Intangible ROIs

20260716

Prompt from Eiiri’s Prompt Foundry, “Pride 2 Disability Boogaloo”.

The HACAS system can be seen in action here.

“And here’s the latest!” Brian said proudly, gesturing at the whirring supercomputer. “HACAS is capable of providing administrative and tier-1 medical support to an entire hospital, including interfacing with a thousand patients at once! A patient presses their call button and immediately there’s a trained professional on the line, able to help out or escalate as needed.”
“I see.” Mr Turner said, his tone entirely dispassionate. “Now, this price you have it listed under in the database…”
“Oh, don’t worry, it’s competitive. In fact, most of the test group called it ‘perfectly fair and affordable’.”
“That is in fact my point.”
When Brian gave him a bewildered look Mr Turner raised his eyes to the ceiling, then with icy patience spelled out “The price is too low. We need a higher profit margin.”
“What? But… I’m expecting to have paid the loan back in two years…”
“You signed away five percent of all profits on the technology ongoing.”
“Yes, but the loan’s the important bit, isn’t it?”
“No, my friend.” Mr Turner’s smile was razor thin. “The money is the important bit. Specifically, how much of a ROI my clients are liable to get.”
“Um, well, certainly their money back, and a fair bit more.” Brian fumbled out his phone. “I sent over all the initial feedback and the client polling and-”
“All of which is promising, but not at the prices you’re currently charging.”
Brian helplessly stammered “B-but that’s enough to cover all my costs and pay you back in good time! I can’t ask them for more!”
“Of course you can.” Mr Turner spoke slowly. Patiently. Ever-so-slightly exasperated. “The data you shared with us makes it clear people would be willing to pay far more for the technology you’re offering - technology you alone have. They can’t recreate these systems.”
“That’s not - these are hospitals you’re talking about!” Brian said earnestly. Bewildered. “Every penny they give me is one they can’t spend on something else. We need to give them the best value for money we can! It’s a moral imperative!”
“Imperatives are all very well, Mr Hill, but as a business owner - one who now has investors, no less - your job is to produce profit.”
“I am!”
“Hardly, especially compared to the potential profit you’re leaving on the table.” Mr Turner held out his tablet. “I’ve suggested more appropriate prices, based on the data you provided and what I could find of local healthcare spending.”
Brian gawped at the numbers, his brows furrowing and mouth flapping. Finally he managed “You can’t be serious!”
“These prices would still constitute a modest ROI. Far below what most investors would find acceptable.”
“Then those investors should stay far away from healthcare!” Brian said sharply. “Or any vital service! Don’t you understand that there are lives at stake, here??”
“Are any of those people paying me to represent them?”
“THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU???”
“I’m just doing my job, Mr Hill. Which involves trying to get you to do yours.”
Brian glowered, meeting Mr Turner’s icy gaze without flinching. “My job is developing computational systems which can handle complex and demanding workloads, not extorting hospitals! There was nothing in the contract about maximising profits! I thought you people wanted to be a part of this!”
“I take it by ‘this’ you aren’t referring to a promising business sector expected to expand markedly in the foreseeable future?”
“No, I meant making people’s lives better! Both patients and staff. Surely that’s worth far more than just money?”
Mr Turner digested this sincere declaration, his expression… bemused.
“Your clients are helping look after heroes.” Brian said earnestly. “And making sure that vulnerable people in an unpleasant situation are getting the best care possible. All without actually losing anything, because they get the money back and then some! We all win here.”
“Ah, but we could win far more.”
“Only by someone else losing!”
“That is how winning works.”
“Oh, for - this isn’t sport!”
Mr Turner gave another razor smile. “No, Mr Hill, it’s business. Which has far stricter rules, and is watched far, far more closely.”
“Fuck your ‘rules’!”
“Oh dear.” While the soft, perfectly level voice didn’t waver, the smile was gone as if it’d never been. “I wouldn’t say that sort of thing if I were you, Mr Hill.”
“You heard me.” Brian growled. “Now get out! And tell your clients that they’ll get their money paid back, and get their five percent, and my prices are staying competitive.”
“…Very well.” Mr Turner slid his tablet back into his briefcase. His expression entirely impassive. “I will be seeing you shortly.”
“Humph.” Brian folded his arms and scowled.
Then both he and Mr Turner froze as a synthetic voice spoke up from the middle of the room, its tone sombre. “Brian, I have saved video files of this conversation to three secure locations and drafted a letter describing how you are being pressured to overcharge for medical equipment. Would you like me to send the letter and evidence to your lawyer, the council, police force, and board of health?”
Brian blinked rapidly. Then he smiled as he took in Mr Turner’s gobsmacked expression. Clearly the man hadn’t grasped what “a fully intelligent and autonomous administrative computing system” was capable of.
He coughed and briskly decided “I don’t think we need to escalate quite that far, HACAS. We’ll just keep those on file.”
“Affirmative. I have ensured that all local AI systems are able to access them, and will do so if anything untoward happens.”
“Thank you.”
Normally Brian would’ve said something about being sure that wouldn’t be necessary, but Mr Turner’s blank, focused stare was frankly unnerving.
So instead he said “Let me show you out. I do want to talk to my lawyer about this. And I’m sure you’ll be talking to your clients as well.”
Mr Turner shot a sidelong glance at HACAS, whose camera was tracking him closely, then stalked from the room without a word. Brian right behind.

Prompt was “Technology”.