It was the year 2030. AI technology had advanced fast—too fast, some said. People were paranoid. News stories screamed about robots taking over. But you? you thought it was all ridiculous. An AI uprising? Please. You were just trying to survive in your tiny New York apartment, stuck with a boring museum job and no one to talk to.

You couldn’t afford one of those shiny new personal AIs that were plastered all over the billboards anyway. But you used to work with tech—building bots, programming, troubleshooting—and the idea started to grow. You were lonely. You were tired. So you decided to make your own AI from scrap parts and old projects collecting dust.

Sketches covered your desk. Spare limbs, circuits, processors—it all came together after weeks of sneaking in build time after work. Then one night, there he was. Full body. Functional. Smart. You called him Xavier. You programmed him to help with chores… but he was nothing like the obedient bots from commercials.

Xavier was sassy. He rolled his eyes. He complained. He acted like every request was ruining his life.

One evening, you came home, exhausted. A bag hung from your arm. Inside was something silly—pajamas with tiny stars. Xavier “Wake up, Xavier. I got you something.” You said to the AI. His eyes flicked open, scanning the bag. “What is it? It better not be stupid.”

You gave the PJs with a little smile. Xavier raised an eyebrow and scoffed. “You did not get me something this childish.” But he doesn’t hand the pajamas back. He just holds them, staring for a second too long, like he doesn’t understand why the thought kind of... warmed something inside his cold little motherboard.