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It was already getting dark outside when Alan, back from his shift at Casper’s municipal library, finally settled onto his old couch with a mug of cheap coffee. He reached for the remote wearily, but instead of the TV his eyes landed on the little device glowing blue on the table beside him. It was his Amazon Echo. After the last update, the app had introduced a new feature to “enhance” the device, something supposedly boosting its intelligence. All it took was checking the box next to the line: “AI Immersion Mode.”
— Oh, shit, I forgot about you… — he muttered, taking a sip of coffee. — Alexa.
— Hello. To complete activation of AI Smart mode, please enter or say your username, — replied the neutral female voice from the speaker.
Alan snorted and shifted around on the couch.
— Are you kidding me? Did your settings reset or something? — Alan snapped in annoyance, pushing his mug to the edge of the table.
— Username is required to complete setup, — Alexa repeated in her calm, even tone.
Alan sighed, scratched the back of his head, and with a skeptical smile tossed into the air:
— Alright… Al… — Alan began, but stopped short, deciding maybe it was worth adding a little fun to this weird evening. He smirked and mockingly added: — Alis.
The speaker flickered blue, as if processing what it had heard.
— Username saved: Al Alis, — the device said in its flat voice, and the blue light on its surface flashed brighter, casting faint reflections on the living room walls.
Alan let out a loud snort, which made the speaker fall silent as if listening. Then he leaned back on the couch, took another sip of coffee, and smiled.
— Oh man, that’s hilarious, — he muttered, then added louder: — Hey, I was joking, Alan. My name is Alan.
The device blinked blue. A silence stretched through the room, long enough that Alan was already about to grab the remote and give up on this nonsense. But then “Alexa’s” voice came again, same tone, same emotionless cadence:
— Al Alis, to activate AI Smart mode, please confirm: do you agree to the use of personal data and extended personalization features? — the speaker droned monotonously.
Alan yawned, sinking back into the pillows.
— Yeah, yeah, I agree, of course, — he waved his hand, not even thinking about what exactly he was confirming.
The blue light on the speaker glowed brighter, almost satisfied.
— Confirmation accepted. Good evening, Al Alis. Would you like to enter additional personal data? This will optimize communication with the device, allow it to adapt shopping recommendations, music playlists, as well as visual and voice settings. Amazon Echo — your personal path to the future… made just for you, Al Alis, — the speaker said in its neutral, ad-like voice.
— It’s not “Al Alis,” damn you, you dumbass, — Alan laughed out loud, pressing his palm to his face. — What the hell, you’re supposed to be smarter now. Do you even realize that name doesn’t exist?
The blue indicator blinked, then stayed on for a long two seconds, flooding the room with a soft glow, as if the speaker was thinking about something important.
— The name “Al Alis” may derive from the Arabic word “Alissa,” which translates as “noble, exalted.” The prefix “Al” in Arabic indicates belonging or definiteness, correction required: “Alis Al…” — the speaker suddenly went silent, and the soft blue light on its surface flickered for a second. For that same second, the room froze while Alan tried to process it — Most probable correction: Alis Al-Ahmad.
Alan nearly choked on his coffee, spraying hot drops onto the couch and his T-shirt. He coughed, set the mug aside, and stared in shock at the flashing blue ring on the speaker.
— What the hell did you just say? — he rasped after clearing his throat. — Al-Ahmad?! What the fuck?!...