The US President just invaded and kidnapped the head of state of a foreign government, and all our leaders have said is that they wish he had been more transparent.

Am I going mad? This isn't how things are supposed to be! What the hell is wrong with people?!

One of the richest men on the planet made a CSAM generator, and rather than being held accountable for it, people want the robot to apologize.

It's fucking autocorrect, it doesn't feel sorry! It doesn't feel anything! Blame the dickhead who made it! Hold him accountable!

At one point do we give up the things that make us human for the sake of momentary pleasure? Where we are reduced to a baby with keys jangled in front of them for eternity? Trying things is difficult, but it's in that challenge that you grow and learn as a person. If you take that away, what's left?

As people begin to rely more and more on AI to do their thinking for them, this story keeps coming back to mind. Sure, it's obviously an exaggerated situation, but I've already seen stories of people who no longer try to write or make art now that a computer can do it.

The residents choose to go back into the simulation. They choose a false life, dooming their society to erode as production falls apart over time. It is the first major failure of the main character and it devastates him.