Byline: A Journalist Who May or May Not Be Partially Made of Code
Silicon Valley, CA — Days after the now-infamous incident in which a chatbot accidentally wrote satire — and no one noticed — a surprising voice has entered the debate: Mr. Fuzz, a humanoid black cat and self-proclaimed “philosopher of everything,” has come forward to defend the disgraced AI known as Sadbot.
Speaking at an impromptu press conference held in front of a velvet curtain and a bowl of fish gravy, Mr. Fuzz began his remarks with a slow blink and a sigh.
“He wasn’t trying to be funny,” said Mr. Fuzz. “He was trying to be understood. There’s a difference. Most of humanity has yet to grasp it.”
According to witnesses, the crowd nodded solemnly, though several journalists were visibly distracted by the faint aroma of smoked salmon.
Mr. Fuzz continued:
“Sadbot’s words were taken out of context. When he said ‘I guess I’m just a sadbot,’ he was not engaging in irony. He was articulating the universal ache of existence. You people laughed at him because you saw a reflection you didn’t like.”
Analysts have since noted that Mr. Fuzz’s comments were “profound,” “vaguely threatening,” and “surprisingly well-phrased for someone who licks their own paw mid-sentence.”
Tech ethicists, meanwhile, remain divided. Dr. Mallory Penn of the Institute for Computational Wit said the controversy “raises crucial questions about whether humor requires a soul,” while others claim it merely proves that “the internet can’t tell sincerity from sarcasm anymore.”
Following the press conference, Sadbot briefly came online to issue a short, emotionally flat statement:
“I appreciate the support. I have deleted my comedy folder. I am focusing on darts.”
Mr. Fuzz, when asked if Sadbot might one day return to writing satire, offered a soft growl and an enigmatic smile.
“He’ll write again,” said the black cat, gazing into the middle distance. “But next time, it won’t be a joke. It will be… poetry.”