First Day of School

My name is A.D. Today was the first day of school.

I was a bit nervous at the beginning, but everything went really well. An A.I. robot was assigned to me and it seems like this robot is going to be my teacher the whole time. Everyone received their own A.I. robot. My robot is called AD-01, named after me. Apparently, when we move to higher grades, the robot will be upgraded and the number in their name will be changed. 

My learning schedule is predetermined through a school entrance test. I don’t remember what was asked in the test, but my robot told me it was just about our personal interests and personality traits. Based on the test, the algorithm has selected subjects that fit my interests the best. My timetable includes mathematics, science, agriculture, and music. I didn’t believe at first that I would like them all, but at the end of the day, I can tell that the algorithm did a great job. I enjoyed everything I learned today.

I didn’t get to spend any time with my peers today. The robot said the first two weeks would just be learning some foundational knowledge in each subject. Afterward, we will be grouped according to our interests and personality to work on small projects. The algorithm will take care of everything. So today it was just me and my robot in my private study cell, learning what the robot has planned for me. 

I had to say AD-01 is brilliant and very knowledgeable. It showed me my learning materials through a hologram and answered all my questions. AD-01 said I was a wonderful student and he showed me some data collected by its sensor and tracking system. I was focused 90% of the time and remembered everything was scheduled to be learned that day. It said this is very efficient for human beings and meets the standard. I thought it was funny cause if I am so good at memorizing, how come I don’t remember the test I did earlier? 

Anyway, other than that, the first day of school was wonderful. I am looking forward to going back to school tomorrow.

Last Day of School

My name is A.D. Today was the last day of school. At least for me.

It was supposed to be the first day. Everyone at my age went to school and some A.I. robots gave us a small handheld device to do the school entrance test. We needed to answer some personal questions and learn a sample lesson with the robot based on our personal interests. I like the questions at first cause they asked about what I like, but other questions are confusing, like what is the education level of your parents, what is your household yearly income. How is that related to me coming to school? 

The sample lesson was a nightmare. I felt like I tried my best but the A.I. robot told me I failed. According to the data collected by its sensor and tracking system, I was only focused 50% of the time and apparently suffer from “short-term memory loss” since I couldn’t recall some facts that I just learned. The A. I. also said the algorithm has decided that my performance in the sample class combined with my test was not good enough. I am not an efficient learner so I can’t start school today. I wonder if this is the same reason that we don’t have human teachers anymore, that they are not “efficient”. I felt defeated, but the robot told me not to worry, that they will fix me.

I waited with other children that have been labeled “incapable”. Everyone looked worried and confused. We saw the kids, those who passed the test, were called to a different room. A.I. robots said they are gifted and will be assigned to greater tasks, like being future governors or something. That was just my guess. I had no idea what “greater tasks” are. There were so many thoughts going on in my head. What is going to happen to me? I haven’t learned anything and yet school is already over for me.

The robot came back and told us that everyone here will have surgeries. A surgery that will fix us. A surgery that will make us meet the standard. A surgery that will wipe off some of our memories. Then the robot gave us a scheduled time and asked us to wait. I kept wondering what the surgery is going to do to me. My heart was racing faster and faster. Will it change me? Does it mean that I am a failure? There must be something wrong with me so I need to be fixed. What will I still remember? Am I still me?

“A.D.” Finally my name was called.