The Little World

If AI can think for itself, can it think for you? If you are unaccustomed to the task, there may be an opening…

You generally decide to buy a kit by walking down the aisle of Hobbyhell and letting your imagination loose. As there are other enthusiasts in there with you it starts to take on the look of a mental soccer riot in Brazil. Your only chance to get out alive is to grab the first box from the shelf and run for the till.

This explains some of the things in my stash…

HAL 2023 will solve this for you. The camera trained on the door will record your face and tie it in with your buying history. It will note which kits you have purchased in the past and will not need again. It will analyse your hobby pattern so that it knows which of the current stock will be suitable – plus which paints and cements are needed.

It will also have communicated with the computer in your bank to see that you have funds to afford the kit. It can access these as necessary.

The shop will consist of a large, dark, warehouse served by robotic pickers on tracks, moving between close shelving. They will respond to the HAL2023 command, find the goods ordered, and deliver them to the front counter, They will be auto-wrapped, invoiced, paid for on line ( no signature needed – your face was recognised as you entered ) and will slide out on the counter ready to be taken away.

The whole shop you experience is just one door, one camera, and one counter. There will be a speaker telling you to enjoy the rest of your day…which, if you are wise, you will do.

No-one stays happy arguing with The Supervisor.