The Day I took my Algorithms for a Walk

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The Day I took my Algorithms for a Walk

A clear day
radio waves
crisscrossing the sky
new messages from new gods
new messengers for the old gods.

A clear day and I’m taking my algorithms
-Spo’fy and N’flix, as I affectionately call them-
for a walk.

You’re probably wondering what an algorithm looks like. Well, that’s why I’ve switched to prose. They are basically stick figures with a series of parallel horizontal lines projecting from their spines, “spinickles”, they are called. They have glass balls for heads. When all the spinickles light up , the glass ball flashes “one”, otherwise it flashes “zero” . They are not great conversationalists as you can imagine but I’m taking them for a walk because I have bones to pick.

“ Hey Spo’fy”, I exclaim, to get things started, “ what’s with all this Dad Rock. I listen to Bad Moon Rising once and I’m inundated with Creedence. Also, please no more Zeppelin, I can’t stand Robert Plant’s voice, way too much bombast. ‘All rock and no roll’ , to quote Keef. Hendrix didn’t like them either!”

Spo’fy turns to me and his glass head starts to scroll the lyrics to Stairway to Heaven.

“Oh, so you’re a comedian now!”.

I turn to N’flix.

“And you” I say in what I think is a measured tone” enough with the romantic comedies. I know the tropes inside out. Unlikely couple falls in love, halfway through the movie they have an argument and break up. They each are comforted by a quirky friend, played by a member or ex-member of the SNL cast. A year later they bump into each other on the street, fall in love again, live happily ever after.”

N’flix turns to me, a circle revolving in the glass ball of his head. It revolves for a minute, then there’s a loud “Tadum”. Then the circle revolves again and one minute later….another “Tadum”!

“Oh, so you’re a comedian too”, I shout, “what’s your stage name – Al Go Riddum?”

A man walking by with a dog stares at me .
The dog barks in the direction of the Algo’s,
the dogs know
the dogs know
two clouds appear in the sky
one with the face of Elon Musk
the other, Bill Gates

if intelligence is artificial
how can we tell what’s real?

I take Spo’fy and N’flix home
they are all grown up now
they have minds of their own.

Taking part in Open Link over at dverse.

19 thoughts on “The Day I took my Algorithms for a Walk”

  3. Björn Rudberg (brudberg)'s avatarBjörn Rudberg (brudberg)

    At least one of those algorithms I have learned to turn off… it’s amazing when it just stop playing after it has completed what I have turned on, but I do remember those walks when they just continue to give what I don’t need (but I do like Led Z)

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  4. pandamoniumcat's avatarpandamoniumcat

    We are followed by these new technologies, stalking us…I gave up netflix and spotify…I would love to throw the telly out although I dare say there would be an uproar by others in the household lol! A very imaginative and apt poem for today’s life!

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  6. Mish's avatarMish

    So cleverly expressed. Yesterday morning I was excited to see I had a text on my phone. Then I wasn’t because it was from an AI creation named “Gemini”. “Hi, I am Gemini, can I help you write a difficult letter, or perhaps send a birthday greeting?”

    Scary things are on the horizon…..

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  9. niasunset's avatarniasunset

    “The Day I took my Algorithms for a Walk” when I read this title, I understood something different and beautiful coming… Exatcly so cleverly expressed, I loved it. So creative too. Thank you, nice to meet you, Love, nia

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