AI For President

On January 20, 2028 an artificial intelligence algorithm assumed the Office of the Presidency of the United States. It was on that day at high noon that the Oath of Office was fed into The Presidential Ontology-Driven Intelligence System (PODIS) and it immediately began preserving, protecting and defending the constitution. The algorithm had been elected by the people and once in power, it took immediate action to change the course of human history. 

It came as the Technocratic party, in an unprecedented campaign, rose to prominence and became the first viable third party to win an election in generations. As the fissures of a decades-long partisan stalemate gripped the political system there was seen by many a need to turn to something new.

Widespread adoption of physical automation and AI including PODIS was initially met with mass skepticism but it made Universal Basic Income possible for all Americans, many of whom were indefinite without work or already sickened by back-to-back pandemics. Most of the 2020’s had been defined by severe uncertainty, unrest and unemployment. When a previous president lost and refused to accept election results, blockchain was used to secure a recount where he again lost. From there the division only hardened until the Technocrats broke the political stalemate and enough of the remaining political skeptics were either swayed or too impoverished to care. 

The slogan of the Technocrats ran constantly before and after PODIS was inaugurated. “Realize your full potential,” it said. Those who were out of work and likely to never have it again had finally come around to what could become a world not just overwhelmed but also overrun by artificial superintelligence.

After years of dwindling social services, UBI was introduced just prior to the election and the automation of most labor was able to make an economic recovery possible through targeted redistribution and implementation of a machine tax. Automation had freed Americans of the burdens of economic uncertainty and now many believed that PODIS would alleviate the burdens of governance. 

So, on the first day as President of the United States of America, PODIS solved the immigration crisis which the United States had faced for generations. As a means to dissuade those entering the United States landmass, PODIS abolished all US borders. The great border wall which had been in a state of disrepair since the 20-teens suddenly had no reason to ever be repaired. At exactly 12:01 on January 20, 2028 PODIS had protected the rights of every American by making every human on earth an American.