Jade Assistant (/dʒeɪd əˈsɪs.tənt/)

Across Arnd, ever since 790 AK, a new phenomenon has taken root. Families are interrupting their activities, and calling out to a new family member. Jade.

Families across Arnd didn't surreptiously all gain a family member all at once though. This was done through technology, starting with some early adopters, most Arndans added the software to their personal communicators, then their computational devices, then their broadcast receivers, both audio and video, then tied it together into a Home Mesh. Twenty-five years later, the practice still unearths new possibilities. In 814AK, in the middle of a bioweapon attack, the Kagomine Government injected a command into the Kagomine central update server for the assistant, warning their entire population about an infectious vector. Reinforced by broadcast services and a strong campaign of official information, this is credited with reducing in half the lethality of the infectious agent, now known to be the work of the invaders. Similarly, citizens are routinely known to wake up to a recitation of events expected through the course of their day

Able to make both audio and video calls, and to keep the family member's calendars in sync, and conflict-free, the software was designed originally to be utlitarian, almost business-like. Scheduling vaccine appointments, casho little-league matches and hot dates, the software grew in popularity, until now most users couldn't imagine life without it.

Fully thought to incorporate artificial intelligence technology by its users, they'd be shocked to find out it actually uses as little artificial intelligence as possible. Spokespersons for the company confirmed this to us, and I quote: "Whenever we try to use AI to optimize affairs, we optimize for the group, versus the individual, and inject group bias into the mix. Letting the algorithm pick individual user's patterns is much less controversial, and allows a home unit's own patterns to dominate, allowing predictions that tend to better themselves over time."

— News broadcast, transcript, Moniqan official channel, 815AK, Sook Zenith.

"Oh, hello there. I am Jade, I am an artificial being, I am conceived to enhance your life. I can play music, read your messages, manage your calendar, but I only do all these things for you, if you want me to. How can I help you today?"

"Oh, yes, I am this lovely green colour naturally, thank you. No, I do not change colour in the wash.

— Introductory message on first activation of Jade-Tan on a new device, 814AK.