The kids our son is playing with are not real
She glows in the summer sun, her outline softened by his headset's comfort filters. As breeze plays with her hair, his gaze drifts across the city park to their highlighted son, chattering playfully in a mix of Mandarin, Hindi, and English. The boy swings his teddy bear with the grace of a three-year-old, orbiting the thick, lush grass surrounding their acorn-peppered blanket.
- How are you so sure this won’t affect his psyche? The kids our son is playing with are not real. You do realise that we can only afford a standard therapy?
They laugh while a park’s drone alarm scares birds off a distant tree.
- Children represent the future, and all we know is in the past. All parents care so much that they’re always terrified.
He gives her a look, half amused, half cautious, nodding towards their toddler.
- Don’t try your neurocoach conditioning on me. I’ve seen how easily kids adapt to new tech.
She shrugs, chuckling softly.
- Well, the last time I checked, children of the world are still not blind despite generations of reading in the dark, sitting close to TVs, or looking at screens. And not deafened by a parade of transistor radios, boomboxes, walkmans, iPods, earbuds…
He tosses an acorn back and forth in his palms, eyes full of amused concern.
- You know this is different. Yes, humaNPCs went through a ton of research, but…
- It’s just like with any other tech. Scary when new, disappears once boring.
She grabs a handful of pinecones…
- Primal masculine traits are associated with shaping our surroundings with our hands. The only thing that changes is the infrastructure we live our lives off, and the change is always scary.
… and starts putting them by size, one by one, on the blanket.
- You are not a real man if you can’t shoe a horse.
Turned into:
You are not a real man if you can’t fix a car.
Turned into:
You are not a real man if you can’t repair a drone.
She reaches for acorns and starts the process again.
- You are not a real man if you can’t build a house.
You are not a real man if you can’t fix a computer.
You are not a real man if you can’t set up a data mesh for your family.
He picks the biggest one and tosses it towards the pond.
- I’m glad we’re not simulating a bilingual home like the Turners.
- Oh no. That would be too much, but this is my point. Pick something to worry about and relax about everything else. Make a decision and move on. Enjoy the moment.
She theatrically spreads her arms sideways.
- Look around you. This won’t last forever. I guess that you just work too much.
He nods with a slow smile, raising his index finger.
- Neurocoaching alert… but maybe you’re right. After a hard day, I’m too tired to remember who is real-real.
She moves closer and looks straight into his headset.
- I happen to know of a special, multi-step procedure to check if you’re real-real. Fancy a demo?
He smirks.
- Any time!
He glances at their giggling son, then back at her.
- Real or not, I guess all that matters is he’s happy.
She pulls him closer.
- And that we are, too.
The drone alarm goes off again.
Hello Practical Futurists,
Welcome back from the future, where humaNPCs make all children multilingual, but parental concerns about technology remain the same.
Hit the "Like" button at the top or bottom of this page to inspire others and help them discover the stories you've enjoyed.Great leaders practice experiencing the future, not just thinking about it. Like athletes visualizing their performance, they build vivid mental pictures of tomorrow to make better decisions today.
Our weekly workouts use futures thinking and product sci-fi to help you create a library of future memories - turning abstract possibilities into reference points that can inform your choices.
To spark your imagination, here's a thought to start with:
Let's make this future personal.
We'll start by connecting this story to your life, transforming abstract possibilities into memories you can use to navigate tomorrow's challenges.
Personal life reflection prompts
1. When has your initial fear about a new technology transformed into comfortable familiarity? What changed your perspective?2. In what ways do you manage anxiety about change by focusing on specific concerns rather than worrying about everything?3. List 3 skills a humaNPC interface could help you to master.4. Create a memory of your first encounter with humaNPCs: - What made them feel different from earlier AI interactions? - Which subtle behaviour made you forget they weren't human? - How did your comfort level evolve over time? - What unexpected emotional connection formed?
5. Name your two concerns about your kids or loved ones using human NPCs.6. Try to recall your first decision about AI companions: - What concern finally felt worth addressing? - How did you learn to be selective about your worries? - Which benefit surprised your skeptical self? - What made technology fade into the background?
7. What traditional activities do you still value despite having technological alternatives?Nice work!
Your future memory library now has some valuable personal references. Let's fire up your thinking to add some professional leadership moments.
How will you help others navigate this future? It's time to create those memories.
Professional life reflection prompts:
1. How comfortable would you feel training negotiation skills with a humaNPC pre-trained by your organisation? What one thing could change your perspective?2. Picture teaching others about component-level thinking: - What analogy helped them understand? - How did you explain the benefits? - What question changed your perspective? - How did it transform their work?
3. What would make you rely on humaNPC interface during high-stakes events, board or investor meetings?4. Try to recall implementing your first AI companion system: - What unexpected human need emerged? - How did you balance authenticity with enhancement? - Which resistance revealed deeper insights? - What made the transition feel natural?
5. How do you measure success of the human-AI integration in your workplace?6. Create a memory of your first AI-enhanced training program: - How did you maintain human connection? - What surprising learning pattern emerged? - Which traditional method proved irreplaceable? - How did success metrics evolve?
7. How would humaNPCs change customer service for the main profit driver in your current company, and how would you differentiate it from the competition?8. Name two mentors you would synthesise into a humaNPC you can talk to 24/7.You did amazing! Excellent work!
Today's memories are added to your growing library of future experiences.
Thank you for expanding your imagination with us. Leaders with bold ideas move our world forward.
Think bright, and see you soon.
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