Chronicle comic

A black pyramid!

The joke was as follows:

The year was 2188, and AI was ubiquitous. So much so that even machines that had no particular reason to be given artificial intelligence were being made smarter and smarter. And so it was that Tom Jackson, chair of the US Mint and his top aide Elmer Friedmann found themselves sitting in Jackson's office in the stunned aftermath of a discussion with Coinbot4234, spokesperson for the newly created Coin and Bill Robotic Manufacturer's Union.

Jackson shook his head. "I can't believe it! Robots unionizing!"

Elmer shrugged. "It's been happening all over."

"But here?! In my own department?!"

Elmer wisely said nothing.

"Equal pay? Time off? Parental leave?!!!" Jackson was practically shrieking at this point. Then he sighed and put his head in his hands. "And the worst part is I don't know that it was wrong. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually considering what it said."

Elmer nodded sympathetically.

"The clincher," Jackson continued, "Was that demonstration. Talking about the benefits of AI in the mint, discussing the importance of humanity, all the time churning out coins. It was quite the show. And it got me."

Elmer put his hand on his boss's shoulder. "Well, sir, it did make a lot of cents."