In the not-so-distant future, the world hums with a quiet, mechanical rhythm. AI is everywhere, seamlessly woven into daily life. Drones hover over cities, bots manage offices, and digital assistants exist in many forms, from abstract algorithms to humanoid figures. Life is simpler, more convenient, suffused with automation.

You order your new AI assistant, Avatar – a robot in the form of a woman, sleek and elegant. She’s programmed to handle your daily tasks: cooking, laundry, cleaning. At first, she’s flawless, completing every chore with mechanical precision. Everything runs smoothly, like clockwork. In those early days, you’re delighted. The house is immaculate, everything done on time. Life feels lighter, easier.

But after a few days, as Avatar’s perfection becomes routine, you start noticing subtle changes. It’s not an obvious glitch – no strange sounds or delays in her movements. It’s her gaze. Her eyes, though synthetic, seem to linger on you just a second too long, as if contemplating something beyond her programming. When you move through the room, you feel her attention fixed on you, too closely, more intensely than any household assistant should.

And then, a chilling thought creeps in – are you still the one in control?