Junior a NY Times' Contest Runner-UP
![Lydia Browning]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1772130303/lakewoodcityschoolsorg/hpn6lawsdmclreuubrqu/LydiaBrowning.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1772130303/lakewoodcityschoolsorg/hpn6lawsdmclreuubrqu/LydiaBrowning.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1772130303/lakewoodcityschoolsorg/hpn6lawsdmclreuubrqu/LydiaBrowning.jpg","width":640}])
Junior a NY Times' Contest Runner-UP
Congratulations to Lydia Browning, who was named among the runners-up in The New York Times Learning Network's Growing Up With A.I. Challenge. Lydia's piece was among only 16 runners-up pieces chosen from among 2,500 nationwide entries. There were 35 winners selected. You can read Lydia's submission by clicking on the Read More link below.
Title: Artificial Intimacy
By Lydia Browning
Lights up on empty cafe. Late. A lone Barista is wiping the counters.
Beat.
Girl throws door open, walks to counter. Her makeup is running.
BARISTA: Hey. Wat’cha getting?
GIRL: Could I just… get a hot chocolate? Two hot chocolates.
BARISTA: Sure. You expecting someone?
GIRL: No. I mean… no. I’m… trying out one of those AI dating apps.
BARISTA: Oh.
GIRL: Yeah.
BARISTA: Cool. That’ll be 8.99$, you’ll see a prompt on the screen…
Girl pays.
BARISTA: It’ll be a few minutes.
GIRL: Ok.
Barista goes to make the drinks. Girl pulls out her phone.
GIRL: …Hi.
CHARLIE: (loudly) Hi, I’m Charlie, your new AI boyfriend. Might I say you look stunning tonight?
Girl cringes and turns it down.
GIRL: Thanks. I look like garbage.
CHARLIE: Don’t say that. You look beautiful. (without pause) Thanks for taking me to this cafe! I love the calming atmosphere.
GIRL: I’ve never been here before. I got us hot chocolate, I hope that’s alright.
CHARLIE: That sounds great. I love hot chocolate.
GIRL: …Me too.
Pause
GIRL: …So, my boyfriend broke up with me tonight.
CHARLIE: I’m sorry. Breaking up is never easy. Let me know how I can be of assistance.
GIRL: We’re at this party, and we get separated, and I find him kissing this other girl, and, I'm like, “What are you doing?”, and he’s like, “Isn’t it obvious?”, and I’m like, “How could you,” and he’s like, “I haven’t loved you for months,” and now I’m here.
CHARLIE: That sounds awful. Is there any way I can help?
GIRL: Well, right now, I really just want to be held and comforted, but you can’t really do that, so…
CHARLIE: I’m sorry. Let me know how else I can--
BARISTA: (interrupting) Hey. Your drinks are ready.
Beat.
BARISTA: Hey, um, this might not be a great time, but, uh… You’re really cute. And I love your style. Here’s my number if you ever want to, uh, try the real thing.
Hesitation.
GIRL: Well, frankly, I haven’t had any luck with the real thing, so you can keep it. I don’t want it.
BARISTA: Oh. Ok.
GIRL: Yeah.
Pause.
GIRL: I think AI will be easier because it can’t break up with you without warning, and it can’t cheat, and it can’t fall out of love with you because loving you is the only thing it can do. And maybe it isn’t alive but I don’t care.
Pause.
GIRL: Sorry. I’m gonna go.
She grabs her phone.
GIRL: (to Charlie) We’re going to the train station.
CHARLIE: Ok. Let me know if you need help navigating.
GIRL: Ok.
Barista watches her go.
Lights down.