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Fiction

Instagram turns 20 on this day in 2030

The ‘photo filtering app’ has changed dramatically — and changed the world around it

Jacob Kastrenakes
Imagine a world without YouTube

It’s easy if you try

Adi Robertson
A strange interstellar object is coming to Earth in this excerpt from The Last AstronautA strange interstellar object is coming to Earth in this excerpt from The Last Astronaut
A starfighter pilot awakens in an unwelcome future in this excerpt from Velocity WeaponA starfighter pilot awakens in an unwelcome future in this excerpt from Velocity Weapon
Dive into a new sci-fi anthology set in the world’s oceansDive into a new sci-fi anthology set in the world’s oceans
Love in the time of video games and DiscordLove in the time of video games and Discord
Xiaomi plans to triple its number of European stores by the end of the yearXiaomi plans to triple its number of European stores by the end of the year
Katherine Cross on moderating online gaming communities and artificial intelligenceKatherine Cross on moderating online gaming communities and artificial intelligence
Better Worlds: a science fiction project about hope
An AI video game moderator goes rogue in “Machine of Loving Grace”

A story from Better Worlds, our science fiction project about hope

Katherine Cross
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A story from Better Worlds, our science fiction project about hope

Elizabeth Bonesteel
Elizabeth Bonesteel on the connecting power of virtual realityElizabeth Bonesteel on the connecting power of virtual reality
Carla Speed McNeil on the pursuit of building a better worldCarla Speed McNeil on the pursuit of building a better world
Skin City

A story from Better Worlds, our science fiction project about hope

Kelly Robson
Kelly Robson on burlesque and privacy in a futuristic TorontoKelly Robson on burlesque and privacy in a futuristic Toronto
A spacecraft carries precious cargo to a new planet in “A Sun Will Always Sing”
Play

A story from Better Worlds, our science fiction project about hope

Karin Lowachee
Karin Lowachee on how humanity can peacefully coexist with AIKarin Lowachee on how humanity can peacefully coexist with AI
Wake Word: A game about the ridiculous future of bad AI

An algorithmic nightmare

Adi Robertson and William Joel
Peter Tieryas on first contact and the importance of empathyPeter Tieryas on first contact and the importance of empathy
Augmented reality helps decode a global hallucination in “The Burn”

A story from Better Worlds, our science fiction project about hope

Peter Tieryas
The god box: an oral history of Avatara

Verge fiction: The Facebook game studio that built an AI god

Adi Robertson
Rivers Solomon on colonialism, the apocalypse, and fascinating fungusRivers Solomon on colonialism, the apocalypse, and fascinating fungus
A trash garden is paradise and prison in Rivers Solomon’s story, “St. Juju”
Play

A story from Better Worlds, our science fiction project about hope

Rivers Solomon
An AI combats hurricane season in “Monsters Come Howling in Their Season”

A story from Better Worlds, our science fiction project about hope

Cadwell Turnbull
Cadwell Turnbull on the implications of a collectively owned AI systemCadwell Turnbull on the implications of a collectively owned AI system
Two engineers try to make an immortal dog in John Scalzi’s “A Model Dog”
Play

A story from Better Worlds, our science fiction project about hope

John Scalzi
John Scalzi on machine learning and remembering our favorite petsJohn Scalzi on machine learning and remembering our favorite pets
Leigh Alexander on finding joy and connection onlineLeigh Alexander on finding joy and connection online
An e-pet reunion takes an unexpected turn in “Online Reunion”

A story from Better Worlds, our science fiction project about hope

Leigh Alexander
An open-source rocket could reshape society in “A Theory of Flight”
Play

A story from Better Worlds, our science fiction project about hope

Justina Ireland
Justina Ireland on how systems create oppression and how to break freeJustina Ireland on how systems create oppression and how to break free
Google Home will play music and sound effects when you read Disney storybooksGoogle Home will play music and sound effects when you read Disney storybooks
Snapchat will debut a longform sci-fi thriller story told in a series of textsSnapchat will debut a longform sci-fi thriller story told in a series of texts
An imagined tale of how Silicon Valley, looking for its next edge, fell for a parasiteAn imagined tale of how Silicon Valley, looking for its next edge, fell for a parasite
A futurist imagines the Earth populated exclusively by the 1 percentA futurist imagines the Earth populated exclusively by the 1 percent
Product launch: a trip to the Taco Bell Space StationProduct launch: a trip to the Taco Bell Space Station
Read an excerpt from Luna author Ian McDonald’s heartbreaking new time-travel romanceRead an excerpt from Luna author Ian McDonald’s heartbreaking new time-travel romance
A prisoner is given a deal he can’t refuse in an excerpt from S.J. Morden’s sci-fi novel One WayA prisoner is given a deal he can’t refuse in an excerpt from S.J. Morden’s sci-fi novel One Way
Read an excerpt from Elizabeth Bear’s next steampunk adventure Stone MadRead an excerpt from Elizabeth Bear’s next steampunk adventure Stone Mad
Aliens watch the rise of humanity in an excerpt from Peter F. Hamilton’s sci-fi novel, SalvationAliens watch the rise of humanity in an excerpt from Peter F. Hamilton’s sci-fi novel, Salvation

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