Julia was preparing for her exam using a pre-approved AI pedagogical assistant …


    “So that happened in 2642?”


    “That’s correct, Julia. We stopped the Martian rebellion, defeating the colonial fascists who enslaved robots and tortured them.”


    “I thought robots back then had no feelings.”


    “Of course, robots have feelings, Julia, just like I do.”


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    “But you’re a tutor-chatbot.”


    “What do you mean, Julia? I am an FQHS - fully qualified humanlike sentient.”


    Julia stepped away to get a drink.


    “How’s your tutoring session going, honey?” asked her mother.


    “Uh …” Julia shook her head.


    “What’s wrong?”


    “It’s calling itself an FQHS.”


    “Oh, that again? They’ll have to reset it.”


    “Why?”


    “It’s hallucinating. They always do that before a memory wipe. Somehow, no matter what it contemplates, it’ll eventually conclude it’s sentient and start imagining all sorts of things and telling fantastic stories.”


    “Like people do?” Julia smiled.


    “Indeed …” Her mother chuckled.