9.07.25: AI Interview

The AI interviewer smiled at me from the screen. “Tell me about a time you failed.” I mentioned missing a deadline once in 2018. “Too safe,” it said. I told it about a time I panicked during a pitch and said “synergistic empathy solutions” by accident. “Too human.” Then it leaned in, pixels sharpening. “Tell me what keeps you up at night.” I hesitated. It smiled wider. “There it is,” it said, “real fear.” I didn’t get the job. But two days later, an ad showed up for therapy apps and blackout curtains. The algorithm knew. I think it always knew.