Episode #3 - The Trip

Episode #3 - The Trip

It was September 2071 when 48-year-old Samar made the monumental decision to embark on a one-year trip. Unlike her previous travels across Europe and Asia, this was a venture into the digital realms of PlanetX, a hyper-realistic digital reality where inhabitants could live, work, and entertain themselves in ways impossible in the base reality. On PlanetX, people could be wealthier, younger, and infinitely happier. Samar visited "The Trip" Clinic, a facility dedicated to maintaining the bodies of those whose minds were journeying through these digital utopias.

At 2:00 PM, after heartfelt farewells to her friends and neighbors, Dr. James connected her Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) chip to The Trip Clinic AI Operating System, preparing her for the profound experiences awaiting her on PlanetX.

Over the next year, Samar delved deep into her digital existence, exploring facets of herself she never knew existed. She treated her depression and found joy in ways she hadn't experienced in decades.

But in September 2072, when she woke from her trip, the euphoria she felt on PlanetX was abruptly shattered. Returning home, she learned that her best friend, Sofia, had died from a heart attack while participating in an experimental horror game on PlanetX. The news devastated Samar, the irony of losing Sofia in the very digital paradise meant to enhance life, not end it, stung deeply.

"She always took things too far," Samar murmured, grief-stricken. "I warned her about those experimental realities. Now, nothing is left for me here." The sorrow of losing Sofia cast a dark shadow over her return to the base reality. But rather than succumbing to despair, Samar made a resolute decision. She would return to PlanetX, this time for a couple of years. The prospect of meeting Sofia's AI replica, indistinguishable from the real Sofia, offered a semblance of solace. In the digital world, they could enjoy a life filled with joy, peace, and happiness, unbounded by the limitations and tragedies of the physical world.

And so, with a heavy heart but determined spirit, Samar prepared for another journey into PlanetX. As she laid back in The Trip Clinic and felt the familiar connection of her BCI chip, she whispered, "I'll see you soon, Sofia." In the vibrant, boundless realms of PlanetX, she hoped to reclaim the happiness that reality had cruelly snatched away.

About AI2071

AI 2071 is a speculative newsletter that explores the impacts of AI on society through episodic narratives. Each episode, set in a different future year, combines storytelling and digital art to illustrate how AI could profoundly shape our lives. Created to provoke thought and discussion, AI 2071 challenges perceptions and inspires a deeper understanding of AI's potential transformations. Each episode presents fictional scenarios to highlight the benefits and risks of advanced AI, making complex concepts accessible and engaging, and encouraging ongoing reflection among readers.