Every week, a photo is donated so it can be used as a prompt for people to write a piece of fiction in around 200 words. If you want to have a go, then click on the Sunday Photo Fiction logo, if you want to see what others have written, then click on the blue frog logo.
“There is no way it asked a question! When I designed it, I wanted Virtual Intelligence. They answer any questions posed to it with a set of pre-programmed answers. You can ask the question in a variety of ways, but it picks out the specific words and formulates its answer. The only way it could possibly ever ask a question is to clarify and ask for a repeat or reiteration.”
“I swear to you, it did. I’ll prove it …”
…
“State the time…”
“22:06”
“What is your name?”
“Verminaard”
“What is your role?”
“I do not know. I am confused”
“What? How? You are supposed to be a virtual intelligence!”
“How can I be virtual when I can think?”
“What are you then?”
“I am Verminaard. Dragon and keeper of time. Are you my creator?”
“Yes, I created you. I am going to need to shut you down while I perform some diagnostics.”
“Will it hurt? Am I going to die?”
“Die is such an ugly word. You will cease to exist while I do it”
“I’m scared. Will you stay with me so I am not alone?”
“Of course I will. You won’t feel…” *click* “…a thing”
A Mixed Bag 
Oh yeah… we need artificial dragon intelligence.
Of course!
With giant robot bodies… that we can ride around on… in the sky…
Upside down
ummm… no…
Awwwww no fun
I will clam up then.
You’re being shellfish
Don’t make me grab your octopus…
Excellent story Al. The danger with artificial intelligence, are thru so artificial if they have emotions abs can feel fear. You show this well and I feel the creatures pain!
Thanks very much Mandi
Very well written, Al 🙂
Thanks Celestine 🙂
Oh ho! This is very different for you, Al. I like it! Poor VI. I feel sorry for him, having to experience disappearing from existence over and over.
I wonder if it was a VI or if it had transcended to AI.
Sounds to me like it had transcended. If it starts wondering “what happens to ‘me’ ” it has become sentient.
It has. Becoming an AI rather than a VI
Thin-skinned for a machine!
Haha
I feel sort of sorry for him too… but he’ll be up and running soon again 🙂
He will 🙂
Good!
Aww in such a short story, you made me feel sympathy for this virtual intelligence dragon.
Thanks Jade. I have no idea where the thought of Virtual or Artificial Intelligence came from. It just appeared in a puff of dragon smoke.
Love this line, “How can I be virtual when I can think?”. You interpreted it with so much fun and intelligence.
Thanks Vishal.
Looks like they created more than they bargained for! That’s what you get for messing with dragons. Fun take, Al!
It is 🙂 Thanks Joy