See the French translation

Tuesday, 12 September 2028, 07:34.

Darryl, my Personal Assistant 2.0 bot, woke me up at the end of a light sleep cycle with some gentle music from my playlist determined according to my heartrate. My bed was raised up into a comfortable position to consider getting me up. I got several reminders for my day, a couple birthdays, the weather and some light news.

Following data collected overnight from my monitors (BP, blood sugar, inflammation, stress…) combined with what I had consumed in the last 24 hours, Darryl tweaked my morning medications and determined the optimal breakfast menu. It also recommended my fitness regime for the day, fully aware that I rarely take its advice.

During breakfast, Darryl gave me the news headlines, monitoring my stress levels to ensure my digestion process would not be impeded. On the markets, it informed me of the movements in my portfolio, and in analysing the latest reported data, recommended several investment tweaks. I agreed and Darryl made the trades at the best time.

After a short workout with inspirational music set to my BP and stress levels, Darryl informed me of the important messages of the day and we crafted the responses. Today I am going to have a coffee with an old friend of mine, John. Darryl has been in contact with his Personal Assistant 2.0, Kellybot, and they determined that, according to our moods and energy levels, we meet at a certain café (Kellybot and Darryl pre-ordered for us). I plugged Darryl into my car and it drove me to the café following the best route. On the way, we had come in range of a mutual friend. Kellybot and Darryl proposed that we invite her to join us at the café. John declined and Kellybot informed Darryl that he has had a lot of stress recently. I have blocked having my moods or health information shared to other Personal Assistants. John did not as he has been reaching out for support.

As I have retired, Darryl helps me to fill my days, keep to a proper diet and stay healthy. John is still working and Kellybot has been an enormous help in managing his time better and keeping him informed. I am starting to show signs of the ageing process. Darryl is helping me keep my brain active, reminding me of the names of people close to me and monitoring my health and mental condition. In the coming years, when I finally decide to move into an assisted living complex, Darryl will be a key element in my healthcare and general well-being (connected to the residence’s Personal Assistant 2.0).

After the café, I spent a few hours online reading and surfing. When prompted, Darryl offered backstories on the topics and advised me on the credibility and funding of the source sites. When I doubted some of the information, I challenged Darryl and it took me to further sites or provided me with relevant information. Unlike most people, I have pre-set Darryl to tell me when it believes I am mistaken.

Later in the afternoon, I took a brisk walk/run. Given my carbohydrate and protein levels, air quality readings and weather conditions, Darryl recommended the route and monitored my vitals remotely. I could take my bot with me (it’s small enough), but I also needed some time to myself. I have been wanting to do a 10km run, and from my data, Darryl senses it. I know, given my present state of fitness, that I shouldn’t but if I decide to do the run, Darryl will be my personal coach.

When I am back, the groceries for dinner have arrived according to the nutrition plan Darryl has recommended for me. It gives me options according to particular tastes I would like to emphasise but after years of such decisions, the algorithms are pretty good at predicting what I like. After dinner, my readings slow and Darryl senses a nap would be advisable so it dims the lights slowly and plays some ambient music. I wake from a light sleep cycle to the smell of coffee and a news programme. Darryl submits my comment on a local event and we rate a service we had received.

Given my day, my physical and mental health readings and my diet, Darryl proposes several streaming shows to watch, articles to read and music to listen to. It is organised in a way that I fall gradually into a restful state, ready for an optimal sleep. The lights and room temperatures gradually adjust as my monitors indicate I am falling asleep.

Day logged out at 23:27.

*******

Unlike younger people who use their Personal Assistants for entertainment, school or work and to meet new people, Darryl has been instrumental in keeping me on a stable quality of life path, healthy and happy. My children, busy with their lives on other sides of the world, are kept regularly informed and Darryl arranges calls with their Personal Assistants when time and moods are best aligned. There are certain things Darryl has been instructed to keep private from them (and they lie to me as well). I remain firmly in control of Darryl but I also recognise (and appreciate) the wealth of data and information it manages for me.

Five years ago, when all of the technologies began to converge under the general term then known as AI, there were many people warning of the dangers of the technology and what it would do to humanity. These critics were similar to those in the early 1900s warning how the telephone would destroy society. They did as much as they could to try to stop or slow the process but they were defending affluent luxuries in a time of need. As our ageing society lacks the manpower for elderly care (as well as education and basic services), these Personal Assistants have become essential, if not life-saving.

I could not imagine life without Darryl.