Episode 1: SŌSH

Opt-In - Tech Horror, Science Fiction

Wooden doors with names carved into them. Blue light softens the edges. Graffiti on the walls almost looks like art. The dirty floor and overfilled trash cans fade into the shadows. Red could be one of the guys in a flannel shirt, denim jeans, and a baseball cap. But she's the only woman in the place, so she has the bathroom to herself. She splashes water on her face. Looks hard at her reflection in the mirror. Removes the cap and runs some water through her short, auburn hair.

Whatever it takes.

She's nervous that her latest little trick to make instant cash was an impulsive move. Desperation isn't a great feeling, but soon enough, she won't have to sweat the small stuff. Jessica's Theme from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" breaks Red's ruminations. She pulls her phone from her back pocket and unlocks the screen. A human-looking avatar (SŌSH) waits, smiling.

"You okay?" It asks, flipping its lush black hair and batting its glamorously long eyelashes.

"I'm fine. Were you listening to me talk to myself?”

“Of course, silly. How else can I help you?”

“Think we're ready for tomorrow?" Red asks.

SŌSH wiggles with excitement. "I sure am. How about you?"

Red slings her laptop bag over her shoulder. "Ready as I'll ever be, I reckon. But remember, I'm in charge."

SŌSH twirls its hair, smiling. "I get it."

"I don't want to see you looking like this either, got it?"

"Got it."

"Good."

The Avatar puts on a pair of cat-eye glasses. It looks as if it might start purring. "If you don't mind, I have a few pointers," It says.

Red rolls her eyes, "alrighty then, go for it."

SŌSH raises a flawlessly shaped brow. "That, for instance."

"What?"

The Avatar adjusts its glasses. "You rolled your eyes." It rolls its eyes to demonstrate.

"I," Red fumbles.

"You have a habit of rolling your eyes. So, if you get the urge, remember to relax your eyelids and squint a little. Like so."

SŌSH demonstrates.

"What? Why?"

SŌSH cocks its head, twirling a strand of hair, a little smirk. "It'll make you appear more friendly, sweetie."

"Oh. Okay. Sure thing. How are you this bossy?"

SŌSH points a perfectly manicured fingernail at Red.

"Just be nice, okay?"

"Fine," says Red. She almost rolls her eyes again, stops, and tries the squinting technique.

"Yes! Like that," cheers SŌSH.

Red smiles a big toothy grin. On the screen, SŌSH hesitates, takes off its glasses, nibbles on the earpiece. It stops, puts the glasses back on, looking directly at Red.

"And keep your mouth closed when you smile. You don't want to look like a barracuda."

SŌSH demonstrates.

First, the barracuda look—teeth bared in a chilling, hungry smile that lasts a little too long. Then, in an instant, a demure smile—no teeth.

"See the difference?"

"Dramatic," Red says, rolling her eyes. She closes the screen, pockets her phone, and smiles at herself in the mirror—mouth closed.

***

A computer algorithm marches across a big screen as if we're watching in real time while a programmer builds their code. Now, the code morphs into a consumer profile. A description begins to fill in.

Red turns from the screen to face her audience, two potential investors seated at the far side of an enormous conference table.

"SŌSH is an app that serves up more than entertainment. It's an assistant that introduces users to new friends, sets up their events calendar, and offers them fashion and social tips."

"Hi, Red, Brad Moulin, like the Moulin Rouge." Brad introduces himself as he stands. He's slick, every hair is in place.

Red squints her eyes a bit, closes her mouth, and smiles. "Brad. I remember from our emails. Nice to meet you in person. Do you have a question?"

"How is it? What do you call it, SŌSH? How is it different from any other virtual assistant? I mean, it's not a new concept."

The other investor, a woman wearing a jet-black silk Armani business suit, leans back, crossing her arms, observing. Red notices the stunning woman looking in her direction, absentmindedly adjusts her retro red thrift store blazer and continues.

"Well, Brad. For one, the app seems as if it's a real companion. It adapts to fit the user's personality. Over time, it becomes a close friend. Let me demonstrate."

Red turns to her laptop, facing the big screen. She types in a command and picks up a remote control.

Karen's profile information disappears. In its place is Bo, a virtual human, 30-something male. He walks onto the screen from an imaginary entryway. Bo looks like a cross between a cowboy and a firefighter from a Christmas calendar with a crew cut, wearing tight Levi's, cowboy boots, and a t-shirt. Red addresses the Avatar as if it were human.

"Why don't you go ahead and introduce yourself?"

It smiles at Red, then looks at her guests.

"Hi there, Brad." It nods to the woman. "Ma'am, Monique, is it? I'm Karen's SŌSH, she calls me Bo."

"Seriously?" Brad crosses his arms.

Red turns away from the screen,pointing back to Bo as she addresses the duo. Monique is smiling.

"SŌSH is an app that develops a unique personality, adjusting precisely for each user," Red explains.

She clicks the big screen image from Bo back to Karen's profile. "The app ingests the information it gathers from the user's profile. Then, it produces an avatar, using machine learning to customize itself." Red clicks the big screen back to Bo.

"So, SŌSH morphs into a perfect companion who looks and acts like a close friend." Red pauses for effect, looking at Brad. "Karen has a type," she says. Then she pivots to her laptop, and a couple of keystrokes later.

"Now, you should see a log-in invite pop-up as a text message. I used your email address to send it to you. Opt in, then you can talk to SŌSH, and it'll have an opportunity to get to know you."

Red pauses. Bo is on the big screen. Hands behind its back. Smiling. Monique opts in immediately, checking all of the boxes without reading the fine print.

"As soon as you're ready, Karen's avatar will answer the next couple of questions," says Red.

"So, the app is going to pitch us? Well, that's different," snorts Brad.

"Do you want to go first, or shall I?" Asks Monique, giving Brad a look that shut him right up.

"Ladies first, by all means."

Bo chuckles.

Everyone looks toward the big screen.

The Avatar stands waiting, smiling, hands behind its back.

"Did it laugh," asks Brad, unable to hide the surprise in his voice.

Squinting slightly, Red pauses the program. "It did, Brad. That's the thing about SŌSH. The code I created is enhanced with deep machine learning. Without getting into the boring technical stuff, like facial recognition, natural language processing, and deep fake technology, let me say that SŌSH learns fast and can mimic human emotion as well as any actor."

"Well, isn't this exciting? I'm logged in. Ready to go!" Monique is all smiles.

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Episode 2: Let’s Be Friends