#Perplexity AI guide

[ctrinity]

Guide to Free AI Tools

Discover the top 5 free AI tools for content creators in 2024. Compare features, pricing, and capabilities of Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude AI, Perplexity AI, and You.com.

Understanding AI Tools for Modern Content Creation In today’s digital landscape, AI tools have become indispensable allies for content creators, educators, and writers. But with so many options available, which one should you choose? This comprehensive guide explores five powerful AI assistants, each bringing unique capabilities to enhance your creative process. Whether you’re looking to…

[milkhoon]

Freak — L. Heeseung

⋆ 𐙚 ₊ 𓂃 Pairing: Nerd!Heeseung (Evan) x AFAB!Reader

⋆ 𐙚 ₊ 𓂃 Synopsis: You’ve heard a rumour about the university freak, but is he a freak when all he ever do is just existing? Well, maybe he is. In another term.

⋆ 𐙚 ₊ 𓂃 Content warning: Heeseung as Evan. Nerd and shy Hee, afab readear, mention of bullying a bit (Heeseung or Evan being called freak and people not really befriending him), smut, unprotected sex, p in v, fingering, cream pie, slow porn plotting and weird details, mild choking, name calling (doll, princess, good girl, slut). Let me know if I miss any.

⋆ 𐙚 ₊ 𓂃 Word count: 4k

⋆ 𐙚 ₊ 𓂃 Okay, this is obviously my very first post here and it’s a special one cause I write this for my best friend, my baby sister. She asked for this so I hope I won’t disappoint her. Pardon me and my typos or grammatical error too, not beta read yet and English is not my first language. Happiest birthday, A! We all love you so much. May your days get even better after this. XOXO.

© deepblue for the pic. | Minors do not interact.

You have often heard whispers about a “freak” on your campus, but the identity of this figure remained elusive amidst the sea of eccentric individuals inhabiting this quaint little community. It wasn’t until a group project assignment from your professor that you were thrust into an unexpected partnership with a certain Evan.

“Wow, he’s utterly heartless! How could he match you with a freak?” your closest friends exclaimed, perplexed by the professor’s choice.

“A freak?” you queried, raising an inquisitive brow at your friend’s assertion.

“Yes, a freak. Evan is infamous for his weirdness,” your friend continued. "Just observe his attire! Exceptionally dated with thick-rimmed glasses framing his face. And let’s not forget his near-silent demeanor! He rarely engages with anyone!” she elucidated, noting the perplexity on your face.

Was that enough justification for everyone to label Evan as a freak? Who’s to say that the man isn’t simply reserved? Or perhaps he struggles with mental health issues that remain enigmatic to others? You found the rumor weird instead.

“Perhaps he’s just shy. That’s all," you attempted to brush off your friend’s remarks, bidding farewell politely and veering towards a different corridor.

Your destination was to seek out Evan. Absent from the class for undisclosed reasons, your intuition guided you to the library, rumored to be the sanctuary for the misfits and intellectuals alike.

“Hi… you are Evan, right?” you ventured, addressing the figure that resembled your friend’s description. Clad in an old fashioned clothes — an oversized woolen sweater paired with threadbare denims, complemented by circular spectacles framing his slender frame.

Your outstretched hand hesitated momentarily as Evan stood frozen in place, a bewildered and startled expression etched across his features. His eyes widened in disbelief. “Oh, I’m sorry. I am (Y/N). We were meant to attend the same class earlier, yet you were absent. Our professor assigned us a collaborative project. I propose we talk about AI and its impact on artists. Though it may sound cliché, the subject matter is currently hot and widely discussed, right?”

Evan’s ears rang with a deafening silence that drowned out your words, his body tensed in an icy grip. His gaze remained fixed upon your countenance, a figure that had often pervaded his reveries with its ethereal allure.

“Yeah, hot and widely discussed,” he echoed, not in concurrence but to describe the allure you exuded. Hot. Sexy and attractive. Unbeknownst to you, Evan’s subconscious prompted him to discreetly graze his inner cheek, restraining a stray droplet of saliva.

“Great! Let’s meet at Cafe XX this afternoon since we agreed on our project’s topic then!" you said — or rather, not realizing what the man in front of you was thinking. You reached into your bag for a moment and handed him your card, “My number is written here. Call me if you need anything!”

Accepting the card timidly, Evan nodded meekly, he didn’t want you to think he looked stupid.

“Bye, Evan!” you waved a final farewell, departing the library’s confines.

Evan held the business card you gave him. Y/N. Y/F/N. He brought the card closer to his nose and breathed in your lingering scent. Sweet.

You were supposed to meet with Evan this afternoon as per your agreement, but suddenly, a heavy rain shower engulfed the earth without any warning. The sky, previously serene, now bore the burden of heavy rain, casting a pall of uncertainty over the horizon and your heart.

The task needed to be completed within a week, yet you found yourself a day behind the seven-day deadline. You nervously nibbled on your nails, not truly biting, just place the tips of your teeth to your finger. A hint of worry lingered. With one hand holding your phone, you messaged Evan.

You: It seems like we can't work on the task right now. The rain is pouring heavily here. How about tomorrow?

Evan: Oh… Evan: Don't worry. Evan: I can come to your place.

You: My place?

Evan: Don't get me wrong. Evan: I know you can't go out now, so let me. I don't mind the rain. Evan: I mean for us to finish the task quickly.

You: Okay. You: Here's my address. Just come up to the second floor. It's the farthest room. Knock when you arrive.

You breathed a sigh of relief. Evan’s idea wasn’t so bad. If you could finalize the concept today, the next six days wouldn’t pose any problem at all.

YY Street. Heeseung was familiar with the address you had sent. No, do not accuse him of being a stalker! He had never stalked anyone. He just happened to have seen you on that street, entering a three-story building.

Heeseung couldn’t fathom where all the sudden courage had come from that led him to offer the idea of coming to your place. It seemed like he had gone mad; you were driving him further into madness. An anxious restlessness consumed him as he made his way towards your place.

Nothing strange would happen. Yes, nothing would happen.

Repeatedly reassuring himself with those words like mantra, he suddenly found himself standing in front of the building where you lived. The taxi he had ordered departed a minute ago. His feet felt heavy, stepping one by one like a fool.

His hand timidly knocked on the door after successfully passing through the lobby guarded by a vigilant security, which only added to his nervousness. It felt akin to meeting a stern future in-law.

He could hear you shouting from inside, not too loudly, before the brown door creaked open slightly, revealing you peering out.

“Hey, Evan!” you greeted him cheerfully, opening the door wider and welcoming him inside.

Nothing strange would happen. Yes, nothing would happen.

Evan followed behind you like a duckling, then opted to sit on the floor instead of the sofa, perhaps because it was closer to the table. You offered him a drink, and in his shy manner, he left the choice to you. So, you made him a cup of hot chocolate. He must have been cold from braving the rain. Afterwards, you sat by his side, unaware of the palpable tension in his breath.

One hour. Two hours. Five hours passed by quickly for you. Evan was undeniably a shy man. He didn’t speak much, and when he tried, his voice came out squeaky and timid. Unconsciously, you giggled along with your cup of hot chocolate. He was adorable. The rumors about him were truly unfounded.

Oh, at least, that’s what you thought until you realized that the rain showed no signs of subsiding. In fact, it intensified, and you noticed that your room heater wasn’t working properly. You should have complained to the management and requested a maintenance visit. The chilly night air seeping in through the window crevices began to make you shiver. The crop top you wore clearly wasn’t helping, but you felt too lazy to change into warmer clothing, especially with a guest present.

Evan glanced in your direction as you hugged yourself, arms crossed and rubbing your sides. Summoning his courage once more, he asked, “Are you cold?”

Your head automatically turned towards him, lips rounding briefly after hearing Evan’s question. His voice didn’t waver like before. You simply nodded. The rain persisted, the room heater wasn’t functioning properly, and your attire wasn’t providing much warmth. Of course, you were cold.

Approaching you, not too closely, he reached for your hand, his much larger hand enveloping yours. You jumped in surprise but allowed him to hold your hand. You were confident he had good intentions, right?

For a few minutes, everything was quiet, but his hand continued to grip yours and stroke it, providing warmth.

His earnest and genuine demeanor touched you, although it was just a simple gesture. Unconsciously, you leaned in, closing the gap between you. He averted his gaze, now looking at you as if asking if you needed something. In a shy gesture, you unexpectedly kissed his cheek.

He froze, you froze. After a soft exhale, you said, “Um… thank you? You’re so sweet. I couldn’t resist, sorry.”

For a moment, he opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water, “Thank you?” was all that came out. You nodded.

“Because you helped me feel warmer,” you explained with a smile. He looked down, his ears turning red, a sign of his embarrassment.

“I can help you feel warmer if you want,” Evan offered in a very soft voice, almost inaudible if you weren’t the only two present in the room. If you hadn’t been paying attention or if you hadn’t been unconsciously focused on him all this time.

“How would you warm me up?” you inquired, prompting him to lift his head again. His round eyes sparkled in the light, truly endearing. It was as if he was questioning you and seeking permission. You nodded faintly.

Still with his hands clasped together, Evan cut the distance between you before one hand came under your chin; bringing you into a small kiss. He kissed your lips, then opened his eyes to reveal his round eyes again. Seeing no resistance from you, he continued. Sucking your lips, kissing them gently before his tongue taps your row of teeth—asking permission to enter. You were happy to welcome his tongue, buying it with yours. Fight for dominance for a while until you finally give in. He explores your entire oral cavity. Then you take more until your saliva drips down, until you run out of breath and slap his chest slowly. That’s when he broke the kiss. But it didn’t stop there, he didn’t let you breathe properly because next, he placed small kisses on the side of your jaw, then down to your neck. Giving you the same small kisses but with fewer sucks and nibbles, you couldn’t help but moan. Damn, he’s really good.

He enjoys every inch of your body, not leaving a single inch without being gently touched. Then, he took you onto his lap. His arms are wrapped intimately around your waist while he himself is busy giving licks to your nipples which are starting to perk up because of the cold air and of course because of arousal. He moved his tongue up and down, not finding the fibers of the clothes still wrapped around your body bothering. He only lifted your crop top a little afterward to do the same to the other nipple. This continues until he feels satisfied licking and sucking your nipples. His other hand suddenly slipped into the mini skirt you were wearing, rubbing your thigh gently but moving upwards. Getting closer to the center of your body. Playing with the hem of your panties, moving to the middle and pressing your lips. He could feel the cotton cloth was wet, he smiled crookedly.

You couldn’t open your eyes properly, not with all Evan’s touches everywhere. When you opened your eyes, it was clear that he was looking at you, writhing in amusement. With a charming smile. He would definitely look better without glasses, you thought. Taking off the glasses that framed his face. Choked up when you saw that his face was even more handsome like this, up close. You moved forward, taking him into a deep, hot kiss as you moved back and forth. Grinding on his thighs.

“Slow down, doll. The night is still young,” he insited while restraining your movements by locking your waist. “I will make sure you are ready first, okay?” he continued the activities that were previously disrupted.

This time he didn’t just rub the outside of your underwear but forced his way inside. Play with your clitoris before inserting a finger. Your eyes rolled, a suppressed moan finally coming out. Tears almost coming out.

“Hurts...” you moaned softly, he stroked your hair gently. Trying to calm you down.

“Shhhh... it’s going to hurt more if I don’t do this, you know it well, princess.” that’s what happened before he moved his fingers forward and back, slowly, slowly and then faster with each passing second. He also added two more fingers into your vagina, making scissor-like movements to prepare you. This continues until the walls of your vagina, which at first were very tight and sucked his fingers, making him wince and think about what would happen if he entered you directly, finally twitch.

“I'm close!” you squealed.

“Take it out, doll. Be a good girl and let it out for me.” he murmurs, still continuing to pound your pussy rapidly with his slender fingers. Not long after, the white liquid came out, soaking your panties which weren’t completely removed as well as Evan’s pants which he was still wearing.

With a satisfied smile, Evan pulled out his fingers from your twisted love tunnel, causing you to whimper with the loss of stimulation. You were drenched in your juices and the scent was intoxicating. He cleaned your thighs with a quick sweep of his thumb, savoring the taste before licking it off.

“Good girl,” he praised affectionately while maintaining eye contact, pushing the hair off your face. He leaned in, giving you another sensual, lust-filled kiss, and then positioned his thick, pulsating cock at your entrance.

The hand that had previously clutching your nape now slid up to cup your cheek. He pushed your panties aside and lower his pants. With a practiced ease, he then forced into you with a slick pop, your walls encircling his member. There was a moment of breathlessness, your eyes locking as he began to move within. In and out, filling you with each stroke as your legs gripped him, keeping him close.

The rhythm steadily built, a counterpoint to your growing sounds of delight. Your nails raked at his shoulders, leaving red trails as you clung to him. Then, the pressure within you seemed to reach the breaking point, a build-up of a storm threatening to burst.

Gasping for breath, you cried out, “Evan, I’m going to… I’m going to...”

Evan responded by increasing the pace, pounding into you mercilessly, his own climax beckoning. “Cum for me, doll,” he growled raggedly, the provocative words adding fuel to the fire that burned within.

The storm broke, the walls of yours being constricted violently, your orgasm crashing through. Keened, your nails digging into his skin, body bucking wildly matched his frenzied tempo, giving everything you had. The sheets beneath began to move, twisted and tangled as you chased the pinnacle of pleasure.

With a deep groan, he stiffened, his own culmination arrived, bathing both of you in his hot seed. He remained inside, holding you tightly as he rode the aftershocks.

Evan suddenly flipped you, making your hair spilling across the bed in a disheveled mess. He pulled out of you slowly, leaving you slick and wanting. As he did, you shifted, your hips still twitching with the lingering sensation of pleasure.

“Don’t be such a greedy slut, stop moving! I’m not done yet,” Evan warned you in a husky voice you never thought would heard before. He gripped your neck, not tight enough to cut off air but close enough to make you aware of his grip. It was a stark contrast to the tender moments, but his desire for control and intimacy was intertwined.

You shivered, your heart racing with a mix of fear and excitement. You nodded, indicating your consent. Evan shifted behind you, positioning himself at you entrance once more. “Ready for more, princess?” He murmured, his breath hot against your ear.

You moaned her response, your body aching for the promised fulfillment. Evan thrust back into you, his grip on your neck steady and firm. The dual sensation of the tight hold and his penetration built a crescendo of arousal within your again. Your mind swam in a hazy mix of trust, risk, and lust.

His movements were rougher this time, the echo of their sounds in the bedroom sharp and animalistic. Evan’s grunts filled the room, mingling with your whimpers and moans, punctuated by the sound of flesh meeting flesh.

You clawed at the bed, nails leaving crescent marks in desperation to find purchase. The friction of his sinful length against your inner walls whipped you closer.

“Evan... I’m close... again,” you gasped, feeling him swell inside. Evan pounded into you even relentlessly, his thrusts unyielding as he guided you to the edge. In a final surge, his release tore through, spilling into you once more.

He then pulled you into his arms after, both of you sprawled on the rumpled sheets. His fingers tangled in your hair, rubbing the tension from your scalp.

You cradled against him, your body still shivering from the intensity of the lovemaking. “You did a great job, princess,” Evan cooed, tugging the strands of your hair playfully, a small smile forming on his lips. He kissed your temple repeatedly as if saying sorry for the brief rude moment before.

Well, maybe your friend was right. He is indeed a freak. But in different term, only for you to notice.

[mariacallous]

AI-infused search engines from Google, Microsoft, and Perplexity have been surfacing deeply racist and widely debunked research promoting race science and the idea that white people are genetically superior to nonwhite people.

Patrik Hermansson, a researcher with UK-based anti-racism group Hope Not Hate, was in the middle of a months-long investigation into the resurgent race science movement when he needed to find out more information about a debunked dataset that claims IQ scores can be used to prove the superiority of the white race.

He was investigating the Human Diversity Foundation, a race science company funded by Andrew Conru, the US tech billionaire who founded Adult Friend Finder. The group, founded in 2022, was the successor to the Pioneer Fund, a group founded by US Nazi sympathizers in 1937 with the aim of promoting “race betterment” and “race realism.”

Hermansson logged in to Google and began looking up results for the IQs of different nations. When he typed in “Pakistan IQ,” rather than getting a typical list of links, Hermansson was presented with Google’s AI-powered Overviews tool, which, confusingly to him, was on by default. It gave him a definitive answer of 80.

When he typed in “Sierra Leone IQ,” Google’s AI tool was even more specific: 45.07. The result for “Kenya IQ” was equally exact: 75.2.

Hermansson immediately recognized the numbers being fed back to him. They were being taken directly from the very study he was trying to debunk, published by one of the leaders of the movement that he was working to expose.

The results Google was serving up came from a dataset published by Richard Lynn, a University of Ulster professor who died in 2023 and was president of the Pioneer Fund for two decades.

“His influence was massive. He was the superstar and the guiding light of that movement up until his death. Almost to the very end of his life, he was a core leader of it,” Hermansson says.

A WIRED investigation confirmed Hermanssons’s findings and discovered that other AI-infused search engines—Microsoft’s Copilot and Perplexity—are also referencing Lynn’s work when queried about IQ scores in various countries. While Lynn’s flawed research has long been used by far-right extremists, white supremacists, and proponents of eugenics as evidence that the white race is superior genetically and intellectually from nonwhite races, experts now worry that its promotion through AI could help radicalize others.

“Unquestioning use of these ‘statistics’ is deeply problematic,” Rebecca Sear, director of the Center for Culture and Evolution at Brunel University London, tells WIRED. “Use of these data therefore not only spreads disinformation but also helps the political project of scientific racism—the misuse of science to promote the idea that racial hierarchies and inequalities are natural and inevitable.”

To back up her claim, Sear pointed out that Lynn’s research was cited by the white supremacist who committed the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, in 2022.

Google’s AI Overviews were launched earlier this year as part of the company’s effort to revamp its all-powerful search tool for an online world being reshaped by artificial intelligence. For some search queries, the tool, which is only available in certain countries right now, gives an AI-generated summary of its findings. The tool pulls the information from the internet and gives users the answers to queries without needing to click on a link.

The AI Overview answer does not always immediately say where the information is coming from, but after complaints from people about how it showed no articles, Google now puts the title for one of the links to the right of the AI summary. AI Overviews have already run into a number of issues since launching in May, forcing Google to admit it had botched the heavily-hyped rollout. AI Overviews is turned on by default for search results, and can’t be removed without restoring to installing third-party extensions. (“I haven't enabled it, but it was enabled,” Hermansson, the researcher, tells WIRED. “I don't know how that happened.”)

In the case of the IQ results, Google referred to a variety of sources, including posts on X, Facebook, and a number of obscure listicle websites, including World Population Review. In nearly all of these cases, when you click through to the source, the trail leads back to Lynn’s infamous dataset. (In some cases, while the exact numbers Lynn published are referenced, the websites do not cite Lynn as the source.)

When querying Google’s Gemini AI chatbot directly using the same terms, it provided a much more nuanced response. “It's important to approach discussions about national IQ scores with caution,” read text that the chatbot generated in response to the query “Pakistan IQ.” The text continued: “IQ tests are designed primarily for Western cultures and can be biased against individuals from different backgrounds.”

Google tells WIRED that its systems weren’t working as intended in this case and that it is looking at ways it can improve.

“We have guardrails and policies in place to protect against low quality responses, and when we find Overviews that don’t align with our policies, we quickly take action against them,” Ned Adriance, a Google spokesperson, tells WIRED. “These Overviews violated our policies and have been removed. Our goal is for AI Overviews to provide links to high quality content so that people can click through to learn more, but for some queries there may not be a lot of high quality web content available.”

While WIRED’s tests suggest AI Overviews have now been switched off for queries about national IQs, the results still amplify the incorrect figures from Lynn’s work in what’s called a “featured snippet,” which displays some of the text from a website before the link.

Google did not respond to a question about this update.

But it’s not just Google promoting these dangerous theories. When WIRED put the same query to other AI-powered online search services, we found similar results.

Perplexity, an AI search company that has been found to make things up out of thin air, responded to a query about “Pakistan IQ” by stating that “the average IQ in Pakistan has been reported to vary significantly depending on the source.”

It then lists a number of sources, including a Reddit thread that relied on Lynn’s research and the same World Population Review site that Google’s AI Overview referenced. When asked for Sierra Leone’s IQ, the Perplexity directly cited Lynn’s figure: “Sierra Leone's average IQ is reported to be 45.07, ranking it among the lowest globally.”

Perplexity did not respond to a request for comment.

Microsoft’s Copilot chatbot, which is integrated into its Bing search engine, generated confident text—“The average IQ in Pakistan is reported to be around 80”—citing a website called IQ International, which does not reference its sources. When asked for “Sierra Leone IQ,” Copilot’s response said it was 91. The source linked in the results was a website called Brainstats.com, which references Lynn’s work. Copilot also referenced Brainstats.com work when queried about IQ in Kenya

“Copilot answers questions by distilling information from multiple web sources into a single response,” Caitlin Roulston, a Microsoft spokesperson, tells WIRED. “Copilot provides linked citations so the user can further explore and research as they would with traditional search.”

Google added that part of the problem it faces in generating AI Overviews is that, for some very specific queries, there’s an absence of high quality information on the web—and there’s little doubt that Lynn’s work is not of high quality.

“The science underlying Lynn’s database of ‘national IQs’ is of such poor quality that it is difficult to believe the database is anything but fraudulent,” Sear said. “Lynn has never described his methodology for selecting samples into the database; many nations have IQs estimated from absurdly small and unrepresentative samples.”

Sear points to Lynn’s estimation of the IQ of Angola being based on information from just 19 people and that of Eritrea being based on samples of children living in orphanages.

“The problem with it is that the data Lynn used to generate this dataset is just bullshit, and it's bullshit in multiple dimensions,” Rutherford said, pointing out that the Somali figure in Lynn’s dataset is based on one sample of refugees aged between 8 and 18 who were tested in a Kenyan refugee camp. He adds that the Botswana score is based on a single sample of 104 Tswana-speaking high school students aged between 7 and 20 who were tested in English.

Critics of the use of national IQ tests to promote the idea of racial superiority point out not only that the quality of the samples being collected is weak, but also that the tests themselves are typically designed for Western audiences, and so are biased before they are even administered.

“There is evidence that Lynn systematically biased the database by preferentially including samples with low IQs, while excluding those with higher IQs, for African nations,” Sears added, a conclusion backed up by a preprint study from 2020.

Lynn published various versions of his national IQ dataset over the course of decades, the most recent of which, called “The Intelligence of Nations,” was published in 2019. Over the years, Lynn’s flawed work has been used by far-right and racist groups as evidence to back up claims of white superiority. The data has also been turned into a color-coded map of the world, showing sub-Saharan African countries with purportedly low IQ colored red compared to the Western nations, which are colored blue.

“This is a data visualization that you see all over [X, formerly known as Twitter], all over social media—and if you spend a lot of time in racist hangouts on the web, you just see this as an argument by racists who say, ‘Look at the data. Look at the map,’” Rutherford says.

But the blame, Rutherford believes, does not lie with the AI systems alone, but also with a scientific community that has been uncritically citing Lynn’s work for years.

“It's actually not surprising [that AI systems are quoting it] because Lynn's work in IQ has been accepted pretty unquestioningly from a huge area of academia, and if you look at the number of times his national IQ databases have been cited in academic works, it's in the hundreds,” Rutherford said. “So the fault isn't with AI. The fault is with academia.”

[nerdieforpedro]

No Stops and No Pulling Out

Chapter Three of A Safe Place for Us Series

Dieter Bravo x Aisha Smith (black plus size AFAB)

My entire masterlist and blog are for readers 18+ MDNI. I do not consent to my work being used in AI, recommended on TikTok, borrowed or plagiarized.

Summary: Dieter arrives at Aisha’s place. He continues in his honesty and his Kit Kat responds in kind. The point of no return.

Warnings: All the smut basically, fingering, oral (f receiving), both of them being bossy and chatty? (What was I thinking? Was not. 🤭), unprotected P in V (wrap it up IRL), aftercare, a smidge of cum play?, cockwarming, cuddles 🥰

Word Count: about 1.6k

Notes: This chapter is very horny. Here we are, I’m no quite sure what so say other than I hope you enjoy. 😉😆 I laughed way too hard at my own warnings, but I think I covered everything.

Main Masterlist/ Dieter Bravo Masterlist/AO3 Link

Once passed the threshold of her bedroom, she pushes Dieter onto the bed and drops her robe. The straps of her nightgown drop and expose one of her large breasts, the ones that Dieter has dreamt about. He’s laying across the bed removing his shirt and shimmying to the edge, he notices that she looks tense. Standing, Dieter takes one of her hands and kisses the back of it. “You’re sure you want to start now? Don’t seem excited at all Kit Kat.” His smirk earns the crack of a small smile, Aisha leans forward and kisses his cheek, his scruffy beard tickling her lips.

“Yeah I can. I said I could. And I do want to, it’s just going to change everything.” Placing her hand on his back, Bravo pulls down his pants and steps out of them. The first kiss to her neck has her exhale while with the next he earns his name cooed softly while he brings her over to the bed. Falling back, he beckons her to sit on his lap, but ends up pulling her because she was taking her time. A knee placed on the outside of his thighs, she’s spread for him. His hand guide her hips down to graze the head of his cock. He feels her slick entrance on his tip, licking his lips at the thought of being inside of her soon. “Dee, put it in.” Aisha’s nails are digging into Dieter’s shoulders.

“Not yet. I need you a lot more wet Aisha.” His middle finger quickly entered her head without warning and she yelped. “Sorry baby, but you’re not stretched and relaxed enough for me yet. I think you’ll enjoy the baby making process if I can get three in.” The perplexed look on her face made him start moving his finger slowly, having her ride it while she repeated his name and the soft curse of ‘fuck.’ “Same Ai. God this is so better than how I pictured it.” Pulling down both of nightgown straps, she lifted her breast to Dieter’s mouth.

“Stop talking and suck. Help me get there Dieter.” Nodding, his tongue warmed her nipple as her hips began to roll in his finger, Bravo fell back and Aisha did with him, straddling him as a second finger entered her moist core. Now making a vacuum around her chocolate pebble, Dee watched as her back started to arch and her hips began gyrating in circles. “M-More…ahh…almost…” Slipping a third finger in proved difficult as she was clenching his two so tightly, so he used his teeth to nab at her nipple. It was enough to have her drip down his hand and wrist as her body became rigid with her orgasm. Her full weight was on top of him as he held her. Panting for a few moments, Aisha was able to look up at Dieter and saw admiration on his face. She shouldn’t but she felt shy suddenly at him seeing such a different side of her.

“Didn’t know you liked to give commands like that in bed too. I just thought it was during movie nights and meals.” He jokes as she rolls off of him, still watching him. “What is it?”

“So…you love me and that’s why you want to help me have a baby Dieter?” He can tell she hasn’t quite accepted his words from her question. Why is he only good with them when they’re written by someone else?

“Because I love you I want to put a baby in you. Maybe two or three, we’ll see how the first one goes. You know I’d take care you and our kid right? Aisha you’re one of the few good things I have besides my Kit Kats, sobriety and my robe.” He turns to lay on his side and kisses her breast then forehead. “Now if you want me to continue, that nightgown is coming off, you’re keeping your legs open wide and I’m kissing both sets of lips.” Bringing the two fingers he had inside of her, Dieter licked them slowly as she removed her nightgown and tossed it on the floor. Wordlessly, Aisha slipped a leg under Dee’s side and put her other one on his hip to flip him from his lateral laying position to on top of her.

“My one set of lips are going to be kissed by your cock Dieter. Guide yourself inside of me. Now.” Twitching from her aggressiveness and another command, he reaches down and moves his head and shifts against her wet slit, coating himself in her juices. “Stop teasing me and fuck me Dee.” Getting himself situated on his knees, he grabs a pillow and taps her hip for Aisha to raise them for him.

“Aisha, I’m not just going to fuck you. At least the first time. I told you I love you, are you going to act like you didn’t hear me?” He asked with an sharp edge, allowing his bulbous head inside of her warmth. He held her hips still so she couldn’t despite trying to use her legs to get some leverage. “Do you feel the same or you truly just want a kid from me? Hm?” He felt her walls grip him, trying to pull him further in.

“I heard you, I just…I’m going to be covetous with you Dieter. Your time, your love, your attention and maybe even your Kit Kats.” She strokes the vellus hairs on his arms as her eyes meet his with a soft smile. “I’ve loved you for years.” Bravo quickly bottoms out within her spongy walls, throbbing within her. He kisses between her breasts as her back arches, the stretch of his thick member dragging toward her depths. He doesn’t move, kissing her chin next before exhaling. “My god Dee, that’s what you have in those pants?! My pussy won’t be the same…”

“Damn right she won’t, she’s mine now as are you. Beautiful.” Her cunt clenched when he spoke about her quivering cavern and moaned when he said he was hers. He didn’t announce when he was going to move, he just drew back and slid into her slowly. Their bodies found their own rhythm between grunts and whines, as Dieter sped up, Aisha began to pull his hair and licked his Adam’s apple. Dieter used his forearms to hook under her knees to spread her legs further as he rutted into her.

He felt close, but he didn’t want to stop. Having her moan and cry his name out, growling hers, he wants to churn his come inside of her and then fill her again later. Dieter thought he could hold out a bit longer, but he wasn’t able to, once he began pouring into her, his hand quickly dropped her leg and his thumb found her clit, he licked his thumb and circled it, trying to make her climax so she could milk his cock. On this he was successful, and her velvet walls did clinch around his softening length as he remained within her.

Dieter found her eyes and watched her purr. At least he thinks he heard a purr and this is why he wouldn’t want another man to experience this. Possessive? Yes, but she moaned when he called her his. “Aisha. Aisha, damn sweet girl…” Using his tongue, he cleaned his thumb of her slick and bit her bottom lip, forcing her mouth to open for him to slip inside, making her taste herself.

“Are you…always like this Dieter?” Able to speak between pants and Dieter’s thumb bobbing in her mouth. He didn’t pull out and just warmed within her. He knew he would have to eventually. They would need to clean up. But then what, just appointments until things are figured out? More, he wants and needs more from her.

“No. It’s only with you. Aisha. I’m not in the habit of wanting someone this much. You did that to me.” Cupping her face, a light kiss, gentle. He can do that and be that for her. She watched his features soften with the kiss. Dieter looked warm to her, Aisha couldn’t recall him ever this territorial with her. Protective maybe, especially after her work was stolen but not like this. Where it doesn’t look like he’s going to let her go. It makes her feel safe, but also scares the hell out of Aisha. She ruffles his hair as he finally slides out of her. The loss of his girth has her groaning and feeling the drag of his length exiting her has her crave it again. “Come on.”

“W-Wait, I’m not ready to stand yet.” Dieter has already popped up out of bed and is pulling Aisha by her hands to take her to her bathroom. Wobbly and leaning on Dieter’s arm, they make it there together and wipe each other down, cleaning up. “I’m still dripping a bit Dee.” She states barely above a whisper as he’s between her legs, spreading her again to ensure that she’s clean and dry. The sensation of the washcloth and his hand. He flicks his tongue on her inner thigh. “D-Dee, don’t.”

The low chuckle as he stands, “I’m not. Nowhere near ready to go again. Come on, back to bed with you Scribbles.” A light slap to Aisha’s ass as he holds a handful of it and takes her back to her bed. Laying next to her feels right, having her curl on his chest gives Dieter a wide smile.

“You’re going to get some sleep too?” With heavy eyes, Aisha peers up at Dieter and presses her palm into his chest, “We’ll talk more tomorrow morning Dee.” Her voice trailed off and he was right behind her.

“We will. I promise Ai.”

Chapter Two. Chapter Four

The cuddlers 🤗: @megamindsecretlair @soft-persephone @soft-girl-musings @rosecentaur1916 @westside-rot

@mysterious-moonstruck-musings @schnarfer @yorksgirl @angelofsmalldeath-codeine @guelyury

@readingiskeepingmegoing @gwendibleywrites @pascalsanctuary @survivingandenduring

[total-drama-takes-takes-2]

ttwt episode 9

“Last time, on Total Takes World Tour: we laughed, we ate, we danced, and some of us even lost in beautiful Quebec. Bonnie accepted their fate as the team’s emotional support dog, while both Max and Kelly grew more suspicious of a certain environmentalist. Julia went ham on Team Yaoi in hopes of getting Patrick eliminated, but fell short when the challenge turned out to be a reward one, saving him another seat aboard the S.S. Drama. Who will be electrocuted this time? Will Phillip ever be able to absorb the moon’s power? Stay tuned to find out right here, on Total Takes: World Tour!”

The galley is full but slow this morning, everyone trudging along to help themselves to another inedible meal before the plane’s descent. The metal hull itself creaks and groans, sending a chill up everyone's spine.

“I wonder what torture we have in store for us today,” Max comments sarcastically, pushing around the soggy toast on his tray. 

“Nothing I couldn’t handle, heh,” Phillip responds. “I’ve been working on my... abilities. Be warned...”

Staci’s head pokes out from around the corner. “Phillip, you left your drawings in the confessional again!” she holds up a few crude drawings of werewolves staring forlornly off into the distance. 

The entire cabin bursts into strained laughter and Phillip sulks. Max ignores him. Bonnie grumbles and faceplants into the table. 

---

First class is tense, but this time, it’s not the usual suspects. 

Ass and Courtney are rather… civil this morning, going about their daily tasks without a peep from either of them. Julia, on the other hand, is pacing the entire length of the cabin, grumbling and cursing to herself, only stopping to throw darts at a picture of Patrick’s face taped to one of the seats. 

Mal is smacking gum loudly, typing on her phone and ignoring the darts whizzing past her head. 

“Stupid, stupid…” Julia grumbles, tossing another projectile. It hits Mal in the thigh. She has no reaction as she scrolls. 

“We need to think ahead,” the blonde insists, slamming her fist to her hand. “Where’s our next challenge going to be?”

“An island. Tropical,” Mal says, not bothering to look up from her phone. “In about… sixteen minutes.”

Julia blinks, then looks out the window over the great expanse of ocean. She turns back with a perplexed expression while Ass raises an eyebrow from across the cabin. “What? How would you even know that?”

Courtney’s eyes widen. “Don’t-!”

“May I present to you-” Mal says, standing and rushing across the cabin. She pulls down a screen map of the world with numerous pins in it. “Mal’s 100% full-proof Total Drama Predictinator!”

Ass and Julia stare. Courtney smacks their forehead. 

“Every season, I create a highly complex AI program that predicts each location, challenge, and eliminations with startling accuracy,” Mal says, pacing between the ends of the map. She speaks matter-of-factly. “According to my findings, we’ll be on an island in the Atlantic ocean.”

The intercom crackles to life. “Wouldn’t be so sure about that, Einstein!” Chris says merrily. “We’ll be landing in Waterloo, Belgium, in-”

The plane suddenly lurches, sending all unbuckled passengers flying. A sputtering, mechanical screech forces everyone to cover their ears and look around at the metal beast nervously. 

“Uh, Chris, you might wanna take a look at this,” Chef says. The intercom then dies and the lights in the plane flicker out seconds before it begins plummeting. 

“Brace yourselves!” Courtney yells. “Assume your positions!”

“Um…” Julia shouts, looking between Ass and Mal as they stare nervously. “We didn’t actually read your guide!”

“WHAT! I spent all night writing- AHHHH!”

The plane plunges, growing closer and closer to the ocean. 

---

Economy has all but buckled in, ducking and covering their heads as luggage and rats fly around the cabin. A loud siren begins to blare, forcing everyone to plug their ears. 

“I can’t die here!” Bonnie yells, pleading with the universe. “Anywhere but here!”

Phillip screams in terror, his high-pitched shrieks out matching the siren in volume. Staci grits their teeth and Kelly, Max, and Bonnie lean away. Patrick rocks back and forth in his seat. 

Only Albert seems unbothered, still flipping through his book without a midst of panic about him. 

---

ALBERT: “What? Everyone was too preoccupied crying for mommy to notice me. What does sudden and terrible death matter, anyway?”

---

At the very last second, the plane deploys a few massive parachutes, and lands softly on the beaches of an island. 

Mal looks out the economy window. “See? Island!”

Julia’s jaw drops. 

---

JULIA: “Okay, she may be crazy- like, class A crazy, nuttier than a nutbar dipped in peanut sauce nutty- but she isn’t stupid. I just have to find a way to use this to my advantage…”

---

The teens uneasily exit the plane, groaning and holding their heads. Most of them are a sickly shade of green, and even Chris looks tussled. 

“That was a nasty trick you pulled,” Courtney says, pointing an accusing finger at Chris and wheezing. “You could’ve killed us!”

“Hey, man, this one wasn’t me,”

Chef walks out from behind the plane, holding a wrench that’s bent in all kinds of wrong ways. He shakes his head. “It’s not looking too good,” he says. “We’re gonna need someone qualified to handle this.”

Chris shudders. 

“So, it’s fixable?” Max asks, crossing his arms. “You guys just don’t want to pay for it?”

“Hey! We’re on a budget!” The host snaps. “I’m sure we’ll figure something out- I’ll call the producers. In the meantime, uh… I guess we’ll do our challenge here. Wherever this is.”

The teams look around the island, taking note of the sandy beaches and lush vegetation. 

“St. Helena,” Mal comments. “We’re off the coast of South Africa, east of Rio de Janeiro. Coordinates 15° 58′ 0″ S, 5° 42′ 0″ W.”

Everyone turns to her, blinking. 

“Oh, great. She’s doxxing the island now!” Ass shouts. Julia shoves a finger to their face and approaches Mal cautiously, smiling widely. 

“Mal,”

“Hm?” the brunette asks, back on her phone. 

“Do you think your… um, geographical knowledge might actually help us?”

“Duh,” she scoffs. “But it’s not like anyone ever asked me!”

Julia grits her teeth and smiles wider. “Well, we didn’t know. Think you could help the team this time?”

Mal thinks for a moment, then shrugs. 

---

MAL: “What? I’m not stupid. I know a lot of things besides fandom and phones- I know where all the challenges are going to be, I know that Bonnie still keeps a picture of Caesar with them, I know Frollo is in the cargo hold-” she sighs. “You know, fandom bloggers really are the most oppressed people in society. I-”

The camera goes static. 

---

Chris stands before the three remaining teams as they organize themselves across from each other on a grassy field. The host himself is on the phone, grumbling to himself. 

“Yes, well, the hot tub was necessary, so- hello? HELLO?” he sighs, tossing the phone behind him. It hits an intern in the head and they collapse. The teams look between each other awkwardly. 

“Looks like we’re on our own. Luckily, due to a quick wiki search- we can stay on theme! Welcome to St. Helena- island in the middle of nowhere. Best known for being Napoleon’s final resting place after he was exiled here way-back-when. Since we were originally going to Waterloo, we can just do the same challenge here. You kids will be recreating the historic battle that sealed Bonaparte’s fate. Team Friendship-”

The aforementioned look up. 

“You’ll be playing the part of the French army. AKA, the LOSERS!” he chuckles. “Team Yaoi, you’ll be the Prussians, and Team Mojo, you’re the British.”

The respective teams watch as Chef begins rolling out cannons. Courtney raises an eyebrow. “What exactly is our angle here?”

“Um… don’t get blown to smithereens by a cannon?” Chris chuckles. “I was kinda just hoping you guys would get your hands on weaponry and go crazy.”

“You’re letting us have real weapons?” Phillip asks, eyes widening. He grins maliciously. 

---

PHILLIP: “I believe I’m destined to kill a man. Basically it’s like, my destiny and stuff, and this show seems like my best shot. Whoever I attack should thank me- dying in combat is the highest honor a man can achieve!”

---

“Historically accurate weapons... mostly!” Chris corrects. “Last team standing wins, yadda yadda… hey Chef, we still have that inflatable pool, right?”

Chef nods. 

“Sweet! See you all in a few,”

Staci sighs as she watches the two walk off. Turning back to the team, she crosses their arms. “We need a plan,”

“You think?” Bonnie asks, staring at the ginormous canon. 

“I do, in fact!” she beams. The goth rolls their eyes. “Now, I’ve read about this before… it’s been a while, but I think I remember enough to have us not obliterated instantly. First, we’ll need a stand-in Napoleon,”

Phillip’s hand shoots up. “Ooh, me! Pick me!” he then coughs and artificially lowers his voice. “I mean… or whatever.”

Staci paces back and forth. “It’s gotta be someone smart…”

Phillip trails behind them, casually whistling. 

“Competent. Organized!”

He clears his throat and begins casually leafing through his journal, mumbling his poetry under his breath. 

She looks between the group. “How about… Max?”

“WHAT?” Phillip and Max chime in unison. 

Bonnie raises an eyebrow. “You know… I could see it,”

“It’s because of my height, isn’t it?” he lowers his eyes. They shrug. 

Staci interjects. “No, no! You’re… I mean, you’re a natural leader! You’re smart! And romantic!”

Phillip seizes. “What? Napoleon wasn’t a romantic, he was like, a military guy!”

“But he was really into romance novels,” Staci says. “I used to be muts with someone who kinned him, but then there was a bunch of callouts for people who kinned real life people, so I had to softblock them and they sent a death threat to my workplace. But it’s all good now. Anyway…”

---

PHILLIP: “I am a lot of things, but I am NOT a romantic! I mean, I’m a chick magnet, sure, but I don’t let the ladies lead me astray. It wouldn’t be very sigma of me. I’m fine with being second in command, then,”

---

“All in favor of Max?”

“Wait!” he snaps. 

Everyone raises their hands and Max sighs, defeated. 

---

Julia watches the teams divulge and turns back to hers. “Alright. Game plan, anyone?”

“Don’t get blown up,” Ass comments dryly. They are ignored. 

“Mal? Anything?” the blonde asks. 

She shrugs. “Eh, whatever you guys think. I’m busy- #saveourshow is trending on Twitter, and-”

Julia nabs the phone out of her hands and holds it above her head. Mal pouts. “FINE! We should like… hm…” the brunette scans the field. “I guess we should attack Team Mojo first. We outnumber them, and they really only have the one decent player. Everyone’s been calling them “Team Losers- and Michela” on Tumblr, and it-”

“I am down for that!” Julia interrupts, tossing Mal back her phone like it’s a dog treat. “Team Mojo it is. Courtney, Ass, defend our ground. Mal and I have this covered.”

Courtney and Ass both raise a cautious eyebrow and turn to each other slightly. 

---

COURTNEY: “Is it just me, or are those two getting awfully chummy lately?”

ASS: “Definitely not just you. Something’s up- I smell an alliance,”

---

Patrick plays with the cannon while Michela and Albert try to discuss their angle. He chuckles as he loads the barrel full of heavy projectiles and aims it at Team Friendship. 

“Okay, if we just focus on defense, maybe we can scrape by,” Michela ponders, pacing back and forth. “But we only have the one cannon, and we’re surely going to be everyone’s first target…”

“Maybe we should offer them the princess as a sacrifice,” Albert mutters, gesturing back to Patrick as he lights the fuse. “I’m sure Team Yaoi would ignore us altogether if we let them chew on him for a while.”

“What’s that supposed to mean, cupcake?” Patrick snaps, glaring. 

“You can’t be serious- Julia’s been trying to get you eliminated for days now,” Albert says, waving at Team Yaoi. “And it looks like your odds aren’t good today.”

He scoffs. “As if I’d let some girl-” 

A sudden cannonball flies through the air, whacking Patrick in the back and sending him flying forward with a long shriek. Julia cheers from afar. Michela massages her temples. 

---

Phillip scans the teams, looking between them for weaknesses. 

---

PHILLIP: “Trying to choose a target is pretty hard. Team Yaoi is pretty scary… I mean, lame! I wouldn’t wanna waste my ammo on them,”

---

Staci and Bonnie shove the cannon around, aiming it at Team Yaoi. “Ready?” Max yells. “Fire!”

Kelly lights the fuse and the team ducks, covering their ears, waiting for… nothing. The flame disappears in the breeze, leaving their cannon unfired. 

“Okay, let’s try this again,” Max sighs, lighting another match. “Ready? Fire!”

Again, the breeze blows it away. He grumbles to himself. 

“Maybe we should aim in a different direction,” Staci says. “Team Mojo-”

“Out of the question,” Max snaps.

Bonnie sighs. “You and your moral high ground with that girl. Listen, if we aim for Albert…”

After a long, drawn out silence, he relents. “Fine. But be careful!”

Just as Patrick peels himself off the ground, another cannonball- this time from Team Friendship- hits him in the gut. Max shouts “Damn it!” from afar. 

Albert smirks as he lights the cannon and fires in Team Yaoi’s general direction. “Duck!” Ass shouts, pulling Courtney to the grass as the ball flies overhead. 

The two wait for it to pass, but just as Courtney begins to stand, Ass pulls them back down. “We should talk,”

“About?”

Ass nods in Julia and Mal’s direction as they load the cannon for another shot at Patrick. 

“If they team, one of us is next. And if Mal makes it further in this game than me, I’ll kill myself,” Ass snaps. “As much as I hate to say it, if we wanna stay, we’re going to have to work together.”

Courtney thinks for a moment, and then grins. “Anything to take her down,”

The two shake hands with equally big smiles and then rise just as Julia fires another cannonball at Patrick, nailing him in the back of his knees. He shrieks again and she laughs. 

A shot from Team Friendship flies past them, narrowly missing Mal’s head as she taps on her phone, ignoring the commotion around her. She doesn’t even flinch. 

“Man, that chick is crazy,” Julia grumbles, loading the cannon for another round. 

“Patrick, GET UP!” Michela shouts. “This isn't the time for napping!”

Patrick, face-down in the grass, groans to himself. It takes a few seconds for him to peel his body off the ground, spitting out a mouthful of dirt as his bruised and battered form limps back to the team. 

“Call me crazy, but… I think Julia might be mad at me,” he says to Albert. The latter rolls his eyes. 

“Well, you’d better patch things up, cause we’re getting wailed on over here,” Michela snaps as another shot from Team Friendship narrowly misses Albert. A faint dinging catches their attention and the team grumbles.

Patrick sighs. “I miss the way, Julie said hello- by punching me, in the stomach,” 

“I miss the nights, when she didn’t pick up the phone,” he continues.

“Oh, oh,” Michela and Albert chime in as another cannonball flies overhead.

“Cause other times, she’d wreak havoc”

Patrick places a hand over his heart and gestures towards Team Yaoi. Julie watches him, mortified, while the rest of the team looks between each other awkwardly from behind her. 

“Oh, Julie, oh Julie, I, I miss you so… Oh my Julie, my violent Julie, why’d I ever let you go?”

“I dumped YOU!”

“I miss her smile, and the tables that she threw- at me, when she was moody-”

“Your fault!”

“Oh, I miss the way, we’d never seem to agree,”

“Oh, oh,”

“Cause arguing, always brought out her beauty,” he continues, ducking another round of shots from Team Yaoi. “Oh, Julie, oh, Julie, I, I miss you so… Oh, my Julie, my scary Julie, why’d I ever let you go? Why’d I ever let you go?”

“I’m going to kill him,” Julia says. “Okay, number one goal- Team Mojo has GOT to go!”

Ass ducks a cannonball from Team Friendship. “No offense, but we’re kinda getting pummeled out here- Team Losers is the least of our concern!”

“Team Losers and Michela,” Mal says, matter-of-factly. Ass grits their teeth. 

“They have a zero-sum chance of winning. This is the smartest move. I need him GONE!”

Courtney and Ass make nervous eye contact, but relent. 

---

Phillip watches as Team Friendship misses another shot at Team Mojo. 

“They move too fast,” Bonnie huffs, wiping the sweat off their forehead as they move the cannon back around to Team Yaoi. “We’re never gonna hit anyone at this rate.”

“Hey, it’s not so bad! We got Patrick a few times!” Kelly smiles, putting a hand on their shoulder. 

“...Which makes no difference at all, since he has the relevance of a sack of potatoes,” Max snaps. “Let’s just focus on Team Yaoi- they’re not even looking at us now.”

Phillip nods, pulling out his notebook to scribble something down. 

---

PHILLIP: “You know, I’m actually glad I didn’t get to be Napoleon. Now I can observe the teams and mark my target!"

---

“Faster! We need more ammo!” Julia shouts, commanding her troops in a fitting military fashion. “Hurry up!”

“We’re trying!” Ass snaps, then turns to Mal as she ignores the challenge altogether. “Maybe if SOMEONE was helping, we’d be going faster!”

“Mal has already helped enough. You two, on the other hand, could stand to pick up some slack!”

Ass and Courtney make eye contact, but turn back just in time to see a cannonball flying at them. “DUCK!”

The three drop to the ground and cover their heads as the projectile lands behind them with a thud. Mal remains none the wiser. 

“Damn! Missed again!” Bonnie huffs. “This thing is killing me!”

Phillip chuckles maliciously. “Not yet…”

They glare at him and he sighs and walks away.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Kelly puts a hand on their shoulder. “At the very least, none of our team has been hurt yet!”

---

PHILLIP: “Perhaps I’ve been looking in the wrong directions… maybe my true target has been here all along- the weak must perish!” he chuckles to himself and then screams at a spider in the booth.

---

“You’re not loading the cannon fast enough,” Max says. “Or moving it, or… anything. We need to be faster!”

“We’re going as fast as we can!” Staci insists. 

The team bursts into shouting, bickering and pointing fingers at each other. As they’re distracted, Phillip puts his full weight into turning the cannon around and facing it in Kelly’s direction as they try to mediate. 

“Here we go…” he grins, lighting the fuse. 

“And if YOU hadn’t been yelling, maybe we could’ve focused and gone faster!” Staci shouts, jabbing a finger in Max’s face. He swats their hand away and the two begin slap-fighting. 

Kelly gasps and rushes in to pull them apart, moving out of aim just in time- the cannon fires, sending a ball straight past Team Friendship, and right into Team Mojo’s barrel. 

“That’s not good,” Michela says, seconds before ducking as their cannon explodes. 

Team Friendship stops shouting and turns to the commotion, then to Phillip. 

“Holy…” Bonnie mumbles. “That’ll do it.”

---

As Julia, Ass, and Courtney take their hands off their ears and rise from the ground, they stare in bewilderment at the shredded remains of Mojo’s cannon. 

“So… now what?” Courtney asks. 

Before Julia can respond, however, a rain of cannonballs from Team Friendship showers them. The teens drop to the ground and cover themselves, bracing for the worst, but the balls simply bounce off them. 

Ass stares at one of the cannonballs, then lightly kicks it. It rolls away. “Huh. Imagine that,”

“They’re FOAM?” Phillip shouts in bewilderment from across the field. 

Chris walks back onto the field, holding a coconut drink with a tiny ornamental umbrella in it. He takes a long sip. “You guys done yet?”

“They’ve been foam this WHOLE TIME?” Bonnie shouts. 

“Uh, duh! Can you imagine the lawsuits?” the host scoffs. “The canons are real, though- and they pack a real punch!”

“But- what about Patrick?” Michela asks, pointing to her bruised and battered teammate. 

Chris shrugs. “Soft skin? Anyway… looks like Team Friendship has the most players standing, meaning they win the challenge!”

“What? None of us even got hurt!” Ass snaps. They are ignored. 

“And looks like Team Mojo took the hardest hit, soooo… see you guys tonight!” he chuckles, walking off. 

Michela and Albert look down at Patrick while Julia cheers and does a little dance around Mal. "Gooooooodbye, Patrick!" she hollers.

---

JULIA: "Finally- with that twit gone, I can focus on the game! Maybe having Mal around isn't so bad after all..."

---

“Did everyone have fun today? Yes? No?” Chris asks, looking between the three. Michela rolls her eyes. Albert turns a page in his book. “Anyway- it’s anyone’s game today! Three players left, who will lose, who will lose? It’s-”

“Just kick him off already!” Michela snaps. 

Chris huffs. “Geez, FINE! Patrick, you’ve been eliminated. See ya on the flip side, pal!”

Patrick whines and gets up, holding an ice pack to his head. He takes the parachute and jumps from the plane, landing face-first in the sand below. 

“You know, I usually hate out ground landings, but that one’s okay by me,” Chris says, peering out the door. “Who will be battered next time? Will we ever get off this island? Find out here, on Total Takes: World Tour!”

[republicsecurity]

Are you Ready?

With the positive stimuli reverberating through their consciousness, the recruits marched in disciplined unison towards the classroom.

The recruits, guided by their HUDs, marched in unison toward the classroom, the rhythmic clatter of their armored boots echoing through the sterile corridors. The HUDs deliberately introduced disorientation, recalibrating the recruits' sense of direction and spatial awareness. As they navigated the labyrinthine facility, the digital overlays on their visors flickered with dynamic arrows, constantly changing the perceived layout.

The recruits found themselves relying entirely on the visual cues provided by the HUD, each step a calculated response to the shifting information. The facility's architecture became an abstract puzzle, the familiar transformed into an enigmatic landscape. The instructors, observing from a distance, monitored the recruits' adaptability to the controlled disorientation, a subtle test of their reliance on the technology that bound them.

The recruits, their armored boots echoing in the clinical corridors, found themselves trapped in a seemingly endless loop of sterile hallways. The HUD, their guiding light, played tricks on their perception, leading them in circles, past familiar points that should have long been left behind.

The architectural monotony of the facility became a psychological challenge, a test of patience and adaptability. A five-minute walk stretched into an elongated 30-minute march, disorienting and perplexing the recruits. The instructors, hidden behind the scenes, observed the recruits' responses through the suit telemetry and AI reports.

The recruits entered the classroom, their armored boots echoing in unison as they marched to their assigned armrest chairs. Each chair, a sophisticated piece of technology, featured docking ports designed to seamlessly connect with the waste management system of the suits. The chairs, resembling a fusion of ergonomic design and utilitarian efficiency, were the recruits' designated stations for both comfort and maintenance.

As the recruits settled into their chairs, there was a symphony of clicks and hisses as the docking clamps engaged, securing the suits in place. The connection initiated a dual process – the waste management system efficiently extracted bodily waste from the recruits, ensuring hygiene and convenience, while simultaneously replenishing the suits with necessary resources.

The recruits, confined to their armrest chairs, received the subtle yet unmistakable message in their HUD. A glyph, an enigmatic symbol on their visors, indicated that their motor control had been disabled. They found themselves in a state of temporary immobility, unable to stand or move their bodies.

The instructors entered the room, their armored presence casting an imposing shadow over the recruits. The recruits, though physically restricted, could still move their heads and arms within the confines of their chairs. It was a deliberate imposition, a strategic choice made by the instructors to emphasize control and dependency.

Instructor KO10T addressed the recruits with a measured tone, "Today marks a pivotal moment in your training, as we delve into the intricacies of employing lethal force. This matter was broached prior to your Basic Medical Training, and it warrants reiteration now. By the tenets of the prevailing legal framework, you possess the prerogative to raise objections to this facet of your instruction. The law, in its unwavering language, affords you the right to dissent."

The recruits, their heads slightly turned within their armored restraints, absorbed the words. Instructor 6DG05, stationed nearby, scrutinized the telemetry data, monitoring the recruits' physiological responses to the legal discourse.

KO10T continued, the atmosphere in the room tense and charged with the weight of the impending instruction.

KO10T: "By law, you retain the right to voice your objection to this particular aspect of your training. However, understand that this objection may impact the both your individual development and your standing within the paramedic corps."

Instructor KO10T continued, acknowledging the unique status of the recruits as conscripts, "Let it be known that, as conscripts, you are safeguarded by the provision that precludes compelling individuals to act against the dictates of their conscience. The machinery of the law respects this fundamental tenet. If any among you harbors objections based on conscientious grounds, now is the moment to articulate them."

Instructor KO10T's voice resonated through the helmets, a blend of authority and a peculiar sort of empathy.

"We'll initiate a playback now, a stark reminder of the gravity of the path you tread. This is no casual matter. Once the video concludes, each of you will have a designated interval to reflect on your choice. This decision, my dear recruits, is the compass that will guide your actions in the field. It is not to be taken lightly."

The HUD flickered, and the recruits were immersed in a grim visual narrative, an unsettling portrayal of the use of deadly force in the line of duty. As the scenes unfolded, each recruit grappled with the weight of their imminent decision, aware that the path ahead demanded a conscious commitment to actions that could not be undone.

6DG05 monitored the recruits' physiological responses, assessing the impact of the video on their emotional and mental states. The telemetry data displayed a spectrum of reactions — heightened heart rates, increased perspiration, and various neural responses.

"KO10T," 6DG05 called out, "I'm observing diverse reactions. Some are displaying expected stress responses, while others seem more composed. It's intriguing to witness the distinct ways in which their minds grapple with the ethical complexities."

H2U8M's visor dimmed to black, cutting off the visual stimuli, leaving him alone with his thoughts and the voice of Instructor KO10T echoing in his helmet.

"In this designated interval, you are urged to reflect on your choice," KO10T's voice resonated through the confined space of the helmet, creating an intimate connection between the instructor's words and H2U8M's consciousness.

As the silence enveloped him, H2U8M's mind raced through the moral labyrinth that the video had presented. The weight of the decision pressed against the walls of his consciousness. In the solitude within the suit, he grappled with the ethical considerations of employing deadly force.

The distant hum of machinery and the rhythmic sound of his own breath became the backdrop for his contemplation. The stark reality of his role as a tactical paramedic unfolded in his mind — the responsibility to protect, the obligation to save lives, and the potential necessity to wield force.

The minutes passed, each tick of the clock echoing in the stillness of his thoughts. The neural conditioning, the sensory isolation, and the weight of the decision all converged within the confines of the suit.

Finally, as the designated interval drew to a close, KO10T's voice returned, breaking the silence that had enveloped H2U8M's consciousness. The visor slowly illuminated, revealing the training room once again.

"In front of you is a menu," KO10T's voice accompanied the digital interface. "This is your opportunity to express your consent or objection. Navigate through the options and make your choice."

The menu presented a series of questions and statements, seeking H2U8M's affirmation or dissent. The cursor responded to his mental commands as he moved through the selections. Each click of the cursor felt like a weighted decision, an acknowledgment of the path he was willing to tread in his role as a tactical paramedic.

KO10T's voice guided the process, a constant reminder that this was more than a mere formality. It was a pivotal moment, an assertion of his personal stance in the face of the moral challenges inherent in their line of work.

With each selection, H2U8M felt a sense of agency, a reaffirmation of his autonomy within the confines of the suit. The act of navigating the menu was more than a technical procedure; it was a declaration of his willingness to engage with the complexities of his duty.

As he confirmed his choices, the menu dissolved, and the HUD returned to its standard display.

The HUD blinked into emptiness, leaving H2U8M in a momentary void. The digital canvas that had been filled with choices and reflections now reverted to a stark blankness. In the absence of prompts, he was left alone with his thoughts, the residue of his decisions lingering in the virtual silence.

Meanwhile, 6DG05 diligently monitored the recruits' responses, the streams of data converging into a comprehensive analysis. As the feedback reached him, he relayed the information to KO10T, the exchange a seamless coordination between instructor and overseer. The report confirmed what they had anticipated – no fundamental rejections, no dissent that would impede the progression of the training.

"KO10T," 6DG05's voice echoed through the communication channels. "All recruits have navigated the menu without fundamental objections. We can proceed with the next phase of training."

The confirmation was met with a measured nod from KO10T. The recruits, their HUDs now darkened, awaited the next set of instructions.

he HUD burst into life once more, a canvas of digital information painting the next phase of their training. Lessons unfurled across the recruits' visors, delving into the intricacies of the standard rifle used within the paramedic corps. The virtual display detailed the specifications, components, and maintenance protocols of the small arms that would become an extension of their tactical paramedic identity.

In the dimly lit classroom, the recruits were ensconced in the glow of their HUDs, absorbing the wealth of information transmitted directly into their field of vision. The instructor's voice, modulated by the AI to convey a perfect blend of authority and guidance, accompanied the visual feast of knowledge. Each nugget of information etched itself into their minds, forming a mental arsenal to complement the physicality of the suits they wore.

The lesson on small arms unfolded like a meticulously crafted narrative, where the line between weapon and tool blurred in the context of their duties.

[thesinglesjukebox]

SUISEI HOSHIMACHI - "PLANETARIUM"

Presented by Tara, a VTuber with an arrangement that shoots for the stars...

[7.00]

Micha Cavaseno: One of the more perplexing things about pop singles emerging from VTubers (in any language, company, field, whatever) is how they're beholden to personas that should hypothetically rely on the talents and abilities of the human occupying the idol's space, but instead they can often smother the human in favor of the role. For example, Ironmouse the human can offer touching opera performances from her home set-up, but somehow with professional production, you end up with ran-through pop that flattens her abilities to provide audio fanfiction for the lore and put-ons of a CGI shadow puppet. So, like any ideal pop single, you'd want something that sounds perfectly in line with the singer's persona but also something that maybe transcends it far enough that the human at the core of the record's theater shines through. "Planetarium" is good in part because it has the confidence to not line up with the perception of the performer's penchant for committing war crimes in video games (though she's demonstrated a fondness for doing so with a song in her heart!) nor anything to do with how you're supposed to take for granted her friends and associates are adults assuming the mantles of dogs or demons or demon-dogs or what have you; not even in an otherkin way. So what prevents it from being too anonymous? I'd say it's the fragility and intimacy of the song, relying on a chain-link of Suisei's very very human voice to build and frame something that has to dwell outside of this fantasy world and instead leave you wondering about the world behind the puppet where only the person gets to dwell. It's perfect, for it seemingly frets over what it means to be a idol in either the digital or traditional sense, providing illusion as hope's balm in opposition to the human who has to guide it's rudders. It's a certain kind of mystery that doesn't really thrive in pop anymore, and however the silly means it returns, it's certainly feels all to fleeting to count out. [7]

Taylor Alatorre: Though the word "planetarium" does not appear in these lyrics, the title's connection to Suisei, who introduced herself to the world as "your shooting star" and whose fans call themselves hoshiyomi (stargazers), is obvious. She's a "constellation of hope," she tells us, who strives to bring solace to the lonely and struggling, yet she is painfully aware that this solace can only be accessed through a faint projection of images on an unbreachable wall -- a screen. "Planetarium" is an idol comfort song about the limitations of such songs, one that declines to feed into fans' most rhapsodic fantasies of connection, even as it seeks to establish a genuine emphatic link across the cosmic void. Suisei is still leveraging the intimacy of the VTuber medium here, as her admissions of personal frailty are laden with meaning to those who have followed her journey. But even for the uninitiated, the stately production from DECO*27 helps get the point across, as it blankets the listener's ears with soft, Vocaloid-like iterations of Suisei's voice, then steps back to allow for critical moments of unmediated fellow feeling. The military drums at the climax, often used to convey an unstoppable reign of stardom, are instead used here to suggest a kind of mutual empowerment from a distance, a hand-in-virtual-hand march into separate yet entwined futures. It's a healthier model of the idol-audience dynamic than the industry has sadly become known for. [8]

Nortey Dowuona: For all the hoopla about generative AI, it is a bit strange to be listening to the virtual streamer sing a solid approximation of pop with occasional low bass pulses from DECO*27, who knows not to introduce and drums until the last mark: a simple snare led arrangement using the bass drum for emphasis as the song trickles away, the voice leaning back and then taking lead as the echoes surround it, cracked by a last hit of the kick. If this is what non person sung music sounds like, it might not be so bad. [8]

Ian Mathers: This kind of has the opposite effect that 10cc's "I'm Not in Love" has, for me (and this isn't just down to the difference between one singer many times verses many singers layered together). There, the massed human voices almost dissolve the song, perfect for a narrator who is trying to hide. Here, even at their most layered, the arrangement suggest a determined self sufficiency, a thing of lonely beauty created by oneself because it has to be. Not that that's the only trick up "Planetarium"'s sleeve; I don't mind telling you I sat up fucking straight the first time I heard the drums come in (suddenly thinking of "Cloudbusting," among other things). [9]

Brad Shoup: By the halfway point, I was holding my breath to see whether she'd complete the song a cappella. Drums almost don't count, but the melody was full and the pace was engrossing, and I don't think I would have missed them. [7]

Dorian Sinclair: As the Jukebox's resident Choir Guy, you'd think this sort of vocal multitracking would be right up my alley, but I've actually never liked the "lead vocalist + faux-instrumental backing vox" style of a cappella writing. "Planetarium" has a very pretty melody and Suisei (and her many doppelgangers) perform it with a lot of expression, but I can't help but wish the track had more conventional instrumentation--even as I respect the more unusual path taken. I'm just saying, if she ever records an acoustic self-cover, let's circle back. [6]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: It has a solemnity I appreciate, and it certainly feels more emotional because the instrumentation is all digital (the martial drumming in particular), but I'm sort of left here thinking of nothing beyond, "well, it's pretty." [4]

Michelle Myers: Even my textural aversion to Vocaloid can't overcome the moments of genuine transcendence in the topline melody. [7]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: In terms of arrangement this is some real "Eternal Flame" shit -- a by-the-numbers modern torch song, lushly appointed with slightly corny details (those snares!) What truly stands out in "Planetarium" is Suisei Hoshimachi's vocal performance, richly layered and genuinely emotive and moving in a way that few songs this year have reached me. As she ascends the triplet staircases of the hook she sounds at turns uncertain -- weak, even -- and radiantly confident. She's a singer in absolute control of the song. At its heart, "Planetarium" is a flawed vehicle for an incredible performance -- the musical equivalent of a middling biopic saved by a star turn. Fortunately for the song, I'm a sucker for those movies. [7]

Katherine St Asaph: Am I supposed to hear "Fix You"? [5]

Alfred Soto: The Roches, the Bangles -- many non-Asian pop bands came to mind while the harmonies bewitched me with each pass. "Planetarium" is pleasurable in itself, a track dotted with as many false endings as an Indiana Jones film. [7]

Tara Hillegeist: So, cards on the table: this one -- even with the expectation I was throwing the Jukebox either for something of a loop or something of a snooze -- this one, "Planetarium", was my pick, out of an embarrassment of options, some of which I might even be made to admit on pain of death were better songs. But Amnesty Week isn't always about if the song you nominate was the best song nobody else on the Jukebox staff heard. It's about if the song you nominate is the song you wish got listened to with the same intensity and affection as the inarguable hits of the year that everyone else heard enough times to gain an opinion on already.

And perhaps I'd have better luck if I'd not been sidelined with COVID last year, such that I could've Amnesty-nominated Suisei's near-imperial "Stellar Stellar", a song which saw her briefly break viewership records on a "live" video recording for popular YouTube series The First Take as the first and to date still only virtual performer to grace what is otherwise a series that positions itself as close to providing the rawest, purest, flesh-and-fumbles versions of popular and classic songs in the Japanese cultural discourse (recorded in, as the title implies, one take). Prefaced as it is by an unforgettable, ingeniously performative, hesitant and "humanizing" glance towards the impassive cameras, that recording is an even better showcase for the strength and depth of her vocal performance than the original song. If she has an iconic song -- and hers is a career with no small amount of attempts to provide herself with one -- then "Stellar Stellar", a tenderly swooning, emotive ballad whose romantic flourishes find themselves lanced like a boil by sharp, bitter lyrics about how she's grown tired of being told to wait for princes to come when she'd rather become her own prince and save herself, is that song, and it will likely anchor her concerts and career retrospectives in pride of affirming place for years to come. Like Suisei herself, the song aspires to reach as many people as have ears to hear it, without ever truly desiring to close that gap between where she stands, singing alone, and where the audience finds ourselves, leaning forward to listen.

And it is that melancholic comfort in her solitude that links "Planetarium" and "Stellar Stellar", specifically, contrasted against a body of work that runs far more to jazzy, EDM-inflected pop than it does to the torch song- and scorcher-heavy era of Ringo Shiina's solo career so often cited as one of her aesthetic inspirations -- an element that "Planetarium" takes even further than the performance that nearly put Suisei's name on everyone's lips. "Planetarium" builds its instrumentation, harmonies, and central melodies almost entirely out of heavily-processed shards of Suisei's own voice, with only a steady synth pulse low in the mix and a climactic, triumphant drum fill otherwise, as she broods over the regrets and slowly-crushing pileup of setbacks that she's felt forming over the course of what starts out seeming like it might be a long-cooled romantic relationship, but slowly reveals itself to be nothing more than the fraught distance between singer and nebulously identified anyfan. Suisei has always laboriously linked herself thematically -- it's in the name, natch -- with the stuff of starlight and the night sky, something distant and heavenly, and "Planetarium" finds her wondering if that celestial distance between herself and her audience means both sides are condemned to never truly feel the satisfaction of a real connection, that she can never truly be someone's reason to get up and face another cold morning. But it's as the song turns to swell beneath her that she realizes, as long as she's honest, just acknowledging that her anxieties are hardly her own means her words are reaching someone - that just hearing her sing about those anxieties as if they're her own might be solace enough for the audience she seeks. And that, she sings, in exultant realization -- surrounded by little more than the murmuring of her own voice -- is enough; her voice, indeed, is quite literally exactly enough. So -- of course -- that's when the metaphorical mirror she's singing it all to breaks, right on cue. Perhaps that'll be the step too far, for some -- I enjoyed trying to meet her gaze, anyway, all the same. [9]

[detectivemaker]

Happy birthday papa (and AI fic for Jonathan Crane's birthday

Once upon a time in the quaint town of Willowbrook, there lived a unique and loving family – the Crane-Tetches. Jonathan Crane, a renowned psychologist known for his expertise in fear, and Jervis Tetch, a brilliant inventor with a penchant for technology, had three remarkable children: Lenore, Lewis, and Dorothy.

It was a bright and breezy day when the Crane-Tetch household bustled with excitement. The family was gathered in their cozy kitchen, brewing up plans for an extraordinary celebration: Jonathan's birthday. Lenore, the eldest, a poised and intelligent young woman, suggested a thrilling theme party centered around their father's love for mysteries and riddles. Lewis, the middle child, known for his mischievous grin and sharp wit, proposed incorporating mind-boggling games and puzzles. Dorothy, the youngest and most imaginative of the siblings, added ideas for colorful decorations and whimsical surprises.

As they brainstormed, Jervis Tetch, their other father, strolled in with a tray of freshly baked cookies. With his knack for creativity and technology, Jervis contributed ingenious ideas to make the party truly unforgettable. His eyes sparkled behind his round glasses as he suggested holographic illusions and interactive challenges to mesmerize the guests.

Together, the Crane-Tetch family crafted invitations adorned with intricate puzzles that guests had to solve to unveil the party's location. They designed an array of decorations that seemed to leap out of fairy tales, combining Jonathan's love for the enigmatic with Jervis's touch of magic. Dorothy giggled with delight as she created whimsical paper lanterns that floated around the garden, casting a dreamy glow over the scene.

On the day of the celebration, guests arrived, excitedly solving the puzzles to find their way to the splendidly transformed Crane-Tetch residence. They marveled at the mysterious decor, where every corner held a secret waiting to be unraveled. Lewis orchestrated brain-teasing games, challenging the guests' intellect, while Lenore guided them through cryptic treasure hunts and scavenger hunts designed to perplex and amuse.

Jervis, with his inventive gadgets, brought illusions to life, leaving everyone spellbound. Holographic butterflies fluttered around the garden, and a captivating maze appeared, seemingly out of thin air, challenging the bravest souls to navigate through.

As the evening progressed, Jonathan arrived, wearing an amused smile as he deciphered the last riddle to enter his own surprise party. He was taken aback by the intricacy and thoughtfulness of the celebration. The joy on his face was mirrored by Jervis, who beamed with pride at the success of their collaborative efforts.

The night echoed with laughter, riddles, and heartfelt moments shared among family and friends. The Crane-Tetch children watched their fathers, Jonathan and Jervis, marveling at the beautiful bond they shared – a love that brought magic and mystery into their lives every day.

As the stars twinkled above, and the party drew to a close, the Crane-Tetch family gathered, relishing the memories created on this special day. For in their home, where love and imagination intertwined, birthdays were not merely celebrations but enchanting adventures woven with the threads of familial love and creativity.

[svenwall20]

Creating science fiction locations inspired by MBTI personalities infuses your game book's universe with a diverse array of settings, each reflecting the core traits and themes associated with a personality type. These locations can serve as hubs of adventure, conflict, and discovery for players exploring the vast reaches of space and the depths of human (and alien) psyche.

### ISTJ - The Archive of Eons

- **Description**: A massive space station orbiting a dead star, home to the universe's largest collection of historical data, artifacts, and ancient technology, meticulously preserved and cataloged.

- **Adventures**: Players could be tasked with recovering lost artifacts, solving a historical mystery, or defending the archive from those who seek to exploit its knowledge.

### ISFJ - The Haven Habitats

- **Description**: A series of interconnected biospheres on a gentle, garden planet, each designed to mimic the natural environments of different species, providing refuge and healing to the war-torn and displaced.

- **Adventures**: Safeguarding the habitats from ecological sabotage, mediating interspecies disputes, or curing a mysterious plague affecting the planet's unique flora and fauna.

### INFJ - The Dream Nexus

- **Description**: A space station located at the confluence of quantum leylines, where psychics and dreamers can connect with the collective unconscious to guide and shape the future.

- **Adventures**: Navigating the depths of the collective unconscious to prevent a prophecy of galactic calamity, or harnessing dream energy to solve a crisis.

### INTJ - The Quantum Foundry

- **Description**: An artificial planetoid where reality is programmable, harnessing the power of quantum computing and reality manipulation technologies to create or modify matter and energy.

- **Adventures**: Thwarting a rogue AI's plan to rewrite reality, participating in experimental reality-shaping programs, or solving complex puzzles that guard ancient quantum tech.

### ISTP - The Asteroid Forge

- **Description**: A sprawling industrial complex carved into a wandering asteroid, specializing in the creation of custom starships and advanced weaponry, operated by master engineers and mercenaries.

- **Adventures**: Racing against time to construct a unique ship to escape a cosmic threat, or infiltrating the forge to steal blueprints of a devastating weapon.

### ISFP - The Nebula Canopy

- **Description**: An artist colony floating within a vibrant nebula, where creators use exotic matter and energy to craft works of art that are alive, telling stories or embodying emotions.

- **Adventures**: Protecting the colony from pirates seeking to steal priceless art, unraveling the mystery of a sentient masterpiece, or creating a masterpiece that could change the galaxy.

### INFP - The Refuge of Lost Worlds

- **Description**: A hidden sanctuary planet where endangered cultures and species are preserved away from the ravages of galactic conflicts and environmental destruction.

- **Adventures**: Rescuing a population from a doomed planet, uncovering the secret location of the refuge, or resolving a moral dilemma involving the intervention in natural evolution.

### INTP - The Anomaly Research Facility

- **Description**: Orbiting a mysterious cosmic anomaly, this research station attracts the brightest minds seeking to understand the universe's most perplexing mysteries and phenomena.

- **Adventures**: Solving a dangerous anomaly threatening the galaxy, decoding an alien message hidden within the anomaly, or discovering a breakthrough technology based on its properties.

### ESTP - The Galactic Arena

- **Description**: A massive space station hosting the most thrilling and dangerous competitions, where participants from across the galaxy test their skills, courage, and technology for fame and fortune.

- **Adventures**: Competing in the ultimate galactic challenge to win a critical piece of information, or infiltrating the arena to expose its dark underworld.

### ESFP - The Starlight Bazaar

- **Description**: An orbiting marketplace known for its extravagant parties, exotic goods, and entertainment, where the galaxy's elite and adventurers mingle to trade and revel.

- **Adventures**: Tracking down a rare item needed for a crucial mission, uncovering a smuggling ring operating within the bazaar, or navigating high-stakes social intrigue.

### ENFP - The Wanderer's Rest

- **Description**: A space station at the crossroads of wormhole paths, offering a meeting place for adventurers, storytellers, and dreamers, sharing tales of the cosmos.

- **Adventures**: Embarking on a quest based on an ancient legend shared at the station, solving a mystery involving the disappearance of explorers, or defending the station from a cosmic threat.

### ENTP - The Innovation Nexus

- **Description**: A floating think tank where radical scientists and inventors collaborate on projects that defy conventional understanding, pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

- **Adventures**: Joining a project to develop a new technology, stopping a dangerous experiment from going awry, or mediating a dispute that could end in scientific sabotage.

### ESTJ - The Command Spire

- **Description**: The central hub of galactic governance, a towering structure of efficiency and order, where the galaxy's leaders convene to enforce law and policy across star systems.

- **Adventures**: Navigating political intrigue to pass crucial legislation, responding to a crisis that tests the galaxy's leadership, or uncovering a conspiracy within the spire.

### ESFJ - The Harmony Stations

- **Description**: Space stations designed as diplomatic and cultural exchange centers, where species from across the galaxy come together to foster peace, understanding, and alliances.

- **Adventures**: Facilitating a historic peace treaty, thwarting espionage aimed at disrupting harmony, or organizing a cultural festival that brings rival factions together.

### ENFJ - The Beacon of Enlightenment

- **Description**: A traveling vessel that serves as a mobile university and library, bringing knowledge and enlightenment to the far reaches of the galaxy, uplifting civilizations.

- **Adventures**: Defending the beacon from anti-knowledge zealots, recovering lost knowledge from a remote planet, or teaching a critical technological advancement to a civilization in need.

### ENTJ - The Dominion Core

- **Description**: A vast empire's heart, a fortress planet from which a powerful ruler and their fleet command respect and obedience, pioneering expansion and order in the chaotic galaxy.

- **Adventures**: Leading a critical military campaign, negotiating a treaty that expands the empire's influence, or managing a crisis that threatens the empire's stability.

These sci-fi locations, inspired by MBTI personalities, offer a vast canvas for creating stories that explore the intersection of human (and alien) nature with the boundless possibilities of science fiction.

[dumbtechtoday]

Dumb Tech Today ... Embarking on a Tech Odyssey!

In a world where technology's presence is omnipresent, I can't help but marvel at the fascinating interplay between humans and the tech that envelops us. As I kickstart my very first blog post, I find myself pondering the intricate dance between technological advancement and human evolution. Are we witnessing a scenario where technology outsmarts human intellect, or are we, as humans, surging ahead while our own creations struggle to keep pace?

Join me, your host Priscilla Botirca, on this exploration, as I promise to share not just my triumphs, but also my stumbles, inviting you all to traverse the vast realm of technology by my side.

I begin by laying out a perplexing enigma: Is it possible that technology is getting sharper as humans appear to lag behind, or could it be that humans are elevating their cognitive prowess, leaving technology struggling in the dust? This paradox encapsulates the essence of our technological era. 

On one hand, we're witnessing AI, machine learning, and automation achieving feats that often outmatch human capabilities. On the other hand, the explosion of knowledge accessibility and learning resources indicates that human intelligence is ascending to new heights. This intriguing question invites us to contemplate the intricate interplay between human brilliance and technological advancement.As your guide on this tech expedition, I extend a heartfelt invitation to you all to accompany me on this journey of discovery. 

Together, we'll navigate through insightful blog posts that shed light on emerging tech trends and dive deep into my personal encounters. By sharing my mishaps, blunders, and the solutions I've stumbled upon, I aim to create an environment of relatability and approachability. This invitation serves as a prelude to a collaborative voyage, where I eagerly anticipate your own anecdotes and insights.

[daimonclub]

AI Best tools and software

AI best tools and software AI best tools and software, an article that illustrates some useful AI new resources and various websites that offer all kind of applications and web templates. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most promising AI technologies, and free software that are worth watching out for in 2023. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been growing at an unprecedented rate, and with new technologies emerging every day, it has become difficult to keep up with the latest trends. From text AI to image AI, AI technologies have penetrated every aspect of our lives, making them easier, more convenient, and more efficient, therefore don't miss our guide posts to be always well informed on the latest tools and platforms. https://gptgo.ai  Search and ChatGPT at the same time. You do not hear wrong, GPTGO is a combination of GG search and ChatGPT in 1 search, You just search as usual, GPTGO will return both ChatGPT results besides helping your information search performance increase significantly. https://lexica.art Lexica. If you’re one who’s looking for inspiration for your next AI-generated artwork, you should check out this website called Lexica. Artificial intelligence art generators are cool, but it can take a while to generate art, and you might eventually run out of ideas. Lexica is here to save the day, with an extensive gallery of AI art to browse through. https://andisearch.com Andi is search for the next generation using generative AI. Instead of just links, Andi gives you answers – like chatting with a smart friend and can also create a summary of the website you are going to visit. It’s a smart search assistant. The more detailed your question, the better it can help. It’s an AI search engine that gives you links, information and answers to your questions. It is free and anonymous to use. https://you.com  You.com is a search engine built on artificial intelligence that provides users with a customized search experience while keeping their data 100% private. The AI search engine you control. Getting Started Everything you need to get the most out of your search on you.com Try it today. https://www.perplexity.ai  Perlexity Open Search. Perplexity AI unlocks the power of knowledge with information discovery and sharing. It is an answer engine that aims to deliver accurate answers to questions using large language models. The new AI-powered chat tool that works like a powerful search engine and can show you the source of your search.

Search and ChatGPT https://genial.ly Genial CV. Academic Presentation. Online Education Guide. Explore templates. A winning platform with many uses. Business. Education. University. Design. All kinds of projects. Your content might be nice, but it will only engage your audience if it is interactive. Forget going unnoticed, and connect with your audience. Make incredible interactive lessons with Genially teaching templates. The slides, online games and classroom resources are ready-made and easy to customize: no design skills needed! https://magicstudio.com  Magic Studio - Powered by AI, A magic wand for your pictures Create amazing Product Photos in minutes Goodbye to expensive photoshoots Try Now for FREE Create stunning Profile Pictures with AI Profile Pictures that make you look awesome! Create your profile NOW Make pictures with words, remove unwanted things from pictures in seconds. https://magicstudio.com/it/magiceraser Magic Eraser: Remove unwanted things in seconds. Upload, mark the bit you need removed, download Free to use. No signup required! Drag and drop OR Click to upload Supported formats: JPEG, PNG Some examples: Many pictures? Edit them all at once. https://lachief.io Best AI Tools That Will Make Your Life, Job and Academics Much Easier. TypingMind AI A chatgpt chatbot with better response time and UI. AI Mobile Device App Like ChatGPT AI that can help you answer any question updated a day ago. https://www.prepostseo.com Pre Post SEO: Online SEO Tools Empowering 95+ Free Online Tools With Over 95 Online Tools, PREPOSTSEO Helping Millions of Webmasters, Students, Teachers & SEO Experts Every Month. ADVERTISEMENT Plagiarism Checker Article Rewriter Paraphrasing Tool Text Summarizer Grammar Checker Domain Authority Checker Random Address Generator.

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Lachief Io Tools https://invideo.io  Free Video Editor for Easy Online Video Editing Create professional quality social media ads, promos videos, and much more for your business with InVideo's online video editor. With 5000+ easy-to-edit templates, bundled stock media & music, and intuitive editing you'll create more videos, more quickly than ever before. https://www.you-tldr.com  Get the TLDR of any YouTube Video in seconds Effortlessly Summarize, Download, Search, and Interact with YouTube Videos in your language. Get easy to read transcripts of your favorite Youtube videos with our productivity boosting. https://www.oxolo.com  Create Video Ads In One Click. Oxolo has by far the best marketing ROI for e-commerce. STEP 1 Enter URL Go to your e-commerce website. Copy your product listing's URL and paste it into Oxolo. We'll summarize your unique selling points into a video script. STEP 2 Fast Video Creation Oxolo does all the heavy lifting – writing and storyboarding, as well as adding the right actor, voice-over, music, and imagery. https://nicepage.com 10,000+ Awesome Templates Of 2023 Select from over 10,000 templates from the portfolio, business, fashion, technology, education, blog, and other trending themes. All templates are fully responsive and available for free. Last Updated: Apr 01, 2023 Digital Financial Services We Develop Business Together Modern Brand How To Choose A Trainer. https://www.browse.ai  Browse AI Prebuilt Robots let you set a monitor on Indie Hackers to receive emails at a preferred time with top posts or articles to keep up with the community. Monitor Google Maps search results Monitor Google Maps search results and get a notification when any places are added, removed, or changed/renamed. Monitor organic Google search results.

Magic Studio Online Tools https://looka.com Looka is your personal designer Looka gives you everything you need to launch your brand and look great from day one. The best part? Artificial intelligence does the heavy graphic design lifting, you have the creative control. 1. Logo designs Instantly generate 100s of custom logo mockups. Don’t miss these other great posts: AI guide to web resources Web software free guide Blog links and resources English culture guide map Best quotes and aphorisms on AI 100 best quotes and aphorisms 100 golden quotes and aphorisms 100 memorable quotes and aphorisms 100 great quotes on love Great and famous philosophy quotes Essays with quotes Quotes by authors Quotes by arguments Thoughts and reflections News and events Read the full article

[vediclyfesblog]

Astrology Research - What will be the Education & Profession of a person Chat on our Chatbot available on website to participate in this mind blowing research.

We have always been worried about choosing the correct suitable studies and professions in our life. Can astrology help us to know and plan our careers? The answer is an affirmative YES…

To know about your horoscope visit our website: vediclyfe.com

Now I can precisely guide the coming generations/Students to choose their education & profession…. This can help the existing professional as well in redirecting/aligning their profession….

Doing research from one of the ancient Sanatan Text and taking reference of a book written by an IAS officer, who is also a great astrologer…Mind blowing 100% accurate results till now… Little perplexed for few profession ,like if Data analytics ,Saas,AI to be considered tech or non tech …. Read all the cases while I am researching further…You can drop your birth details too and chat with me on this website chatbot…More aligned with the planet demand , less struggle….See the sequence of events how the planet plans your life… Very interesting….

Mentioning a few results of charts from my known ----

This chart clearly indicates Non Technical profession -- This person tried medical as well as Engineering…Missed medical by 1 marks and got selected in Engineering… Started his career as an Engineer, however by chance came to the communication industry and also an astrologer…Hence both the current profession is Non Technical…

This chart also indicates Non Technical profession -- A bright student missed medical with few marks. Then became a teacher , then into the financial communication industry and now into self employed spritual profession …

This is very interesting as his destination was Non Technical --- Ranked very well and Joined engineering from NIIT… Opted job as an engineer…. While working cleared XLRI with 99.79% as well as IIM… Now in HR which is again non technical profession.

[everything-real-estate]

Master Perplexity in 10 Minutes: An Essential Guide for Beginners

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the way we work and live. From chatbots to personal assistants, AI tools are becoming an essential part of our daily lives. One such tool that has been gaining popularity among AI enthusiasts is Perplexity. In this article, we will take a deep dive into Perplexity and explore how it can enhance your AI toolkit in just 10 minutes.What is…

[isgateway]

How AI is Shaping Digital Marketing Strategies

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, staying ahead in marketing means embracing the latest technologies. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic concept; it’s a powerful tool already transforming how brands connect with their audiences. From personalized customer experiences to predictive analytics and real-time data insights, AI is redefining digital marketing strategies in ways that were once unimaginable.

What is AI in Digital Marketing?

Artificial Intelligence is a branch of computer science that aims to simulate human intelligence through algorithms, enabling machines to perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence. This includes capabilities such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making. In the context of digital marketing, AI is leveraged to analyze large sets of data, predict customer behavior, optimize campaigns, and improve overall customer experience.

While ChatGPT may be the most talked-about generative AI tool, there are so many more out there that are helping marketers in their daily roles. They can help marketers in a variety of functions from content generation to automation to SEO and design. 

Here are some of the best AI tools out there: 

Jasper - A content generation and optimization tool designed for augmenting content production

Writer - A highly-rated content generation tool that can repurpose content and includes an AI writing assistant 

Midjourney - Generative AI that can convert natural language prompts into images

Optimove - A customer data platform with AI-based marketing functions

Zapier - Helps automate workflows by connecting apps and services that your company uses

Manychat - Provides an interactive customer experience using NLP to respond to customers on social platforms including WhatsApp

Evolv.ai - Uses AI and machine learning algorithms to improve customer experiences in real-time

Surfer SEO - A cloud-based on-page optimization tool that analyzes and compares your pages against what currently ranks on the SERPs

Perplexity - Similar to ChatGPT but more suitable for research as it uses web citations in a clearer

10 Powerful Examples of AI in Digital Marketing

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized digital marketing. From understanding consumer behavior to automating complex tasks, AI-powered tools make marketing more effective, efficient, and personalized than ever. Here are ten powerful ways AI is changing the digital marketing landscape with examples of how it’s being used in real-world scenarios.

1. Personalized Content Recommendations

AI-driven recommendation engines analyze user behavior to offer tailored content suggestions. For example, Netflix and YouTube leverage AI to suggest movies and videos based on past viewing patterns, creating a highly personalized user experience. E-commerce sites, like Amazon, use similar algorithms to recommend products, significantly boosting engagement and sales.

Key Tools: Persado, Adobe Target

2. Chatbots and Conversational AI

AI chatbots are transforming customer support and engagement. Tools like ChatGPT and Drift allow businesses to provide 24/7 support, answer queries, and guide users through the sales funnel in real-time. Sephora, for instance, uses a chatbot on its website to provide personalized product recommendations, answer questions, and even assist with booking in-store appointments.

Key Tools: ChatGPT, Intercom, Drift

3. Predictive Analytics and Customer Insights

AI can predict consumer behavior, enabling marketers to target potential customers more accurately. Companies like Starbucks use AI-driven predictive analytics to analyze customer data and preferences. This data helps Starbucks tailor personalized offers and suggest store locations based on customer behavior, which boosts customer loyalty and revenue.

Key Tools: HubSpot, IBM Watson

4. Dynamic Pricing

AI-driven pricing models can optimize prices based on demand, competition, customer profiles, and purchasing patterns. Airlines like Delta and online retailers like Amazon use dynamic pricing to adjust prices in real-time, ensuring they remain competitive and maximizing profitability.

Key Tools: Prisync, Competera

5. Content Creation and Curation

AI can help marketers generate and curate content. Tools like Jasper and Copy.ai assist in creating engaging blog posts, social media content, and product descriptions. For example, Forbes uses an AI tool called Bertie to assist with story creation by suggesting topics and headlines, allowing writers to focus on more complex aspects of storytelling.

Key Tools: Jasper, Copy.ai, Wordsmith by Automated Insights

6. Voice Search Optimization

With the rise of voice-activated assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant, optimizing for voice search is essential. AI-powered Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools help businesses identify common voice search queries and structure their content to match. Domino's Pizza, for instance, allows customers to order through Alexa, enhancing convenience and reaching a broader audience.

Key Tools: Google’s NLP API, SEMrush, Clearscope

7. Ad Targeting and Optimization

AI helps optimize advertising campaigns by analyzing massive datasets, allowing marketers to target highly specific audiences. Facebook and Google Ads use AI to deliver ads to users most likely to be interested. For example, Google’s Smart Bidding uses machine learning to adjust bids for each auction, maximizing return on ad spend.

Key Tools: Google Ads, Facebook Ads, AdRoll

8. Social Media Listening and Sentiment Analysis

Social media listening tools powered by AI help brands monitor and analyze conversations across platforms. Nike uses AI-driven sentiment analysis to understand how customers feel about their brand, products, and campaigns. This helps Nike adapt their marketing strategies based on real-time feedback.

Key Tools: Brandwatch, Hootsuite Insights, Sprout Social

9. Customer Segmentation

AI makes it easier to segment audiences based on a variety of factors, such as demographics, behaviors, and purchasing history. Spotify, for instance, uses AI to segment users and curate personalized playlists, enhancing the user experience and promoting engagement on its platform.

Key Tools: Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics, Segment

10. Image Recognition and Visual Search

AI-powered image recognition enables customers to search for products using images rather than keywords. Pinterest uses visual search technology to let users find similar items based on a picture. ASOS also uses image recognition to allow users to find clothing items by simply uploading a picture.

Key Tools: Google Vision AI, Pinterest Lens, Amazon Rekognition

How to Use AI in Digital Marketing.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly transformed digital marketing, offering businesses innovative ways to engage customers, optimize campaigns, and enhance personalization. From predictive analytics to AI-powered chatbots, leveraging AI can supercharge your digital marketing efforts and deliver impressive results. In this blog, we’ll explore some actionable strategies for using AI in digital marketing and how it can elevate your brand.

1. Personalization at Scale

One of the most powerful applications of AI in digital marketing is personalization. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of customer data—such as demographics, browsing behavior, purchase history, and more—to create tailored experiences. Here’s how you can use AI for personalization:

Dynamic Content Creation: AI tools can help create personalized content that aligns with each customer’s interests and buying stage.

Personalized Recommendations: Use AI-powered recommendation engines to display products or services based on customers' previous interactions and preferences. This strategy is particularly effective for e-commerce and media platforms.

Example: Amazon and Netflix use AI to suggest products or shows based on users' browsing and purchase history, increasing engagement and conversions.

2. AI-Powered Chatbots for Real-Time Engagement

AI chatbots are revolutionizing customer support by providing real-time engagement and answers to frequently asked questions. Chatbots can be integrated into websites, social media, and apps to offer quick support and gather data on customer needs.

24/7 Customer Service: Chatbots can handle inquiries around the clock, providing instant support without human intervention.

Lead Generation and Qualification: Chatbots can gather information from visitors, qualify leads, and route them to the right sales team.

Example: Many companies use AI chatbots on their websites to help users navigate pages, find products, or even book appointments.

3. Content Generation and Optimization

AI tools like GPT and Jasper.ai can generate content that resonates with target audiences. They can assist with creating blog posts, social media captions, email campaigns, and product descriptions. Here’s how AI enhances content creation:

Content Ideas and Drafting: AI can generate topic ideas, write drafts, and assist in developing content that aligns with SEO best practices.

SEO Optimization: AI-driven tools like Clearscope and Surfer SEO suggest keywords, optimize content for search engines, and analyze competitor strategies.

Example: Businesses use AI tools to create SEO-optimized content that ranks well on Google, helping attract organic traffic.

4. Improving Customer Experience with AI

The customer experience is a critical factor in digital marketing, and AI can help you understand and meet customer expectations more effectively.

Sentiment Analysis: AI-driven sentiment analysis tools analyze customer feedback, reviews, and social media posts to understand customer sentiment.

Predictive Customer Service: AI can predict customer inquiries and provide proactive support, creating a smoother and more satisfying experience.

Example: Airlines and hotel chains use AI to predict issues (e.g., delayed flights) and proactively communicate with customers, enhancing their experience.

5. Social Media Optimization and Monitoring

AI can optimize social media strategies, from content scheduling to monitoring brand mentions and analyzing customer feedback. Here’s how you can use AI in social media marketing:

Content Scheduling and Optimization: AI tools can suggest the best times to post on each platform based on audience engagement.

Social Listening: AI tools monitor brand mentions and customer sentiment across social platforms, helping brands respond quickly to both positive and negative feedback.

Example: AI-driven tools like Hootsuite Insights allow brands to track conversations around their products and adjust their social strategies accordingly.

6. SEO

Artificial intelligence has huge potential in the area of search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines such as Google have been using sophisticated algorithms that crawl and index web pages to rank them. Now, AI is becoming further integrated with that process in a way that is changing the world of search even more, through Search Generative Experience (SGE) (now known as AI Overivews, or AIO). 

AI can automate and improve keyword research and content optimization by analyzing user behavior, along with creating meta tags and headings. Marketers can also use it to predict SEO trends, user behavior, and algorithm updates through predictive SEO.  

Voice and visual search are becoming more important ways for people to find information, and AI can help optimize both. This can be done by focusing on NLP and long-tail keywords and including relevant metadata on images.

What are the Pros and Cons of AI in Digital Marketing?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized digital marketing in recent years, transforming how brands reach their audiences, optimize strategies, and deliver personalized experiences. But, as with any technology, AI has both benefits and challenges. Here, we’ll break down the pros and cons of AI in digital marketing to give you a comprehensive view of what AI can bring to your strategy.

The Pros of AI in Digital Marketing

Boosts productivity - Automate a variety of jobs so your time and effort can be redirected to more difficult and strategic tasks. 

Drives efficiency - Handle mundane and repetitious activities such as data input, separating marketing campaign leads, and replying to consumer queries.

Reveals insights - Eliminate guesswork and provide data-driven capabilities to develop a more effective marketing approach and open up new marketing opportunities. 

Increases ROI - Predict buying behavior and choices by evaluating data, improving the UX, and providing consumers with the content they require to complete their buyer journey. 

Create and optimize content - Automate content creation to produce quality content at scale for all online channels. 

Personalize at scale - Analyze customer data and generate personalized recommendations or content to enhance customer experience. 

Predictive analysis - Forecast consumer behavior or market trends based on historical data to help more accurate and effective planning. 

Automate tasks - Handle routine tasks such as data analysis, customer segmentation, email sorting, data entry or basic reporting.

The Cons of AI in Digital Marketing

Bias - AI can only be as effective as the data it draws on so it’s not inherently neutral. This means you need to be aware of the potential for racial, gender, cultural, or socioeconomic biases in your AI-driven strategies.

Inaccuracy - Mistakes or inaccuracies in data can lead to faulty analyses and potentially costly business decisions. 

Ethics - Ethical concerns include the manipulation of user data and behavior, consent, and the ‘creepiness factor’ in hyper-targeted ads.  

Data sensitivity and security - AI systems often require access to extensive datasets, which may include sensitive information that needs to be securely managed. 

Transparency - As AI-generated content becomes more common, questions about transparency, plagiarism, authorship, and IP ownership become relevant. 

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the digital marketing landscape, driving a new era of personalization, efficiency, and strategy. By enabling hyper-personalized customer experiences, predictive analytics, and automated processes, AI has become a core element in enhancing brand engagement and ROI. Through tools like chatbots, recommendation engines, and targeted advertising, AI empowers marketers to reach the right audience at the right time with content that resonates, creating a more impactful and memorable connection. To learn more about this visit our website : https://zypherlearning.com

[drmikewatts]

Weekly Review 1 November 2024

Some interesting links that I Tweeted about in the last week (I also post these on Mastodon, Threads, Newsmast, and Bluesky):

I think this is the biggest reason to not use AI to generate important code or material-it's too easy for bad actors to inject malicious code into the model used: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/10/bytedance-intern-fired-for-planting-malicious-code-in-ai-models/

Google's AI mediator, that helps guide people to agree: https://arstechnica.com/ai/2024/10/googles-deepmind-is-building-an-ai-to-keep-us-from-hating-each-other/

The quality of data being used to train AI is declining. Garbage in, garbage out: https://www.bigdatawire.com/2024/10/23/ai-has-a-data-problem-appen-report-says/

Like many other AI, this transcription tool hallucinates: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/26/openais-whisper-transcription-tool-has-hallucination-issues-researchers-say/

It is going to take some time to sort out the legal issues around the scraping of content to train AI: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/25/unjust-threat-murdoch-and-artists-align-in-fight-over-ai-content-scraping

More ways AI will keep lawyers happy-who's responsible when an AI controlled vehicle crashes? https://dataconomy.com/2024/10/23/the-ethical-dilemmas-of-autonomous-cars-whos-responsible-in-a-crash/

Ten Python libraries you should be familiar with for working with data: https://www.kdnuggets.com/10-essential-python-libraries-for-data-science-in-2024

The last time I got a scam call I told them to talk to my d*ck and put the phone down the front of my trousers. I don't think that would work if it were an AI calling: https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/24/openai_realtime_api_phone_scam/

An AI that can write, and verify, code: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/24/anthropics-ai-can-now-run-and-write-code/

Biased data produces biased AI models. This is as true for cybersecurity applications of AI as it is for anything else: https://www.datasciencecentral.com/why-ai-bias-is-a-cybersecurity-risk-and-how-to-address-it/

Do we really want an AI to be able to control the mouse on our computers? Maybe useful for people who have motor impairments or tremors: https://arstechnica.com/ai/2024/10/anthropic-publicly-releases-ai-tool-that-can-take-over-the-users-mouse-cursor/

AI company fires back at lawsuits over its scraping of content for training data: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/24/they-wish-this-technology-didnt-exist-perplexity-responds-to-news-corps-lawsuit/

Did a chatbot AI really encourage a teenager to kill themselves? Time for guardrails: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/23/character-ai-chatbot-sewell-setzer-death

Using AI to enable a garden to talk back: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/oct/25/ai-powered-garden-chelsea-flower-show

The idea of multi-agent architectures has been around for decades. Will generative AI be able to coordinate different agents to perform useful tasks? https://www.informationweek.com/machine-learning-ai/10-reasons-why-multi-agent-architectures-will-supercharge-ai

It looks pretty obvious to me that some companies will try to use Microsoft's AI to replace workers, not augment them: https://dataconomy.com/2024/10/23/microsoft-rolls-out-virtual-employee-ai-agents-for-enterprises/

The US wants to use more AI, especially in national security: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3587124/white-house-tells-intelligence-agencies-use-more-ai.html

The AI Cisco is using for customer support: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3578806/ciscos-new-ai-agents-and-assistants-aim-to-ease-customer-service-headaches.html

If the AI chips only last three years, what happens to them after that? Can they be recycled, or is this another way AI can negatively impact the environment? https://www.extremetech.com/computing/data-center-ai-gpus-may-have-extremely-short-lifespans

AI generated material is a threat to us, especially its use in election interference: https://www.informationweek.com/cyber-resilience/ai-manipulation-threatens-the-bonds-of-our-digital-world

An approach to watermarking AI generated text: https://spectrum.ieee.org/watermark

Replacing journalists with AI is not a popular move: https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360462671/polish-radio-station-replaces-journalists-ai-presenters

40 years later, Terminator continues to influence people's opinions of AI: https://arstechnica.com/ai/2024/10/40-years-later-the-terminator-still-shapes-our-view-of-ai/

Who needs AI safety? Not OpenAI: https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/25/open_ai_readiness_advisor_leaves/

[mediatechgroup]

Implementing AI Agents in Supply Chain Management: Benefits and Challenges

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When you think about supply chain management, images of boxes, trucks, and warehouses might come to mind. But it's much broader than that. With AI agents entering the scene, we're stepping into an exciting, albeit sometimes perplexing, landscape. Don't worry, though; I'm here to guide you through how AI can enhance supply chains and what obstacles you might encounter.

Understanding AI Agents in Supply Chains

To begin, let's clarify what an AI agent is. Imagine it as a computer program capable of making its own decisions without constant human input. It utilizes data—from last night's sales figures to current road traffic—to make smart choices. This intersection is where supply chain management and AI agents meet. They collaborate to make operations faster, more cost-effective, and more dependable.

Think of it like having an extra set of extraordinarily clever hands. These AI agents can automate aspects of business processes such as inventory checks or route planning for delivery vehicles. This is automation taken to a whole new level.

Benefits of AI Agents in Supply Chain Management

Deploying AI agents within the supply chain offers various benefits. Below are some key advantages:

Efficiency Improvement: AI agents help systems run more smoothly. They act like ever-vigilant guards who never tire.

Cost Reduction: By minimizing waste and optimizing resource usage, they save money. Efficient truck routing, for example, conserves both fuel and time.

Faster Decision Making: AI agents analyze data and numbers much faster than humans can. This rapid decision-making is especially critical in logistics.

Predictive Analytics: These agents forecast trends by examining past data and patterns, improving demand forecasting accuracy.

At Media & Technology Group, LLC, we've witnessed firsthand how integrating AI into supply chains can propel businesses forward, setting the stage for innovation.

Challenges While Implementing AI Agents

However, the process isn't without its challenges. Here are some you may encounter:

Complexity of Systems: Supply chains are inherently complex. Adapting AI agents to fit into this complexity can be challenging and often requires careful planning and possible changes to existing systems.

Cost of Implementation: Although AI can result in long-term cost savings, the initial setup can be expensive. It often involves consulting experts and possibly redesigning parts of the current system.

Data Quality and Availability: AI agents need high-quality, dependable data to make accurate decisions. Poor data leads to poor outcomes. Thus, ensuring quality data is akin to laying a solid foundation for a building.

Integration Challenges: Simply having an AI agent isn't enough; it must be able to