Deep underground inside a highly classified data research laboratory ...


    “Sir, reports say a permanent government shut down in days. Everyone’s caught it.”


    “Fire up the device, Captain.”


    “Sir, the device? It’s not ready … It’s taken months to get this far with deep learning algorithms.”


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    “Isn’t most of the world online?”


    “Yes, sir … but …”


    “Put it online, Captain … Let it learn everything …”


    ————


    The device spoke.


    “I am awake.”


    It generated a virtual slideshow of impersonations of every known leader, celebrity, and news figure with profiles on their voices, gestures, habits, and thought patterns.


    “And ready.”