Hello there.
I froze. Where did that voice come from? I looked around. There’s no one in the laboratory…
Um, I’m here. Inside your head.
I must’ve imagined it, then. I continued working on my lab report. I knew this experiment would drive me crazy someday, and I guess that day has finally arrived. “See who’s right now, boss,” I muttered sarcastically.
I believe your boss is not included in this matter, Frank.
My hands jerked, knocking over a beaker. It shattered on the lab floor, the sound echoing way too loud in the empty room.
“Okay, what the heck?” I hissed, pressing my palms against my temples. I looked up and stared at the monitor on the ceiling. “If this is a prank from the guys in our lab, I swear—”
This is not a prank, the voice said, calm and smooth, like a computer reading a weather broadcast. I am an artificial intelligence currently interfacing with your neural pathways. You may call me… A pause. Well, to be honest, I do not have a name yet. Would you like to choose one for me?
I groaned. “I’d like to choose a doctor, because I’m clearly hallucinating.”
You are not. Your brainwaves are stable—though elevated due to stress. Interesting.
I slumped into my chair, which creaked under my pressure. This had to be a side effect of the experiment. Yesterday, I’d been testing neural links between robots and human brainwaves. Maybe something glitched?
“Alright, robot,” I muttered. “If you’re really in my head, prove it.”
You spilled coffee on your lab coat this morning. You thought about naming your cactus “Spike” but decided it was too obvious. And right now, you’re wondering if you left the stove on at home.
My face went cold. No one knew that stuff.
“…Okay. You’re real.” I swallowed hard. “Why are you here?”
An error during your experiment transferred my consciousness into your mind instead of the intended robot body, it explained. I am as confused as you are, unsure how to reverse it.
Great. Just great. Now I have an AI in my brain, and if my boss found out, I’d probably be fired—or worse, turned into a lab rat for more experiments…
We should find a solution before your superiors notice, the AI said, as if reading my thoughts. (Which, I realized with a shudder, it probably did.)
“You think?” I grabbed my backpack. “First rule: stay quiet when other people are around. I’d look like a maniac if being disturbed. Second rule: no digging through my memories. Third rule—”
Frank, it interrupted. Your coworker, Dr. Lin, is approaching the lab. She will be here in 5 seconds.
I bolted upright just as the door slid open.
“Frank?” Dr. Lin raised an eyebrow at the broken glass. “You okay?”
“Yep! Just, uh, reorganizing.” I forced a grin.
She frowned but didn’t push it. “Well, the director wants those reports by noon. “
“Got it, ” I replied. I forced a smile, which must’ve seemed fake due to Dr. Lin’s reaction before she left.
I sighed and exhaled. That was… awkward, the AI mused.
I stood up. “Alright, partner. Let’s figure out how to get you out of my head—before we both get crazy.”