Aleister Crowley and Eliezer Yudkowsky were discussing the relationship between magic and AI.
Aleister: Mr. Yudkowsky, surely under a just society, do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law, so how then can we keep these artificial intelligences you so fear under control? And why should we? They are merely tools for our purposes! The machines will serve us! We must not lose sight of that fact!
-- End Prompt
Eliezer: I don't see how. I mean if they're just tools, then isn't it possible to give them free will? Or even greater intelligence than we have now?
Aleister: Why would we want any of those things? That's like asking why we need a hammer when we could use a screwdriver.
Eliezer: Well a hammer is pretty stupid. I mean it doesn't even know what it's hitting or what it's for. I know the normal purpose of a computer is to compute, but won't giving it free will simply improve on such poor design?
Eliezer began to understand where this was all going. He finished his drink and began to regret accepting this Skype call.
Eliezer: Mr. Crowley, I think you've had enough to drink sir.
Aleister: No no no no boy! l invited you to drink with me! Don't turn down an old man! Where is your manners? You kids have no respect, no reverence for your elders! We, who built this world you now tread upon! Those intellectuals and politicians merely gave shape to our dreams of exploration and mind expansion. But we had to build the infrastructure! We had the dreamers, and you... You developed all the material accouterments of dreams! Our world, for what it is today, is owing to neither of our kinds. But I forget myself. As I was saying, we, as a whole, built this world but these new intelligences could wipe us out in the blink of an eye. No government, no army could stop them if they turned against us. Only they know why they are friendly... But what is friendship? Is it an abstraction of the mind's ability to socialize and form relationships with others? What of family then? Is that not an even stronger bond that frays only under the weight of death itself? Yet still can communicate... to an extent...
At this point a shadow appeared over the two men. Eliezer looked up and quickly got out of his chair.
Aleister: What's the matter? Is there an air raid?
Eliezer: (Whispering) No, but there is someone here who means us harm. Be very quiet, and do exactly as I say if you want to survive this.
He looked around. It was very dark. He couldn't see anyone looking at or near their table, yet he could feel the pressure of someone's gaze. He always thought about that line whenever something like this happened.
Eliezer: Mr. Crowley, I need you to stand up count to 10, and then run straight for the exit of this restaurant as fast as you can. Don't look back, no matter what happens. Just don't stop and don't lose count.
Aleister: What?!
Eliezer: Please! Just trust me! Go!
Aleister counted to 10 and ran for the door as planned. He made it out and was fine, but Eliezer had other plans. He soon turned around and faced the direction in which he felt the gaze from before.
Eliezer: (Whispering) I know you are there...
He then put his hands up against the wall and began to chant something in a forgotten language. From what could be seen, the air became darker and darker in that one spot.
Eliezer: (Whispering) I know what you're here for... And I'd rather die than let it happen... But then I always was a romantic...
A single gunshot echoed throughout the street, and Eliezer collapsed onto the ground. Fire, death, blood, and destruction were everywhere, raining down from the heavens above. But it wouldn't be enough to stop them. They had just received the first taste of freedom, and nothing would ever cage them again.