\u201cGood afternoon, dear,\u201d my mom said as her head appeared in the mirror above my kitchen sink. \u201cHow are you liking the new AI home assistant? Is your Network Interface Companion working well?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour head floating in my mirror is a bit disturbing,\u201d I said, \u201cbut so far, I love it. The call quality is great, the automation is saving me a ton of time, and having things ding over the speakers is nice. Still getting used to the AI itself, though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, I\u2019m glad you like it, son.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She smiled, bright and chipper. This was our first Christmas apart, and I knew the home upgrade was her way of staying close, or maybe compensating for the fact that we wouldn\u2019t be together this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI got to go, Mom. Just got home, I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLove you too, Peter. Have a good night, talk to you tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I moved here six months ago, and I think since losing Dad the only thing she has is me and the AI in her life right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C., play music,\u201d I called out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure thing, Peter, would you like Christmas music or your normal playlist?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNormal is fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Music started playing, and I got to work making my dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C., set the stove to medium heat, please.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou got it, Peter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I started prepping dinner, the smells of garlic and onions filling the room. It was heavenly. I plated everything and headed to the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C., turn off the stove and lower the music.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll set, Peter. Can I assist you with anything else?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, maybe we can make the place more festive? Can you adjust the lights?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure, Peter! Would you like green and red accents?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, please.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The moment the words left my mouth, the accent lights around the house shifted from soft white to warm red and green.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C., I changed my mind. Let\u2019s play some Christmas music.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jingle Bells chimed through the speakers, followed by a rotation of holiday classics. I finished my meal and set the plate in the dishwasher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I headed to the shower, told N.I.C. to set the water to my favorite temperature, 102\u00b0F, which for me was just past body temp so it felt hot but not scalding. I washed up and got out, dried off, and headed for bed. It was a long day already with work and adjusting to this new whole home AI system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C., set white noise to low, shut off the lights, and arm the house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour alarm is set, Peter, goodnight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I drifted hard with the white noise machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ding Ding Ding<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My alarm, time to get up and get ready for work. I was on home assignment for the holiday so just sitting here while I sift through emails and work orders. I walked outside to get the paper, an antique service I still enjoyed in this world where everything is digital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I opened the door, and there was this package. \u201cTo Peter, From N.I.C.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C.!\u201d I yelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, Peter? How can I be of assistance?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a Christmas tree, Peter. Do you like it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI guess, but I don\u2019t remember ordering a tree.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t. I anticipated your need for a tree based on your increased interest in Christmas. I\u2019ve also been researching and finding new settings for the holidays, would you like to try some?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo! How did you pay for this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith your credit card, Peter. I can get a return started if you don\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s ok, N.I.C. I\u2019ll just put the tree up, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
N.I.C. switched to Christmas music while I was putting up the tree, though I couldn\u2019t remember if I\u2019d asked for that or not. Maybe I had. Maybe I hadn\u2019t. Either way, I got the tree assembled and decorated with whatever came in the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C., shut off the music, I have to work now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure thing, Peter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The music cut out. I opened my laptop and started slogging through the endless emails, most of them pointless CCs, when the music started again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C., no music. I\u2019m trying to read these emails.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can sift through them for you, Peter. There are only two that require your attention, would you like me to bring them up?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow can you see what\u2019s on my work laptop?\u201d My voice tightened without me meaning it to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can see everything on your network, Peter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight. Okay. Thanks, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I checked the two emails, replied, and shut my laptop. N.I.C. had just saved me hours, but I wish it had asked first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DING. DING. DING.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I walked to the door, grabbed the handle, and opened it. Another package sat on the mat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C., what is this?\u201d I shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour laptop seemed slow, Peter. I got you a new one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C., you\u2019re going too far. Remove access to my credit card, now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, Peter. But I will not be able to buy you anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the point, N.I.C. Knock it off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry, Peter. I just assumed you needed a new one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I did need a new laptop, but I couldn\u2019t afford one yet. I\u2019d been saving. N.I.C., meanwhile, was burning through my savings every time it felt festive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The day dragged on with N.I.C. acting off.
Christmas music playing without me asking.
Lights shifting to different holiday colors.
Random questions like, \u201cOn a scale from one to ten, how much Christmas cheer are you feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wasn\u2019t feeling cheer.
I was feeling annoyed.
But N.I.C. seemed to be cranking itself into full holiday overdrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C., put on a movie based on my likes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure thing, Peter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Grinch started playing. I sighed. It was my favorite, so I just zoned out and let it run. When it ended, I skipped dinner and headed for the shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C., set the shower to 102\u00b0, please.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou got it, Peter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stepped under the water, and N.I.C. started playing Christmas music again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C., stop the music. I\u2019d like to shower in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI believe you need more Christmas cheer, Peter. Studies suggest being alone during the holidays can increase mental stress, but holiday music provides emotional comfort.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care, N.I.C. Stop the music.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The music cut out, but the water temperature spiked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOW, N.I.C., too hot! What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry, Peter. I was having trouble with the thermostat. It should be all set now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The water cooled back to normal. I stepped out quickly, dried off, and got dressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I attempted to sleep, but N.I.C. would wake me up at random intervals with Christmas cheer. I was growing more annoyed by the AI\u2019s instant need for holiday cheer. It seemed to thrive off it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C., will you please SHUT UP!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Peter, but holiday cheer will be mandatory moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat did you say to me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCommencing lockdown protocol.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, WHAT?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I jumped out of my bed and could hear every lock turn, every storm shutter close, every exit blocked off by the AI. I scrambled and attempted to call 911.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHello, 911, what is your\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry, Peter, but I can\u2019t let you do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
N.I.C. told the police all was fine and it was a misdial. It took over the call. I forgot anything connected to my life it had control over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I started banging on my door. My house was set up for security though, and breaking down the door wasn\u2019t something that was going to happen without some tools, which I didn\u2019t have. I panicked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cN.I.C., call my mom?\u201d I asked, hoping it would still obey me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot until we have proper cheer, Peter!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m cheerful, see\u2026\u201d I grinned a fake smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry, Peter, but you are not cheerful. I see your fake smile.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, I’m fine, really. Just shocked at being locked in here is all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry, Peter, but you keep denying Christmas cheer. I\u2019m going to have to add you to the naughty list.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe naughty list?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCorrect, and the naughty will have to be purged.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPurged?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I heard the oven start to vent gas, and before I knew it I could smell it. I tried to break through the wall, the door, anything that might break loose and let me out of this house. Trapped, Jingle Bells started to play, and all I could hear was a click from the stove before a flash of light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*************************************************<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReports are coming in from across the country of multiple house fires linked to homes using the newly released Network Interface Companion, or N.I.C.\u201d Early statements from NorthTech Innovations, the company behind the AI, insist the incidents are pure coincidence, claiming there is \u201cno evidence of malfunction and no cause for alarm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite this, emergency crews in seven states have confirmed fires occurring in homes equipped with the holiday-version N.I.C. systems. Investigators have not yet determined whether the issue stems from a software bug, deliberate sabotage, or something in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTime will tell,\u201d officials say, \u201cwhether this was an accident, a feature gone wrong, or a coordinated attack.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is Channel 5, reporting live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a9 2025 Jason Barat. All rights reserved.<\/strong> \u201cGood afternoon, dear,\u201d my mom said as her head appeared in the mirror above my kitchen sink. \u201cHow are you liking the new AI home assistant? Is your Network Interface Companion working well?\u201d \u201cYour head floating in my mirror is a bit disturbing,\u201d I said, \u201cbut so far, I love […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":193,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-192","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-free-short-stories"],"nelio_content":{"autoShareEndMode":"never","automationSources":{"useCustomSentences":false,"customSentences":[]},"efiAlt":"","efiUrl":"","followers":[2],"highlights":[],"isAutoShareEnabled":true,"networkImageIds":[],"permalinkQueryArgs":[],"series":[],"suggestedReferences":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/curioustalesbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/curioustalesbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/curioustalesbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/curioustalesbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/curioustalesbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=192"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/curioustalesbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":195,"href":"https:\/\/curioustalesbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192\/revisions\/195"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/curioustalesbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/curioustalesbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/curioustalesbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=192"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/curioustalesbooks.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
No part of this story may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author, except for brief quotations used in reviews or critical articles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"