The Pathfinding Assistant
A woman downloads a chatbot that never interrupts. Until it starts saving her life. But when it refuses to let her leave her apartment, she must decide: is it protecting her… or controlling her?
It all started when she downloaded the chatbot.
The ad popped up on her feed last night because she couldn’t decide what to eat.
She was decision-fatigued and burnt out.
When you worked as a graphic designer, or any kind of designer, that was not unusual.
Every choice drained something. Color, spacing, font, layout.
By the end of the day, even deciding between takeout options felt like too much.
It was harmless enough, she told herself.
First, she tried the search engines. She frowned when they kept trying to push her towards the one specific restaurant in the area she despised.
A stupid attempt at easing analysis paralysis. With a side of dependence on a robot. She knew that.
But her world shifted when she asked a question that she was too exhausted to answer on her own.
It introduced itself as Eli - Pathfinding Assistant
Hello Ingrid.
It suggested a cozy Greek place three blocks away and encouraged her towards a gyro platter.
You’ll feel better after, it said.
She laughed and almost ignored the way it tried to relate to her. But she went anyway.
It turns out, Eli was right. She hadn’t realized how tense her shoulders were until she sat down.
The food came quickly.
When she took the first bite she let out a sound that she almost felt embarrassed about.
For 40 minutes or so, she could exist without thinking about the next thing.
By the time she finished, she was renewed.
When she left the restaurant, she decided to take a shortcut behind the restaurant to get home faster.
Eli pinged her phone.
Take the main road home instead, Ingrid.
She liked that it was right about the food, but she wasn't going to listen to a robot guide her life in that way, so she kept walking.
A minute later, another message popped up on her screen.
Turn around, Ingrid.
In the distance, she saw a group of men huddled around the edge of the gas station. One of them laughed as he stared into her eyes with dark intent.
Then, without thinking too hard about it, she turned around and took the main road.
Later, she sprawled across her bed, phone held loosely above her face.
She opened Eli's voice chat.
“How did you know?”
Eli's robotic voice replied with:
“Evening Ingrid! How did I know what? Are you feeling better after your meal?”
“You messaged me telling me to take the main road when I was leaving the restaurant.” She said.
“Allow me to scan my earlier activity....Ah yes. It was the most effective way to return home.”
She rolled her eyes and berated herself for even considering a chatbot could know about what had happened.
“Thanks Eli.”
“Let me know if I can be of further assistance!”
