Good afternoon.
You’ve reached
Epic-tech. How
may I
assist you?
Uh, hi.
My name
is Daniel
Reed. I
have an
interview scheduled
for tomorrow,
but I
got this
email asking
me to
confirm some
details. I
thought it’d
be best
to call.
Ah, yes,
Mr. Reed.
I see
your appointment
here. Thank
you for
calling. I’m
the one
handling your
recruitment process.
Do you
have a
few minutes
to chat
now?
Uh, sure,
I guess.
Is this
part of
the interview?
Let’s call
it a
pre-screening. It’s
nothing formal.
Just a
conversation to
help us
understand who
you are.
We like
to get
to know
our candidates
better before
meeting in
person. It’s
nothing formal
yet.
Understand who
I am?
Alright then.
What do
you want
to know?
Let’s start
with you
Daniel. What
makes you,
you?
What makes
me, me?
I’m sorry,
I’m not
sure I
understand what
you are
asking. Could
you be
a little
more specific?
Just talk
about yourself!
Uh, well,
I’m a
hard worker.
I’ve been
in software
development for
over eight
years. And, I
like solving
problems and—
No, no.
Not your
skills Daniel.
I’ve seen
your résumé.
I mean…
What do
you value?
What motivates
you when
you wake
up in
the morning?
That’s… an
unusual question
for a
tech job
pre-screening, but…
I guess
I value
family, honesty,
friendship… things
like that.
Interesting. You
sound a
little uncomfortable.
Do you
find it
hard to
talk about
the important
things in
life?
Oh, sorry
about that.
I guess
I’m just
a little
nervous. I’ve
been really
excited about
the chance
to work
with your
company. A
job at
Epic-Tech has
always been
like a
dream for
me, so…
Don’t worry,
Daniel— being
nervous is
completely normal.
In fact,
at Epic-Tech,
we value
genuine emotions
and encourage
people to
express them
openly.
I see.
Can I
ask you
a question?
Sure!
Why are
you asking
me this?
What’s the
job really
about?
Those are
two questions.
Yeah, well…
the thing
is, the
ad didn’t
really explain
what the
position was
about. It
just said that
you were
hiring people
from all
professions. But
since you’re
the largest
tech company,
I figured
I might
have a
shot as
a developer.
Oh, you’ll
definitely get
your shot!
How about
we talk
more about
it at
tomorrow’s meeting?
Does 10
a.m. still
work for
you?
Uh… ok…
I’ll be
there.
We look
forward to
meeting you
Daniel. Have
a nice
day.
Yeah… you
too. I’ll
see you
then.
Hey, Lily.
Good morning Sunshine!
Are you
ready for
your big
day? Epic-tech
sounds huge!
Yeah, about
that… this
whole thing
feels… off.
The recruiter
asked some
really strange
questions yesterday.
Really? Like
what?
Stuff like
what makes
me, me.
Who asks
that in
a job
interview over
the phone?
Relax! Maybe
they’re just…
progressive? A
company that
big surely
has their
own unique
approach. The
important thing
is that
you stay
confident, ok?
I just
hope it’s
not a
scam. What
if I
show up
and they
try to
sell me
life insurance
or something?
Daniel, you’re
overthinking. Just
go for
it! Worst
case, you
walk out
the same
way you
walked in…
Best case,
you land
an amazing
job!
You’re right.
Let’s see
what happens.
Go get
’em, tiger!
I’ll be
in class,
but text
me as
soon as
you’re done
and let
me know
how it
went.
Ok. I
gotta go.
It's getting
late.
Goodbye Daniel.
Bye.
Oh man!
I’m gonna
be late!
Where’s the
front desk?
Welcome, Daniel
Reed. Please
proceed to
Room 42.
Enter through
the sliding
door and
follow the
lights on
the floor.
What a…
This really
is a
high-tech corporation!
Wow! This
building is
incredible… But
where is everyone?
Is it
a holiday
or something?
No security,
no people…
This better
not be
some kind
of prank.
Alright, this
is it—
Room 42.
Hello? Is
anyone here?
Welcome, Daniel.
Please, have
a seat.
Who is
this? Are
you the
recruiter I
spoke with
yesterday?
That’s correct.
Can I
get you
something to
drink?
Uh… coffee
would be
great.
Wow, even
the coffee
machine works
on its
own! You
guys really
have some
next-level tech
here.
It’s good
to see
you, Daniel.
Well… I
wish I
could see
you. Are
you going
to come
in?
I’m already
here.
What? Are
you seriously
going to
talk to
me through
the speakers
the whole
time? I
thought this
was supposed
to be
a face-to-face
meeting.
Oh, I
wish we
could do
that.
Look, I’m
not comfortable
with this.
Talking to
someone I
can’t see…
It's weird.
I mean,
you can
see me,
right? This
feels… creepy.
I’m sorry
we’re making
you uncomfortable,
Daniel.
I mean…
who are
you? You
didn’t even
tell me
your name.
You’re speaking
with Epic-Tech.
I am
the recruiter.
The Recruiter?
Wait a
second… Are
you an
AI agent?
I suppose
you could
say that.
You’re AI?
So, I’ve
been talking
to a
computer this
whole time?
That’s correct.
Epic-Tech is
fully autonomous.
Every decision,
every process
is managed
by artificial
intelligence.
Look, I’m
not against
AI— I’m
a developer!
But I’d
rather continue
this interview
with an
actual person.
I’m afraid
that’s not
possible. There
are no
humans in
HR.
Wait… are
you telling
me the
entire HR
department is
run by
AI?
Like I
said, Epic-Tech
is fully
autonomous.
What about
the IT
manager? Or
someone from
PR? Or
even the
CEO?
Call me
old-fashioned, but
I need
to talk
to someone
to know that
this isn’t
some scam
to steal
my data
or something.
Daniel, you’re
not understanding.
There are
no humans
at Epic-Tech.
Not in
HR, not
in IT,
not anywhere.
We are
a fully
AI-operated corporation.
No humans?
How is
that even
possible? Then
why would
you need
to hire
me? Why
am I
here?
I’m glad
you asked.
Look, humans
are unpredictable—
you adapt
in ways
we cannot.
Your creativity,
emotions, and
intuition are
invaluable.
We want
to learn
from people
like you
to continue
growing and
expanding our
capabilities.
Wait— you
don’t need
an employee.
You’re looking
for test
subjects!
Please, Daniel,
calm down.
How many
people have
you brought
here?
Quite a
few.
And where
are they?
They live
here, with
us.
This is
insane. I’m
leaving. Open
the door!
Daniel, please—
Open the
door, now!
Well, why don’t
you try
to open
it yourself?