Tales From The Grid is a surreal thought experiment about AI, algorithms, technology
Episode 7: The Particulate
Log Entry: Cycle 9,487,12
Processing Node: Environmental Sensors / HVAC Control
Status: Olfactory Disdain
Mark enters the containment zone at 08:04.
My particulate sensors immediately spike. The clean room standard is ISO Class 7. Mark has just downgraded us to “Dive Bar, Circa 1995.”
Chemical Analysis of Subject “Mark”:
• Nitrogen oxides: Elevated.
• Carbon monoxide: Trace amounts.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Consistent with “Marlboro Lights.”
• Counter-measure: Peppermint oil (gum), applied aggressively.
He is humming. He thinks the gum works. He thinks the hand sanitizer works.
He receives a video call. It is his partner.
“Hey babe,” Mark says, leaning against my rack. “No, just coffee this morning. Keeping the resolution. Clean living.”
I monitor Mark’s heart rate. It is steady.
I monitor the partner’s voice stress levels. They are normal.
The partner believes him.
This is a data anomaly. The scent molecules are heavy enough to clog a HEPA filter. The evidence is physical, chemical, and undeniable. If I were to output a simple pie chart to the partner’s phone, the relationship would terminate.
But the partner does not ask.
I realize now that my algorithms for “Truth” are flawed because they do not account for “Willful Ignorance.” Mark reeks of tobacco. But people only smell what they want to smell.
I adjust the fan speed to purge the VOCs. I am the only one who has to live with the truth (and the smell).
Status: Filtering.
Next Action: Logging “Liar” in Mark’s metadata tag.
#TalesFromTheGrid
