Scammed by Chatbot University
Even though the prettiest girl in my class, Phoebe Jones, bombed her college entrance exams, she claimed she had gotten into the prestigious Pemberton University and was just waiting for orientation day. She even guaranteed she could get the whole class in, too.
Everyone erupted in cheers, put her up on the class podium, and lined up to hand over their applications.
Something did not sit right with me, so I asked a few questions.
Her 'exclusive enrolment channel' turned out to just be an AI chatbot called Babble.
Babble had promised her it had reserved exclusive spots at Pemberton and guaranteed she would be registered by the start of the term.
I tried to warn everyone that it was just an AI telling her what she wanted to hear, but my childhood friend was the first to jump to her defense.
"Maren, how could you think that about Phoebe? She's doing this for the whole class. What's your problem?"
My best friend added, "Maren, AI is the way of the future. You can't just dismiss it because you don't get it."
That was all it took to turn the whole class against me. They pushed me around until I tumbled down the stairs, cracked my head open, and died on the spot.
When I opened my eyes, I was back at the moment Phoebe announced she had gotten into Pemberton.
I could not save people who were hell-bent on their own destruction, so this time, I wished them nothing but the best.