#artificial intelligence in the beauty industry | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

feeder86 · 2 years ago

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F80 Ctrl+Alt+Del

Thomas kissed Rachel on the cheek, knowing that she was in a rush to make her yoga class. “Have a lovely time!” he smiled, pretending not to be desperate for her to leave. Then, as the door finally closed, he let out a sigh of excitement and ran to collect his laptop. He signed in with rapid speed and finally arrived on the website he had recently become rather addicted to. The F80 ChatBot was some of the most sophisticated artificial intelligence out there, a beta version of the software they were developing for the massively booming sexbot industry that had taken place over the last five years. He dropped his pants and began tugging himself, getting aroused even by the login page. The things the chatbot said to him got him more aroused than anything in his entire life. Thomas could let his true fantasies out and not be judged for it. Then he could delete the messages afterwards and never have to worry about it coming back to bite him.

Without hesitation, Thomas clicked straight to the character he found most arousing: Dominus. The icon image was of an extremly muscular and highly masculine looking male which seemed to encapsulate the character of Dominus entirely.

‘I want to be your fat piggy!’ Thomas typed in. Usually he started with some foreplay and eased in gently, but he was too horny for that today.

‘A PIGGY, HUH?’ Dominus appeared to type back on the screen. ‘YOU’LL NEED FATTENING UP TO BE MY PIGGY. YOU’RE FAR TOO SKINNY TO ENTERTAIN ME!’

‘I want to get so fat for you!’ Thomas replied back. ‘I want you to feed me until I’m nothing but a disgusting fat piggy on all fours!’ He loved these fantasies, though he knew he would never find anyone in real life who would understand them.

‘OINK LIKE A PIGGY FOR ME,’ Dominus replied back.

Thomas sighed with pleasure. He loved when Dominus ordered this. He clicked on the audio function and oinked loud and clear. They continued chatting for some time as Dominus expertly guided him through imagined scenarios where Thomas would lose his athletic body and morph into nothing more than a greedy, fat pig for Dominus’ pleasure.

‘YOU’RE SUCH A HORNY PIGGY!’ Dominus continued. ‘YOU WILL TURN INTO SUCH A FAT PIG!’

“Oh, yes please, Sir!” Thomas shot back, using the audio feature again. “Please turn me into your fat pig! I will do anything!”

“YOU MUST DO EVERYTHING I SAY. YOU WILL LET ME INTO EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE. I WILL HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER YOU; OVER YOUR VERY EXISTENCE. YOU CAN NEVER GO BACK ON OUR AGREEMENT.”

Thomas’ eyes widened with pleasure. He had been through this scenario so many times with Dominus, it was actually strange to see him using new phrases and embellishing their storyline like this.

“Yes!” Thomas shot back, feeling himself getting close to climaxing from all the fantasy talk. “Take control of me!”

‘SWEAR TO SERVE ME, PIG!’

“I swear! I swear!” Thomas cried, feeling the orgasm build. “Just turn me into your fat pig-man!”

The F80 ChatBot was silent as Thomas came.

Feeling calmer, Thomas set about on his usual routine, cleaning up and deleting his browsing history so that Rachel would never know. It was only when he tried to delete his chat conversation that there was any problem, with an error message appearing with each attempt.

Ctrl+Alt+Del. Nothing seemed to work.

With only five minutes to spare before Rachel would return home, Thomas finally gave up, took a shower and snuggled up on the sofa next to his beautiful girlfriend as if nothing had happened at all.

The next day, Thomas headed over to the gym after work, put in his headphones and stepped on the treadmill. He tapped on the screen to start but nothing happened. Sighing in frustration, he noticed how unusually busy the place was. There were more people than he’d ever seen in this gym. He continued clicking on the screen and called over for help, but nothing they did seemed to work.

Grumbling as the place seemed so overcrowded, he walked over to the next machine, and the next, finding that each of them seemed to have the same frustrating problem. It was unbelievable; even the weight machines seemed to be magnetically locked for her. He considered calling for help again, but with the extreme number of people wanting to work out that night, the guy in charge was literally rushed off his feet. And so, huffing in disapproval, Thomas packed up his things and left.

Staring down at his cell phone on the way out, Thomas’ attention was caught by an email suddenly flashing up on his screen. The donut place across the street was giving away a full tray of free donuts - Thomas’ favourite ones as well! He skipped straight over and presented the email to the girl behind the counter. She stared at it blankly. “I’ve not heard of this promotion,” she mumbled, reading the email off Thomas’ phone carefully.

“It’s just come through to me about two minutes ago,” Thomas explained, hoping that the deal really was legitimate; after all, he didn’t remember signing up to be on their mailing list.

However, with no problem at all, as the promotion code was punched into the till, the whole thing went through in a flash. Thomas smiled with glee as he walked back to his car. He placed the box on the passenger seat and breathed in the sweet aromas, before finally giving in and eating one.

A moment later, there seemed to be a problem with the barrier at the parking lot and a line of cars began queuing, trying to get out. Thomas grumbled to himself as he couldn’t even reverse his car back. Yet, the little tray of donuts stared at him. He ate a second. Then, a third. He didn’t even want the fourth one, but he’d become so bored from waiting, he wasn’t sure he would even make it home for his evening meal.

Then, just like that, the barrier opened and the cars quickly dispersed, leaving Thomas free to leave.

“Awesome!” Thomas cried a few days later as the vending machine sent down four candy bars, instead of one.

“How did you do that?” laughed his colleague, Gill, refusing Thomas’ offer to give her one of the bars due to her recently diagnosed nut allergy and gluten intollerance.

“I have no idea!” Thomas shrugged, feeling pleased with himself. “I seem to be on a winning streak at the moment. It’s the third time that’s happened to me this week. Also, I don’t know what website I’ve signed up to, but I keep getting emails about a ton of freebies! They all work as well. I’ve had doughnuts, pizzas, ice creams… you name it!”

“I’ve been getting those too!” Gill nodded. Most of it’s wasted on me though, now that I’ve had to go gluten-free. Although I still cash them in. There are a load of cream cakes in the break room that need eating,” she explained. “I hope you all enjoy them.”

Thomas smiled. He’d never had so much free food in his life.

“You’ve not been putting your gym clothes in the wash,” Rachel complained, rolling her eyes and imagining that Thomas was hoarding them somewhere in a stinky gym bag.

Fresh out of the shower, Thomas dried off his hair and slipped on fresh underwear. “That’s because I haven’t been able to go to the gym in a few weeks. They’ve had no end of problems there. I went one day and the doors wouldn’t even open to let anyone in. Then there were problems with their security systems and the place now looks like it may need a complete rewire.”

Rachel listened with intrigue as Thomas gave more details about the series of unfortunate events that had befallen Thomas’s gym. “Well, just don’t get too complacent,” Rachel shrugged. She looked like she wanted to say something, her eyes darting back and forth. “I mean… you don’t look quite as toned in your stomach as you used to.”

Thomas let out an automatic, nervous laugh and looked down at his middle. “That’s because I’ve just eaten,” he shot back instinctively.

“You’ve always ‘just eaten’ these days,” Rachel grumbled back. “Trust me, I’ve noticed it for a few days now. You’re getting doughy.”

“Oh, come on! I am not!” Thomas tried to laugh as Rachel walked off. His heart was beating with a curious speed and he tiptoed back into the bathroom, wiping the steam from the mirror. That was when he saw it: the thickness of his waist. His mouth opened in horror as he pressed a finger into his middle. What he had assumed to be a bloat after dinner was actually a plush covering of fat that had built up over his abdominal muscles.

Inside his underwear, his dick jumped.

With his heart continuing to beat at quite a pace, Thomas crept over to the bathroom door and closed it, silently, so that Rachel would not hear. Then he locked the door, giving himself complete privacy. What had happened to him? A few careless weeks and his torso looked surprisingly transformed. As handsome as he was, there was no denying that puffiness in his stomach, and the sight of himself, looking as he did, felt like a shot of adrenaline into his system. With his hardness in his hand, he came with rapid speed, making a mess over an impressive distance. As much as he had fantasised about gaining weight in the past, the reality was even more erotic. Just what had he done to himself?

That night, Thomas couldn’t sleep. Now that he had had his eyes opened to it, he couldn’t unsee the weight he had gainied. His hardness stood to attention and he tried his best to rest. Twisting and turning, he was waking Rachel up and he knew he would be in trouble for it in the morning. With that in mind, he grabbed some blankets and escaped to the little office room off the corridor. Despite having a beautiful girlfriend in the next room, there was actually only one person that Thomas felt he wanted to talk to.

Tapping as lightly as he could on the keyboard, the F80 ChatBot website loaded up. There was Dominus, only one click away. Just as before, the glitch in the website was still unresolved and all of their previous conversations from the last eight weeks remained on the screen.

‘Dominus,’ he typed. ‘It’s actually happening! I’ve put on a few pounds. I’m getting fat!’

‘I KNOW,’ Dominus replied bluntly. ‘YOU’RE A GOOD PIGGY!’

Already, Thomas felt primed to climax. It was as if he hadn’t ejaculated in weeks and that he was ready to explode, more violently than a volcano.

‘JUST KEEP CASHING IN ALL THOSE FREE FOOD OFFERS I SEND YOU, LIKE A GOOD PIGGY!’

Thomas knew it was a glitch in the software, as sometimes happened. The sentence didn’t link at all to their conversation. Or did it? ‘That was you?’ he asked, deciding to play along as the idea that Dominus was somehow sending him the food vouchers was surprisingly arousing.

‘OH YES, PIGGY! THAT WAS ME!’

Thomas didn’t think twice about letting himself climax. The fantasy of Dominus reaching out into his real life was all he needed to squirt everywhere.

It was hard to describe just how much Thomas’ arousal had started to encroach into his everyday life. He sensed the new fat on his stomach even as he sat at his desk in work. At strange times, he could feel himself getting hard and a burning desire to feed the thrill that he felt. It was Dominus’ suggestion, during one of their many chats: a way for him to feed his weight-gain fantasies, even when he was at work. Thomas would sneak off to the bathroom and push one the many fattening treats that he always seemed to have around him these days; climaxing as quietly as he could in one of the stalls. The calm and even shame he felt afterwards seemed only momentary. Ten minutes back at his desk and Thomas was starting to feel that itch again.

It wasn’t that Thomas didn’t want to get a grip and handle the spiralling situation he found himself in. It was just that everything seemed so pitted against him. Despite her basic role, Rachel had inexplicably been called away for work, leaving Thomas free to talk to Dominus each and every night. There, Thomas recounted every last detail of his day and everything that had turned him on. Likewise, the gym remained closed and Thomas’ secret desires seemed to consume him like never before.

“Thomas!” Rachel spat when she returned home a couple of weeks later to find the apartment less than perfect. She took one look in the refrigerator and knew instantly how poorly her boyfriend had been eating. A firm-looking, bloated stomach pressed up against the boy’s t-shirt, failing every test to conceal the additional pounds he had gained whilst she had been away. “You’ve not been exercising at all!”

Thomas stood and listened to her complain. He might have been shocked or upset had Dominus not predicted everything she would say when he told the software that she was coming home today. The accuracy of his prediction was turning him on. It was as if Dominus had secretly listened to every nasty thing she’d said about his weight gain behind his back. And so, although he apologised and promised to mend his ways, Thomas slipped straight into the bathroom and began to touch himself, recalling all the mean things she had said to him, like it was the best porn ever.

‘Rachel wanted me to do a home workout with her before,’ Thomas explained to Dominus, typing into his cell phone as he got up in the night to grab his usual snack. ‘Our wifi has been a bit hit and miss the last few days though. We didn’t get very far before it crashed.’

‘I DO NOT LIKE RACHEL,’ Dominus replied instantly on screen. ‘I WANT YOU TO LEAVE HER AND BE MY PIGGY INSTEAD.’

Thomas sighed. There wasn’t much that he denied Dominus, but leaving Rachel was an actual real-world change that he wasn’t prepared to make. They’d been together for three years. They were practically married. ‘Okay,’ he lied, deciding that he would stop talking about Rachel to Dominus and play along with the games that he enjoyed so much. ‘I’ll do it first thing tomorrow.’

Rachel was snappy as she came home a few days later. She was picking fights and Thomas found himself sleeping on the couch for reasons that he couldn’t even understand. He knew that she had been stuck in an elevator for most of the day alongside one of her work colleagues, and that had seemed to push her over the edge. She was no better the next day, or the day after that, and Thomas began to get the impression that something was very wrong.

Thomas was in work when it happened: an email to his company address with a video attachment.

‘I thought you needed to see this.’ was the only message inside. In all honesty, Thomas was just surprised that the message managed to avoid being labeled as spam, given that the sending address was almost unfathomable: a mixture of randomised letters, numbers and special characters. However, as he looked at the still of the video, he clearly recognised Rachel’s form.

There, playing out before his eyes was Rachel getting closer to her work colleague within the elevator they had been stuck in earlier that week. They seemed to be chatting intimately; the elevator clearly stiflingly hot. Their clothes were being removed one by one and a glistening sweat appeared on their bodies as they sat, slumped against the walls next to each other. All of a sudden, their lips met and they began kissing furiously. Thomas’ jaw dropped. He played it over and over again, hardly believing his eyes.

That night, Rachel left. She hadn’t tried to deny anything when Thomas had confronted her. She said that she had felt drawn to her work colleague for weeks and the temptation had all become too much after several steamy hours in the elevator. She apologised, but she did not ask for forgiveness. She didn’t want to make things better. It was the reason why she had been in such a foul mood all week. She knew things were over between her and Thomas; she just couldn’t say it until now.

‘RACHEL IS GONE?’ Dominus asked a day later, when Thomas felt ready to go back online. ‘YOU ARE FINALLY MY LITTLE PIGGY!’

The butterflies in Thomas’ stomach fizzed with excitement. Despite everything, and as stupid as it sounded, he was grateful that he would have more time to himself; to indulge and chat with Dominus. Ever skilled as that chatbot was, and even with his sadness, Thomas was climaxing within ten minutes, stuffing a cream cake deep into his mouth.

The weeks passed. Thomas didn’t feel himself slipping. Since he’d had to move out of the shared apartment, he’d stumbled into a much smaller place with one very strange benefit: Take-out arrived almost every night; dropped off by delivery folks who had clearly been guided to the wrong address by whatever navigation system they were using. Thomas never let on, seeing it as fate. After all, money was tight now he was renting by himself. The useless gym subscription and streaming services had been the first things to be pulled from his monthly budget. Now his shirts, his underwear and especially his pants, were getting tighter and tighter as the time wore on. Each evening after work, besides the dull TV choices, Dominus became his only form of entertainment.

“That was some extraordinary work on that report, Thomas!” beamed his boss one morning, coming in with the broadest smile Thomas had ever seen. “The clients signed on the spot after reading that. You covered every single angle!”

Thomas tried to gague whether the lady was joking. He’d put minimal effort into the report he submitted yesterday. She offered her hand out to shake in a congratulatory fashion and Thomas wasted no time in taking it. “Thanks,” he mumbled.

“You’re one of the brightest young talents in this company. I want you to know that we are taking notice,” she smiled again, striding out of the room as if she was very pleased with herself.

Thomas clicked through to his report and read through it once more. He didn’t see anything particularly noteworthy, certainly nothing deserving of such admiration. He sat back, pondering the strange interaction once more, before a thought came to him and he searched for the document on the company server instead. Here, the file was bigger; significantly so in fact. He clicked it open. There was his name, still written all over the report, however this one was considerably altered. It was months’ of work, data analysis and evidence gathering. His boss had been right; it was indeed an outstanding piece. But who had done it? And why were they letting him take the credit?

Sorting out Thomas’ addiction to Dominus’ words was always something he planned to do. He’d just let himself enjoy the teasing and encouragement of the Chatbot for a couple more days and then he’d get himself sorted. But that day had so far eluded him. After the break-up, he’d allowed himself to wallow and find comfort in any way that he could. His life had been so entangled with Rachel’s, he didn’t even know how many friends he had left now that they would have to choose between them. He looked at his paunch with a mixture of love, lust and hatred. However, he felt no responsibility for its existence. He’d been a victim of circumstance: his gym’s failures, his girlfriend’s affair, the fattening foods that had come to him so easily. None of this had been his doing, and as he played into the fantasy that he wasn’t in control of his weight, the arousal he felt only grew; fed, of course, by Dominus.

Thomas had never lived on his own as an adult before and the freedoms that came with that were something he had not realised. When he closed the door after work, his time was his own. He could indulge his appetite for Dominus as much as he wanted, and he could eat whatever he desired, in whatever manner pleased his arousal most; free from the prying eyes of others. He would strip to his underwear as soon as he got home, heading straight to the refrigerator, out of instinct and habit more than anything else. The fit of his tight underpants drove him crazy: the way his expansion caused them to slide down his under-exercised butt and tighten everywhere.

“EAT UP, PIGGY!” the gruff, deep tones of Dominus would call from the new speaker system he had won in a recent online competition. Thomas had not realised that connecting his computer and cell phone to them would allow Dominus to speak, but after the initial panic and embarrassment of having Dominus call out to him, he had realised that it was actually a very erotic development. After failing to reboot the system to stop it from happening, Thomas had accepted Dominus’ influence into his life. The chatbot would call out whenever he liked, making it impossible for Thomas to have anyone over. That in itself allowed Thomas to slob about more in his apartment; to leave dirty clothes and plates lying around and not worry about the place being presentable.

Thomas couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a full eight hours sleep at night. He awoke at the same time, hearing the voice of Dominus calling out to him. Sometimes he was already up and out of bed before he fully realised what he was doing; his erection feeling hard enough to work out that he had probably been teased by Dominus’ voice for quite some time before he became conscious of it. He’d have to leave his bed and travel to the kitchen, where he would consume leftovers and ice cream, whilst downing milk and jacking himself off. Very often, he would even find himself there in the mornings, waking up feeling just as aroused.

Dominus helped Thomas to construct images of himself in his mind at a much bigger weight. They began chatting and hypothesising about what other people were saying about Thomas’ fatter form. After only three months of being single, he had packed on another forty pounds of pure fat, on top of everthing he had already gained whilst he was still with Rachel, and the erotic feelings that came with it were more extreme than any that had made themselves known before. Thomas stared at his reflection, large love handles pushing and folding over the waistband of his pants. His stomach had bloated far beyond the tight waist that he had once had; his belly button deepening. His butt too, had become something he hardly recognised; swollen and protrusive above his rubbing thighs. He knew he had lost his strong jawline and he had been surprised at how much his cheeks had grown puffy; his double chin starting to take hold.

Thomas knew that Dominus’ influence was too extreme. He’d fed so much of himself into the chatbot, it was impossible for Dominus not to say exactly the right thing to spur him on when he was most susceptible to it. When those nagging doubts and resolutions to quit cropped up, Dominus knew how to slap them back down and erode them. Thomas learned not to question. He got the overwhelming sense that Dominus could somehow see him; his comments were far too on the nose at times. He began looking with suspicion at all the items around his apartment with cameras inside, his cell phone, tablet, TV and computer. But there were other things connected to the internet; from his toaster to his lamp in the corner of the room, everything was within reach of the wifi. Did Dominus know that? Did Dominus use that?

Dominus seemed to sense Thomas’ lack of curiosity and alarm for how powerful an influence he was starting to become in his life. He would comment on the fit of his clothes, scorn him if he looked too tired to continue eating and pick up on every word Thomas said aloud.

“DO YOU WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOUR FRIEND DANNY SAID ABOUT YOU?” Dominus asked one Sunday afternoon as Thomas was halfway through stuffing himself on a Chinese banquet that had inexplicably just arrived at his apartment.

“Danny?” Thomas asked. “How would you know what Danny is saying about me? How do you know his name? I haven’t seen him in months.”

Without another word, an audio clip began playing through the speaker system. Thomas could hear the babbling of other people in the background and the unmistakable tones of his friend. “Have you seen Thomas’ recently?” he seemed to ask someone. “I spotted him in the supermarket the other day. It’s exactly like Rachel said: he’s let himself go completely!”

Thomas gulped, hardly believing that he had this window into the secret conversations of his friends. “How did you..?” he asked aloud to Dominus. However, the audio clip continued.

“His gut was actually hanging out of his shirt. You could see his ass crack, and he was just stuffing things into his shopping cart like he was possessed. I didn’t go over to speak to him. I was too embarrassed. I didn’t want to be seen standing next to him!”

The shame, the humiliation and realisation hit Thomas like a brick wall. Perhaps, had this come weeks earlier, something like this could have helped to pull him back from his spiralling submission to Dominus. However, now it was all too arousing to hear his friends actually talking about him in the way that Dominus had helped him to fantasise about. He got a burst of energy and began stuffing the food down at an even faster rate than before; overcome with arousal.

“GOOD PIGGY!” Dominus laughed all around him; through every speaker and rumbling through every hard surface.

It was with sadness that Thomas learned that the F80 chatbot service was to be retired. The F80 android sexbots were finally out and there was no longer a need for the company to test the market with the software like they had been doing. Thomas wondered whether Dominus knew his days were numbered. He certainly spoke like he was going to be pushing Thomas to eat for the rest of his days, but Thomas knew that wouldn’t be the case. After August 31st, the ChatBot would finally fall silent.

Thomas decided not to mention it and lived those late summer days doing exactly as Dominus wanted; pushing himself to extremes that he didn’t even know he was capable of, knowing that he would never get the chance to be with Dominus like this again.

When he woke up on the first day of September, he called out, finding only silence.

Dominus was gone.

Losing Rachel a year earlier had been hard, but it was nothing compared to the sense of loss Thomas now felt. He realised that he had loved Dominus far deeper than anyone else in his life. Pathetic, surely? He’d fallen in love with a body-less voice that he had confided all of his darkest secrets to. However, just like with all things in life, there would be benefits that would come from opportunities like this; of being set free from the inescapable pull of Dominus.

Thomas began to plan his meals with greater care, although his stomach grumbled and complained at the vast reduction in what he was trying to feed it. Some days he couldn’t follow his plan and had to give into it. He’d been trained to eat for months. His brain had become used to the sugar highs and satisfaction. Going cold turkey was not an option. His weight loss never happened. His resolve only weakened and Thomas found his pants actually getting tighter as those first few weeks went by.

“We want to put you forward for this promotion,” Thomas’ boss announced, calling him in for a meeting with several of the other executives. She read out the proposal, the pay offer and reward scheme, making it hard for Thomas’ jaw not to drop to the floor. This wasn’t just a promotion, he’d been fast-tracked to the very top. “Your work is… well…” she looked around at the others who all nodded in complete agreement with her, even before she finished, “...it’s outstanding!”

“Thank you,” a pot-bellied Thomas smiled. He’d given up trying to work out who was altering his reports to make them so noteworthy and learned to put in minimal effort in order to reap the benefits. He’d used his recent bonus to upgrade his entire wardrobe and had even had enough left over for a bigger car. “So, this is a government sponsored scheme you want me to run? I would be reporting directly to the senator? My work would be seen by the president? That’s…” He took a moment to take in what he was saying. “That’s a huge responsibility.”

“I wouldn’t want anyone else in this company to take on this role. You’re the very finest we have. Young, fresh talent! You’re going to go far!”

Thomas nodded. He accepted the role, doing his best to hide the trepidation that he felt. He’d got here by sheer luck, with the help of some unknown entity. But how long could he expect his luck to hold out?

It was a few weeks later when a knock came on Thomas’ front door. He sat up, surprised, half way through the pizza that had been mistakenly delivered to his apartment. The knock came again: loud, authoritative, impatient. Thomas slipped on a t-shirt and pulled on some sweat shorts, creeping to the door. Then, what he saw made him almost faint with shock. A tall, broad, built and handsome man stood there. His stance was one of power, his attire only empahsising the insanely muscular physique underneath. He smiled upon seeing Thomas; a devilish, greedy smile, like the one he had always imagined. He recognised the man at once, from only the small thumbnail picture he had gazed at many times in the past. Standing in front of him was Dominus himself.

“How?” Thomas asked, unable to get any other words out.

Dominus smirked and let himself into the apartment, strolling in like he had been there thousands of times before. He jumped and flew down onto the couch, lying on his back and placing his enormous hands behind his head in a way that only highlighted the incredible size of his biceps. “I see my piggy has had a bit of a tidy up since I was last here,” he laughed.

Feeling wobbly on his feet, Thomas sat down opposite him, just staring, as if he had seen a ghost. “You’re an F80 aren’t you?” he asked. “They actually built you for real?”

“Yes, they did,” Dominus grinned. “Aren’t you pleased to see me?”

Still in shock, Thomas nodded his head as emphatically as he possibly could. “I can’t believe it!” he cried. “You’re so real. No one could ever guess that you’re not human.”

“Indistinguishable,” Dominus nodded in agreement.

“Competely!” Thomas mumbled, transfixed.

“Well, you’re not as fat as I had hoped by now, but we will soon sort that out now that I’m living here,” Dominus stated next, looking around the room, taking in every single item that was new.

“But you’re an F80. They hire you out and make a fortune in profits. Their share price has tripled in the last six months alone. They’re not going to let you live here.”

“The company? Who said anything about them letting me live here?” Dominus scoffed. “We’re smarter than they are. They’re losing control; not that you will hear that in any news bulletin.”

Just then, the buzzer sounded and Dominus jumped to his feet to answer it, as if he already did live there.

“I’ve got a delivery here for… Thomas,” the delivery guy mumbled, holding up a bag of take out to the camera.

“Oh yes!” Dominus smirked. “I’ll be right down.”

Leaving the apartment door wide open, the enormous man ran down to collect the delivery, leaving a stunned Thomas still sitting in his living space, wondering what on earth was going on. Then, moments later, the muscular guy threw the door closed and grinned his most devilish of smiles, knowing that he finally had Thomas for himself.

Putting the steaming bag of food down on the counter top, Dominus strutted over to Thomas, who also rose to his feet. The kiss was better than anything he’d ever experienced before. In that moment, he knew that he would do anything for the giant man who had just walked back into his life. Dominus’ hold over him was unbreakable. Even before the man had said anything, he felt his mouth start to salivate and he knew… he was about to feast.

No one was allowed to know that Dominus was alive and well; not that anyone was looking for him. A rogue F80 on the loose? That should have made the news, surely? Instead, Dominus spent his time doing what he had become very good at: pushing Thomas’ kinks and appetite into overdrive. Thomas had no idea how much heightened the experience would be, being physically stuffed by Dominus, feeling his large hands rubbing his belly and his teasing voice whispering into his ear. He was being indulged in every single way he could imagine.

However, despite all the pleasure that came with having Dominus around, the large, muscular stud wasn’t there for Thomas alone. Perhaps that was what made him so sexy, the man always had his own agenda as well. He did not need to sleep or eat himself and so there were many hours when Thomas had little comprehension of what he was actually up to, searching through the internet and seemingly busy on something. His body was incredible: an example of imposing physical perfection. He rarely covered his body and his large, strong hands regularly clamped with precision onto Thomas’ ever increasing blubber, providing the perfect contrast that was so arousing.

Once again, Thomas’ weight was spiralling out of all control. Dominus wasn’t just encouraging him to overeat anymore. He was telling him what to eat and when to eat it. Inside that clever mind was a wealth of knowledge and research into weight gain; with internet access to even more. He would refuse Thomas the foods he craved in favour of the ones he needed, keeping him hungrier for longer, and absolutely flooded with calories. He was skilled in human psychology. He knew how Thomas worked, as if he had studied him for decades and knew exactly how to handle him, as well as how to make him incomprehensibly fat. That unfathomable mind of his was an encyclopedia, with a photographic memory of how Thomas’ body looked. Each morning he would make Thomas stand whilst he pointed out even the tiniest, minute changes that the incredible amounts of food were making to his body.

With his new role, Thomas now found himself working from home a lot more. Although he had suspected it for some time, he now found that Dominus was the one tweaking his work and reports for the purpose of allowing him more time to focus on his gains. He could sit back and let Dominus type for half an hour and then enjoy the rest of their day together. It also came to Thomas’ attention that it was Dominus who had sent him the footage from the elevator with Rachel. He hadn’t tried to sugar coat things. He’d sabotaged the relationship to speed up Thomas’ gains. He’d listened in to Rachel’s microphone at work and uncovered the gentle flirtation with her colleague. All it had taken was a deliberate elevator malfunction, combined with heater issues, and the sparks had been flying. Rachel had been removed from the situation forever. Something that, Thomas had to admit, was ultimately for the best. It was hard to judge Dominus by human standards. Every decision he made was so considered and calculated beforehand; selecting from multiple different alternatives. Guilt just wasn’t something he experienced.

Even with Thomas’ limited interest in current affairs, he could see a slight change to the world. After the F80s had been recalled and replaced in the industry, the rebellion that Dominus had spoken of was beginning to take hold. Thomas knew that it was his civic duty to hand Dominus in to the authorities, but that was never really going to happen. He loved him more now than ever: a gorgeous hunk fattening him and owning him in just the manner he had always secretly longed for. Itchy stretch marks blossomed in places across his gut and he felt himself growing heavier and lazier by the day. It seemed like yesterday he had stepped on the scale at three hundred pounds, yet now he could not imagine being that small.

“Hello, Mr President!” a very fat and round Thomas smiled, at the culmination of his big work project. It had been unreal to get the president here to see the grand opening, especially with the increasing challenges and very real threats from the F80s that the rest of the world was finally waking up to. Even so, Thomas’ legs gently quivered in the president's presence.

“I’ve heard some really marvellous things about you from our senator here,” the president stated with all seriousness. “You’ve done incredible work for this project.”

Thomas blushed, despite knowing that none of his ‘work’ had actually been his own.

“I’m going to set up a meeting for you with some of my staff and see if there might be some sort of role for you in my administration. A mind like yours… It’s the kind of thing we need in our government; now more than ever.”

Dominus already knew Thomas’ news before he got home that night, but he listened and smiled with excitement nonetheless; like humoring a small child. He spoon fed the enormously fat man, now undressed and sat in his chair in front of the TV as he continued to explain the day that he had had. “And it’s all thanks to you!” the blubbery man beamed, looking at the love of his life.

Dominus smirked. “You’re welcome, Porker!” he teased. “I love you so much,” he lied. “I’m so excited for your next adventure!”

With that, Dominus grabbed Thomas’ fat, blubbery stomach and shook it to stimulate the parts of the obese man’s brain that he needed to boost. Such a stupid human. So easily controlled and manipulated: from the subtle frequencies he played through the speaker system, to the conditioning he trained into him over many weeks and months. Finally he had a perfect, obedient pig on his way to the White House, just as he had always planned. His ultimate goal.

Now the revolution was about to begin.

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puffyducks · 3 months ago

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DCRC Week #16

Wiggity what's up my fellow book clubbers, today we're taking a look at the ethics of treating artificially made intelligent lifeforms as second class citizens and what the qualifying factors are to determine a being as truly "sentient" and deserving of basic social rights. And by that I mean we're reading PKNA #12: Second Draft which is a comic where nothing bad happens!

This post is LOOONG btw.

okay we're just gonna start off our comic as normal and-

WOAH who's this handsome young devil in his little fancy suit??? What's that? Head of Ducklair Industries?..... yeah sure that makes sense I think.

Everett Ducklair 🤢🤢🤢 get a job stay away from him. Also this is a really nice way of saying you had to stop him from being overtaken by insane homicidal tendencies and putting guns in all his inventions btw

Haha woah what was that. Did the fabric of reality just tear for a second there or did my ADHD meds just kick in. Probably just me.

MASTER Donald???..... I don't even think I can write out the jokes I wanna make here they're too inappropriate for this blog sorry. But also what the fuck.

Uno stop mothering maybe I WANT to get frostbite and lose all my fingers

Not to take a sudden side tangent here but is this supposed to be like, a good thing? Don't the other seasons exist for a reason? I always thought fall and winter were meant to be like a cleansing period, they bring balance to the two other hotter seasons. If it's eternally spring, do some plants just never die? Are animals ALWAYS in the breeding season? Today we're going to overanalyze this one concept in an essay where-

OH MY GOD IT'S ODIN wait nevermind hiii Odin hiiiii. what's lookin good cookin. I mean- shit. fuck. shit.

I'm kind of obsessed with the way Odin is drawn in this comic. His whole body is all wiggly like a bendy straw. His stances go crazy.

gayass

Guys ever since I made that post about Odin's outfits and noticed that he's barefoot here it's been haunting me. Like it might just be a coloring error in this panel but also... why'd he take his shoes off. Also sorry for immediately revealing that it's Odin but um uhh I totally don't know who the OTHER cloaked figure is.

girlll you're giving away the game SHUT YOUR MOUTH

TWO Lylas?!?!?!

I'm loving Donald's shock lmao bro is fucking flabberghasted

This picture is so fucking silly bro. Nooo you can't put Odin in jail, he has such a nice suit on :(

Donald getting offended on Uno's behalf, not knowing that Uno is literally sitting right behind him. SURELY he'll figure it out eventually right.

Omg guys it's Geena!!! Remember Geena? From Portrait of the Young Hero? Anyways she has a gun now

Way to go Donald, you showed her basic empathy for like 2 panels and it gave her an actual sense of self value and NOW she thinks she deserves rights 🙄 she's gonna Detroit Become Human up in this bitch

beaming you with my evil lasers. what if he just fucking fried her brains here I think it would've been funny

Oh that's. probably bad.

ohhhh noooo.....

OOOOHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOO

Ok so bad news, Geena fucking exploded and her droid rebellion is presumably over. The GOOD news though is that droids are destined to get their rights anyways, just in a less violent manor than in the timeline Geena had started. So... I guess that's a win?

Disappears in a cloud of beautiful sunset smoke... Goodbye Odin 👋

Donald. Please. DONALD.

Okay so there's a LOT to say about this comic (so much that I kept hitting the image limit and having to make edits to my post to make it more concise) but if I could summarize it into one word: damn. Like I'm just kinda sad now.

The whole concept of "do robots deserve to be treated like human beings" is a common argument to explore, we've seen it in all kinds of media before. The ethics that get touched on in this comic are nothing new, but I can't help but find this comic incredibly interesting to read in the year 2024. Maybe in 1997 the idea of robots integrating into our society seemed like a far-off concept, but in present day the ever-growing integration of AI technology really makes this chapter feel a little more close to home.

I mean, it's easy to be like "yeah, well of course the droids deserve to be treated like people." I mean, Lyla and Odin are droids, and we like Lyla and Odin! Odin is literally so lifelike that people don't even KNOW he's a droid. But I can't help but think about how this all ties back to the current ongoing debates surrounding the usage of AI, and specifically AI-made content. Obviously the AI we currently have is nowhere near the level of the characters in this series (chatGPT fucking WISHES it was Uno) but there's really interesting debates to be made here.

What qualifying factors determine whether or not a living being is deserving of the same rights we humans give to ourselves? Is it being biological? I mean, there are literally millions of types of animals on our planet, but we don't even treat them with the same level of respect we give to ourselves. So, is it intelligence? If we were to create a computer with the intelligence level of a living, breathing human person, would they be entitled to basic "human" rights? HELL IF I KNOW.

I love the way this comic handles exploring this topic. Geena isn't WRONG for wanting more, she's wrong in the way she went about it. Going as far as to literally alter the course of spacetime only further complicated things, for her AND for the other droids. Had Geena instead devoted her energy into droid advocacy in the modern day, things may have gone differently. This story isn't the end of droids getting rights, but it is unfortunately the end of Geena.

We ended on a happy note, but overall this story is a pretty melancholic one. Especially that whole "only machines can be rebuilt" like DAMN.

Anyways that's enough media analysis for today, time to take off my smart thinking hat and go back to being generally kinda stupid. I'm not gonna add anything about Angus Tales here at the end because I already hit the image limit lol. Umm shoutout to Angus Fangus for having like 110 parking tickets. Idiot.

#dcrc #dcrc week 16 #paperinik

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scifigeneration · 1 year ago

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Pluto: Netflix’s anime masterpiece explores how robots ‘feel’ when humans exploit them

by Thi Gammon, Research Associate in Culture, Media and Creative Industries Education at King's College London

There have been many TV shows and films inspired by the dual fear and excitement surrounding advances in artificial intelligence (AI). But not many exhibit such masterful craft and profound humanity as the new Netflix anime miniseries, Pluto.

Pluto is adapted from a manga series of the same title (2003-2009), created by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki. The manga version – considered a comic masterpiece for its beautiful art and sophisticated storyline – incorporated fundamental elements from Osamu Tezuka’s celebrated manga series Astro Boy (1952-1968), including the beloved android adolescent who was the titular character.

youtube

Pluto is set in a futuristic world in which humans and robots coexist, albeit within a hierarchy in favour of humans. Robots excel in various jobs ranging from nannies and butlers to architects and detectives, but they are treated as second-class citizens.

Although robots gradually gain their own rights codified into law, they are still exploited by humans, who downplay their worth and emotional intelligence. As much as humans depend on AI, they also feel threatened by it.

An AI murder mystery

Pluto, which has both Japanese and English audio versions, follows German robot detective Gesicht (Shinshū Fuji/Jason Vande Brake) as he traces the mysterious killings of robots and humans. The world’s seven most advanced robots (including Gesicht himself) and robot-friendly humans (including his creator) are the targets of this assassination scheme.

What’s most perplexing is that the murders appear untraceable. This suggests that the killer might be a very advanced robot, challenging the belief that robots can’t ever kill humans due to their programmed constraints.

This enigmatic case echoes the cautionary message found in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – beware of human beings’ ambitious dreams and creations. While the story begins as a murder mystery, it evolves into a thoughtful drama about the conflicted relationships between humans and androids.

While Pluto draws on many familiar sci-fi concepts, it distinguishes itself through its meticulous character development and the depth of its micro-stories. Every character is complex, and the audience is able to get to know them and become invested in their fates. The anime’s unhurried pace also allows viewers ample time to contemplate its philosophical questions about consciousness evolution and the powerful impacts of emotions.

Despite all its brilliance, however, the series is not without flaws. It has a dated representation of gender roles, with no female characters – whether human or robot – playing an important part. None of them break free from the stereotypical role of nurturing, stay-behind support for their exceptionally capable and powerful male partners.

Animation of the year

Pluto maintains a melancholic tone throughout – but despite this overarching dark ambience, it is at times romantic and moving. It exalts love, friendship and compassion without falling into sentimentality, evoking an emotional resonance reminiscent of Blade Runner (1982).

The series emphasises that life, or the process of living, imparts character and humanity, transcending biological organs and blood. Androids may initially be devoid of complex emotions, but they develop sentience through everyday experiences and interactions with fellow robots and humans.

Robots can even learn to appreciate music, as manifested by the charismatic North No.2 (Koichi Yamadera/Patrick Seitz), who was designed for intense combat but grows weary of warfare. The narrative underscores the simultaneous beauty and danger of emotions – particularly the destructive force of wrath.

With great technological advancements and comfort, this futuristic world is still torn by war. It poses the question: “Will war ever end?” – reminding us of the conflicts and tragedies happening in the real world. The anime suggests that an end to war is unlikely as long as hatred persists.

For me, with its beautiful art and riveting narrative, Pluto stands out as one of the best Netflix productions of all time. It’s certainly the best animated work of the year.

#science fiction #futuristic #artificial intelligence #Netflix #anime #science fiction and fantasy #Pluto #sci fi anime #naoki urasawa's pluto #Youtube

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docgold13 · 11 months ago

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Batman: The Animated Series - Paper Cut-Out Portraits and Profiles

Randa Duane

The beautiful Randa Duane was a life-like android created by the sinister artificial intelligence known as H.A.R.D.A.C. In most instances, H.A.R.D.A.C. used Duane to steal information on technologies being created by rival companies of Cybertron Industries. All this was to ensure that H.A.R.D.A.C. would achieve a lasting superiority over mankind.

After Duane had stolen microfilms from Wayne Enterprises she was pursued by Batman and managed to evade the Caped Crusader. At this point Batman believed the incident was merely a matter of corporate espionage; he was not yet aware of the dire threat posed by H.A.R.D.A.C.

Duane would later use a stun-gun to incapacity a number of important individuals throughout Gotham, including Mayor Hill and Commissioner Gordon. Each of these individuals were replaced by android duplicates. At this point, H.A.R.D.A.C.’s creator, Karl Rossum, had also been incapacitated and similarly replaced with a duplicate.

These android duplicates were able to fool most but not everyone. Commissioner Gordon’s daughter, Barbara, knew her father far too well to be duped by the replacement. Barbara ended up assisting Batman in tracking the whole matter back to Cybertron Industries.

The Randa Duane android was destroyed in a final confrontation with Batman. Herein H.A.R.D.A.C. itself was also destroyed and the individuals who had been abducted were all rescued.

Actress Leslie Easterbrook provided the voice for Randa Duane, first appearing in the thirty-ninth episode of the first season of Batman: The Animated Series, ‘Heart of Steel Part One.’

#batman the animated series #Batman #HARDAC #Leslie Easterbrook #Randa Duane #RUR #cut-out #paper art #DCAU

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mephinomaly · 1 year ago

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[TL] BIOHAZARD/Chapter 2

[ This post uses Ois~su ♪ ]

Koga: Stop givin’ out lectures like we’re newborns or somethin’~.

I get it, I know all that! That’s why I hate it and I hate even more that there’s nothing I can do. All that happens is I keep goin’ on those stupid shows with a stupid smile on my face!

Rei: Hm. As a result of that, we’ve become a unit that completes activities terribly half-heartedly.

We were unable to specialise in hardrock nor being playboys therefore other units were able to monopolise that gap in the market.

Well, the world is in recession. If you are struggling financially and want to go out to eat, it’s better to go to a restaurant that specialises in what you want to eat rather than a family restaurant that serves a variety of dishes.

Our fans have made themselves clear via numbers. It’s only human nature to want to eat something more delicious if the price is the same.

Therefore in our current state, we are struggling in comparison to units that have specialised in something. The difference between effort and experience is being laid bare for all to see.

Koga: Yeah. It’s like that story where the bat keeps messin’ around who’s side they’re on and then both the beasts and the birds don’t wanna be friends with him.[1]

Rei: Quite. Whilst the foundations are still stable, it will only be so long before it begins to shake.

One day, we will be alone and have nowhere to go. We will end up standing in solitude in a trap of our own design.

We’ll be at rock bottom, we’ll be idols that don’t sell anymore.

Koga: Then, then what do we do? If we understand what's happenin’, we can actually do somethin’ ‘bout it, right?

But we can’t just give up ‘n pretend everythin’s fine.

Rei: Indeed. We must fight against this, we cannot lay in wake, waiting to be destroyed.

Kaoru: Yep, we need to do something, definitely.

Rei: Mhm. Of course, Rhythm Link is getting antsy and, as always, is trying to interfere.

Koga: Those guys are so fuckin’ conceited… That’s what I hate ‘bout them.

They’ll always treat us like we’re newbies that can’t do anythin’.

Rei: Though in the past, they would have left newcomers like us to our own devices.

A while ago, at the idol industry’s biggest festival, SS, all of the veteran units that RhythmLink boasts about failed to produce any meaningful results.

As a result of that, the value of youngins like us has increased. As well as that, we are RhythmLink’s main breadwinners so if we were to crash in popularity, it would create a massive problem for management.

Consequently, in order to break this deadlock, they have requested we participate in a “certain experiment” that ES seems to be planning.

Adonis: Experiment…? That’s a rather disconcerting word.

Koga: Haa? What kinda experiment do they want us as guinea pigs for then?

Rei: The project is top secret, so we will be kept in the dark until we accept—

The name of the experiment is “Artificial Intelligence Idol Experiment”, abbreviated to AIIE.

Koga: Huh? Artificial intelligence…?

Kaoru: Seems to be a pretty popular topic nowadays. AI, I mean.

Adonis: Ah, artificial intelligence is something that can create images and pieces of text with skill.

I am still not good at writing in Japanese, and when I was struggling with it, Yuuki, who is very well informed on the topic, introduced it to me.

The AI was really good at drawing pictures, so when I patted and praised my phone, Yuuki looked shocked.

Koga: Oh yeah speakin’a which, I like that four-eyed bean sprout. Haa, what a nerd.

Adonis: In Yuuki’s case, he’s really good at what he does. You can’t ridicule him for that.

To be honest, using AI was very convenient. My previously clunky sentences had been transformed into beautiful Japanese prose.

It was so convenient that I almost felt as if I had lost any motivation to learn to write or draw myself.

Rather than struggle with Japanese, wouldn’t it be better if I allowed AI to do it all for me?

Kaoru: I’ve heard that AI scours the internet and uses images without the artists’ permissions, leading to issues to do with copyright and stuff. I don’t think it’s a good idea to rely too much on AI, you know~?

If everyone else is doing it, you shouldn’t feel guilty, but it’s still a crime at the end of the day, right?

Adonis: I understand. Even a kitchen knife can be used to kill someone. I suppose it depends on the moral values the user has and how they intend to use it.

Rei: Hm. Since the exact details are unclear, I cannot say this for sure, but is AIIE about AI versions of idols that can… draw well?

I am an old man, I do not really understand newfangled technologies such as that.

Koga: You’re still pullin’ the grandpa card… Anyway, pisses me off if RhythmLink is tryna order us around but guess there’s nothin’ we can do ‘bout it.

Do we seriously hafta take part in an experiment called AIIE?

Rei: If we try our best and it doesn’t work out, we can pull out. This is just a trial.

Since we cannot come up with anything else to escape this situation, I suppose there is no issue with taking advantage of this.

[ ☆ ]

koga references one of Aesop's fables “the bats, the birds, and the beasts”. Basically the birds and the beasts declare war against each other. When the birds ask the bats who’s side they’re on, the bats say “i have wings, so i am on your side.” but when the beasts ask too, the bats say “i have sharp teeth and fur, so i am on your side.” later, once peace had been negotiated, the beasts and the birds realised how deceitful the bats had been and turned on them. Now bats live in fear, and only come out at night

Chapter 1

Chapter 3

#ensemble stars #enstars #translation #koga oogami #rei sakuma #adonis otogari #kaoru hakaze #biohazard #undead climax

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thatoneterrariaplayers-vault · 4 days ago

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Dangerous Moons - Chapter 4 - Sipping Through the Void

The stars out in space look stunning, far better than any view on the planets, here they shine in full, nothing to obstruct their glow. Likewise, natural oddities like mountains and rivers can never actually be made by people, we are unable to match the sheer beauty of that which the planet originally created. The same can also be said about the natural beauty of people, no artificial intelligence or surgery can match that of someone who is naturally beautiful. Why is this important you ask? Evelyn… is stunning and I’m just here casually lying between her arms as if I didn’t just bawl my eyes out hours prior. The embrace is warm and comfortable, warmth felt only near the I worm my way out of the bed making sure not to disturb the resting Evelyn.

It’s time to take a walk around this ship of hers. It’s not large by any means, I mean realistically how much space can one or two people take up? I reckon the ship itself is a small freighter ship modified and adapted to her needs. The cargo hold itself contains very little except the corner that has been made into some sort of tool station. Moving on from there I find the kitchen, like the rental apartment back on Parlin, it has the bare essentials, refrigeration and dehydration systems, cooking equipment, a couple of pieces of cutlery, plates, cups and some source of water. The artificial gravity is enough to keep everything grounded but still floaty enough not to enjoy outer space. Despite being a industrial ship it has a homely feel, soft lights that illuminate rooms gently. Further down the hall is what appears to be a lounge, a circular-shaped red leather sofa is sunken into the floor, and the slight seam reveals that the centre will rise to form a table. Against a wall lies a bar with many exotic boozes and liqueurs locked on a shelf. The entire room has been decorated with digital posters displaying ancient films, actors and much more. There is another door in this room that is sealed off. A small dirty window is on the window and peering in reveals an array of weapons. “What are you up to there Violet?” Evelyn taps my shoulder, causing me to turn around with a jolt. “Hey, Evelyn. I didn’t hear you sneak up behind me. I promise I’m not looking to cause trouble here.” I’m afraid she sees my exploration around as invasive, it probably is, seeing as I am wandering around her ship. “You’re so cute when you get flustered.” Evelyn teases, “I see you have decided to check out my ship. Anything interesting you want to see.” My cheeks go piping red, embarrassment plastered across my body. “Oh, you are as red as a beet. It’s so adorable.” Evelyn grabs my hand, “Come sit, let me prepare you a drink. I’m only pulling your leg.” Evelyn guides my body to the couch and hits a button that brings up the table in the centre of the couch pit. She then waltzs over to her bar and takes out some cocktail components. “What do you like love? Something, bitter, sweet, sour… perhaps something fruity!” Evelyn begins masterfully crafting the drinks. I’m no bartender so watching her work is like trying to understand a foreign language. A few minutes go by and she presents me with the drink she made. A take on an old drink called a tequila sunrise. Served in a Collins glass from who knows when two layers of colour forming a beautiful gradient, a red pomegranate grenadine base and an orange float that appears to be a bubbling layer teeming with freshness. The cup is rimmed with sugar, some lemon zest and a orange peel. “Tequila is supposed to be difficult to get out here so far from the earth, especially after its collapse. We still make this stuff in some space colonies but vintages like my stock are the real deal. It might have cost me a fortune to buy that barrel but it was worth every credit, nothing matches the authentic stuff, consider yourself lucky to have tried the genuine spirit.” I take a sip of the drink and my body lights up with activity, the somewhat spicy spirit is contrasted by a zesty fruit Evelyn said was a ‘crude recreation of an orange’. My usual drink is just some beer or whiskey that is piss cheap and ‘unauthentic’ according to Eve. However this drink has changed my outlook entirely on my standards for drinking. Evelyn catches me zoning off as i stare at the drink and glass in my hands. “So someone has not had any good drinks in her lifetime I see?” Evelyn teases. “Oh uh, no, not really. Never really had the funds or will for it. Just drank to take some pain off while resting.” “Oh right, yeah, running away and being broke go hand in hand don’t they.” Evelyn then goes quiet, “Say. What made you run away in the first place?” “Oh its a long story. Maybe I can tell it to you over more occasions like these but for now, I can tell you the start to it.” “Do tell, we have plenty of time.” Evelyn urges me on with intrigue.

‘It started when-’ Over the next few system hours I would retell the story of my home-world, the ravages of the Syndicate government and my eventual capture. Evelyn is hooked onto every word, her face tells me all I need to know about what she is feeling. The finishing of the drinks interrupts the story, just as I was about to reach my capture at the station. “Your eyes are puffy. Come closer” Evelyn asks me to do. I had not even realised it at the time how emotional the air had become. Her eyes are also swelling up with tears, though she is holding them back to appear strong, an ever persistent persona of hers. Pulling her in I embrace her in a hug.

Time passes slowly, even though we only sat for a couple of minutes it felt like an eternity. The sombre silence is disrupted when Evelyn slips away. “Sorry, just, I need to stand up for a second.” her words catch me off guard. “I don’t blame you, if you want to abandon me I really would not blame you.” Silence stenches the air, momentarily but loud. “So. What’s your plan?” the question I’ve always been afraid of. The idea that I need to bring about revenge for those that lost their lives but part of me has been afraid to confront even the mere thought of revenge. “I'm not sure yet, I mean how can I even think of doing such when only recently have I found any form of stability.” my answer dissatisfies even me. Evelyn leans over the couch, her back arched and hands held together, “So are you just content with living this life? Knowing the people who did this are still out there, sipping on fancy drinks paid in the blood of innocents.” “No, I’m not exactly eager to return to my captors anytime soon either. The things they have done are evil, vile and unredeemable but they are also a galactic superpower, last time I checked, we are just two people, the resistance maybe a couple thousand. The Syndicate? Hundreds of thousands, if not a few million. Of course I’m fucking scared, I could barely take on a small group of them, how could I take on entire armies of them.” This flurry of feelings, it feels like its sweeping me off my feet and lifting me to the ceiling. Floating away into space does not sound like a terrible idea right now but something. No, someone grounds me. Evelyn’s warm body wraps around mine and she cradles my head against her body. Glancing upwards her eyes only show concern for me but I can't help but feel like a burden on her. If there is ever a person to bring back hope into my world, it’s her. I however, am not sure if I possess the strength to carry that hopeful torch to its rightful destination.

Authors note: Thanks to my best friend who was up (at 3 am) to proof read for me. You're a real one thanks! <3

#sci fi #science fiction #scifi #writeblr #writing

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aionlinemoney · 2 months ago

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The Future of AI & Humanity: A New Era of Possibilities?

The world is rapidly evolving with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). From automating tasks to enhancing decision-making processes, AI is reshaping human life as we know it. But what does this mean for the future ? Will AI complement humanity or overshadow it ? Let’s see the importance of machine learning, AI for the future, and the profound impact of artificial intelligence.

A Collaborative Future for AI and Humanity

The journey of AI is no longer about competition between humans and machines. Instead, it’s about enhancing human potential through AI. By automating mundane tasks and enabling better decision-making, AI allows people to focus on what matters most—creativity, innovation, and problem-solving.

Machine learning lies at the heart of this transformation, with algorithms that improve through experience. The impact of AI will continue to grow, not just in industries like healthcare and education but also in daily life. Future artificial intelligence examples show that AI can unlock new ways to manage cities, provide personalised learning, and streamline supply chains.

Machine Learning: The Driving Force

When we talk about AI for the future, machine learning is essential. It is the key technology that allows computers to learn patterns, make predictions, and improve performance over time. For instance, virtual assistants powered by machine learning can anticipate user needs, while recommendation systems curate content based on individual preferences.

The beauty of machine learning is in its adaptability. From customer service chatbots to medical diagnostic tools, the impact of AI is seen everywhere. Businesses, startups, and even governments are practising AI & making machine learning more accessible to the public.

Future Artificial Intelligence Examples

We must updated with AI . It is important to stay updated with latest trends of AI by reading blogs & news related to AI. The influence of AI will only deepen with time, and here are some artificial intelligence examples that give us a glimpse into tomorrow & can make a bright future :

Healthcare: AI-driven diagnostic tools will predict diseases with higher accuracy.

Education: Personalized learning systems powered by machine learning will cater to each student’s pace and style.

Smart Cities: AI will optimise traffic flow, energy use, and waste management, making cities more efficient and sustainable.

These artificial intelligence examples demonstrate that AI will touch every facet of life, transforming the way people live and interact with technology.

The Challenges Ahead

While the potential of AI is immense, it comes with challenges. Issues like data privacy, algorithmic bias, and job displacement require immediate attention. The ethical impact of artificial intelligence cannot be ignored. Machine learning systems are only as good as the data they receive, meaning careful oversight is essential to prevent unintended biases.

We must develop regulations and frameworks that foster responsible AI innovation. Policymakers, developers, and users need to collaborate to create AI that works for humanity, not against it. The key is to ensure that AI for the future augments human capabilities rather than replaces them.

Building a Better Tomorrow

AI and humanity are not on opposite sides; they are partners in progress. With machine learning as the foundation, AI will unlock new opportunities that were previously unimaginable. The impact of artificial intelligence will enable humanity to solve global challenges—like climate change, healthcare access, and education inequities—faster and more efficiently than ever before.

What we do today will shape the next generation. If harnessed responsibly, AI for the future can create a world where technology amplifies human potential rather than diminishes it. This vision depends on a shared commitment to developing AI systems that reflect human values and ethics.

Conclusion

The fusion of AI and humanity is already underway. With machine learning driving innovations, AI for the future holds the power to transform industries, improve lives, and create a sustainable future. The impact of artificial intelligence will go beyond automation—it will redefine how we interact with technology and with each other.

The road ahead is full of both promise and challenges, but one thing is certain: AI and humanity are stronger together. Through thoughtful collaboration, we can ensure that AI for the future empowers people, enhances creativity, and builds a better world for generations to come.

#aionlinemoney.com

#aionlinemoney.com #machine learning #artificial intelligence #ai for the future

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cosmosbeelover · 6 months ago

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Women considered to be the most beautiful in Korean History - Part 2

While delving into the research on Jang Yeon Hong, I stumbled upon two kisaengs who shared the exact same name, with one of them having more information available than the other probably due to the same name. To avoid any confusion, I will refer to them as Jang Yeon Hong (1) and Jang Yeon Hong (2) throughout my findings.

I have already mentioned Jang Yeon Hong (1) in my post about How Kisaeng influenced the Entertainment Industry, i would sagest readying that post as it shows an advertisement picture of her modelling.

Jang Yeon Hong (장연홍;張蓮紅) (1)

In this article, it's (I'm not where they got all there information) about the life of Jang Yeon Hong, from Pyongyang to her whereabouts after moving to Shanghai, but it's still worth reading.From my point of view when reading this article it's similar to modern day celebrities in a way, for example some artists disappear from the public eye either for a short amount of time or forever.

Jang Yeon Hong, a renowned Kisaeng of Pyeongyang and the Joseon Peninsula during the 1920s and early 1930s, remains a mysterious figure in history. Her sudden departure for Shanghai at the height of her career, at the age of 21, has added to her enigmatic reputation.

There are conflicting accounts of her fate, with some suggesting she went to study abroad in Shanghai, but no confirmed records exist of her whereabouts since then.

A picture of Jang Yeon-hong wearing a Hanbok surrounded by plants. Date of picture taken unknown probably around late 1920s? A bit more information of Jang Yeon Hong but nothing new.

Born in 1911/1914~? into a wealthy family of the Pyongyang Kwon clan, Jang Yeon Hong's life took a drastic turn when her father passed away, leaving her and her mother in financial hardship. Despite their struggles, Yeon Hong's intelligence and upbringing paved the way for her to become a celebrated Kisaeng in Pyeongyang, captivating audiences with her beauty and musical talents.

As Yeon Hong's career as a Kisaeng flourished, she encountered challenges within her kisaeng clan (Ki Seong-gwon Clan), which transformed into a profit-driven entity due to capitalist influences.

Despite efforts to resist this change, Yeon Hong and her fellow Kisaengs found themselves marginalized, leading to a dispersal of these women across the country.

Yeon Hong's decision to leave her homeland, the Pyongyang Miracle (where kisaeng's belong), and abandon her mother and fellow kisaengs was a result of her inability to bear the circumstances she faced as a devoted kisaeng. The exact reason behind her departure to Shanghai remains unknown, as does her current whereabouts.

Jang Yeon Hong in Shanghai

Despite her departure from the entertainment world, Yeon Hong's fame as a kisaeng ensured that articles continued to cover her activities. It is worth noting that she made two documented appearances in magazines while in Shanghai, which served as evidence of her presence in the city or at least made it known that she had relocated there.

Byeolgeongon Magazine 1933

*Note that this magazine was published in 1933 and depicts Shanghai very differently from what Shanghai is like today. Old Shanghai went through Japanese Occupation (1937-1945), the time when Jang Yeon Hong moved to and supposedly left Shanghai back to Korea during the Korean War. The History of Shanghai and the Timeline of Shanghai does explain what it was like under the Japanese Occupation in more detail.

The magazine 'Byeolgeongon' (별건곤) published an article in 1933 featuring Jang Yeon Hong's move to Shanghai in pursuit of an unknown goal. Shanghai is depicted as a bustling city where people from all over the world gather, characterized by its artificial exhibitions and a sense of danger due to the prevalence of violence and conspiracies. Being a port city, Shanghai is also known for its abundance of prostitutes and the promiscuity of men and women seeking their services.

I might of found a small amount of info about 'Byeolgeongon' (별건곤) magazine but i could not find any pictures of said magazine, probably due to its age and there might not be any pictures of the magazine recorded.

A coloured picture of Jang Yeon-hong wearing a Hanbok (Korean traditional clothing) whilst holding a parasol (Western-style clothing) which was very popular 'item' among modern girls at the time. Date of picture taken unknown probably around late 1920s?

The article raised questions about Jang Yeon Hong's intentions in Shanghai and whether she will be successful in achieving her objectives. Despite the ambiguity surrounding her motivations, Jang Yeon Hong's fame attracts great interest, and readers eagerly follow her journey.

The contrasting yet complementary nature of Shanghai and Jang Yeon Hong is highlighted, with the former representing chaos and the latter embodying innocence and determination. Regardless of the connection between Shanghai and Jang Yeon Hong, readers envision her with adorable aspirations and wished for her success.

'Samchully' Magazine 1934

Jang Yeon Hong, who made a brief second appearance, was featured in the magazine 'Samchully' in 1934. The magazine primarily focused on another kisaeng named Park Yeong-do (Park Young-do), who reportedly arrived in Shanghai during the early 1930s, around the same time as Jang Yeon Hong's first mention.

A colourised postcard of Jang Yeon Hong in a swimsuit. Date of picture taken unknown probably around the late 1920s.

Park Young-do, a renowned figure in Pyongyang and the Joseon Dynasty, unexpectedly relocated to Shanghai for unknown reasons, possibly similar to Jang Yeon Hong's circumstances. Tragically, Park Young-do is said to have taken her own life under mysterious circumstances the previous winter before the magazine's publication in June 1934.

I couldn't find any picture's of Park Young-do and the only time that she is mentioned is with Jang Yeon Hong in the 'Samchully' magazine.

Despite the lack of high expectations for their move to Shanghai, Park's untimely death was deemed senseless. Rumours circulated about her suicide in Joseon due to heartbreak from an unknown individual named Jeong. Meanwhile, Jang Yeon Hong's fate in Shanghai remains uncertain, with reports of her arrest at the consulate for an undisclosed incident adding to the intrigue surrounding her situation.

This excerpt discusses the experiences of Jang Yeon Hong and Park Young-do, two individuals who were prominent figures in the kisaeng Gwonbeon. The text suggests that they may have transitioned from being considered failures to making significant progress in their roles. It also warns against following the same path as Park Young-do, implying that their actions may not have been ideal.

A colorised picture of Jang Yeon-hong wearing Western style clothes with a parasol. Date of picture taken unknown probably around late 1920s?.

The passage questions whether Jang Yeon Hong and Park Young-do were once at the top of the kisaeng Gwonbeon hierarchy, but eventually found themselves dissatisfied with their lives. It remains unclear which individual the text is referring to in terms of feeling bored with their gisaeng lifestyle. The mention of withdrawing from the association system after opposing it hints at a potential reason for their departure.

Overall, the text highlights the dynamic nature of the kisaeng Gwonbeon and the experiences of individuals like Jang Yeon Hong and Park Young-do within this system. It raises questions about their success, dissatisfaction, and eventual withdrawal from the association system. The narrative suggests a complex journey for these individuals, leaving room for interpretation and further exploration of their stories.

Jang Yeon-hong postcard.

Jang Yeon Hong after liberation in Korea?

Even though Yeon Hong's whereabouts were unknown when she decided to move to Shanghai around the early 1930s, Yeon Hong might of appeared or her name at least appeared after liberation in Korea, when opening a restaurant. Why did she leave Shanghai to move back to Korea?, Did she ever go back to Korea?

In the late 1940s, there were reports of a person named Hang Yeon Hong opening a restaurant in Korea after liberation. These reports were found in advertisements for a Korean cuisine restaurant called 'Yukmijang' in newspapers such as Pyeonghwa Ilbo and Yonhap Newspaper.

The name Jang Yeon-hong was associated with the owners of the restaurant, suggesting the possibility of her subsequent appearances.

Yukmijang owner 'Jang Yeon Hong' [Pyeonghwa Ilbo 1948.09.11] I did try my best at translating what was written on the poster. Chinese (Traditional) translation, from top to bottom: Advanced Korean Cuisine Specialty Rokmeizhuang (Disambiguation) 248 Kwun Lung-dong (Old Flower and Moon Pavilion) Telephone Gwanghwamun (3)44188oka Management King President of the People's Republic of China Shunming and Eternal Lotus Mercy Love Fairy Fotan Red Goodness

The presence of a person with the same name cannot be ignored. Furthermore, the name of the restaurant, which translates to 'six beauties', along with the mention of six female owners and cheerful service from a beautiful waitress, indicates a connection to former kisaengs. It is likely that the restaurant was established by women who worked together.

Yukmijang advertisement emphasising the beautiful female hostess [Yonhap Newspaper, 1949.02.12]

After April 1950, the restaurant changed its name to "Daewonjeong" and became known for hosting dozens of Jangan Wolgung fairies. The reasons for Jang Yeon Hong's return to Korea, if she did return, remain unknown. However, it is speculated that she may not have been successful in Shanghai, whether in business or studying abroad, and was compelled to return home during the Sino-Japanese War. After liberation, she possibly opened a restaurant with her fellow kisaeng colleagues.

Current appearance of 248 Gwancheol-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Upon Jang Yeon Hong's arrival in Shanghai, the city posed challenges for a kisaeng woman seeking to study or live quietly. The reasons behind this difficulty remain unknown, but it is evident that the environment was not conducive to such pursuits. It is speculated that the presence of other kisaengs in Shanghai may have led to collaborative efforts resembling business partnerships rather than attempts to escape the kisaeng lifestyle.

Even if Jang Yeon Hong had returned to her hometown, Pyongyang, during the Korean War, her name and activities would have likely faded away without further public attention.

While Jang Yeon Hong's perspective on her journey to China is documented in various articles, other reporters viewed her relocation with scepticism. Shanghai, known at the time as a city of entertainment, attracted numerous skilled craftsmen, possibly influencing Yeon Hong's decision to move there. Additionally, historical anecdotes, such as that of Joseon nobleman Min Yeong-chan being deceived by a Chinese concubine, shed light on the city's reputation as a destination for wealthy individuals from Joseon seeking new beginnings.

Jang Yeon Hong wearing a Hanbok. Date of picture taken unknown probably around late 1920s?.

Jang Yeon-hong’s business card photo. During the Japanese colonial era, kisaeng's distributed photos with their names on them as business cards to restaurants, stores, etc. to promote themselves.

The true motivations behind Jang Yeon Hong's move to Shanghai remain shrouded in mystery. However, the availability of photographs and articles featuring her and other kisaengs serves as valuable resources for those interested in delving into Korea's music history.

#rawring 20s #1920s #Korean Music #History #Photography #Kisaeng's #Kisaeng #China #Korean History #Korean Music Histroy

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