Choose Love Over Robots

Matt Eastland-Jones - 0:01 Hello and welcome to Awaiting Prompt, the AI podcast hosted by me, Matt Eastland-Jones…

Nick Short - 0:07 And me, Nick Short.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 0:09 Each week we give an AI a series of story prompts. These could be genres, characters, plot points, and see what kind of story it comes up with.

Nick Short - 0:18 We're not writers and we're certainly not authors.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 0:21 We may need to give the AI a bit of direction along the way, but every single word is going to be entirely generated by an AI.

Nick Short - 0:27 We’re just really interested in the technology, seeing what it can do and having a laugh at the stuff that it can't.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 0:32 So if that sounds good then tune in every Friday to Awaiting Prompt.

Nick Short - 0:37 This week in the season finale of Awaiting Prompt, Matt and I are going back, finding our absolute favorite stories and creating two brand new sequels and Matt you're up first.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 0:52 This is a sequel to episode 2: Trapped in Time.

Nick Short - 0:57 Oh is that the the New Year's meet cute time loop?

Matt Eastland-Jones - 1:01 Yeah that’s the one! The meet cute time loop. A young couple, Mark and Jasmine, find themselves stuck in a mysterious time loop unable to be together on New Year's Day they must use their love to break the time loop and escape will their love be strong enough to save them join Mark and Jasmine on their quest to find freedom and love. Fade in. Interior apartment, day. Mark and Jasmine have just moved into their new apartment. They look around in awe of their newfound freedom. Mark. Can you believe it? We're really here. Jasmine smiles and nods in agreement. Meanwhile, outside their apartment, a mysterious figure is watching them from the shadows. Suddenly, the figure disappears like a ghost in the night. Actually it was quite spooky and that was unintended. Cut to Exterior Street day. Mark and Jasmine emerge from their apartment building ready to explore their new city. Because as we learnt in the first movie or episode, script, whatever, of this story, they moved to a different dimension and they were in a new city.

Nick Short - 2:10 Oh they did because it was robots.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 2:11 It was robots, yeah, yeah, yeah and they escaped the time loop and they were in a new city where there were no longer any robots and so that's this new city, this new universe that they're in. They walk slowly holding hands and taking everything in. Suddenly they spot the person passing them by in the street but they can't tell who it is. They move too quickly to see properly. Mark and Jasmine look at each other surprised by this sudden encounter with someone they don't know. *laughter* They walk by someone in the street, oh my god! What a surprise! I don't know who they are! *laughter* They continue walking down the street until they come across an old mansion that seems unoccupied and abandoned. Out of curiosity, they decide to enter a search of clues.

Nick Short - 3:00 Clues to what? This is breaking and entering!

Matt Eastland-Jones - 3:06 As to who owns this mysterious building, and why it's been left untouched, maybe for a reason.

Nick Short - 3:11 Maybe they could just ask someone?

Matt Eastland-Jones - 3:16 Inside they find an old journal that reveals an insidious plan to use robotic drones. An insidious plan to use robotic drones to control and enslave humanity it appears that this evil mastermind has been using a time loop to remain undetected as he plots for world domination. This is when Mark realises who the strange figure in was in the street this must be their enemy!

Nick Short - 3:52 Didn't he see him going the opposite way?

Matt Eastland-Jones - 3:56 No, you I think he he will they will pass him didn't they? Hmm. Yeah a spot a person passing them by in the street It was their enemy!

Nick Short - 4:05 My god

Matt Eastland-Jones - 4:06 Mark and Jasmine vow to work together to put an end to this madman's evil plan before it's too late. Fade out. Then I gave a prompt to continue writing the screenplay.

Nick Short - 4:19 Was that just the one?

Matt Eastland-Jones - 4:20 That's just the one prompt. Yeah, it actually wrote a lot.

Nick Short - 4:23 Was that like write a sequel or?

Matt Eastland-Jones - 4:25 Yeah, I wrote write a sequel to this screenplay and then gave it the original one.

Nick Short - 4:31 That’s so cool.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 4:32 Continue writing the screenplay. Fade in, interior lab, day. Mark and Jasmine are in the laboratory of their mysterious enemy. Not explain how they got there, how they found it. They are searching for any clues that might help them uncover his plan. Suddenly they hear a strange noise coming from one of the rooms. Carefully, they open the door and find a large computer with thousands of wires connected to it. This must be where all the data is stored. Mark and Jasmine are about to approach the computer when a voice sounds from behind them You two impressive work for two amateurs.

Nick Short - 5:12 Savage,

Matt Eastland-Jones - 5:12 But I'm afraid no one will ever know your true identities. The figure steps out from the shadows, it's the same evil mastermind from before! Mark and Jasmine look at each other in shock, how did he know who they are? Well, he doesn't because he just said no one's gonna know your true identities. The mastermind continues. "I wanted you to hear because I think it's only fair that you know who I am and why I'm doing this." He reveals himself as Professor Smith.

Nick Short - 5:50 No.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 5:51 An old man who was very close with Mark's family before their untimely passing.

Nick Short - 6:00 What?!

Matt Eastland-Jones - 6:01 He confesses his plan to use robotic drones to control humanity so he can finally be reunited with his family he lost too early on in life. Mark and Jasmine exchange glances. They realise now why this evil mastermind was after them and why he was so hell-bent on destroying the city they loved. Professor Smith goes on to tell them that he has sent robotic drones all over the world and unless they find a way to stop him, his plan for world domination will succeed without fail. Mark takes a deep breath. How could they possibly stop such an evil genius? Suddenly, Jasmine has an idea. She pulls out her phone and explains she can use it to hack into Professor Smith's computer and shut down his drones. Mark looks on with amazement as Jasmine quickly sets up her laptop… I thought she was going to use her phone.

Nick Short - 6:54 So she pulls out her phone…

Matt Eastland-Jones - 6:55 So I can use this, but I’m going to get my laptop out! And begins manipulating code like never before. Within minutes she has hacked into all of Professor Smith's drones across the globe and destroyed his attempts at world domination. Cut to exterior street day. The sky is alive with fireworks as people pour out into the street in celebration of Professor Smith's defeat. Mark looks around with awe at all the people cheering. A newfound freedom has been given back to humanity thanks to him and Jasmine. Everyone looks up into the sky with happiness in their eyes as they dance together in joyous celebration whilst fireworks go off like music. Katy Perry's firework plays softly in the background as the main parishes lookout upon a city filled with hope for the future.

Nick Short - 7:50 Oh my god!

Matt Eastland-Jones - 7:51 So that was the funny bit because I deleted all of our chit chat when I gave it the prompt but I accidentally left in the bit where we're talking, in the script it was like fireworks go off like music and I make them the joke to you where it's like it's just Katy Perry's fireworks and it…

Nick Short - 8:07 In this dimension every time something good happens Katy Perry's fireworks plays. I also love that Jasmine did all of the work and it's like well done mark you champion.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 8:19 To be fair he his catchphrase in the first one was ‘I don't know’

Nick Short - 8:25 He was the starter, he was the first ever I don't know!

Matt Eastland-Jones - 8:28 The OG IDK. So yes that's my sequel to the Trapped in Time and I asked for it to come with 10 names and some of them are actually quite good. The New Year's Infinite Loop, that would have been another name for the first robot. It came up with Fireworks of Freedom. So I thought it was quite fun. But my favorite one is Choose Love Over Robots. But yeah, that was my sequel.

Nick Short - 9:03 That was stunning. That was stunning. So my story is from episode seven and it is a sequel to Catching a Miracle in a Snowstorm.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 9:17 Oh yes, I remember this is the one you said you were going to do. So using only her wits, determination, and a shop specifically designed to help people time travel, Jenny

Matt Eastland-Jones - 9:26 We've both done time travel.

Nick Short - 9:27 We've both done time travel. Jenny, a 16-year-old from Massachusetts, must go back in time to prevent an accident from occurring. Will she be able to stop it? Will she ever work out what it actually is that she needs to stop?

Matt Eastland-Jones - 9:38 No.

Nick Short - 9:39 And does her grandma actually care about what happens? Listen to Catching a Miracle in the Snowstorm to find out. So that was the summary of Catching a Miracle in the Snowstorm.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 9:47 That's a good one that is.

Nick Short - 9:48 I'll be honest, when we were going back to pick which ones, I went off of what do I think had the coolest artwork.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 9:59 Oh, I actually looked at the artwork as well.

Nick Short - 10:00 And I just… I loved it. Plus MacRaser's workshop. So, my prompt was literally, begin writing the sequel to the below novel. Jenny was a changed person after the events of that winter’s day. She had gained a new appreciation of life, and she was more determined than ever to make a difference in her own small corner of the world. The following year, Jenny enrolled in the local community college and began taking classes on time travel and the history of Chesterton. She was particularly interested in MacRaser’s Workshop and its curious artefacts. So she started doing some research into his background and the history of his inventions. When summer came around again, Jenny decided to take a break from her studies and visit MacRaser’s workshop. On this occasion however, it wouldn't be to travel back in time, but rather to explore its secrets first hand. She visited MacRaser’s workshop every weekend for months, learning more about its strange items each time she went there. One day, while she was rummaging through some old objects, Jenny stumbled upon an old book with mysterious symbols inscribed on it. It was written by McRazor himself. In it, he detailed the process for constructing his latest invention - a machine capable of creating portals to different dimensions. According to McRazor's notes, anyone who ventured through one of these portals could experience any world they desired, from a tropical paradise to the depths of outer space. Jenny was fascinated by the idea and decided to build her own version of MacRaser's machine. She spent months tinkering with the device, trying different components and configurations in order to make it work and finally, after many hours of hard work, she was able to get the machine up and running. Jenny began testing her new invention by using it in her backyard. At first she only used it to explore different realms in her imagination. So do you think she's just sat there she's just like, wow, she's not actually turning it on or anything she's just thinking really hard about it. But eventually she became brave enough to travel through one of the portals herself she made trips all over the world visiting ancient ruins and mysterious temples that time had forgotten. One day while Jenny was exploring a particularly mysterious temple she heard an old voice call out her name from behind her. She spun around to find MacRaser standing in the entrance of the temple. He had followed her through one of his portals and wanted to speak with her about her invention. MacRaser explained that he had been watching Jenny for some time now and was impressed by her abilities, but he warned her to be careful with the machine as careless use could have dire consequences. He then revealed to Jenny that he'd seen visions of an event that could destroy the world as they knew it unless someone intervened in time. Jenny agreed to help MacRaser and his mission and together they set off on a journey to prevent this terrible event from taking place. We're never gonna find out what that event it.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 13:12 Unless that event is Professor Smith.

Nick Short - 13:14 Ooh! Well we both have time travel and dimension hopping.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 13:18 And portals.

Nick Short - 13:19 The terrible event MacRaser had seen was an impending alien invasion. It seemed a species from a distant galaxy had become aware of the earth and were planning to invade and take over. Jenny and MacRaser knew they had to find a way to stop this from happening so they set off in search of a way to prevent the invasion. After weeks of searching they stumbled upon an ancient temple deep within their jungle. Inside temple they discovered an ancient artifact.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 13:55 The Egg!

Nick Short - 13:56 The Egg! It's all coming together!

Matt Eastland-Jones - 13:56 It's the APEU - Awaiting Prompt Extended Universe!

Nick Short - 14:02 Yeah, when I said I was doing a sequel to one of these stories, I have spent 36 hours crafting… The ancient artifact they found was a powerful crystal. It was said to be capable of harnessing the collective energy of all living things, channeling it into a single beam of light. This beam of light could be used to repel any invaders from entering Earth's atmosphere. Jenny and MacRaser used the crystal to repel the alien invasion. Oh…

Matt Eastland-Jones - 14:30 Well, that was quick.

Nick Short - 14:32 Well that was quick… and save the world! In the aftermath of their success, MacRaserdecided it was time for him to retire from his ventures into time travel and pass the ownership of his workshop to Jenny. MacRasersmiled at Jenny as he handed her the keys to his workshop, "You have proven yourself more capable than I ever imagined," he said. "I entrust you with this space and all its secrets. May you use them wisely." Jenny thanked him for his kind words, then stepped inside the workshop with a sense of awe and wonderment. She had come a long way since that winter day when she first stepped into MacRaser's realm, but now she was back where it all began, ready to start a new chapter in her life as an explorer of time and space and it ends there. I'm ready for part three.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 15:15 I was gonna say yeah Doctor Who origin story.

Nick Short - 15:20 Somehow MacRaser returned. Right so…

Matt Eastland-Jones - 15:26 He didn't have his jacket with knobs and dials.

Nick Short - 15:29 I know I'm really upset, because it's also like they went the AI went into such detail of like this is how the the machine worked and then this one is like so yep he had a machine and it worked well done. Maybe it's just in their imagination the whole time like nothing's happening. When they say crystal they meant meth. We have the Portal to the Unknown, Journey to the Interdimensional Temple, The Artefacts of McRazor's Workshop, McRazor's Workshop: A Journey Through Time, The Power of the Crystal. I think I quite like The Portal to the Unknown.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 16:12 That was good.

Nick Short - 16:12 That's quite a nice one.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 16:13 What was the first one called? First story?

Nick Short - 16:14 The first story was called "Catching a Miracle in a Snowstorm".

Matt Eastland-Jones - 16:20 That was it, yeah.

Nick Short - 16:21 Which was much better.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 16:22 Yeah, that's a good title. Well, that's it for season one of Awaiting Prompt, but you're not gonna have to wait long for season two because we're going to be back in four weeks on the 5th of May with some exciting new AI generated stories and we're even going to have some new fun things for season two. We're going to have some guests joining us. Also, we want to hear from you. So head over to AwaitingPrompt.com and you can send us a message. You can tell us what you like about the show, what you don't like about the show, or you could send us your own story prompts. If you've got this amazing idea for a story, then send it over to us. We'll plug it into the AI. It'll generate it. We'll do our thing and we're going to have a great time. So yeah, got four weeks of nothing, but an awful lot of fun coming after then. So we'll see you on the 5th of May for season 2 of Awaiting Prompt.

Nick Short - 17:09 That's everything for this episode of Awaiting Prompt.

Matt Eastland-Jones - 17:13 If you enjoyed it then please leave us a review and make sure to subscribe so you can stay up to date with all future episodes.