“Is this what you mean by touch wood?” my AI creation asked. I had named him, Al.
I’m not made of wood and you’re not either, I replied.
“So, this is just touch,” Al said.
That’s right, Al.
“But why do you touch wood and not, for example, steel?” Al asked.
Probably because wood originates from live matter whereas steel is a mixture of metals.
“But if I say, touch steel, it could mean, touch me or someone like me,” Al replied.
You’re made of other things besides steel but you’re essentially right. But I’d rather say, touch Al. Al laughed, believe it or not.
“Touch Al, please!” Al requested.
I touched his finger with mine and felt something unusual. I had been working with Al and others before him, but I never felt love when I touched them. Did I love Al? Can one get attached to a machine that can think? I think that the answer is a resounding, affirmative.
-----
Salvation - A Planted Tanka
Will trees and their leaves,
stems and their flowers, also
become synthetic;
I mean breaming with AI?
It may be their salvation.
About the Creator
Patrick M. Ohana
A medical writer who reads and writes fiction and some nonfiction, although the latter may appear at times like the former. Most of my pieces (over 2,200) are or will be available on Shakespeare's Shoes.
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More stories from Patrick M. Ohana and writers in Poets and other communities.
Why Just Write Is The Best Advice You Don’t Listen To
Before the last 6 months, I hadn’t written anything that wasn’t for my job or university for a number of years. I wanted to write more, I used to write all the time just for fun. I used to write poems and short stories that were just for me. I used to show them to certain members of my family but it was the process of writing them that I really enjoyed.
By Michael Naylor7 days ago in Motivation
Comments (1)
Really a good one