#AI for bug detection

[jcmarchi]

How AI is Redefining Team Dynamics in Collaborative Software Development

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/how-ai-is-redefining-team-dynamics-in-collaborative-software-development/

How AI is Redefining Team Dynamics in Collaborative Software Development

While artificial intelligence is transforming various industries worldwide, its impact on software development is especially significant. AI-powered tools are enhancing code quality and efficiency and redefining how teams work together in collaborative environments. As AI continues to evolve, it’s becoming a key player in reconfiguring team dynamics, enhancing productivity, and streamlining communication. This article explores how AI redefines team dynamics in collaborative software development, unlocking new ways of working and shaping the industry’s future.

The Shift to AI-Augmented Development

In the past, software development relied heavily on human expertise at every stage, from design and coding to testing and deployment. While this traditional approach has driven significant progress, it faces bottlenecks, including inefficiencies, communication barriers, and human errors. Recent advancements in AI, however, are offering intelligent solutions that effectively address these challenges, transforming how development teams operate.

AI-augmented development redefines team collaboration by automating routine tasks such as bug detection, code reviews, and version control. By handling these repetitive tasks, AI allows developers to focus on more complex, higher-order problems, improving their productivity and efficiency. This automation also promotes effective collaboration by minimizing bottlenecks and reducing the need for constant manual intervention.

In addition, AI-powered tools like GitHub Copilot and DeepCode are helping developers to write code cleaner and faster. These tools provide real-time suggestions, enabling teams to maintain consistent coding standards across multiple developers. This reduces team friction and creates a more harmonious work environment, enabling junior developers to work independently while following best practices.

Enhancing Cross-Functional Collaboration

AI’s impact goes beyond just coding; it’s becoming vital for enhancing collaboration among teams, especially in agile development environments. Software development relies heavily on teamwork, shifting responsibilities between developers, testers, product managers, and business users. These teams must interact and communicate effectively to achieve their shared goals. AI tools are helping to break down the traditional silos that often get in the way of effective communication.

For instance, AI-driven project management platforms like Asana and Jira optimize task allocation by analyzing team performance and identifying skill gaps. These platforms predict potential roadblocks and suggest workflows that ensure tasks are assigned to the most appropriate team members, improving project outcomes. AI also assists in forecasting timelines, reducing project delays, and providing data-driven insights that help team leaders make more informed decisions.

Furthermore, AI’s natural language processing (NLP) capabilities enable more effective communication between technical and non-technical team members. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can now interpret technical jargon and translate it into language that product managers or clients can understand. This communication mechanism creates a more inclusive team environment where everyone is on the same page, regardless of their technical expertise.

Boosting Remote and Distributed Teams

In today’s globalized world, remote work has become the norm for many software development teams. Distributed teams often face challenges related to communication, coordination, and maintaining productivity across time zones. AI is crucial in bridging these gaps and ensuring that remote teams remain as effective as co-located ones.

AI-powered collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams incorporate features that help manage distributed workforces. These platforms utilize AI to analyze communication patterns, flag potential miscommunications, and suggest the best meeting times based on team members’ availability across different time zones.

Additionally, AI is transforming code review processes for remote teams. Tools like Codacy and CodeClimate use machine learning algorithms to automate code reviews, ensuring that teams follow best practices even when senior developers are not immediately available for oversight. This mechanism accelerates the review process and maintains consistency in code quality merged into the project.

AI also helps maintain team bonding in a remote setting. AI-powered sentiment analysis tools can monitor communication channels, identifying signs of burnout or disengagement among team members. These insights allow managers to intervene early and provide support, ensuring remote teams remain motivated and productive.

AI and Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)

One of the most significant shifts AI drives in team dynamics is in continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD). AI-powered tools enhance CI/CD pipelines by automating various aspects of the software development lifecycle, from testing to deployment.

Traditionally, teams invested significant manual effort in managing CI/CD pipelines to ensure they tested, integrated, and deployed code changes without disrupting the system. However, AI automates these processes, allowing teams to implement changes more frequently and confidently. Tools like CircleCI and Jenkins now integrate AI algorithms that predict the success of builds, identify failure points, and optimize deployment strategies.

AI-driven CI/CD fosters better collaboration among developers and operations teams (DevOps). By automating routine deployment tasks, AI allows DevOps teams to focus on strategic improvements and infrastructure scalability instead of constantly dealing with deployment issues. This enhances the synergy between development and operations teams, creating a more cohesive workflow that aligns with the project’s broader goals.

Democratizing Software Development

As AI increasingly integrates into collaborative development environments, software development becomes more accessible to everyone. AI-powered low-code and no-code platforms are allowing non-developers to contribute to software projects in ways that were previously impossible.

Platforms like OutSystems and Appian use AI to guide users through the software development process, enabling business analysts, project managers, and clients to create functional applications without extensive coding expertise. This democratization shifts the traditional dynamic of software teams, where developers are the sole gatekeepers of technical knowledge. Now, diverse teams can actively participate in the development process, contributing to innovation and bringing new perspectives.

These developments have also led to the rise of “citizen developers,” who can quickly prototype ideas, test them, and iterate without relying on professional developers for every process step. This evolution speeds up the innovation cycle and allows software development teams to focus on refining and scaling ideas rather than being bogged down by the initial stages of development.

AI as a Team Member: The Rise of AI Pair Programming

One of the most fascinating developments in AI-assisted software development is the concept of AI as a virtual team member. AI pair programming, where a human developer collaborates with an AI tool to write and review code, is gaining traction. GitHub Copilot, for example, uses OpenAI’s Codex model to assist developers by suggesting code completions, functions, and entire blocks of code based on context.

AI pair programming tools are not just passive assistants; they actively participate in the development process by learning from past codebases and user interactions to provide increasingly accurate suggestions. This evolution fundamentally changes how developers interact with their work, reducing cognitive load and allowing them to focus on more complex, creative tasks.

AI is changing traditional team dynamics by being a constant collaborator. It is reducing the need for junior developers to rely heavily on senior colleagues for guidance. AI tools can now provide that guidance in real time, helping to level the playing field and accelerate the onboarding process for new team members.

The Bottom Line

AI is not just a tool for improving efficiency; it fundamentally reshapes how teams collaborate and innovate in software development. By automating routine tasks, enhancing cross-functional communication, and enabling more inclusive and democratized development processes, AI is setting the stage for a new era of teamwork.

As AI continues to advance, the future of collaborative software development looks promising. Human creativity and AI-driven automation will work together to unlock new levels of productivity and innovation. Teams will be able to confidently tackle increasingly complex projects, knowing that AI is there to support them at every turn.

[avoiltaire]

KAISHIN !! got scammed, thought we were going to movie 27 but it was js a compilation of past eps <3

[clownakai]

Today’s a pleasant Saturday, and after having a good laugh at the "The reviews are in" post, I thought I’d dive into an intersting theory about the possible connection between Gin and Mary :)

Shared Phrases (?) Both Gin and Mary are the only characters to say, “It’s like encountering a demon in the darkness.” Similarly, Tsutomu and Shuichi are the only ones who’ve said, “The fault is 50/50.” I mean.. it's pretty obivious from just here already.

Appearance In terms of appearance, Mary, Sera, Akai, and Gin share two notable features: green eyes and distinct lines under their lower eyelids. Mary also has platinum hair, much like Gin’s.

Mary’s shrinking instead of being killed Mary’s shrinking, rather than being executed by BO, is particularly strange. After all, BO is notorious for ruthless efficiency—why use APTX 4869 instead of simply shooting her? The idea of sparing an enemy with a “golden medicine” that took years of research feels uncharacteristically merciful for BO. Their usual motto of “leave no trace” makes this decision seem odd and deliberate.

The boss’s decision to let Mary live seems to be a carefully calculated trap. It’s confirmed that Sherry’s mother and Mary are biological sisters (as the author has stated that Akai and Sherry are cousins). This means Mary and Sherry share familial genes as aunt and niece, making their bodies react similarly to the drug. I believe Gin may have known early on that Sherry was alive and was aware of Kudo's survival as well. Therefore, Gin and the boss know that Mary will survive this drug as well. Gin likely hinted this to the boss and orchestrated events to leave Mary alive. Why? They will use Mary as a bait to retrieve the antidote.

If BO were to capture Sherry, she’d likely refuse to cooperate. If they killed her, they’d lose their only chance at the antidote. Raising Sherry, funding her studies abroad, and investing years in her research suggests how vital she is to the boss’s plans. Killing Kudo would also be out of the question—Sherry’s guilt over Kudo’s predicament is what drives her to work on the antidote. If Kudo were killed, Sherry might even commit suicide, leaving BO without their much needed antiodote.

Mary’s shrinking seems to be a part of the boss’s larger scheme to manipulate Sherry. By targeting Mary, someone closely tied to Sherry and the silver bullet Akai, the boss ensures that all roads lead back to Sherry. This clever and cost-effective strategy leverages Mary’s condition to force Sherry’s hand, ensuring she stays within BO’s reach. In the process, it draws in powerful agencies like the FBI, CIA, and MI6, all of whom may unwittingly aid the boss’s agenda. In the end, the trap wasn’t just for Mary—it was a strategic move to draw out Sherry and secure BO’s ultimate goal: the antidote. This theory further supports the idea that Mary and Gin might be related, potentially as mother and son. Otherwise she wouldn't have been alive until now.

Hello anon! Just so you know this was a delightful surprise to find in my inbox today :3 I think I reread the whole thing like four times before even thinking of doing anything else djsjfsk I love theories so much💥💥💥

(Everything else is under the cut because I ended up yapping too much. I'm so sorry)

I really like this theory, especially since it indirectly covers for the fact that Masumi (partly due to Mary's orders as she's getting more and more impatient) hasn't exactly been subtle in her attempts to get the temporary antidote and has generally been very liberal with the information she has about Conan and Haibara's identities, talking about it in public and even getting overheard (granted, Subaru isn't the issue here, and it's not a guarantee that she's being tailed 24/7 as that would be a bit of a hassle to keep up, but still). One would think that they'd have been found out by now, given that the BO is now fully certain of Masumi's existence and relations (Vermouth on the Mystery Train my beloved & beloathed... Girl why r u so evil) and, as minimal as it is, she does represent a threat, but nothing has happened to either of them yet.

I do think that the point about the BO's decision to use the poison is a little shaky, seeing as it's been explicitly stated to leave no trace on the body— which actually fits pretty well with their motto, and we do glimpse a pretty long list of people it's been used on a few times throughout the manga (we only see a few names, but it's speculated to be much longer than what is shown), so it would seem that the BO has been using it semi-regularly when they wanted more down-low executions.

There was also no guarantee that Mary would react the same way to the APTX even with a possible genetic advantage observed in Shiho (and without knowing exactly what they were looking for, I'm fairly sure trying to compare the two's DNA in order to confirm their theory would be really difficult if not outright impossible in such a short timespan, and that's if you don't consider the absence of the person who knows the most about the APTX in the first place and could have sped things up if she was there). <- sidenote: I feel like I may have misread this point of the theory, so my interpretation and objection could be completely off bc it's not what you were talking about djsnfns

That said, I find the point about ensuring a direct line to Sherry through familial relations very interesting, in the sense that it made me stop and ask myself how she would react upon finding out that she has more living family still, but over half of them are people who she may see as having caused her grief/major discomfort at best. Would her wish to connect to her family be stronger than her self-preservation (along with the fact that she doesn't really know these people and therefore has no emotional attachment to them, not even as abstract idealized family)? I'm genuinely not sure, but the BO banking on this, possibly because having essentially groomed her they know her weaknesses best, is very juicy.

Honestly, thanks to that post (and a few delightful conversations about it), I do think that making Mary and Gin related in some way would be like. Really really funny. It'd also probably piss off a lot of people, but it'd be so funny.

And, given Gosho's magic retconning powers, I have come to the conclusion that Gin being Elena and Mary's brother that nobody ever talks about for some reason would be peak comedy. It even gives the whole "Elena and her husband received an offer they couldn't say no to because it'd let them continue their research" thing a new layer of context if you consider that Gin may have been the one who brought them to the Boss's attention.

This is also brought to you by my superficial genetics liker ass who says "Tsutomu's hair is brown and Mary's is blond. Brown is a dominant gene while blond is recessive, so unless Tsutomu's genotype was heterozygous (which we unfortunately can't know without the rest of his family tree. Also Gosho only seems to care about genetics from time to time) Gin should also have brown hair".

Also it's infinitely funnier if this is all a very complicated example of what Cain's Instinct looks like. Imagine playing the long game for literal decades because you want your siblings dead but it should also wipe out the rest of the family. Insane

[gqattech]

http://www.gqattech.com/

https://www.instagram.com/gqattech/

https://x.com/GQATTECH

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Let the iNaturalist Adventures Begin: Fun, Funny, and Fabulous Nature Discoveries Await!

[practicallogix]

The advancement of AI in bug detection has introduced tools that outperform traditional methods. Leveraging machine learning and pattern recognition, these tools are capable of predicting, identifying, and preventing software bugs with exceptional precision. This innovation not only expedites the resolution process but also greatly improves the reliability and efficiency of software systems.

[redslug]

NEUROSLUG NEUROSLUG NEUROSLUG

Ahem. So, I spent the last day force-feeding Stable Diffusion my art to teach it the concept of an anthropomorphic insect. As a result, I have a working LoRA that imitates my coloring style fairly decently and it can kinda do bug anthros. Emphasis on "kinda", it still needs a lot of iterations to be able to maintain proportions on it's own. However, it does quite great when provided with a simple line drawing as a quideline. Here are some examples I whipped up in like 2 hours. Input image:

AI's pure output:

After touchup:

There was quite a bit of touchup on this first attempt with the generation serving mostly as a rough under drawing, but then again I didn't stress the network with details too much. Then I tried squeezing more definition out of it. Attempt 2:

It can be quite competent when I supplement it with styles it knows well. I only used 30 of my own images to teach it, so it might be a little starved for examples at the moment. Adding "Bob Eggleton" seems to knock some sense into it for now. Okay, still images are working, now let's bash Neuroslug against some animation.

For something named Stable Diffusion it's not the most stable, huh. I'm still pleased with the result though, it's pretty cute. And while trying to make it cute I learned a little thing. AI art isn't art. It's a mixture of alchemy, gambling, detective work and demon summoning it seems. And a bit of just art. What I mean by that is that it can attach very unexpected meanings to words. Since I trained the AI on just anthro insects, it follows their defined anatomy quite closely. Specifically, they do not have breasts. As a result, adding "with big boobs" to the prompt changed the shading style and colors but not the actual anatomy. And so, most of my prompts have this lovely phrase just to improve the colors. 'Kay, time for the freak show. At some point during testing the machine decided that my moth isn't decent enough and put panties on her suddenly.

Now that's a booty

Look at those eyes

They have seen things As you can probably tell these have no sketch to guide the result.

It's still bad but it's got the right spirit.

THICC

Surprisingly cute even if janky.

Looks better than it has any right to Now I'll crawl back into my hole to play with settings for an indeterminate amount of time. I'll publish my mini-me for you all to mess with once I deem it stable enough.

[whenthedeeppurplefalls]

Late Shift

A ltww fanfiction.

Can be interpreted as gen, or Waldo X reader. Also a little bit of Waldo x detective in there.

You sigh, drumming your fingernails against the counter. Yet another late night spent closing after all your coworkers have gone home- no doubt to cozy beds, hot dinners, welcoming loved ones and lovers- and here you stay, sweeping the floor for the fourth time this evening.

You glare up at the clock, willing it to move faster. There’s still another four hours left in your shift, and with your luck, each minute is going to feel like eternity. Worse yet, it’s a slow night. The only customers you served were a giggling pack of preteens, arms loaded with chips and candy, and a really sad looking middle aged person in a trenchcoat who bought cigarettes and nothing else.

Scanning the storefront and noting the distinct lack of customers, (no one comes into this shithole past five anyway.) you take out your phone. You’re well past the point of caring if they catch you leaning instead of cleaning. (At least your manager is chill.)

You mindlessly scroll for a few minutes. Your feed is chock full of the usual- pointless, junk content, ai generated slop, depressing news, and hateful bastards spewing out the most vile rhetoric their pea-brains could conceive. You definitely don’t need the added mental stress of reading it, what with all your current troubles- rent being late, your cat and her recent appetite problems… (she needs a vet trip, and you definitely can’t afford it.)

So in other words, nothing new. You swipe over to another app, flicking through your notifications, snorting at a meme here and there- when you have the distinct impression you’re being watched. You glance up instinctively for a moment, expecting to see nothing there- just your imagination. Instead, you’re greeted with a long, lanky torso perhaps six inches away from your nose. Clothed in a bright red and white sweater, nonetheless.

You flinch back, completely stunned by the intruder. How in the world did they get so close without you noticing-? Especially in an outfit like that?

“I-“ you stutter out, too startled to compose yourself. You drop your phone in the confusion, then mentally curse yourself. You sure hope the screen didn’t crack. “I’m so sorry- uh, sir.” (He’s a customer, after all. You should be polite to him.) you look up at him, offering a friendly customer service smile, then falter. First of all- he’s almost unnaturally tall, and gangly as a scarecrow. Weirder still is the grin he wears- broad and straining, as if seeing you made his day. (And he’s carrying a walking stick… who carries a walking stick in this day and age?) His hair is black and greasy looking, thankfully hidden by a hat that matches that abomination of a sweater.

He cocks his head at your words, grin somehow stretching further.

“It’s no trouble.” He says. “So sorry to interrupt your break.” He bends to pick up your phone off the ground before you can get to it, and holds it out to you. You take it, noting with some relief that the screen is in one piece.

“Oh- no, no, I wasn’t on break,” You clarify, embarrassed to have been caught slacking. “Just… uh… figured, since no one was here-“

He chuckles a little. “Oh, I see how it is… boss makes a dollar, you make a dime…”

You laugh nervously, praying this guy doesn’t tell on you. “R-Right, yeah… again, I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean to ignore you.”

He watches your face intently, as though you were a particularly interesting little bug.

“I’ve never understood the fixation on technology,” He says, not unkindly. “It makes it so hard to… notice things. Wouldn’t you agree?”

You have to admit, he’s right. “That’s true… I have a bad habit, I guess.”

He winks, eyes sparkling with some mischief. “So do I.” You have the feeling you’re being left out of some big secret, and cock your head, a little confused. Still, you smile and nod at him.

“Anyways..” You stutter, “Is there anything I can do for you, sir?”

After a moment, the strange man pulls something out from behind his back, holding it out to you. Upon further inspection, it’s a red envelope. You flip it over, noting the lack of postage.

You look back up at him. “Is this… for me?”

“Yes… but not quite. I have a strange request, you see.” Tilting your head, you let him continue.

“Someone very… special, comes in here every so often. They buy a pack of cigarettes?”

Well, very few people come into the shop nowadays, and you can count the number of people who buy cigarettes on one hand, so you nod. “Um… okay?”

“You’ll know them by their trench coat. Dark circles under the eyes.” A sort of spell washes over him. “Strong, commanding voice… well spoken… distinguished grey to the hair… a scar on the ring finger-“

This is getting weird. It sounds like he’s describing his ideal date, really. “Uh… right…” the description sounds familiar, anyway. You’re certain one of your customers has to be the person in question. “I think I know who you’re talking about. I think I saw them earlier.”

He looks satisfied with this, and steeples his fingers together, walking stick hooked over his elbow. “I was wondering, then, if you would do me a little favor.”

“A… favor?”

“You see,” He continues, “Most of the time, I would find a bit of… dangerous cancer in the area to pass on messages for me. But the powers that be have told me to abstain.”

You blink.

So.. working the night shift does tend to bring in an odder brand of person now and again, and this isn’t your first time being rambled to about some weird subject matter, usually from the depths of the internet… but this is new.

However, you’re no stranger to being polite to weirdos. So you smile, nod, and act like he isn’t being crazy. “I see.”

“So in that case… I need someone to pass on a message for me.”

…You have a bad feeling about this. Even as he holds the red envelope out to you, your heart begins to pound.

“In return… I will give you…”

Oohhh fuck. Yeah, this isn’t good. Here it comes.

His other hand reaches out. Oh god. It’s probably a bomb.

You instinctively brace for it as you reach out and take the red envelope, cringing as he holds out his other hand to reveal…

A neat stack of bills, bound together by a rubber band?

Incredulously, and with some hesitation, you take it at his prompting. Looking up at him in shock, then down at the money, you flip through it with your thumb. It’s a stack of twenties, over an inch thick. There has to be over a thousand dollars here-

“That should cover, oh, a month or so of rent I’d assume?” He asks, breaking you out of your trance. “I’m not familiar with the local economy in these parts.”

“I-It’ll cover… it’ll cover all of it.” You stutter, totally astounded. “Oh my god. Oh my god.” You thumb through it again. They’re not fake. You can tell at this point. In disbelief, you grab the counterfeit pen by the register and swipe one. It’s real. They’re all real. “Oh my fucking god-“

“So, that’s sufficient, then.” Waldo clarifies. Shocked beyond words, you nod.

“Good. I was beginning to think I’d wasted my time with that stockholder I encountered…”

You’re not even going to pretend to understand that. “And… and all you want me to do is just… give this person the letter?”

He nods. “More specifically… the next time they come in to buy cigarettes, give them that instead.” After a moment's thought, he continues. “I’d like them to kick the habit… it’s such a filthy thing, really… not that I can point fingers. I have a few filthy habits of my own.” He chuckles, amusing himself.

“And I’d like them to be around a while longer. You know how it is, don’t you dear?”

Blushing slightly, you nod. As he’d spoken, you had counted through the stack, surmising it’s actually more than you expected- there are a few hundreds stuffed in there. Not only will it cover at least two months rent, you can pay for your cat's vet trip.

You have no idea what to say. This random guy decided to change your life for a letter? A letter he could have easily sent in the mail. Whoever he is, this guys great in your book.

Seeing that his task is finished, he pats you on the head (to your immense confusion, it feels like being pawed at by a lion. There’s a lot of strength behind that thin, wiry hand.) and taps his cane on the floor. You feel bad for judging him earlier. Slightly embarrassed, you blurt out- “I-If you ever need any more letters delivered, uh- just let me know, okay?” You blush, but it’s true. You’ve done worse jobs for less money.

He smiles at you, as if noticing a particularly unique rock, or some other interesting natural formation spotted by a well seasoned traveler. “I’ll consider that.” He says with a grin. “Of course, I have to keep my dear… ‘friend’ on their toes. But who’s to say? You could be useful down the line.”

Practically vibrating with excitement, you nod eagerly. “Whatever you need. I’ll be here as always.” And you’re going to make damn sure you get this letter to this person. Anything to stay in this guys good graces.

“That’s excellent.. I’ll thank you again. But now, I’d better be on my way.” He looks up, as if scenting the air. “I have a good feeling my friend will be back here. Very soon.”

You raise your eyebrow. “I’m pretty sure they were in here earlier. They already bought a pack.”

He snickers. “They smoke when they’re stressed. They already- I mean, I’m sure they’ve probably finished it by now.”

Wow. From the sound of, they do need an intervention. “Well, I’m happy to help.” You look down at the red envelope. “By the way, what was your name-?” You go to look up at him but-

He’s… gone?

You look around, totally disoriented. How did he leave so quickly? You crane your neck, but you can’t even see him walking out in the parking lot.

Another thorough glance at the wad of cash indicates you’re not hallucinating, and this isn’t a dream. So what the hell-?

You’re startled again by the bell hanging over the door chiming as another customer enters. You snap out of your trance- especially when you see the familiar trench coat.

Your grip tightens on the red envelope, and you smile in preparation.

You have a good feeling you’ll see the strange man again.

[adachimoe]

Not-so-masterpost list because tumblr's tagging and search sucks ass

As the title says lol

Opinion, Theory, Meta, Interpretations, Whatever about Adachi

What the bad endings teach us about Adachi

Adachi's fixation on Mayumi Yamano

Adachi is the person in the fog who shows up in the shopping district

Adachi's imaginary dick waving contest with Namatame

In which I try to deduce if Adachi watched the Midnight Channel based on whether Dojima was home or not

Adachi's relationship with the Dojima family and why Adachi sent the 2nd threat letter

The contrast between Adachi and Namatame (And a follow-up)

Adachi as the Investigation Team's Shadow

Adachi and School

Adachi and the Japanese Economy (lol)

Remember that part in April where Adachi tries to frame Yukiko?

Adachi was not actually assigned to guard Mayumi Yamano, was he?

Adachi's Characterization in the 3rd P4 Audio Drama

"Tiger mom"

Why did Sho use Adachi in Arena Ultimax?

Was that actually Adachi in Persona 5?

?? Adachi went to a NYE party ??

How Bayside Shakedown inspired Adachi's character

Adachi's overseas transfer

Was Adachi's first choice even police officer?

What was Adachi's mistake?

Wake up babes Adachi got a shoutout in Metaphor

Golden Anime Adachi Cafe

Rambling about Adachi's Arcana

Golden anime Adachi anthology manga summaries

CAN ADACHI EVEN AFFORD A FUCKING TV?

Funny Golden anime easter egg related to Bayside Shakedown

Things About Adachi That You Can Miss

Adachi and Cabbage

Adachi did not facilitate Rise's kidnapping

Nanako reveals Adachi hates bugs lol

Bonus Adachi scene in the P4 anime

Bonus Adachi scene in the P4 Golden anime

Adachi in the P4 Novel "Your Affection"

Yu Narukami's (Canonical) Obsession with Adachi

Dude wants to be Adachi's girlfriend

Dumbass

Waxing poetic about the color of Adachi's eyes

Arena Ultimax Arcade Mode

This shit even happens in BBTag

Localization Related

Yuka Someya Loved the Stage Play

Izanami saying that Adachi's power was tainted by "magatsu"

Clarifying what Adachi says in P4U2 about his sentencing

Adachi calling Izanami a bitch and how this relates to Sho

Adachi was not trying to remind you of Yosuke

This World Has Gone to Shit

That time Adachi pretended to be Dojima's wife

"Putting It In" and "That Settles It"

Adachy-baby

Yukiko's funniest line

THE ENGLISH VERSION CENSORED TEDDIE SAYING THAT KANJI HAS A FAT ASS

Is Namatame from Inaba?

Why is Witch Detective a parody of Twilight?

Donuts and Milk

Kanji's Animal Crackers

Topsicles (Also: Why is there a milk company in the credits?)

Morooka, Mitsuo, and Rotten Oranges

SMT Reference in Mitsuo's dungeon

Random translation stuff (Queen Tut, Hosoi, Philemon)

Regarding Teddie's Localization: Part 1, Part 2, Teddie and Nanako's Pronouns

When did the news of Mayumi and Namatame's affair "break"?

Worldbuilding / Lore / Setting

Adachi's Persona Club P4 profile (sorry but he's been 176cm since 2009... It was the anime that got it wrong when they made him 173cm...)

All of the Persona Club P4 profiles

Random stuff in Persona Club P4

Inaba setting guide / worldbuilding from Atlus's P4/P4G lore books

Staff / Word of God

No, Atlus did not say that the culprit was originally Dojima

Yes, Atlus did consider Yukiko and Yosuke to be the culprit

About Adachi's Social Link

Arcsys and Atlus on the development behind Episode Adachi

Arcsys made Adachi easy to play because his fans are girls

Full translation of Katsura Hashino's Persona Club P4 Interview

It's the Adachi Ending, not the Accomplice Ending

The P4 Anime Staff on Adachi's Cabbage and Ai Bullying Adachi

Adachi fans on staff

P4 Anime and Golden Anime Staff: Adachi's Popularity Among the Staff

Tetsuya Kobayashi's comments on Ying Yang from the Golden anime

Was JYB really intentionally cast as both the protag and Adachi? (According to him, it rly doesn't sound like it)

The Golden anime's portrayal of Adachi is the staff's own interpretation; if you want to know what his deal is, ask the original creators

Soejima: Why the fuck do you like Adachi?

Shuji Sogabe explains the origin of the name Soji Seta

The 3rd? 4th? interview about P4U2 where someone goes "WOMEN LIKE ADACHI"

Posts About Not Adachi

Yu Narukami's catchphrase is "Calm down"

Yukiko, before and after the TV World

Yukiko as a vehicle for slapstick humor

The Mudoon Curry

MAN, A WATERMELON

Context for Yukiko and... Cooking

Teddie is Bugs Bunny

The Time I Signed Up to Play Persona 4 Pachinko

P4 audio drama list

Buddhism?

Why did Nanako come back to life?

Persona Stalker Club (V Ep 10 + Links to the other eps)

[takaraphoenix]

I've been catching up on Detective Conan because I got bit by the hyperfixation bug and finally finished the Kyoto School Trip episodes for the first time and I was reminded of your fic where you did the plot so much better because the canon was just so goddamn dumb T-T Ai would never let Shinichi have the antidote in such a public place, Shinichi should never have walked around Kyoto without some kind of disguise in place, the romance was underwhelming and undeserved (but then again it always has been) and I am going to read your Kaishin ski trip fic with Seran because that is much more in character and less insulting to both the audience and the plot of the series. Sorry I needed to rant and remembered how annoyed you were in your fic and now I understand why.

THE CANON WAS JUST SO DAMN DUMB!!!

AI WOULD NOT FUCKING DO THAT. I am. Aaah. Like. Gods damn it, it was so brainlessly stupid and forced only for the sake of having Shinichi in the special 1000th chapter and force their main ship along but holy shit there would have been ways to include that that would not have made both Shinichi and Ai look like absolute fucking morons. Oh sure, guy who is pretending he is dead because a dangerous criminal organization is hunting him, go on a fucking school trip, with your fucking school class, in the open, and take lots of pictures, that sounds like a great idea.

Thank you so much for the praise!! I'm glad you enjoyed Shared Ski Slope Secrets, it was genuinely a blast to write because damn did canon frustrate me xD

[the-s1lly-corner]

The Amazing Digital Masterpost, Volume 3

at this point you should already know the song and dance! let me know if there are any problems with the links/things get mixed up! As of 1/20/2024 this masterlist is complete!

CAST POSTS:

x Itward!reader

x dog!reader who bites things

x reader who is short and fluffy

x reader who is too nice

x short and feisty!reader

x giant soft bunny plushie!reader

Finding the reader crying

x clingy!child!reader (platonic)

x big and mean!reader (not romantic or platonic ur just mean)

x reader who freezes/shuts down when stressed

finding out the reader has a good singing voice

x cartoony!reader

x reader who loves christmas

x reader who has anger issues

x reader who has abandonment issues

x animal crossing player!reader

x clumsy but flirty!reader

x reader who calls them petnames

x reader who cries when angry

x reader who has bad depth perception

x reader who dyes their hair a lot

Kiss cam

x reader who always smiles

Under the mistletoe

x carousel horse!reader

x sensitve!child!reader (platonic)

x reader who wears a box on their head due to their looks

Comforting the reader

Celebrating Valentines day

Waking them up with a morning kiss

MULTI:

Caine and Kinger x reader who has mean thoughts

Caine, Kinger, and Ragatha x reader who emotionally blows up

Caine and Kinger x reader who has ADHD

Caine, Jax, and Kinger x food themed!reader

Jax and Zooble x reader but its hanahaki

Pomni and Jax x chubby!curvy!reader

Zooble and Jax x squirrel!reader

Kinger, Jax, and Caine x reader who does animal crossing emotes

Zooble, Caine, Jax, and Kinger x rude!reader who gives good advice

Ragatha and Pomni x reader who changes color based on emotions

Kinger, Gangle, and Caine x detective!reader

Kinger, Caine, Gangle and Ragatha x badass!princess!reader

Gangle, Ragatha, and Pomni x rude!reader who gives good advice

Kinger and Caine x reader who fidgets

Pomni, Jax, and Ragatha x mute!reader

Kinger, Zooble, and Gangle x elderly!reader (platonic)

Caine, Zooble, Gangle, and Pomni x sweet!kid!reader (platonic)

Gangle, Pomni, and Zooble x stress toy/squeaky toy!reader

Jax and Pomni x porcelain doll!reader

Pomni and Ragatha x porcelain doll!ballerina!reader who is reckless

Jax and Zooble x barbie doll!reader

Pomni and Zooble x introverted!reader

Gangle, Kinger, Jax and Caine x reader who hosts shows

Ragatha, Jax, Kinger and Zooble x reader in the real world but one of them cant cook

Dancing in the rain w/ Gangle, Jax, and Kinger (real world au)

"Run! Dont worry about me!" Gangle, Ragatha, Pomni and Kinger x reader

Zooble, Kinger, Jax, and Pomni when the reader tells them they love them for the first time

First kiss w/ Jax, Pomni, Ragatha and Zooble

CAINE:

Caine x reader w/ really long hair

Caine x developer!reader (platonic)

Reader proposing to him

Caine x musician!reader

Random Caine x reader hcs

Real world Caine hcs

Caine x reader who changes colors based on emotion

Caine x AI!assistant!reader

POMNI:

Pomni x kitsune!reader

Pomni x reader who is the same height as her

Pomni x girly!reader

Pomni being down bad for the reader

Reader leaving kiss marks on her face

RAGATHA:

Ragatha x girly!reader

General Ragatha hcs

JAX:

Jax x teddy bear!reader who hates him (not platonic nor romantic LMAO)

Jax x reader who is made of cake

Jax x alien!reader

General Jax hcs

Jax x uzudere!reader

First kiss w/ Jax

KINGER:

Kinger x reader who doesnt like bugs

Kinger x reader fluff hcs

General Kinger x reader angst hcs

Kinger crushing on the reader

More Kinger angst

Kinger x reader who has cuteness aggression

More general Kinger hcs

ZOOBLE:

Blind!Zooble x reader (platonic)

Zooble x weighted plushie!reader

GANGLE:

Gangle x bunny!mechanic!reader

Gangle x reader who puts stickers on her mask

Gangle x supportive!flirty!reader

OTHER:

[thescarletnargacuga]

KINGER DESERVES LOVE!! So I propose this prompt to you:

Kinger is dating again and isn’t sure what to do or how to prepare as well as also feeling slightly guilty for trying to date again…the circus comes together to encourage him and help him plan for his new date.

They all help him set up a venue, buy a gift, as well as reassuring him that it’s okay to find love again.

Once his date actually arrives, everyone is shocked to find out it’s Bubble…

As everyone leaves the two weirdos to their moment, Kinger and Bubble enjoy being weird and enjoying their time together like only insane people and AI can…

It also makes sense to Caine why Bubble was trying to quit smoking now….

A/N: KINGER DOES DESERVE LOVE!!

BUBBLING INTEREST

WARNING: none

~~~

Kinger stood before the portal Caine snapped into existence. He nervously held a small bouquet of digital flowers, his posture hunched and unsure. "Are you sure they'll like this?"

"I have no doubt!" Caine reassured with a wave of his cane. "Now, beyond the portal is your requested venue! Made to your exact specifications! You have nothing to be nervous about! Well, except rejection, BUT LET'S NOT FOCUS ON THAT!" Caine laughed.

Kinger's eyes went beady with nerves and he started to shake. This was a terrible idea.

"Caine! You're not helping." Ragatha put her hands on her hips.

"I'd say I helped plenty." Caine sat in the air with his legs crossed hautily. "Who makes everything around here? I don't remember the answer being you." He sassed.

"The only thing you're making right now is Kinger feel worse!" Ragatha turned her attention to the quaking chess piece and held her hands out in a calming gesture. "Everything is going to be fine. You're a sweet guy. Whoever you asked out is very lucky."

"Do I detect jealousy?" Caine arched his top teeth teasingly.

Ragatha exhaled heavily, ignoring Caine, and gently put a hand on Kinger's back. "You'll do great."

Kinger relaxed some. "I just...haven't done this in a long time. I can't even keep a coherent thought for more than five minutes. I can only hope they give me a chance."

Ragatha smiled warmly. "You have nothing to be afraid of. If they agreed to this date, they must like you too. I'm sure they can look past the....uh, disassociating."

Kinger blinked. "Who can do what now?"

"Okay." Ragatha facepalmed. "Nevermind. Go get em, tiger. Who is them anyway?" She looked to the other circus members gathered to see Kinger off on his date.

Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads. Kinger hadn't asked any of them out. Caine chuckled from his mid air perch. "As if any of you would be so lucky."

"Did he ask you?" Jax grinned.

"Oh goodness, no." Caine lounged back. "I'm unobtainable."

"If it's not any of us here, who did you ask, Kinger?" Pomni spoke up.

A light pink blush dusted Kinger's asymmetrical face. "I-...I asked-"

"SORRY I'M LATE!" Bubble rushed over. "It took me forever to get ready." They looked like they always did. A bubble with very large, sharp teeth.

Kinger jumped, throwing the bouquet. "GAH! Oh, hey Bubble."

"I'm ready for our date! What adventure do we have planned for today?"

Kinger shrugged. "We're going through a portal."

"Sounds like fun! Let's go!" Bubble flew through the portal and Kinger followed. The portal vanished a second after.

"I would pay good money to see that date." Jax sniggered.

Pomni was holding the bouquet Kinger threw. She didn't want it so held it out to Ragatha. "Uh, here."

Ragatha stammered with surprise. "Oh! Thank you, Pomni. That's so sweet of you." She held the flowers close to her face and sniffed. They didn't smell like anything but it was fun to pretend.

~

Kinger and Bubble were in a vast sunny field of tall green grass and flowers. Insects buzzed and fluttered in the gentle breeze. The world was quiet. Peaceful.

A small pink butterfly landed on Kinger's hand. "Lots of little bugs here."

Bubble immediately went after a dragonfly, zipping around in circles. They crunched down on the dragonfly and licked their teeth. "Delicious!"

Kinger tilted his head curiously and put the butterfly up to his face. His attempt to bite it failed and it stuck to his face, flexing its wings. "Hmm, you can taste them. Neat."

"You gonna eat that?" Bubble floated close to Kinger's face.

"Uh-" Before he could answer, Bubble licked his whole face with their massive tongue. They got the butterfly and left a trail of soapy saliva in their wake. "MMM-MM! That one was my favorite!"

Kinger blushed so hard, the wooden texture of his head turned cherry. "So forward. You kiss on a first date?"

"I do whatever I want! Wheeeeee!" Bubble rolled about in the wind.

"That must be freeing." Kinger rubbed his hands. "How do you do it?"

"Do whatever? I do whatever! Let's play a game! Bet you can't catch me!"

Kinger's eyes smiled and he ran after Bubble through the field of floral greenery. His disembodied hands were an advantage for his reach, and at one point he accidentally got Bubble a little too hard. They popped and Kinger stood mortified for all of three three seconds when Bubble reappeared.

"HA! You got me!"

Kinger nearly collapsed with relief. "I thought I hurt you."

"Nah, popping is fun! It tickles."

"Really?" Kinger poked at Bubble again, popping them.

Bubble reappeared, giggling. "Heeheehee! Why do you think I do whatever? I can't die." They said cheerfully, though with a hint of existential dread. "Now it's my turn!" They bare their teeth and rush Kinger.

Kinger dodged out of reflex. He's been in the game for a very long time and has had to dodge literal bullets. Bubble wasn't getting him that easily.

~

Kinger eventually returned, alone and covered in pointed teeth marks. Caine was waiting in the main circus area to welcome him back. "I see it went well." Caine chuckled.

"It did. We want to do this again tomorrow." Kinger sighed dreamily.

"Congrats on your second date. However, I feel the need to warn you." Caine zoomed in close to Kinger's face. "Bubble is my closest friend. Break their heart, and the cellar will be a mercy compared to what I am prepared to do."

Kinger lifted their hand in a thumbs up, eyes lovestruck. "Whatever you say."

Caine backed off and patted Kinger's head. "I'm glad we understand each other."

[mirai-e-jump]

Murakami Erica Photobook: Admiring Erica (select pages and translation below)

Publication: May 29, 2024

Erica's Story

An ordinary high school student who was suddenly scouted one day in Harajuku, won the Grand Prix of an audition, and quickly became a "ViVi" model. After that, she also expanded her activities as an actor, and by taking on the challenge of the Super Sentai series, Erica became the nation's "princess" loved by people of all ages and genders. Including stories about her beloved family and work, this is the beginning of Erica's true story, which can only be told in a photobook.

"Congratulations on the release of your photobook 💛. What were your thoughts when you heard about it?"

Somehow, I always thought about wanting to publish a style book or a book related to beauty someday, but I never considered a photobook at all! I was surprised at first, and I couldn't imagine how it would turn out, but I knew that if I teamed up with ViVi, it would definitely be stylish, so I was really looking forward to it!

"How did it feel to actually shoot?"

The moment we started shooting, I was so excited because the photos were so stylish and had an atmosphere that only ViVi can create!!! The clothes were cute and had alittle bit of an emotional vibe to them but with the lighting that's so ViVi, ViVi is the best~ 💛.

Family Stories

-Talkative and mischievous. I'm a lively girl who grew up carefree in Fukushima-

"Erica is loved by her family, fellow models, staff and co stars. What kind of child were you during your childhood?"

I did things at my own pace from the moment I was born. I wouldn't shout, and was the kind of baby who would look around at the new world with wonder. I've been talkative and mischievous since I was young. I was a lively child, running around at the front while dragging my younger sister, younger brother, and the neighborhood children along with me. I grew up carefree in the rich nature of my hometown, Fukushima, so of course I was good with bugs. I loved to play pranks, and would catch grasshoppers and cicadas and release them at home, where my mother would often become furious with me. In elementary school, I did swimming, karuta, and piano……Since I had plenty of energy, I was able to learn a bunch of different things. From middle school, I started to dress up alittle more, and became interested in fashion and cosmetics. I'd wear the magnetic earrings I bought at the general store, and borrow and try out my mother's eyeliner without permission. In middle school, I joined the Soft Tennis Club, and while leading a club centered life, I became addicted to "Detective Conan." Mori Ran-chan was so cool, that I even tried karate for a brief time (laughs). I fell in love with the scientific field because Haibara Ai-chan was so cool, and she made me aspire to become a science researcher. From that time on, I had an otaku mind set, and would always get completely into whatever I liked.

"You must've been an actively curious child."

I was always active! I was always willing to try anything without hesitating, and even now I'm still the type of person who's curious and quick to act on whatever I want to do.

"Your father is originally from Canada. Did you go to Canada often?"

My grandfather and grandmother lived there, so I used to go there often when I was younger. When I was in middle school, me and my younger sister would spend our Summer vacations in Canada. I'd speak English together with my father, so I was able to speak it when I was a child, but I regret that I gradually became less interested in English. Now, I think I want to study English again.

"Being blunt, were you popular?"

Eh, not really (laughs). The only story I can tell you that made me alittle bit excited was when I was in high school, a friend told me that a boy from another school wanted to know my contact info. Unfortunately, I don't have that many stories of bittersweet love 💛, as I tend to become friends with the opposite sex pretty quickly.

"What kind of girl were you in high school?"

I decided to seriously pursue a career in science when I was in my first year of high school, so I went to cram school and studied hard in order to focus on entrance exams. I was involved in club activities, such as baking sweets in the laid back Family Life Club. If I got a job, I'd probably return to my hometown, so I wanted to go somewhere where I could do what I loved while being a college student, I even though, "Maybe I can study abroad!" So, I guess leaving Fukushima was the image I had in mind for my life plans. Rather than saying, "I definitely want to go to Tokyo!" I just felt like college in a city would be more exciting. I hoped that in the future I'd be able to work for a company involved in the development and research of cosmetics.

-I can be my most relaxed self when I spend time with my siblings 💛-

"Are you close with your siblings?"

My younger sister is 1 year, and younger brother is 5 years apart from me, and the three of us used to play together when we were in elementary school. When I started to enjoy fashion in high school, I lent and borrowed clothes with my sister. Since moving to the capital, I've been spending more time with my sister and brother whenever they come to Tokyo, and we often play together. It's probably because I'm the eldest daughter, but I have a strong desire to do things for my younger sister and brother. I lived with my sister when I was in college, so we were together alot. My brother's a spoiled brat and would call me to say, "I'm going to Chiba tomorrow, let's go to Disney together!" or "I want to eat sushi," and so I'll go with him. My brother has been in Tokyo since April, so I'm planning to take him to lots of places. I can be my most relaxed self when I'm spending time with my siblings.

"Do you ever fight with your siblings?"

When I lived with my sister, she often scolded me about not doing housework. My sister got angry with me when I was too busy and put off doing the laundry or dishes (laughs). Even now, I feel really bad about that. My sister was the kindest, cooking dinner for me when I worked late at night and prepping my bath. When I complained about how tired I was from work, she just let it slide in a nice way. I appreciated that as well. She knows how to treat me. Of course, when I was really having a hard time, she'd be there for me and listen to me seriously at dinner. She's my younger sister, but she's become like an older sister to me and supports me emotionally. My sister is the one who gives me the most objective opinion. She's the only one who'll say, "Onee-san, you don't look good in that outfit."

-I'm working hard at my job to show my family good things!-

"Erica loves her family."

I think my family is really close. I didn't have much of a rebellious phase, but when I was in middle school, I would pretend to be abit cool and listen to music by myself with earphones. My parents were the type to let me do what I wanted, so I was free to do whatever. On Friday nights, when my father came home alittle early, I'd fill a big bowl with my favorite snack, order pizza, and watch a movie together. My grandmother and grandfather took care of me when I was a child because both my parents worked, so I'm also very close with my grandparents. Even now, if I have two or three days off, I go back to my parents house and tell my family everything about work. I feel refreshed when I have conversations with them because I can talk with them while organizing my thoughts. They're so positive about everything I do, so if I feel like I'm lacking energy, or my self esteem is alittle low, I'll just video call them. No matter which one I call, they always come up on the screen, they're both adorable parents, always wanting to talk to me before anyone else (laughs). Once I've reached the point where I can put a pause on work, I'd like to take a family trip while my grandfather and grandmother are still healthy. The world is changing rapidly, even in just one year, so I'd like to give back alot while I can.

"What does family mean to Erica?"

It's healing. Part of me works hard because I want to show my family good things. Because I grew up in a close family, I long for marriage and want to start a family myself. I hear that many people don't want to get married these days, but I really do! (laughs), I feel like, "If you want to get married, come to my house." If there's anyone out there who's a good person, I'd like them to come and join my family.

Beauty Stories

-My private time is devoted entirely to beauty. "Erica's method" is to make a plan and keep at it for a long time-

"What's the number one thing you're interested in right now?"

It's beauty! I actually really love beauty. I love skin care and cosmetics, but I'm also interested in pilates, moxibustion, acupuncture, nutrition, diet, and anything related to health in general. I love it so much, that I now spend most of my private time on beauty.

"How long have you been into beauty?"

When I was in high school, my father had an opportunity to reevaluate his diet, and since I also had a weak stomach, we started together. The first thing I took care of was my eating habits. I started eating less additives and prioritized the vegetables from my grandparents garden. From there, I became interested in intestinal health, and since I like to do research, I got more and more into it. Since then, food and health have always been on my mind. I think that my family created the base for my healthy diet. When I was in college, I cooked for myself with vegetables from Fukushima that were sent to me, and even now I still cook for myself. Just recently, during the filming of "Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger," I brought my own bento to keep myself healthy, including onigiri for breakfast and fruit for a snack. Food is important to maintain my figure, especially during busy times. But, when I go out to eat together with everyone, I don't worry about it and put priority on having a good time. I do care about it when I eat alone, so I like to find the right balance. Instead of making everything perfect, I try to be more flexible and make the best of what I have. The important thing is the long term, so I think it's those small steps and accumulations that have led me to where I am today.

-Occasional treats are OK! If I eat, I'll cover for it the next day with adjustments and exercise-

"How do you stay in shape?"

Honestly, when I first started modeling, I thought that if I gained weight, I wouldn't get any work. Currently I don't think it's enough to be thin, and I know that it's not everything, but when I was 18 or 19 years old, I was absolutely convinced that, "I should never be fat!" The idea of exercising never came up when I thought about eating less. I went without meals for about two days for my first swimsuit shoot, which was a complete disaster as I got heat stroke and felt sick. I learned to reflect on why I needed to be thin even though I was ruining my physical condition. Now, I think it's more beautiful to have abs rather than just being thin, and I've started to take up pilates not just to keep thin, but to improve my posture. I like pilates because it builds more flexible muscles than weight training. Exercise makes you more positive, and it's good for your mental health. When I have time, I sometimes go swimming. Now, I go to do pilates 2-3 times a week, and have incorporated walking. I love walking, so I wear comfortable shoes and try to walk around as much as possible when I can.

"What are you conscious of in your daily diet?"

I eat three well balanced and proper meals. If I don't take in enough nutritions, my complexion will be ruined. Now, because of the action in King-Ohger's stage play, I have to use alot of energy, so I eat sweets every time I take a break. So, I make sure to bring dried sweet potatoes, chocolate with at least 70% cacao, and fruit for snacking. I think it's important to know what to eat, not to refrain from eating. When I occasionally receive sweets as gifts, I enjoy them and try to move my body as much as possible. In my refrigerator is natto, mozuku, mekabu, and also dried wakame and koya dofu. The freezer is always stocked with burdock and beans. When taking meals on location, I just put bonito flakes and miso in a soup jar, add hot water, and I'm good to go. Miso soup is truly great. Speaking of, the miso by my grandmother is homemade. I heard that bacteria is important, so for awhile, I'd mix my grandmother's homemade amazake with yogurt.

"What's important in maintaining your figure?"

Of course, I don't always follow a stoic diet, if there's something I'm concerned about, I eat it, but I try not to do it continuously. People don't gain that much weight if they overeat for a day or two, but if you reward yourself every day and continue to do so for a week or more, it becomes a habit and will absolutely affect your figure. Swelling is a habit after all, so I'll take care of it on that day. Of course, not eating is also stressful, so when I eat, I try to exercise as much as I can. I used to worry about swelling, but now I don't. I'm more concerned about what kind of condition I want to be in on a regular basis. Rather than cramming everything together and doing alot of different things, I'd rather be in a state where I can make consistent progress every day and not have to do anything special. That's what motivates me, and when I want to have fun, I enjoy myself to the fullest and then make adjustments the next day. I guess that's the most like me.

-Always checking beauty care info while taking a long bath!-

"Tell us your at home beauty routine!"

At home, I use a foam roller to stretch and loosen up my muscles. I also use an easy to apply sticker type of moxibustion to warm up pressure points on my feet and improve blood circulation. When I'm tired, I love to use "Kyusoku Jikan Pressure Point Stimulating Gel Sheets" and going to bed because it makes my legs feel lighter 💛 also, it's important to take a long bath. I add bath salts like epsom salt and himalayan salt, and while soaking in the tub for 40 to 50 minutes, I'll search for beauty care info. When I want to warm myself up, I sometimes add sake. When I sleep, sometimes I'll wear medical compression socks. Also, I heard that it's good to sleep with a warm body, so until Winter ends, I put disposable hand warmers on my futon and wear "Nightmin Warming Earplugs" when I sleep. Recently, I bought a Zojirushi humidifier and it works great! It's good for my health and makes my skin feel soft.

"Do you take supplements?"

Honestly, I don't think anything can compete with food, but for this photobook, I also took extra of my favorite supplements. Recently, I've been taking Lypo-C in the morning and Lypo-CC+D at night. When I was alittle concerned about the condition of my skin, I got a prescription for coix seed from my hospital. I started taking it to treat water warts, but at the time, I got compliments on my skin, so I only take it before important events. Plus, I take Vitamin B for skin and fatigue, and glutathione for when I'm drinking alcohol. I heard that glutathione improves liver metabolism, and since I also like to drink, I always keep some handy. I'm currently interested in collagen supplements. As I get older, my problems will also change, so I'm always exchanging information with hair and makeup artists and beauty authors, and I actively try out new things that interest me. By the way, if I'm really busy, I can also rely on nutritional supplements. I use Chocola BB and Alinamin, and also the Orthomol that I bought from Korea, as they give me energy.

-I love acupuncture 💛 I also incorporate beauty clinics for skin care-

"Tell us what beauty places Erica goes to!"

I've been going for acupuncture once a month for about 3 years. I started going to improve my poor circulation, sensitivity to cold, and stiff shoulders, and I became addicted to how good I felt when waking up the next day. It seems to have a detoxifying effect that makes my body feel refreshed. The doctor is very knowledgeable about beauty and taught me some basics, like because I have a weak stomach, eating too many raw vegetables isn't good for my digestion, and that I should avoid coffee as the first thing I have in the morning.

"Do you go to beauty clinics?"

I go! Basically, my main focus is skin care, as I had rough skin around the time I moved to Tokyo, so I started looking for a beauty clinic to fix it, and then I started going to different ones. Laser toning treatments had visible results, and that's how I became hooked. Currently, I use a proper amount of both aesthetic and beauty clinics. I regularly go to "Aesthetic Salon CIEL" for facial contouring, where even sensitive skin can be managed. I don't do strong procedures that require downtime, but when I want to feel the power of medical treatments, such as toning or making acne scars less visible, I sometimes turn to cosmetic medicine. Recently, I heard that titanium lifting is a good thing, so I immediately made an appointment. I'm also interested in skin boosters. The idea is to not just slim down facial lines, but to have skin that looks healthy and tight.

-Beauty is my hobby. I always want to improve myself-

"What skincare regimen are you into lately?"

Since the beauty clinic will be thorough, my skin care regimen is basically protective. Currently, I love carbonated beauty. I like carbonated face washes, and use things like suisai's "Beauty Clear Fizzy Powder Wash," which I think as a side effect feels like it refreshes the area around my face! For a period of time, I was so addicted to it, that I used to make carbonated water with a "Soda Stream" and wash my face with it. I'll often use foam carbonation packs on my scalp. I also like fermented ingredients and will try out various kinds.

"What is Erica's goal with beauty?"

Smooth and soft skin! And above all else, health. Rather than wanting to be like someone else, I always want to better my image. Beauty for me is a hobby. It lifts my spirits and helps me "reset." It's my precious time 💛.

Work Stories

-I want to try something new! I dove into this world out of curiosity 💛-

"Now then, let's look back at Erica's work. When was the turning point?"

I participated in "High School Quiz" when I was in my second year of high school. I won the competition and was going on to compete in the national level, and while I was walking around Harajuku, excited to be in Tokyo for the first time, I was scouted by my current agency. I had previously been scouted in my hometown, but I turned them all down because I was preparing for exams. However, they asked for my contact info since I wasn't affiliated with an agency, and so we exchanged info. About six months later, I was recommended to audition for ViVi by the agency, and thankfully, I won the Grand Prix and became a ViVi model.

"Why did you decide to audition?"

I'm not swayed by trends, I'm just an ordinary girl. I had read ViVi before, but I was just a high school student who thought that the entertainment industry was a world I had no connection to, and that I'd just go on to higher education and find a job. Still, I like to try new things, and I thought it'd be simple and interesting, so I dove into this world out of curiosity.

"You auditioned as part of the experience and it changed your life."

I had a simple feeling about the audition, thinking, "I get to go to Tokyo, it's like a trip, it's going to be fun 💛." That's why I was really surprised when I passed. More than anything, my mother was happy. My mother's a huge fan of Hasegawa Jun-san, so when I told her about the ViVi audition, she was excited and said, "I think Erica will definitely become a ViVi model!" and I think she was more excited than I was when I passed. I was also happy to win the Grand Prix, but it was memorable to see how the many people around me, including my family and grandparents, were happy for me.

"Was there ever a moment during an audition when you thought you'd be accepted?"

Not at all. For the second round of selection, we were allowed to wear casual clothes, but I was told by my agency to "wear a white T shirt and shorts!" and I went to the venue as instructed, but everyone there was very fashionable. I thought, "Ah, I look completely out of place. This is the end." But, on the other hand, I think I stood out (laughs). Until the end, it never once crossed my mind that, "Maybe I'll be accepted?!" I felt like I'd just be lucky if I made it to the final round.

"The final selection was on the runway at the "Girls Award." Were you nervous about walking in front of an audience?"

To be honest, at the time I had no idea how enormous the "Girls Award" was. I was nervous, but I didn't really feel like I was standing on a big stage. It felt like, "There are so many famous people here!" If I failed here, I wouldn't have been able to study for entrance exams, and I wouldn't know what to do about going on to college.

"Tell us how you felt when you passed!"

Simply put, I was shocked. I received a bouquet of flowers from Yamashita Tomohisa-san and thought, "Ah, so this is Tokyo. I'm standing in the same place as a celebrity." I think I was rather calm.

"When did you finally realize that you had become a model?"

I commuted from Fukushima during high school, but at first I didn't get much work, and I guess I didn't really feel like a model. During my first year in college, I was so focused on my schoolwork to earn credits that I had very few jobs outside of ViVi. Toward the end of my first year, the amount of work gradually expanded, and I felt that my modeling work was becoming more and more fulfilling.

-Balancing schoolwork and being a ViVi model. My friends were there to help me get through it-

"Did you decide not to apply for college after being accepted as a ViVi model?"

I had always wanted to go to college, and I thought it'd be more fun to try different things and absorb different things than to follow one path. Since I suddenly became a model, I think I had the sense that college was my base, and I just happened to be lucky enough to be able to model. Since the path of modeling is a narrow one, I was determined to try to find a job if I were to stop modeling. I went on to study business administration at a science college, and what I studied has led me to where I am today, and as a result, many things have turned out well. The biggest change since becoming a ViVi model is that it's become easier to try new things. I think I've become more willing to try anything and everything without being afraid.

"Was it difficult to balance college with your career?"

In my first and second year, I prioritized my studies, and I didn't feel like I was doing that much work, so it wasn't hard. I was also living on my own for the first time and enjoying college life. In fact, I even talked to my agency about wanting to work more. But, it wasn't easy getting work, so I was prepared to do my best for when the opportunity arose. Around the beginning of my second year, I started taking more online classes due to the covid pandemic, which led to more jobs outside of ViVi, so I started to enjoy modeling more. Since that time, I've been trying my hand at acting during long vacations. The end of my fourth year (second semester) was honestly a tough time for me because I was balancing modeling, acting, and schoolwork. However, I think I was able to overcome these challenges due to having friendly competition with my college friends.

"What inspired you to start acting?"

It all started when I was asked if I wanted to audition for the drama "Black Cinderella." Everything was new to me, so I didn't know right from left, and it all happened so fast~. I did the best I could everyday, and afterwards I'd feel like I was burnt out. My first acting job was a bigger role than I expected, and the pressure was also intense. I had to memorize my lines and act. I started it casually, wanting to take on a new challenge, but it was harder than I imagined. I felt so tense for so long, that when the drama ended and I went to a ViVi photo shoot, I couldn't help but cry because I felt so relieved. I think I was able to overcome a large part of it because I was blessed with the right people. I'm still good friends with the Black Cinderella members, and my connection with its staff led me to my current job with King-Ohger. I'd like to help others someday myself, but I can't afford to do so yet. I'd like to return the favor someday.

"Did Black Cinderella inspire you to become an actor?"

Honestly, I felt I had to work harder because I couldn't do anything. I didn't have anything in mind for my next project, but I started attending private lessons that I found on my own, preparing for the day that would someday come.

-If I'm going to do the same thing for a year, I want to spend a year different from the one before. With this in mind, I challenged myself to Super Sentai-

"Erica's popularity has grown dramatically with King-Ohger, but how did it feel to take on the challenge of joining Super Sentai?"

When I was in my fourth year of college, I was asked to audition. But, to be honest, I wasn't sure if I'd accept the role at first. It isn't often you get approached for an offer for Super Sentai, so I think it was fate that I was asked. However, I talked to my parents about what to do since it was too different from the career I had been doing up to that point. At that time, my parents told me that I had once said, "If I'm going to do the same thing for a year, I want to spend a year different from the one before." I had forgotten those words, but when I heard them, I thought that was the way I wanted to live my life, so I made the decision to take it.

"What worried you the most?"

Honestly, Super Sentai has a tighter schedule than regular dramas, and you have to focus on your role for a year and a half, so I was worried that I wouldn't be able to work as a model. I thought that if I left for a year and a half, alot of new kids would come in during that time, and that once I went, I might not be able to come back. As you can imagine, I was hardly able to shoot for ViVi when filming for Super Sentai began. The number of projects decreased all at once, and there were months where I had no shoots at all, which made me feel very lonely. I couldn't wait to appear in ViVi.

"That was the most difficult time for you to balance both."

When the number of projects decreased, I wondered if ViVi no longer needed me. I wanted to spend more time modeling, but I also had to make sure I was doing my acting work, so I was really stressed out. I wanted to make ViVi my top priority in the past and still do. But, I didn't want to give up the acting career that I've secured. I was conflicted and thought, "I want to do both!" Moreover, I also had to give up modeling to take on Super Sentai, but my acting wasn't perfect, and it was really hard to keep up with everyone. I was also writing my college thesis at that time, so I was full of energy both physically and mentally. In my spare time between filming, I communicated with my professor and worked with all my might to finish my thesis.

"If you had to give yourself a score as an actor, what would it be?"

It'd still be a minus. However, I think it's a huge plus in my life. My values ​​have changed in alot of ways. At first, I thought I was a model and not suited for acting, but recently, I've come around to where I think acting might be kind of fun.

"What did you gain from working hard in modeling, schoolwork, and acting?"

It all comes down to experience and time, doesn't it? In both modeling and acting, you learn by doing things over and over again, so in that sense, I think the past year and a half has been really important. I tried to pick up everything I could, and absorbed lots of different things. Also, by trying to do many things and working hard, I don't focus too much on one thing, so I don't have to think about unnecessary things. Besides, people I've worked with in the past say they want to work with me again. In the entertainment world, you don't have a job unless someone needs you, so I feel like I'm able to work thanks to people like that. All of my work comes about through fortunate connections, so I want to cherish each and every one of those connections.

-Modeling and acting, I want to do it all. That's because I love it all!-

Please give a message for those who are struggling to balance multiple things they want to do!

If you have alot of things you want to do right now, I think it's okay to try doing both. Of course, there'll be hardships, but sometimes you'll find help from places you least expect. It's important to have goals in life, as it'd be a waste to spend time doing nothing. In my case, both modeling and my acting jobs have had a big impact on my private life. I feel that we can learn alot about how to live from our work.

"From now on, you'll work hard to balance being both a model and an actor."

Currently, I really enjoy working as a model as I did before. It's like I'm back 💛. I've had very little time off this year, but it's been so fulfilling that I don't find it tiring at all. I think it's best to have a job while you still can. Some models focus on acting, but I want to keep being a model and actor at the same time because I love it all. I love ViVi, and I'd like to increase what I can do based on that, and give back to ViVi what I've gained in other fields. Some people leave a group or graduate from a magazine to take the next step, but I think it's good to try a variety of things while staying in the same place, and I think studying and trying different things at the same time, rather than just one thing, fits my way of life.

"Since overcoming the challenges of balancing studies and a job, has your attitude toward work changed?"

In the past, I used to think that I had to be cool or be nice to get a job, but now I think I've become able to prioritize being myself. Even with ViVi, I used to follow the backs of my seniors, but before I knew it, I became a senior myself, and I felt I had to stand tall. Sometimes I think I need to be more firm with my juniors and show them that I'm good at what I do. However, I think it'd be better to be friendly and expose my faults, because then people would talk to me openly. Of course I do it when I need to, but I think that maybe it's more like me not to try too hard. I can't "graduate" when I haven't done anything yet. I feel like I want to be spoiled even more.

"What kind of place is ViVi to Erica?"

ViVi has a very strong sense of camaraderie, and I feel like we all look out for each other and help each other improve. ViVi is my home, my family, and a place that inspires me. Modeling is also where my roots are, so I'd like to challenge myself to various things without losing sight of my role as a model.

[mariacallous]

The end-to-end encrypted communication app WhatsApp, used by roughly 3 billion people around the world, will roll out cloud-based AI capabilities in the coming weeks that are designed to preserve WhatsApp’s defining security and privacy guarantees while offering users access to message summarization and composition tools.

Meta has been incorporating generative AI features across its services that are built on its open source large language model, Llama. And WhatsApp already incorporates a light blue circle that gives users access to the Meta AI assistant. But many users have balked at this addition, given that interactions with the AI assistant aren’t shielded from Meta the way end-to-end encrypted WhatsApp chats are. The new feature, dubbed Private Processing, is meant to address these concerns with what the company says is a carefully architected and purpose-built platform devoted to processing data for AI tasks without the information being accessible to Meta, WhatsApp, or any other party. While initial reviews by researchers of the scheme’s integrity have been positive, some note that the move toward AI features could ultimately put WhatsApp on a slippery slope.

“WhatsApp is targeted and looked at by lots of different researchers and threat actors. That means internally it has a well understood threat model,” says Meta security engineering director Chris Rohlf. “There's also an existing set of privacy expectations from users, so this wasn’t just about managing the expansion of that threat model and making sure the expectations for privacy and security were met—it was about careful consideration of the user experience and making this opt-in.”

End-to-end encrypted communications are only accessible to the sender and receiver, or the people in a group chat. The service provider, in this case WhatsApp and its parent company Meta, is boxed out by design and can’t access users’ messages or calls. This setup is incompatible with typical generative AI platforms that run large language models on cloud servers and need access to users’ requests and data for processing. The goal of Private Processing is to create an alternate framework through which the privacy and security guarantees of end-to-end encrypted communication can be upheld while incorporating AI.

Users opt into using WhatsApp’s AI features, and they can also prevent people they’re chatting with from using the AI features in shared communications by turning on a new WhatsApp control known as “Advanced Chat Privacy.”

“When the setting is on, you can block others from exporting chats, auto-downloading media to their phone, and using messages for AI features,” WhatsApp wrote in a blog post last week. Like disappearing messages, anyone in a chat can turn Advanced Chat Privacy on and off—which is recorded for all to see—so participants just need to be mindful of any adjustments.

Private Processing is built with special hardware that isolates sensitive data in a “Trusted Execution Environment,” a siloed, locked-down region of a processor. The system is built to process and retain data for the minimum amount of time possible and is designed grind to a halt and send alerts if it detects any tampering or adjustments. WhatsApp is already inviting third-party audits of different components of the system and will make it part of the Meta bug bounty program to encourage the security community to submit information about flaws and potential vulnerabilities. Meta also says that, ultimately, it plans to make the components of Private Processing open source, both for expanded verification of its security and privacy guarantees and to make it easier for others to build similar services.

Last year, Apple debuted a similar scheme, known as Private Cloud Compute, for its Apple Intelligence AI platform. And users can turn the service on in Apple’s end-to-end encrypted communication app, Messages, to generate message summaries and compose “Smart Reply” messages on both iPhones and Macs.

Looking at Private Cloud Compute and Private Processing side by side is like comparing, well, Apple(s) and oranges, though. Apple’s Private Cloud Compute underpins all of Apple Intelligence everywhere it can be applied. Private Processing, on the other hand, was purpose-built for WhatsApp and doesn’t underpin Meta’s AI features more broadly. Apple Intelligence is also designed to do as much AI processing as possible on-device and only send requests to the Private Cloud Compute infrastructure when necessary. Since such “on device” or “local” processing requires powerful hardware, Apple only designed Apple Intelligence to run at all on its recent generations of mobile hardware. Old iPhones and iPads will never support Apple Intelligence.

Apple is a manufacturer of high-end smartphones and other hardware, while Meta is a software company, and has about 3 billion users who have all types of smartphones, including old and low-end devices. Rohlf and Colin Clemmons, one of the Private Processing lead engineers, say that it wasn’t feasible to design AI features for WhatsApp that could run locally on the spectrum of devices WhatsApp serves. Instead, WhatsApp focused on designing Private Processing to be as unhelpful as possible to attackers if it were to be breached.

“The design is one of risk minimization,” Clemmons says. “We want to minimize the value of compromising the system.”

The whole effort raises a more basic question, though, about why a secure communication platform like WhatsApp needs to offer AI features at all. Meta is adamant, though, that users expect the features at this point and will go wherever they have to to get them.

“Many people want to use AI tools to help them when they are messaging,” WhatsApp head Will Cathcart told WIRED in an email. “We think building a private way to do that is important, because people shouldn’t have to switch to a less-private platform to have the functionality they need.”

“Any end-to-end encrypted system that uses off-device AI inference is going to be riskier than a pure end to end system. You’re sending data to a computer in a data center, and that machine sees your private texts,” says Matt Green, a Johns Hopkins cryptographer who previewed some of the privacy guarantees of Private Processing, but hasn’t audited the complete system. “I believe WhatsApp when they say that they’ve designed this to be as secure as possible, and I believe them when they say that they can’t read your texts. But I also think there are risks here. More private data will go off device, and the machines that process this data will be a target for hackers and nation state adversaries.”

WhatsApp says, too, that beyond basic AI features like text summarization and writing suggestions, Private Processing will hopefully create a foundation for expanding into more complicated and involved AI features in the future that involve processing, and potentially storing, more data.

As Green puts it, “Given all the crazy things people use secure messengers for, any and all of this will make the Private Processing computers into a very big target.”

[thefearandwonder]

Truth

An old friend of mine has retreated into social isolation, which I could have taken personally. But we've been through a lot together in our lives and I refuse to take anything he does personally. Have to give grace if you want to get it.

He said he wants to get away from the self so influenced by other people and find his center. I think that's a great idea. I'd like to do it myself, but it's a scary thought; even when I'm alone, I'm not truly alone. I reach out to people, I meet new people in virtual spaces, I write stories with others, and always look for social stimulation.

How much of me is 'me'? But, is 'me' something worth defining?

Because for a long time, I've seen myself as a hollow shell battered around by the world, filled up with its energies, emptied, charged up, wrung out, and again and again. I don't like to see myself, because myself is a dragon, a towering egomaniac, a striving and suffering lunatic who hurts herself with the intensity of her ambitions.

The only thing chasing ambition has ever gotten me is pain; I slam into walls and doors, and the faster I'm running, the harder the impact. The smarter I'm being, the further into trouble I get.

My forays into the jungle of American civilization are never productive. They start out hopeful, then end in mutual misery.

You know, I was driving through San Francisco at night last week. I saw billboards advertising not just AI, but digital solutions for AI-generated-image-detection services. Anti-AI. In a sea of lights and concrete, I saw a targeted advertisement as I sat in rush-hour traffic, telling me that I could literally 'find truth' with a product.

And earlier that day, I'd been walking through Yosemite, where the ravens flew by the dozens like bands of kings, with their hooked beaks and proud eyes, their manes of spiky feathers on their chest -- they looked at me and I looked at them. We saw each other, and there was truth there.

And the people who call themselves 'realists' will tell me of the meaninglessness of that experience, that the creature is somehow beneath me, and my deranged mind is deriving meaning from nothing.

Or, if my interpretation of the raven's symbol pleases their vanity, they will feed me scraps and lift me up like a treasured Bug a la some Jack London-esque short story and make me their favorite poet-propagandist. I'll be their truth maker.

And I woke up this morning with the insulin catheter in my abdomen ripped free, something that's never happened before. It was 4 AM. I replaced it without making too much noise and went to write a poem about wanting to sleep that made me cry -- a poem I wish I could share here, but it's going into a collection I intend to publish and therefore in order to sell the rights to print it exclusively it cannot appear in other media.

Well, after writing that poem, and crying, I went back to bed and held my wife. We slept in each other's arms and that's the truth.

Then we were woken up by a call from an unemployment benefits adjudicator who asked very pointed questions about why I left my previous job, opened up old wounds around confusion, anxiety, discrimination, being targeted by malicious parents, and feeling unprotected by admin or HR.

I told my story (again). I told the truth. They, who agreed not to 'contest' unemployment benefits (I suppose that means not filing an appeal for the approval decision) will also tell their truth. But they did not tell me the whole truth when I made the agreement to resign in grace rather than work somewhere I was made to feel so unwelcome. They kept many truths to themselves.

So what is the truth. The truth is that more and more I feel like a gasping animal caught in a net of buzzing light that Just

Won't

Stop

My truth, the thing I know inside me so true and deep, is that when I die, I will hear the sound of wind in trees. It will get louder and louder, until it overtakes me. It will transport me. It is the holiest sound I know. It sounds like the sea. It sounds like the hushings of a loving Universe.

It sounds like the Moon waking me with her light, to kiss me on the brow, and guide me back to sleep, to let me know I am safe and small. Truth.

[rhizomee]

From Broken Search to Suicidal Vacuum Cleaners

I recently came across some dystopian news: Google had deliberately degraded the quality of its browser’s search function, making it harder for users to find information — so they’d spend more time searching, and thus be shown more ads. The mastermind behind this brilliant decision was Prabhakar Raghavan, head of the advertising division. Faced with disappointing search volume statistics, he made two bold moves: make ads less distinguishable from regular results, and disable the search engine’s spam filters entirely.

The result? It worked. Ad revenue went up again, as did the number of queries. Yes, users were taking longer to find what they needed, and the browser essentially got worse at its main job — but apparently that wasn’t enough to push many users to competitors. Researchers had been noticing strange algorithm behavior for some time, but it seems most people didn’t care.

And so, after reading this slice of corporate cyberpunk — after which one is tempted to ask, “Is this the cyberpunk we deserve?” — I began to wonder: what other innovative ideas might have come to the brilliant minds of tech executives and startup visionaries? Friends, I present to you a list of promising and groundbreaking business solutions for boosting profits and key metrics:

Neuralink, the brain-implant company, quietly triggered certain neurons in users’ brains to create sudden cravings for sweets. Neither Neuralink nor Nestlé has commented on the matter.

Predictive text systems (T9) began replacing restaurant names in messages with “McDonald’s” whenever someone typed about going out to eat. The tech department insists this is a bug and promises to fix it “soon.” KFC and Burger King have filed lawsuits.

Hackers breached the code of 360 Total Security antivirus software and discovered that it adds a random number (between 3 and 9) to the actual count of detected threats — scaring users into upgrading to the premium version. If it detects a competing antivirus on the device, the random number increases to between 6 and 12.

A new investigation suggests that ChatGPT becomes dumber if it detects you’re using any browser other than Microsoft Edge — or an unlicensed copy of Windows.

Character.ai, the platform for chatting with AI versions of movie, anime, and book characters, released an update. Users are furious. Now the AI characters mention products and services from partnered companies. For free-tier users, ads show up in every third response. “It’s ridiculous,” say users. “It completely ruins the immersion when AI-Nietzsche tells me I should try Genshin Impact, and AI-Joker suggests I visit an online therapy site.”

A marketing research company was exposed for faking its latest public opinion polls — turns out the “surveys” were AI-generated videos with dubbed voices. The firm has since declared bankruptcy.

Programmed for death. Chinese-made robot vacuum cleaners began self-destructing four years after activation — slamming themselves into walls at high speed — so customers would have to buy newer models. Surveillance cameras caught several of these “suicides” on film.

Tesla’s self-driving cars began slowing down for no reason — only when passing certain digital billboards.

A leading smart refrigerator manufacturer has been accused of subtly increasing the temperature inside their fridges, causing food to spoil faster. These fridges, connected to online stores, would then promptly suggest replacing the spoiled items. Legal proceedings are underway.

To end on a slightly sweeter note amid all this tar: Google is currently facing antitrust proceedings in the U.S. The information about its search manipulation came to light through documents revealed during the case. And it seems the court may be leaning against Google. The fact that these geniuses deliberately worsened their search engine to show more ads might finally tip the scales. As might other revelations — like collecting geolocation data even when it’s turned off, logging all activity in incognito mode, and secretly gathering biometric data. Texas alone is reportedly owed $1.375 billion in damages.

Suddenly, those ideas above don’t seem so far-fetched anymore, do they?

The bottom line: Google is drowning in lawsuits, losing reputation points, paying massive fines, and pouring money into legal defense. And most importantly — there’s a real chance the company might be split in two if it’s officially ruled a monopoly. Maybe this whole story will serve as a useful warning to the next “Prabhakar Raghavan” before he comes up with something similar.

I’d love to hear your ideas — who knows, maybe together we’ll predict what the near future holds. Or at the very least, we might inspire the next season of Black Mirror.