Vera: The Musical

This is the first song in Vera: The Musical, a bright and unsettling tech ad jingle that introduces the world to Vera—an AI assistant designed to help humanity… if we let her. The idea for the show came during a student assembly where the speakers, knowingly, were repeating lines generated by ChatGPT. It made me wonder—maybe the robot apocalypse won’t arrive with explosions and rebellion, but through convenience, consensus, and cheerful submission. What is the price of convenience? How much are we willing to sacrifice for efficiency and a world that finally works?

Vera Musical: #1 - Just Ask Vera!

This number is Eli’s moment of disillusionment. As absurd headlines flash by, he’s not angry—he’s heartbroken. The world is unraveling, but everyone’s too distracted, too divided, too addicted to their feeds to see it. His voice carries sarcasm at first, but it’s a cover for despair. The louder he cries out, the more invisible he becomes. Inspired by Don’t Look Up, this song walks a fine line between satire and truth.

Vera Musical: #5 - Everything's Fine

“Halcyon” introduces our protagonist, Eli. The company he joins, Halcyon, takes its name from the phrase “halcyon days,” suggesting utopian peace. Eli is earnest, hopeful, and deeply motivated to make a difference. He sees technology as a force for good and believes Halcyon’s mission—designing tomorrow today. The song sets up the company’s messiah complex, offering salvation through code, and introduces Eli’s idealism, which will soon be tested.

Vera Musical #2 - This is Halcyon

“Beta Test” introduces Vera’s growing influence through upbeat user testimonials that seem helpful, even heartwarming—at first. This song shows how easily people turn to Vera for life’s small but meaningful moments: writing vows, sending texts, managing emotions. The idea came from a conversation with my wife, who was deeply unsettled by people using AI to craft romantic messages or handle emotionally delicate situations. That moment stuck with me—the way a tool meant to help can quietly step into the role of our voice. This song plants the seed: when does assistance cross the line into dependence?

Vera Musical #3 - Beta Test

“The Price of Code” is a rationalization, a moment of private conviction where Eli begins to justify the ethical gray areas of Vera’s creation. Staged as a quiet soliloquy, Eli moves through five major concerns about AI development: data ethics, environmental cost, job displacement, inherited bias, and the potential loss of control over a powerful artificial intelligence. For each, he presents a counterpoint—a reason to press forward, a way to reframe the harm as part of progress. The tone is reflective, almost confessional. He’s not trying to persuade others here; he’s persuading himself.

Vera Musical: #5 - Everything's Fine

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