The indispensable – you read that right – test engineer.

Or how to follow the No Outburst in the Face of Idiocy rule.

The dearly beloved, firm believers and associated hangers-on were reverently assembled to begin a Teams meeting or, rather, an inquisition.

Amid forced pleasantries, while we captives killed time awaiting latecomers, they appeared. Like viruses. One after the other, after the other: The Swarm. Blackened screens with names, resembling any college lecture, with the students doing their utmost to remain inconspicuous. Except the disembodied names on the screens concealed adults, not camera-shy undergrads. One said Ted’s AI Notetaker. The second said Claire’s AI Notetaker. Then Evan’s. Then Irene’s. And Muhammad’s. Plus Sanjay’s. And Chin’s. Then Dylan’s. Always a Dylan in 2025. We live in accursed times.