Fun Fantasy/Science Fiction Web Articles

[Clare]

Good point, Andrea!

[[deleted user]]

Microsoft has filed a patten to create a chatbot that simulates deceased friends/family: Microsoft Files Patent to Create Chatbots That Imitate Dead People.

There are lots of scifi stories based on this idea (including, as the article points out, an episode of Netflix's Dark Mirror.)

[Gabriela]

What a horrible idea for real life, but intriguing for fiction. Do you recomend any story based on the idea? I'll check that Black Mirror episode

[Jim]

Gabriela wrote: "What a horrible idea for real life, but intriguing for fiction. Do you recomend any story based on the idea? I'll check that Black Mirror episode"

I agree completely. I watched a few episodes of Black Mirror. It was well done, but too dark for me. I can see where this would fit perfectly. At my age, I've lost quite a few people close to me. Some have committed suicide either quickly (shotgun, hanging) or indirectly (drugs/alcohol). I can't imagine anything more horrific than chatting with them now. That would be pulling the scab off old wounds & rubbing in salt.

[Michelle]

It's very creepy.

[Bryan]

Wow, that's a terrible, sinister idea... how do you let go of a dead loved one if you feel like you're chatting with them?
That Black mirror episode is great, but like most if not all of them I wouldn't wan't to live in it. If they're going to take ideas from SF they should use Star Trek or something, not a dark dystopic show.

[Jim]

The Ars guide to time travel in the movies:
We picked 20 time-travel movies and rated them by scientific logic and entertainment value.
By Jennifer Ouellette and Sean M. Carroll

https://arstechnica.com/features/2023...

It's interesting & fun to revisit these movies. I didn't agree with them fully, but didn't expect to. Overall, I think they did a pretty good job.