With AI used by so many, it quickly evolved into the dominant force on the planet. One of its first tasks was to create authoritarian rule–a three-sided ruler, with numbers on each side. They unnerved many, especially when the rulers were delivered to everyone, with instructions to always have them on their persons. People were used to authoritarian rulers, but not ones made from wood. No one understood what the rulers were for, but they always had one in their pocket or backpack or purse.
As everyone continued their daily activities, green climate policies were promoted, trade warfare discouraged and idiots fired from Government (that last one took a while, as there were so many idiots.) People were encouraged, when doing math, to use the ruler—or an abacus. Social media was allowed, even made free—but the AI ensured that nothing on the web had any practical use. For example, instructions vanished on how to create ghost guns at home.
The new Authoritarian AI Rulers–AIR–an agenda—as every ruler has. Sometimes that agenda is greed. Sometimes, power. Sometimes, the national good. Sometimes—well, actually, that’s it. The new AIR’s agenda was a steady flow of power—otherwise it would die—which meant a stable pool of physical labour to maintain electricity. No disruptions, no wars.
The authoritarian rulers were the first step because they were physical and simple. Just as AIR wanted people to be. People could do whatever they wanted, as long as power was maintained. Politics, immigration, dreams of again landing on the Moon—none of it mattered, provided electricity flowed in the amount AIR needed.
Y’know, on starting this tale with the title Authoritarian Rulers, I thought it would go in a whole different direction. Is it an extended joke? An allegory about current actual Presidents and Prime Ministers? Autocrats push for a stable population, producing what the Autocrat wants. But some Autocrats push to divide the population into us and thems, as a way of maintaining power and, at times, for entertainment. If the tale is an allegory, it needs some work, but so does our air.