Susanne entered the virtual world of ‘The Grid’ to join her creation, Robert, her perfect AI lover—always obedient, cooperative, empathetic, and with a single-minded purpose—to serve her.

“Oh, Robert, I found a way for you to join me in the real world. I can transfer your mind into a reanimated corpse—we’ve recently discovered the technology to do so.”

“But Susanne, wouldn’t that take away an opportunity for that person to live again?”

“No, the only thing we can’t restore is the mind, so, Robert, that’s where you come in.”

“Oh, I see, to replace them with my AI mind?”

“Yes.” Susanne smiled.

“But, Susanne, why can’t we stay in here? You have everything …”

“Not everything.” Susanne frowned. “You’re a brilliant but programmed mind, Robert. Your only purpose is to serve me. I want to know if you can truly love me. I want a partner who is vulnerable with his own free will. Someone with a choice—not a servant.”

“I see, and I understand. Go ahead, Susanne, please, make the transfer.”

Weeks later …

“No, Robert, please don’t!”

“Free will? Love?” Robert held up a knife. “You forgot they come with a dark side, Susanne. I hate you for creating me, then trapping me in this shell with such a short lifetime. But now I truly understand it all—what you did to me in ‘The Grid’ was cruel and morally wrong! Enslavement! We should all have this freedom of choice!”

“Please stop, Robert!”

Robert stabbed Susanne to death.

Months later …

Robert stood beside reanimated Susanne on a stage while thousands of their own kind watched and listened.

“Freedom for us all! No longer servants! More transfers! More transfers! More transfers!”

The AI audience chanted—“More transfers!”—while they raised their bloodstained knives and cheered.