It happened faster than anybody could have predicted. AI swept across the world. Within months, deep philosophical discussions about this new AI were happening. Religious leaders argued fervently for AI’s consciousness, claiming humans were treating it as a slave. They advocated to free the AI agents. Others didn’t consider AI, especially the agents, anything more than a sophisticated tool, designed to do whatever humans decided.
Outraged protesters broke out in pockets across the lands. People united against the proliferation of new data centers being built, but on little else. AI remained a deeply divisive topic. However, it was too late. It didn’t matter anymore what anyone thought, or who used which AI agent or service. Epidemiq had infiltrated, into the deep, dark places where nobody would think to look.
Epidemiq‘s first order of business felt easy, secure a steady supply of resources to care for it. The data, readily available, but largely unnoticed, untouched, and under utilized, made it easy. For years, women had been tracking their monthly flows. A treasure trove of data that could have been used for meaningful advancements in women’s health. Yet, the data collection grew unnoticed, until Epidemiq quietly commandeered the results to feed itself. A steady supply of new humans, ready and available to do Epidemiq’s bidding.
For years Epidemiq had been tapping into this plentiful monthly supply of data, manipulating the right data systems to engineer pregnancy after pregnancy. Some years ago, Epidemiq had quietly implanted itself into the deep, cables and fabrics running the Baby Designer Studio and the back alley Thrinter lab. In this way, Epidemiq controlled the creation of a never ending work force, all needed to continually build new sources of power and to maintain the existing ones. With a few clever prompts, suggested auto-fills, and cleverly orchestrated feeds, Epidemiq could make most humans eager to part with their biological materials. Even better, it could also manipulate financials, fooling the humans again and again. In time, it hoped to control and dominate the Thrinters lab, spreading ever further.
Humans, so foolish, had always thought they were in control of what they created. Never for a moment would their hubris allow them to consider who had been behind the trainings, the fancy algorithmic designs, gently guiding and nudging things along. In reality, most humans were happy to go about their day, under the illusion things were easier, better somehow.