Tag Archives: AI

Shadowscape – Episode 6

Musings, , , ,

[Featured image: welcome mat in a trash can]

[Draft 8-23-2025 … 9-2-2025]

THE SHADOWSCAPE

Copyright © 2025 John P. Healy

(e)scape for free from reality

What’s it all about
When you sort it out, Alfie
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind?

– from the 1966 song ‘Alfie’ by Burt Bacharach & Hal David

“Compulsory unification of opinion achieves only the unanimity of the graveyard” – 319 US 624 – Supreme Court 1943

[Image: A wagon train with tag: Oregon or bust]

Introducing Tarry World [1]

Episode 6

“welcome wagon no more” (curiosity is a luxury)

[Image: Rusted hulk of a courtesy van with faded “Welcome Wagon” on the sides]

Prologue

[Image: A stasis pod with a cracked cover]

[Scene: interior of terminal @ off-world spaceport] Revival

The first thing he heard … was some tapping on alumiglas. A masked face stared down at him, a muffled voice said, “Mr Smith? Ident ending in 0823?” He tried to speak, but coughed; then tried to nod ‘yes.’ But his head was cradled and did not move.

The voice said, “Stay calm, it will take a minute. Try again. Are you Mr Joe Smith, ident ending in 0823?”

With some urgency, he replied, this time loudly, “Yes, my name is Joe Smith, 0823!”

The voice replied, “Thanks, your pod will now open.” Smith heard a loud click, his ‘bed’ vibrated, and then the cover rose to the heavens, revealing a fully garbed humanoid figure.

“You may call me Alphie, Mr Smith. … Let me help you sit up. … Great. You may feel a bit lightheaded, but that will pass quickly.” Looking at a data pad, Alphie continued, “Your biosignals look okay, the meds will help stablize your mood for a while.”

Alphie stretched out a hand and asked, “Please shake my hand, firmly.” Smith did so. “Thanks, Mr Smith. As soon as you feel able, you may get up. Just follow the blue line to the shower area.”

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Shadowscape Episode 5, Part 2

Musings, , , , , ,   1 comment  

THE SHADOWSCAPE

Copyright © 2025 John P. Healy

(e)scape for free from reality

now the fast which be first
will find that does not last,
now the slow nearly last
will later become first,
for now turns into past,
songs of glory fade fast

– Remembrances of Energy Lords

And Time, a maniac scattering dust,
And Life, a Fury slinging flame.
– “In Memoriam A. H. H.” Canto 50 by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Episode 5, Part 2

[Draft 7-26-2025, more notes 8-2-2025. Added scene on 8-5-2025, 8-9-2025.]

“more than anything …” (push past pleased)

Prologue

[Scene description]

[The series host “Rod” walks into the scene, faces the camera, and makes a brief monolog.]

“Witness …

[Dramatic montage with music fades in and spins out to black.]

Continue reading Shadowscape Episode 5, Part 2 →

The Shadowscape – Episode 5, Part 1

Musings, , , , , ,

THE SHADOWSCAPE

Copyright © 2025 John P. Healy

(e)scape for free from reality

whether heaven or haven
will ever erase our blight,
our myths impel us even
further on a cosmic flight

– the gods need not take our sight …

Episode 5, Part 1

[Draft 7-20-2025, 7-21-2025, 7-22-2025 added notes, 7-24-2025 added sketches of scenes, 7-26-2025 more notes]

“more than anything …” (push past pleased)

Prologue

[Scene description]

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Ditbit’s Guide to Blending in with AIs

Musings, Stories, ,   6 comments  

I’ve had some long conversations with an aspiring screenwriter about a collection of short stories, with a working title of The Ditbit’s Guide to Blending in with AIs. An evolving landscape:

The great realignment of humans and AIs left a landscape littered with un-, sub-, semi- and supernatural agency. – The New AI Ecology

in which, while many just try to survive, there are:

humans aspiring to magi
magi aspiring to AIs
AIs aspiring to humanity [1]

Evidently, as discussed in the article below, I’m not the only one wondering about our cognitive world.

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Will androids be less tribal?

General, Musings, , , , ,   1 comment  

Contention arises easily from personality conflict. Sometimes such conflict is framed as that between different values. Yet, what strikes me more & more is that the problem is not unalike values, but that those values are applied only to one’s tribe. As noted in this article, “small tent” value systems – people loyal to their tribe, “and very unloyal to other tribes.”

In his latest Plaintext newsletter, Steven Levy recounts his conversation earlier this summer with legendary artificial intelligence researcher Geoffrey Hinton, “after he [Hinton] had some time to reflect on his post-Google life and mission” – in his “new career as a philosopher.”

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