels lining the walls. Every case held a display - skeletons, musculature, and nerves rendered in ivory plastic; standing out against the white, golden circuits and machinery were woven into the displays. But the case behind the Overseer - a towering wall of glass - was the most eye-catching. Clean and polished cybernetics hung suspended within, arranged into a human figure, the mechanics of the android body laid bare.

“Now then, Miss Himari, your record is certainly an impressive one,” Overseer 311 mused, eyes flickering as the projection panel in her desk ignited.

A wall of projected light rose between them, the records of Himari's entire life laid out like the display.

She sorted through Himari’s history with a single gesture, “Full member of the medical union for five years, with licenses in cybernetics as well as mechatronics. A rather eclectic work history.”

“Mechs were the family business, ma'am,” Himari said, leaning forward with a smile. “I’ve learned the trade since I was small.”

“And yet you chose to study medicine.”

“That I did.”

“So, why then do you wish to work for us? Biorobotics is a challenging field.”

“Honestly?” she looked past the Overseer, her gaze tracing the fine circuits and servos that glimmered in the light. “Hoping to be a designer one day.”

The Overseer walked around the front of her desk, watching the smaller woman through the eyes of the drones, “Ambitious, miss Himari. But it takes more than ambition to design models for us.”

Himari rose to her feet, standing firm despite how the android towered over her, “I'm aware. I'm prepared to do the work, to earn that title.”

“So you are,” Overseer 311 said, the doors to the factory sliding open with a mere wave of her hand.

Himari had done her research on how androids were made. And still, the scale of the factory astounded her. All around the factory floor were bays of assembly tanks, androids of varying stages floating in bio-polymer fluid. The air was filled with the hum of life support, countless machines working tirelessly to bring the androids to life.

Moving about on the factory floor were the caretakers, going from tank to tank, keeping a watchful eye on their patients.

“You'll be joining a crew of caretakers for one of our batches,” Overseer 311 said, her drones flanking close to Himari on either side. “You understand the length of your contract?”

“Three years,” Himari said, fighting back a grin as she watched robotic limbs go to work inside the tanks.

“Very good. Your job is to monitor the construction and development of the batch. Once they are online, you are to help assess before they are shipped.”

Himari bit her cheek in thought as she followed the Overseer, curiosity burning in her mind.

"Ma'am, if I may-" Overseer 311 paused at the door to another chamber within the factory, golden eyes glinting with curiosity. "-I... I've never seen a model like you. I mean, support androids have wireless uplinks, sure. But I've never seen... You're fully integrated! Sharing senses across multiple systems, directing them at a whim."

She tilted her head as her two drones circled her in a slow orbit, “Miss Himari, understand that my model is proprietary to this facility. I am designed to assist and oversee the staff from anywhere in this factory.” she stepped so close that Himari had to stare up at her to meet those golden eyes, “Does this satisfy your curiosity…?”

“Incredible,” she whispered as she stumbled back. “Your designer, your caretakers, they must be proud. I know I would be.”

The Overseer pulled back, a curious look on her face, “I… I like to think they are.” she beckoned Himari into the chamber beyond, lit at first by the many monitors within, “Now then, we still need to create your imprint.”

The chamber lit up once they were inside, the noise of the factory floor vanishing as the door hissed shut. Code rippled and streamed over the monitors mounted on the walls. Images - memories - flickered from the projection panels built into the consoles that dominated the room.

“I-I've never heard of an imprint,” Himari said, watching the dream-like memory of an android learning their first word.

“Despite the circuitry incorporated within, android brains still behave much like a human’s. And so they require a human touch,” Overseer 311 led Himari into a glass booth at the center of the room. “As part of their basic programming, we imprint them onto their caretakers. This protects the health of the batch and ensures they will recognize and trust you.”

With a wave of her hand, the Overseer made the rest of the chamber vanish. The projectors within the booth enveloped everything in light, before resolving into the image of a dormitory. Trees were scattered about the strangely peaceful space, and light panels provided simulated sun from overhead.

This–It had to be another part of the factory. Somewhere for the androids. Maybe the workers too?

“All you have to do is interact with me,” she said, moving Himari across from her.

“With you…?”

The Overseer’s gaze flicked to the side, a prompt window projecting just above her head, “You have a script, Miss Himari. Follow it and you’ll be fine.”

Himari looked at her hands, uncertainty weighing heavy in her chest.

Was it really that simple? Just a few words and they’d just trust her?

Overseer 311 took her by the hands as she spoke, drawing her attention, “It is a simple call and response. Talk to me as you would a patient, Miss Himari.”

She took a breath and closed her eyes, centering herself.

Focus on the job…

She shook her head and went to work, striding along the aisle of assembly tanks she’d been assigned.

The floor boss walked alongside her, hardly even glancing at her, “We usually test newbies on a single model batch. But you’ll be working with us on what the suits call a ‘Multi-Service Batch’.” he chuckled - more to himself than her - and leaned against one of the tanks as Himari took her time to examine the tank’s readouts, “I wouldn’t have put a newbie on an assortment like this, but you got dropped on me from on high.”

“So…” she did her best to ignore his dismissive tone as she focused on the work. “What models are we working with?”

Her boss just raised a brow and jabbed a thumb to the tanks behind him, “No better way to get the hang of things than to check it yourself, newbie.”

“Stop calling me that,” she muttered, keeping her voice even as she went to check the readouts on the next tank. “I have a name–”

“Well, hold onto that for next year, if you’re still here by then,” her boss lightly punched her shoulder, walking off across the bay. “For now, you better get a move on, newbie!”

“Son of a…!” Himari grit her teeth, rubbing her shoulder with a frustrated growl, and turned back to the tank.

She buried herself in her work, moving along with her fellow caretakers. She studied the readouts of each tank, noting down the models as she went. They were working a batch of fifty, half of them were all industrial models. The rest were slated for security and emergency rescue. 

She couldn’t help but smile at the golden-haired android floating in the tank in front of her, laying a hand on the glass. 

They were still in their infancy, but already she could see what they’d be in the future. She could almost picture it, the android’s figure stepping through fire and smoke to rescue a survivor.

“You’re gonna save people someday,” she mused to herself with a proud smile. “Let’s get you there, hmm?”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” one of her fellow caretakers said, leaning against the neighboring tank.

“Wouldn't do what exactly, Mr…?”

“Samuels,” he said with a gentle smile. “You don’t wanna get too attached at the beginning. Odds are we’re gonna lose a few.”

“Wha–” Himari blinked, confusion and disbelief settling in as she looked back at the tank and the sleeping android inside. “I thought they would have–”

“Fixed it? Look… There’s always gonna be mistakes that show up. Sometimes there’s just something wrong with the template, some flaw in the cloning process. Don’t take it too personally when you lose your first one.”

“I’m not… Isn’t there anything we can…?”

“We all lose one eventually… We can help, sometimes. But others… They’re just broken from the start,” he said with a shrug. “But it could be worse. I had a whole batch fail once, genetic errors,” he chuckled and shook his head, but he couldn’t hide the bitterness in his voice. “Someone up in the labs got fired over that, I’m sure.”

“You don’t know?” Himari asked, clenching her fists tight at her sides.

“You’ll get used to it. They don’t tell us anything other than what they have to.”

She went to the next tank over by Samuels, her hands aching from how tight she’d been holding them.

Just focus on the job. That’s all she had to do. 

She closed her eyes, took a shaking breath, and got back to work.

She would fix it, she just had to get higher up the ladder first.

“Hey,” Samuels laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, offering a sympathetic smile. “Don’t think you’re alone in this. This whole crew’s gonna have three whole years to get to know each other. So, lean on us. Okay, newbie?”

“I’m not–” Himari bit her cheek, speaking softer as she looked at him. “My name’s Himari…”

“Himari,” he hummed, nodding along as he moved on to the next tank in his lineup. “Like the sound of it.”

She smiled to herself a little as she worked, watching the android’s projected growth on the tank monitor.

Maybe three years wouldn’t be so bad…

The years passed, the work continued, and Himari watched them all grow before her eyes. Each had the same face, the same genetic template. And yet she quietly named a few - under her breath - when no one else could hear.

She could see how different they would be. It wasn’t how they were built, the way the cybernetics shaped them. It was in the way that they moved. How they stirred in their three-year-long sleep, every little expression that flitted across their faces as they dreamed.

“Okay…” she hummed to the android inside the tank, smiling at them as if they could see her, hear her. “Looks like your construct download is going just fine. Polymer circuits are integrating and cybernetics…” she idly tapped the console screen, watching as mechanical fingers curled and flexed at her instruction, “Okay, cybernetics are operational. Half a year and you should be moving around just fine.”

“How are our patients?” Samuels called out from down the aisle.

“They’re in the green, developing on time,” she called back. “I’m looking forward to meeting ‘em!”

He chuckled softly, shaking his head as he moved across the bay to check on the rest of the tanks, “Aren’t we all, Himari. Aren’t we all…”

“Look alive everybody!” the floor boss barked out, stomping along the bays as the assembly tanks finally began to drain. “Three years of work! Let’s make it across the finish line!”

The androids began to stir for the first time, eyes fluttering as they started to come online. Some choked and sputtered as the fluid drained below their faces, their first breaths in a new world.

“Himari,” the floor boss called out, his attention more on the androids than her. “What have we got?”

Himari tried to keep her hands steady, fumbling with the panel as she checked the readouts of the tanks, “Forty-six coming online. Vitals are holding… They’re no longer on life support!”

The tension broke as a cheer cascaded up and down the bays, the excitement of the moment numbing the ache that sat in Himari’s chest.

They’d lost four…

The tanks lowered to the floor and slowly began to open. At first, many only leaned against the supports, coughing and gasping as they breathed for the first time. But one by one the androids began to step out, their caretakers at the ready for those that stumbled. Himari quickly steadied the one closest to her as they emerged, holding them up.

They looked to her as they held her arm and all she could do was smile, small and proud, “Welcome to the world.”

Even after the month they’d spent running them through their paces, Himari couldn’t help but watch as the first airships were loaded up. They’d be heading off soon to deliver the androids - their androids - to wherever they were needed.

“Do you ever think to check?” she asked softly, looking out towards the sunset as it painted the open sky.

“Think to check what?” Samuels asked with an exhausted shrug.

“On the androids,” she said, nudging his shoulder with a small smile. “Ya know, after they’re rolled out.”

What had been a smile slowly fell as Samuels looked at the horizon, “Don’t…”

“What? I’m just curious.”

“And I'm telling you, don’t. Company doesn’t pay us to make house calls. Nor do they want them.”

“I…” Himari shook her head, thumping her fist on the docking bay floor. “Don’t you wonder?”

Samuels sighed and ran a hand over his face, giving her a tired smile, “Of course I did, when I first started…”

She frowned in thought as she stared at him, “What happened?”

“Got over it,” he said, but she didn’t think he believed it either. The look on his face was too worn, too hurt, “You see enough batches, the novelty wears off. You get used to it.”

She… She didn’t know what to say. And she tried. She tried to think of something. But, whatever she thought of she knew he’d already heard it, already said it himself once…

She hated the quiet pity on his face as he smiled and lied to her face, “They’re just numbers, ‘Mari. Sooner you get used to it, the easier the job gets…”

It felt like a lifetime since they’d talked on that docking bay floor. In some ways it was. A lifetime of mistakes…

Himari rolled her shoulders, wincing as she strode through the workshop. Sunlight poured in through the skylight above, so much warmer than the cold lights of the factory. Even the machinery felt warmer, well worn with use and care.

It was home, plain and simple.

She called out, racing up the steps to the common room and into their little makeshift infirmary off on the side, “Alright! Let’s help get our guest patched–”

She froze, staring at the android on her table, their body covered with burns and scars across their skin.

It had been years, but she knew that face. She’d watched them grow up before her eyes after all…

They were hurt - blood and polymer leaking through cracks in their cybernetics, and still, they smiled when they saw her, “Hello… H-Hello again - miss Himari.”

“You… You remember me?” Himari shook her head, quickly getting to work as she checked their injuries. “L-Let’s get you patched up…”

“Miss Himari?” her heart ached at the sound of their voice, like they didn’t blame her at all, like they still trusted her after all this time.

“Y-Yes?”

“It’s good to see you again, miss,” they said with a smile that made her resolve crack.

She shouldn’t, but she couldn’t help but smile back, her voice shaking, “It’s good to finally see you again too.”

They winced and clutched their shoulder as a short surged through the circuits and nerves in their arm. Worry twisted in Himari’s gut as she looked over the cybernetic limb with care.

“Will I… Will I be okay?”

“Everything will be alright,” she whispered, more to herself than them.

And yet- “Now that you’re here…” -that half-remembered phrase echoed back at her, made her stare at them.

She cradled their face in her hands, brushing their golden hair like a child she’d lost and found again.

She wasn’t their caretaker anymore. Maybe she should never have been. They’d deserved better than her youthful ambitions, better than the burden she’d helped make them for. And yet-

“I mean it,” she said, soft and desperate. They had to know she meant it, that it was more than just the imprint, “You’re safe here and I… I-I’ll help you, I promise.”

-she was proud. Damn her heart, she was proud to see them still standing, to see this life she’d made still here. They had done so much to help people, that much she was sure. Now, it was her turn.

They closed their eyes, relief on their face as they leaned into her hand, “Thank you, miss Himari…”