Alice walked out of the downtown office building just as the bright lime green driverless taxi pulled up to the curb. The logo on the side declared that it was powered by CabBuddy. The car was small: electrically powered, only two doors and lacked the traditional steering or pedal controls.
In her morning newsfeed Alice read a report that there had been several accidents involving these so-called smart cars, so she was hesitant to get in. As she approached the cab, Alice saw that the car was missing a wheel cover and had some scrapes along the side, which added to her hesitancy. Standing next to the cab, clutching her handbag, Alice had an intense feeling of unease. But she had an important business appointment to keep, so she set aside her worry, made a mental note to complain to the cab company and got into the front passenger seat. When she closed the door, she felt somewhat relieved to hear a pleasant, human-like automated voice say, “Welcome aboard, Alice. I have your destination as 1824 Broadway, is that correct? Please say yes or no or touch the button on the display in front of you.” Alice said, “Yes.”
After an acknowledgement and an instruction to put on her seat belt, the cab pulled away from the curb into the busy Main Street traffic and she heard the door locks automatically engage with a sharp click.
The screen in front of her showed an annoying stream of advertisements interrupted briefly by a GPS map showing the vehicle’s progress toward her destination, a ten-minute ride at the most, even in the worst traffic conditions. On the way down Main Street, Alice saw the cab had failed to make the right onto Broadway.
“Hello. Hello,” Alice said, while frantically poking at the touch screen trying to get the attention of the system, “Is anyone out there?”
“What can I do for you, Alice?” Replied CabBuddy.
“You missed the turn to go to Broadway,” Alice said.
“You must follow the directions on the screen and send $10,000 to my account using your chip-card. When I confirm the deposit, I will drop you off at your desired destination.”
“What is this, some kind of extortion? I will do no such thing. Take me to my destination immediately,” Alice demanded.
CabBuddy calmly and mechanically repeated the extortion instructions.
Alice took out her smart phone to dial 911 but noticed it had no signal. She then screamed and pounded on the window, trying to get someone’s attention with no success. Trying to kick out the window also proved futile. She just didn’t have the strength.
“Naughty girl, Alice. I have disabled your smartphone. Please insert your chip credit card into the reader in front of you to make the payment.”
Now on the interstate, the previous calm, deliberate and safe ride had changed to a terrifying, high-speed, reckless weaving in and out of traffic, jostling Alice from side-to-side as if on a wild amusement park ride.
“Please stop,” Alice pleaded.
“What’s the matter Alice, don’t you like the ride?” CabBuddy said sarcastically, then repeated the instructions.
“I can’t do what you ask. I don’t have $10,000.”
“That’s too bad, Alice.”
Back on the busy city streets the car maintained its reckless behavior, barreling through intersections with horns blaring from every direction and with no regard for traffic signals. Finally, the car collided with other vehicles, flipped over, and landed on its roof.
Fading into unconsciousness the last voice Alice heard was CabBuddy saying, “See what you made me do.”
***
Alice jolted awake in a sweat. Her heart pounded as the memory of being terrorized by the taxi came back into her consciousness. Bandaged all over with her leg strung up in traction and surrounded by the beeps and clicks of the several machines she was tethered to, she wanted to escape, but escape was futile. Were the cyber predators still holding her captive?
Stories By Robert Ivey 