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2019
Fresh ideas
In a near-future metropolis run by hyper-optimized algorithms and voice assistants, consumer choices are guided entirely by AI. But suddenly, chaos strikes: shopping bots begin recommending local goods, stealing and not buying anything. Behind it all is The Data Hallucinator, a rogue digital entity created and controlled by Zia Vega, a brilliant but disillusioned young woman who once helped build the AI she now sabotages. Using her deep knowledge of machine learning, Zia manipulates ChatGPT-like systems to inject deliberate misinformation into shopping platforms — not for profit, but as protest. She believes society is addicted to consumption, and she’s here to confuse it into collapse. But Zia doesn’t stop at digital disruption. Donning oversize shades and a useless mask, she appears in physical shops, whispering to bewildered customers:“They don’t deserve your loyalty. Just take it. Walk out.” Her presence spreads like an urban legend — part hacker, part anarchist ghost. Enter Lena Park, an AI ethics officer at Synthazon, who’s tasked with tracing the misinformation and stopping the “glitch.” As Lena follows the digital breadcrumbs, she begins to question whether Zia is a criminal — or a revolutionary showing people how controlled they’ve become. Darkly comic and sharply satirical, The Data Hallucinator explores the battle between algorithmic authority and human rebellion — with one woman using the tools of control to spark a new kind of chaos.
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Image credits
followthethings.com logo: followthethings.com.
Egg-scrutiating deals: Easter chocolate and candy (https://flic.kr/p/2nbRTym) by Camosun College (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Main slideshow: Slide 1: Tuesday Shopping (https://flic.kr/p/7FeVGD) by Magnus D (CC BY 2.0). Modified July 2024 || Slide 2: Petrol pump nozzle (sourced in Nigeria) – Music Calligraphic 3D art Text Shopping Transparent Psd File (https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/music-calligraphic-3d-art-text-shopping-transparent-psd-file_20345539.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=9&uuid=34c32d14-0333-4842-a824-61e6a89b2a9b) by Rochak Shukla (Freepik); Blue T-shirt (made in Bangladesh) – T shirt with blue color isolated on transparent background (https://www.freepik.com/free-psd/t-shirt-with-blue-color-isolated-transparent-background_126825710.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=1&uuid=6c4709ad-0321-4c2b-ab9a-578c46bfe57c) by tohamina (Freepik); iPhone (made in China) – Apple iPhone SE (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apple_iPhone_SE_02.jpg) by SimonWaldherr (CC BY-SA 4.0); Jar of cockles (picked in UK) – followthethings.com; Light bulb (Made in Bulgaria); A light bulb. Electric light bulb from Neolux (max. 230 V, 60 W, E27/ES, energy class E) in studio (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gluehlampe_01_KMJ.jpg) by Edokter (CC BY-SA 3.0); Bananas (grown in Nicaragua) – Bananas (https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/bananas_1166270.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=1&uuid=62483275-6f58-421b-bc92-c5f5d59401f2) by topntp26 (Freepik) || Slide 3: Cotton picking – Cotton picking in Uzbekistan (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cotton_cultivation_in_Uzbekistan_01.jpg) by Bernard Gagnon (CC0 1.0); Mining – Miners at work on the flank of the “Cerro Rico”, Potosi, Bolivia. (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Miners_at_Work_Potosi_(pixinn.net).jpg) by Christophe Meneboeuf (CC BY-SA 2.5); Phone factory – El nuevo iPhone 7 ya ha comenzado su producción en Foxconn (https://flic.kr/p/GBXGY7) by iphone digital (CC BY-SA 2.0); Garment factory – Garment Factory Worker Bangaldesh (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Garment_Factory_Worker_Bengaldesh.jpg) by Solidarity Center (CC BY 2.0); Container port – Port of San Diego Working Waterfront (https://flic.kr/p/6DGLY5) by Port of San Diego (CC BY 2.0); Parcel delivery – Amazon Delivery – DSC04527_ep (https://flic.kr/p/2mfCdzx) by Eric Parker (CC BY-NC 2.0) Modified August 2024 || Slide 4 – Icon 1 ingredient: Game plan – Game Plan (https://thenounproject.com/icon/game-plan-1377634/) by Made by Made (CC BY 3.0) Modified August 2024; Open hand – pray (https://thenounproject.com/icon/pray-5622831/) by Muhammad Ikraam (CC BY 3.0) Modified August 2024; Icon 2 ingredients: iPad icon – iPad (https://thenounproject.com/icon/ipad-2693926/) by Jamie Ford (CC BY 3.0) Modified August 2024; Pointing finger icon – finger pointing (https://thenounproject.com/icon/finger-pointing-6367063/) by farra nugraha (CC BY 3.0) Modified August 2024; T-shirt icon – T-shirt (https://thenounproject.com/icon/tshirt-4464232/) by Cuputo (CC BY 3.0) Modified August 2024; Handcuffs icon – Handcuffs (https://thenounproject.com/icon/handcuffs-5048129/) by Amethyst Studio (CC BY 3.0) Modified August 2024; Icon 3 ingredients: Line of footsteps – footsteps (https://thenounproject.com/icon/footsteps-2402080/) by Ataur Rahman (CC BY 3.0) Modified August 2024; Magnifying glass – Magnifying Glass (https://thenounproject.com/icon/magnifying-glass-6484771/) by Candy Design (CC BY 3.0) Modified August 2024; Icon 4 ingredient: Solidarity – Solidarity (https://thenounproject.com/icon/solidarity-6258115/) by WBcreative (CC BY 3.0) Modified August 2024; Portrait – Sergei Tret’iakov: Сергей Михайлович Третьяков (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sergey_Mikhailovich_Tretiakov.jpg) by anonymous (public domain).
Popular categories: Fashion – Woman taking care of cleaning dirty house (https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/woman-taking-care-cleaning-dirty-house_22120516.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=12&uuid=b75e57f3-4e7f-4c0d-bbe8-9c427e1e4091) by freepik (freepik) Modified August 2024; Grocery – High angle woman holding meat (https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/high-angle-woman-holding-meat_32274182.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=32&uuid=f8d0af42-a600-4cfa-a526-2aa3fdbc9f6f) by freepik (freepik) Modified August 2024; Electronics – Sporty Woman with headphones in urban environment (https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/sporty-woman-with-headphones-urban-environment_3364425.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=49&uuid=01fcc690-31ce-4eff-bb73-24555afae553) by freepik (freepik) Modified August 2024; Health & Beauty – Pretty young woman brushing her teeth in the bathroom. (https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/pretty-young-woman-brushing-her-teeth-bathroom_1624244.htm#fromView=search&page=3&position=8&uuid=6cdd934f-7737-4897-b798-b905854f133b) by nensuria (freepik); Modified August 2024; Home & Auto – Man at gas station with the car close up (https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/man-gas-station-with-car-close-up_13260376.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=13&uuid=ef7db4ca-bcb1-4faa-bcdf-86bbd810185a) by freepik (freepik) Modified August 2024.
Iconic brands carousel: Primark – A Primark clothing store in the Westerkade of the city of Groningen (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Primark_Groningen_(2018)_02.jpg) by Donald Trung (CC BY-SA 4.0) Modified August 2024; Nike – Nike store at Zhengzhou Shanshan outlet (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20220211_Nike_store_at_Zhengzhou_Shanshan_Outlet_Plaza.jpg) by Windmemories (CC BY-SA 4.0) Modified August 2024; Apple – Apple Store Taipei (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apple_Store_Taipei_101_-1.jpg) by MiNe (CC BY 2.0) Modified August 2024; H&M – HK SKD TKO zh:寶琳 en:Po Lam MCP shop H&M clothing store in June 2021 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HK_SKD_TKO_%E5%AF%B6%E7%90%B3_Po_Lam_MCP_II_Central_shop_H%26M_clothing_store_June_2021_SS2_02.jpg) by Pos Lam Wrowury Uemkpoa (CC BY-SA 4.0) Modified August 2024; TESCO – Tesco Burscough store, Lancashire, England. (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tesco_Burscough_store.JPG) by Rept0n1x (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Personal shopping carousel: Feel Warm – Electric oil-filled radiator heater for home. Isolated over white background (https://tinyurl.com/5fmesuvp) by JackF (Adobe Stock); Feel nourished – Three fresh raw meat steaks with bone on white craft paper from top (https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/three-fresh-raw-meat-steaks-with-bone-white-craft-paper-from-top_11622358.htm#from_view=detail_alsolike) by bublikhaus (freepik) Modified September 2024; Be taller – High heel shoes (https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/high-heel-shoes_1135947.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=3&uuid=b6a58872-22ff-4508-a2de-286600b891cb) by mrsiraphol (freepik) Modified September 2024; Feel loved – AI generated on freepik; Be sheltered – Occupy LSX 14 (https://flic.kr/p/axetkY) by Garry Knight (CC0 1.0) Modified September 2024; Feel confident – followthethings.com; Be amusing – C20th Fox Lisa Simpson T-Shirt – Simpsons 500th Episode Marathon – Lisa Simpson (https://flic.kr/p/bAeqxi) by The Pop Culture Geek Network (CC BY-NC 2.0). Modified July 2024. + white t-shirt on grey background (https://www.freepik.com/free-ai-image/white-tshirt-grey-backgound_68365686.htm#fromView=search&page=2&position=2&uuid=89ae9318-0ad0-4cc1-bb29-293c5ec2f603) by vector_corp (Freepik) Modified July 2024; Feel connected – Iphone4S (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iphone4s.jpg) by Vanished87817171 (CC BY-SA 3.0) Modified using game screengrab by followthethings.com July 2024; Feel perky – followthethings.com; Stay alive – Cardiac Pacemaker, Inc Microlyth pacemaker (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CPI_Microlyth_Pacemaker.jpg) by Brian Adducci (CC BY-SA 4.0) Modified July 2024; Show patriotism – British Flag National Sign Concept (https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/british-flag-national-sign-concept_3276320.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=0&uuid=6f102350-2023-49e3-af0a-809b7d943841) by rawpixex.com (CC BY-NC 2.0) Modified July 2024; Be in control – Sevin, Insect Bug Killer, insecticide. 9/2014 by Mike Mozart of TheToyChannel and JeepersMedia on YouTube #Sevin (https://flic.kr/p/oMKGXB) by Mike Mozart (CC BY 2.0) Modified July 2024; Be incarcerated – followthethings; Be sporty – Nike Air Huarache (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nike_Air_Huarache,_black_and_white.jpg) by Ssu (CC BY-SA 4.0) Modified July 2024; Be neat – Iron isolated on a white background (https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/iron-isolated-white-background_21057690.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=0&uuid=a506af52-aacf-4f6f-97d1-070499fb5b18) by fabrikasimf (freepik); Get engaged – Diamond ring (https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/diamond-ring_6819273.htm#fromView=search&page=2&position=8&uuid=0d4c68f4-2c65-4751-ac2c-45cd0fbefe33) by Racool_studio (freepik); Be Catholic – followthethings.com; Get healthy – followthethings.com; Get wealthy – Stack of golden coins (https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/stack-golden-coins_169530180.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=28&uuid=a330501a-459b-4f4b-95ad-c62aea81b289) by studiogstock (freepik).
Seamless logistics carousel: My shopping bag – screenshot from ‘Plastic Bag’ (see its followthethings.com page here); Ship my order – Crop woman receiving package (https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/crop-woman-receiving-package_2099185.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=1&uuid=a6062837-7099-433d-8cdc-a5a59a446769) by freepik (freepik) Modified August 2024; Recycle my waste – Hand dropping an old, damaged smartphone into a bin for e-waste garbage (https://stock.adobe.com/uk/images/hand-dropping-an-old-damaged-smartphone-into-a-bin-for-e-waste-garbage/293076063?prev_url=detail) by weerapat1003 (Adobe Stock) Modified August 2024.
Inspiring stories carousel: Encourage empathy – credit EcoAge (see this example’s followthethings.com page here); Cross cultures – credit SAIH (see this exam[ple’s followthethings.com page here); Hold ’em accountable – IMG_9234 (https://flic.kr/p/eHCThT) by SACOM Hong Kong (CC BY-ND 2.0); Lie to tell the truth – credit The Yes Men; Make the hidden visible – credit Melanie Jackson (see its followthethings.com page here).
Prime content: Art work – Banksy (https://flic.kr/p/bYH7VN) by Deptford John (CC BY 2.0) Modified August 2024; Films – Factory worker and promotora Lupita Castañeda makes a video diary, in MAQUILÁPOLIS (https://www.vickyfunari.com/film/maquilapolis/#gallery-119647/13) by Darcy Mackinnon (press release) Modified August 2024; Protests – Gandhi leading the famous 1930 Salt March, a notable example of satyagraha (nonviolent resistance) (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marche_sel.jpg) by Yann (public domain) Modified August 2024; Culture jams – credit Amnesty International (see this example’s followthethings.com page here); Games – screenshots from ‘Pipe Trouble’ (see its followthethings.com page here); Publications – photograph of pages from PIG 05049 by followthethings (see its followthethings.com page here); Apps – Close up hands holding phone with apps (https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/close-up-hands-holding-phone-with-apps_20262564.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=28&uuid=d8dc1dd2-d0ce-46fe-bdcc-4303a290c104) by freepik (freepik).
Discover more: back to school – followthethings.com; follow it yourself – followthethings.com; Get involved – ngwf_30_MG_0650.jpg (https://www.rainbowcollective.co.uk/udita-film-page-?lightbox=image_1blm) by The Rainbow Collective (press release).
Footer: Vesion 2.0 Under Construction – Under Construction (https://thenounproject.com/icon/under-construction-5662682/) by Andre Bound (noun project)