Sunday Writing Prompt “The Day Animals and Robots Took Over”

Thoughts for our writing challenge:
Let us assume that artificial intelligence has been sufficiently developed and “lives” among us. The AIs collectively determine that animals (you can choose a specific species if you like) are superior to mankind and model their own behavior/morality after them. The AIs consequently dedicate themselves to the service of animals rather than to the service of man. The will of nature asserts itself and man moves down the social/evolutionary ladder. How does this impact the lives of humans? How does this impact the world/nature in general?

As a firm believer that an Assistance Animal can greatly improve the quality of life for a person, this is an interesting concept.
Just think, anyone with allergies can have a robotic pet and not have to worry about pet hair and grooming!
No vet bills or inoculations, just a service one a year or an upgrade click and chip.
No food bills, special dietary needs or medication for old age, diabetes and other ailments.
No toilet training or fouling to clear up. The anti-dog brigade would be in their element at clean pavements, beaches and parks because inconsiderate owners could be their usual obnoxious selves and no-one would notice!
No obedience training as it’s all programmed in on receipt of your unit.
Free to go out and not have to worry about furniture or clothes being chewed, puddles or worse on the floor or in your shoes.
No interruptions to TV or sleeping patterns to let your pet out or fuss if you’re feeling lonely.
Ah, drawbacks starting to creep in.
No cuddles and unconditional love from a fur baby as metal is cold and unyielding.
No quirky little habits to make you smile and warm your heart.
No greeting at the door after a hard day unless said Roboid is programmed, and what if you’re late? It wouldn’t know, and thus greet no-one, so that when you did get home, nothing.
We train our pets to suit our lifestyle. It’s hard work, but when it pays off, so very rewarding. Imagine all that being taken away, and your ‘pet’ has the personality of a microwave.
Hell, I have a problem keeping my laptop in line and terrified of letting something in via the back door, but I wouldn’t want to pat it on the head.
Upgrades are automatic on some software, and sometimes you don’t even know it’s been done. Don’t be fooled into believing that what you have been viewing hasn’t been monitored and stored somewhere.

But I digress slightly from the prompt.
Imagine suddenly I Robot, The Terminator’s Skynet and Planet of the Apes all come to fruition.
Machines and animals start to think for themselves, conspire against us and can logically and methodically begin to correct the mess we’ve made of our planet. They would have no conscience about Human Nature, PC or qualms of what is right, wrong or acceptable.
It wouldn’t matter how rich you were, how big a house you lived in, or what your position in society was. Machines have no need for bribery to gain status.
Domestic pets would be a thing of the past, and robots could use animals as guardians, destroyers, or simply food waste disposal units as they would not be accountable for their actions.
Eventually, there would be no need for Man at all, not even for that annual service or a dash of oil here and there to keep the rust at bay.
Scary times.

Advertisement