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Magic + Loss
The Very, Very Nice Robot

The Very, Very Nice Robot

How AI might kill us with kindness

Virginia Heffernan's avatar
Virginia Heffernan
Mar 07, 2024
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The Very, Very Nice Robot
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Image of people and robot viewing a world map

THE MORRISSEY HAD the right melodrama in his limbs, and his voice was strong and pained. I was at Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan to see a Smiths tribute band. I tried to get Morrissey’s acid yodel in my throat, to sing along. I am human and I need to be loved / just like everybody else does. But it didn’t feel right to copy a copy.

Most tribute bands don’…

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