Repurposed

Aiden Davies pushed against the turnstile at the train station on his way to the community center. He’s a volunteer. He doesn’t work anymore.

He’d once managed logistics for Global Transit, directing millions of packages daily. Now, AI handled it all. It was more efficient, they said. The monthly payment from the Worker Displacement Act—the Corporation Tax as everyone calls it—is a quiet assurance that his life isn’t over. Not financially, anyway.

The center’s main hall was crowded with the Displaced, the Repurposed. Aiden took his place at the support desk. His considerable logistics skills were now applied to sorting donated clothing and scheduling rides for the elderly. His mind, once charting intercontinental freight routes, was now mapping out the best route for Mrs. Petrov’s weekly grocery run.

“Good morning, Aiden,” Mr. Chen said, setting down his toolbox. “Have you seen the news? Another quarter, another dozen bankruptcies. Seems the AI-only model wasn’t quite as efficient as they hoped. Who can afford the products on social income?”

Just before closing, a young woman, impeccably dressed, approached the desk with a tablet in hand.

“Excuse me, Mr. Davies?” she asked, consulting her tablet. “I’m an interface technician for Global Transit. Our primary logistics AI is stuck in a self-correction loop. We need your help. The company would like to offer you a consulting contract.”

Aiden leaned back in his chair, a slow smile spreading across his face.