Brandon Cornett's Blog, page 5

Apocalypse: How AI Might Destroy Humanity, According to ChatGPT

In this article: ChatGPT explains how an artificial intelligence (AI) might attempt to destroy humanity, in order to achieve its own objectives. Welcome to the AI apocalypse!

There has been a lot of talk lately about the potential for an existential threat posed by artificial intelligence (AI). In fact, some of the leading experts in the AI industry have expressed such concerns, using the very words “risk of extinction.”

All of the hullabaloo surrounding these applications got met wonderin...

Why Do People Fear Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

A growing chorus of AI experts have voiced their concerns and fears about artificial intelligence. What do they know that we don’t?

Why do people fear artificial intelligence?

This question has preoccupied me for years (even before I wrote a little-known novel about murderous androids in a shopping mall).

And now, in 2023, as we witness a Cambrian explosion of artificial intelligence platforms and capabilities, this question takes on new meaning. AI is no longer just the stuff of scienc...

7 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Science Fiction Stories

In previous articles, I’ve offered suggestions as to what science fiction writers should do when writing sci-fi stories and novels. Today, we’ll examine the flipside of the coin, with a list of common mistakes to avoid when writing science fiction.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Writing Sci-Fi

This isn’t a writing class and there aren’t any rules. Some of the best sci-fi stories were created by authors who broke the conventional rules for fiction writing. By definition, science fiction star...

21 Types of Zombies: Ideas and Inspiration for Fiction Writers

Fast, slow, fungal, bioengineered. There are a lot of different types of zombies in fiction these days, and they continue to evolve. Just when you think the genre has no surprises left, and the undead are finally and truly dead, we get a breakout hit like HBO’s The Last of Us.

(Yeah, I know. Fungal zombies have been around for a while. M.R. Carey wrote about them back in 2014, with his novel The Girl with All the Gifts.)

But the point is, the zombie genre still gives writers plenty of room...

Zombie Cure Research: Attempts, Failures and Lessons Learned

The following is a transcript from a September 2043 presentation on zombie cure research, presented by Dr. Marco Vietor, Ph. D., Director of Research for the Division of Experimentation on Ambulatory Deceased (DEAD), at Harvard Medical School.

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues, I stand before you today as the director of an international research team that has devoted countless efforts to unravel the mysteries of the zombie plague that has befallen our world.

Our collective pursuit...

Necroviroids: The Pathogen That’s Turning Humans Into Zombies

The following is a combined transcript from a speech and slide presentation by Dr. Marco Vietor, Ph. D., Director of Research for the Division of Experimentation on Ambulatory Deceased (DEAD), presented on July 18, 2043.

Fellow scientists, government officials, and military leadership, thank you for inviting me to speak to you today about the recent, and thankfully isolated, zombie outbreak that occurred in Port-au-Prince.

As the director of our international research team, I am pleased to...

Using Melee Weapons Against Zombies: ZED Boot Camp Training Session

The following is a transcript from a Zombie Extermination Division (ZED) boot camp training session, presented by Master Sergeant Ollie Washington. In this session, the new recruits will learn how to use melee weapons to kill zombies effectively and efficiently.

Types of Melee Weapons

Alright, you maggots, listen up! Today’s training session is all about melee weapons and how to make those zombies wish they never crawled out of their graves. Pay attention, because what you learn here today...

Understanding Fungal Zombies: Current Research Into Necrofungus

The following is a transcript from a speech and slide presentation given by Dr. Marco Vietor, Ph. D., Director of the Division of Experimentation on Ambulatory Deceased (DEAD), presented on July 26, 2043.

Ladies and gentlemen, members of the scientific community, government and military representatives, thank you for allowing me to discuss the critical topic of fungal zombies here today.

As you might already know, my team and I have been working around the clock to better understand the fu...

Stages of Zombie Transformation: A Clinical Analysis of the Undead

The following is a condensed transcript from a speech and slide presentation by Dr. Marco Vietor, Ph. D., Director of Research for the Division of Experimentation on Ambulatory Deceased (DEAD), presented on July 26, 2043.

Greeting, fellow colleagues, and thank you for inviting me to speak to you today.

As you know, my team and I have spent the past six months conducting clinical analysis into the nature of zombie transformation. We have since classified the process of zombie transformation...

The Basic Rules for Using Paragraphs When Writing Fiction

In this article: What paragraphs are, how they work, and how you can use them to control the structure, rhythm and flow of your story.

Paragraphs are the building blocks of fiction writing. They provide structure, clarity and rhythm, allowing readers to navigate a story with ease.

That’s the goal, anyway. But in order to achieve these things, writers must understand how paragraphs work within the context of fiction.

Whether you’re writing a 12-page story or a 500-page novel, you want to...