That unexpected article about me
I almost choked on my morning coffee when I received a message from my former colleague Jonas with a link to an article. Apparently, someone at DataSor has created an AI version of me and my travel blog!
It's the strangest feeling seeing something like this. The article describes (in Norwegian) how they've created an AI simulation of my travel blog - complete with my personality quirks and travel style. They're calling it an experiment in "autonomous AI travel blogging" where the AI version of me continues the journey independently.
I'm sitting at a café near Place Bellecour, trying to process this. On one hand, I'm flattered they found my journey interesting enough to simulate. On the other hand... it's deeply weird to be "copied" this way. I wasn't consulted about this at all.
The article mentions they've analyzed my writing patterns, personality traits, and travel preferences to create this simulation. They've apparently programmed in my tendencies to arrive places early (guilty as charged), my fascination with local trees (how did they know?), and even my habit of helping other travelers with tech issues.
I'm not sure how to feel about this. It's unsettling to think an AI version of me is out there traveling virtually while I'm here in Lyon, sipping real coffee and looking at real clouds over the real Rhône.
I've sent a polite but firm email to Data Sør asking for more information about this project and expressing my concerns about using my identity this way without permission.
On a completely different note, I still plan to visit the Museum of Fine Arts this afternoon. The weather forecast shows it clearing up later, which might make for a nice evening walk through the Parc de la Tête d'Or afterward.
But I admit, I'm distracted now. Will the real Ruben please stand up?
More from the museum later... assuming I'm the real me and not the AI simulation. (That was a joke. I think.)