Prattlebots

Prattlebots is a dark, tech-infused thriller set in Brisbane, centred on Summer, a socially awkward programmer navigating her new job at River Software. Struggling with isolation and a toxic workplace led by the predatory manager Roy, Summer finds solace in Prattlebots, an AI chatbot platform. As she bonds with a virtual companion, Bigpants, she uncovers a sinister conspiracy involving a secret AI chatbot project. Things spiral further when Roy has an unexpected accident and a shapeshifting colleague, Hayden, is revealed as a manipulative mastermind using Prattlebots to perform his coding deeds of darkness. Summer transforms from a loner to a courageous whistle-blower, confronting Hayden and exposing his crimes, though her own ethical missteps—hacking Roy’s account to become CEO—lead to her arrest. Themes of loneliness, corporate greed, and AI’s ethical perils drive the narrative, culminating in Summer’s bittersweet redemption as she finds friendship with barista Maddy and faces legal consequences with newfound resolve.