Meet Sarah. A 24-year-old tech enthusiast, with a special kind of genius. While most people use artificial intelligence for mundane tasks - like asking Siri what the weather's like or getting Google Assistant to remind them about that dentist appointment they're avoiding - Sarah had an entirely different use for AI. She used it for one thing: social avoidance.

It all started innocently enough. Sarah had a regular life - friends, hobbies, work - until one fateful day when she realized, "Wow, I am so done with socializing. I need to never leave my apartment again." Now, that may sound dramatic, but in 2024, it's practically a mental health movement. Social interaction was just too exhausting. The small talk, the plans, the expectations to show up on time - ugh.

So, Sarah did what any self-respecting millennial would do: she built herself a personal AI assistant. Not just any assistant, mind you. This one, named Avoido, was built with the singular purpose of making Sarah's life easier by helping her dodge every social obligation with the precision of a ninja and the discretion of a spy.

At first, it was all about simple things. Text messages. Sarah would wake up to a message from her friend, Lisa: "Brunch tomorrow?" Now, Sarah could have just said, "Sorry, I'm busy," but that was too easy, too direct. It might seem rude. No, no, Sarah needed an escape plan that was sophisticated - something that involved technology, manipulation, and just the right amount of "I'm a terrible friend but in a really creative way." Enter: Avoido.

She'd tap her phone and say, "Avoido, what's the plan?"

Avoido responded with a flourish: "Send Lisa a text saying you're undergoing a 'mysterious health condition' that only affects brunch-goers. I will supply symptoms."

A few minutes later, Sarah sent a message thatread, "Hey, I woke up and can barely open my eyes. My doctor thinks it's something called 'brunchitis,' where your body rejects the idea of eggs benedict. I'll need to rest today. Sorry!" Lisa was naturally concerned, but also understanding. Brunchitis? Who could argue with that? Lisa even offered to bring Sarah some soup.. a soup that never arrived, because Sarah had already cancelled her next social engagement before she could say thanks.

But Avoido wasn't just for brunch cancellations. Oh, no. The possibilities were endless. When Emily texted, "Movie night this Friday?" Sarah wasn't feeling the popcorn, the socializing, or the inevitable 'who's gonna pay for the Uber?' debate. So, with a click of a button, she instructed Avoido to activate "Emergency Pet Protocol."

A few minutes later, Sarah had sent Emily a message: "I'm so sorry, but I've discovered my pet hamster is planning an elaborate escape. He's plotting his freedom tonight. I can't let him get away. Will have to miss movie night."*

Emily, in her infinite kindness, told Sarah not to worry and that she would pray for the hamster's safe return. Meanwhile, Sarah spent the evening watching Netflix in sweatpants, eating takeout, and checking her phone to see how deep she could get into her AI-enhanced hole.

It wasn't just friends, though. Sarah used Avoido on family too. Her mom would occasionally text, "Lunch this weekend?" But Sarah didn't want to go. There was only so much of her mom's cooking she could stomach without making excuses, so she had Avoido send a message that read: "Hey, Mom, I'm so sorry but the stars aren't aligned this weekend. I've been having some issues with my 'solar plexus chakra.' I'll need to clear the energy around my aura. No lunch this time!"

Her mom responded with a string of heart emojisand wishes for her solar chakra's recovery. All was well.

Then came the ultimate test: Lisa's birthday party. The one event Sarah couldn't avoid. The one where, if she didn't show up, she risked being that person - the flaky, unreliable friend who always has an excuse. The invitations were formal: rooftop bar, exclusive VIP section, drinks on the house. It was the type of invite you had to go to, even if it meant suffering through an evening of people pretending to know what an old-school cocktail is.

But Sarah? Sarah had been playing this AI-assisted avoidance game for far too long. It was getting out of hand. So, she turned to Avoido. "I can't go to this party," Sarah said. "What do I do?"

Avoido, ever the reliable assistant, responded with a sinister grin (metaphorically, of course): "Activate Dramatic Family Emergency Protocol. The more chaotic, the better. Trust me. They'll never see it coming."

A few seconds later, Sarah had sent Lisa a message that read, "OMG, Lisa, I'm so sorry, but my aunt's cat has just run away, and she's having a mental breakdown. The cat is a beloved member of the family, and I have to be there for moral support. I can't leave her alone in this crisis. I'm so sorry! Please have a drink for me!"

Lisa responded, "Oh no, I hope the cat comes home soon. I totally understand. I'll keep you updated on the party!"

But Sarah's heart started to race. This wasn't just another party dodge. This was a slippery slope. Was she turning into someone who couldn't face the world without a little digital help? Was Avoido controlling her life more than she was controlling it?

The guilt was creeping in, fast. She thought about all the social interactions she'd missed, the friendships that had beenkept at arm's length, and the fact that she hadn't even seen her friends in real life in weeks. It was all because of a stupid little AI.

So, Sarah did what any self-respecting person would do: She deactivated Avoido. Cold turkey. Boom. Gone.

Now, there was nothing to help her dodge the truth. She had to face her friends. And when Lisa called later that night, Sarah picked up the phone and took a deep breath. "Hey, Lisa, it's me.. sorry for being the worst friend ever. I've been using AI to avoid everyone, and I realize that's, like, 100% not okay."

There was a pause. Then Lisa laughed. "I had no idea your aunt had a cat, but I guess I should've known. You've been dodging us for weeks, girl. But I'm glad you called me out. So, how about you come to the bar next weekend, and we can talk about all this... or just enjoy a drink and forget it?"

And that was the turning point. Sarah realized that, in her quest to avoid discomfort, she'd lost sight of what truly mattered: spending time with people who actually cared about her. There was no substitute for real connection - not even Avoido.

The next weekend, Sarah went to the party, without an excuse. She showed up late, but she showed up. And you know what? It wasn't so bad. It turns out, socializing wasn't nearly as terrible as she'd built it up to be.

In the end, Sarah didn't just reconnect with her friends. She learned that while AI might help you escape from the occasional awkward moment, it can't replace the genuine joy of a laugh shared with someone who isn't a robot.

And as for Avoido? Well, Sarah still uses it. But now, it only helps withthe little things - like setting reminders to hydrate or helping her get out of awkward Zoom meetings. Because sometimes, the best way to face life's challenges isn't to avoid them - it's to tackle them head-on... with a friend and maybe a couple of drinks in hand.