Creative: Story of Chandler
It is the inauguration day in January 2021. After a year filled with COVID-19, an AI president has been elected. This would result in the United States of America to be divided into two parts. The first half of the United States, which stretches from Maine to Texas, including Hawaii, is under the human president of the United States. This version of America would be called the Majestic United States of America. The second half goes from west of Texas, including Alaska, and is under rule by a robotic president. This half would be called the Artificial Intelligence United States of America. Majestic America is ruled by President Joe Biden, while Artificial Intelligence America is governed by a robot named James, who was designed by Apple.
People are asked by the United States government to choose whether to live in Majestic or Artificial Intelligence America. If people choose Majestic, they will have to move there, and the same goes for Artificial Intelligence. Chandler decides to live in Majestic America. He believes that the AI president could go rogue and control humans. In addition, he thinks that people are going to be manipulated by the media. Chandler moves to Majestic America.
Life in Majestic America has been great. The COVID vaccine has been approved, people are starting to receive it, and the death rate has decreased. Life has started to return to normalcy. Meanwhile, In AI United States of America, thousands are dying from the virus, and the AI decides that the vaccine is not suitable for human use and decides to wait until 2022 to get a vaccine. People choose to protest against this, but to no avail, it does not work. The AI media spreads propaganda that their country is better than Majestic. Meanwhile, Majestic believes that the AI United States of America is doing better than them. People in Majestic do not know the true news of COVID-19 in the AI United States of America. The AI United States of America spreads fake news to various media outlets outside of their country.
Chandler hears of the real news that AI USA is doing badly from his friend Tony, who lives in AI. The truth of AI starts to spread in Majestic. People want to help out those in AI. But Majestic and AI wrote a clause called clause 181, which prevents both countries from intervening in any political and medical affairs with one another. People realize they cannot do anything, but they still continue to spread messages of injustices in AI.
Chandler, to this day, continues to fight for injustices in AI, and while the virus is stopped in Majestic, it is plagued in AI USA. The AI United States of America continues to have many injustices, and no one knows if both countries can be united as one.
I love the name Majestic State of America. Such pomp.
Plausibility: Why is the US split this way? Texas agrees with New England? Shocker…
Character building: Does Chandler already live in Majestic? Does having to move affect people’s decisions about whether they would live?
“AI Media” interesting abstract character.
Technical issue: How did Chandler contact Tony? Wouldn’t AI media make sure to block communications?
Why don’t people just walk across the border to get away?
Political and medical non-intervention is an interesting way to take this.
Dilemma: Maybe Chandler made the wrong decision? Now all his friends will die and there’s nothing he can do about it.
Great story, somewhat surprising, but a good faced-paced world of decision making. Also very plausible given the situations of a divided nation in our own country.
Peer Review: 1) Does this scenario seem plausible? What story elements make it realistic?
It definitely seems plausible to me, especially with the inclusion of real-world events. The inclusion of Corona and the inauguration of Biden, as well as the vaccine all makes It more realistic and relatable. however I feel that my suspension of disbelief was broken by the idea of the united states splitting into essentially two different countries. I’m not sure why though, its not like it hasn’t happened in the past, but it just seemed unreal to me.
2) List the ways that this world differs from current reality (look deeper than the text!)
In the text Darius mentions that the United States splits into two half’s which is an obvious difference, but it makes me wonder about separation. Is this like a berlin wall type situation, and if so, do both sides of America control cooperate in foreign relations or are they regarded as entirely separate entities? I mean if they are treated differently then the AI side of America has the advantage in the more scientific side since they control Silicon Valley and the west. While the eastern half of the united states would be all about factories and production and labor. That would make me believe the West is much more technologically advanced then the east.
3) Who are the important characters or agents in this story? (Actual and abstract)
The most important characters in my opinion seem to be Chandler and Tommy since they are mentioned by name, and Biden and the AI president since they control the countries. The more abstract side is for the two separate nations
4) Is there anything interesting, surprising, or unexpected about this story?
I was surprised by how badly run the AI nation was being controlled.
2) From whose perspective is this story told from? (Describe the personality or demographic)
Chandler, a seemingly hardworking man who feels that technology is not as important as a human hand used in guiding a nation. It doesn’t say his demographic and I would rather not assume it.