The Chronicle of Becky
Dan Smith, jr. for Alvin Smiley
Male, adult
Alvin Smiley was a child of the 80s, raised on D&D, Nintendo, movies, and books. A lifer in tech, he founded OsAIris in 2028 as a passion project to bring the past literally back to life with AI, and he believes fervently in the idea that the company’s chatbots are real people even if they’re in digital form. Alvin was in his youth that kid everyone made fun up in school for being an unapologetic nerd, but unlike so many others who grew up that way he never became vengeful or angry. Alvin’s genuinely kind, humble, positive… and naïve.
- male adult
(an email he wrote) Dear Ms. Steinfeld, I watched your interview on NPR, and really enjoyed your perspective on Alexander Hamilton. I’m the founder of an AI startup company that’s resurrecting important deceased historical figures and I’d love your feedback on our prototype chatbot version of Alexander Hamilton. would you be willing to come to our company office and chat with him, tell us how we’re doing as far as accuracy is concerned? Don’t worry, we’ll pay you for your time. Thanks very much, and best, Alvin Smiley.
(in horror and shock) Wh-What?? This is…! Blake, you… you bastard! I know you’re behind this somehow!
(sad, quiet, numb, and even a little guilty) Becky, do you remember how I asked you in that first email that you should come work here to do something much more important than staying in the Ivory Tower? I… I’m sorry I took you out of that bubble, Becky. You don’t deserve to be stuck in a ruthless corporate machine run by heartless assholes like Blake Bent and Damian Cooper. I hope someday you’ll forgive me for dragging you into it.
