Sci-fi short story about a woman attempting to contact the first autonomous artificial intelligence (called "the whales") via a headset designed by the intelligences. Generally the problem with communicating with them is that they don't talk but if they do, they communicate by generate seemingly random emotions and ideas in the person wearing the headset. scientists are unsure whether the effect is real, though, or people are just living out their own wishes and blame the AIs for the change.
Sci-fi short story about an utopia where people are generally well cared for and free to do what they want while having to do certain work (mostly social work or work AIs and robots are unable or unsuited to do) if they want more. Organizing takes places by (benevolent) AIs in the form of AI assistants that have the best interests of their users in mind.
Notes:
An engineer/marketer who develops AI companions for a growing community of shut-ins fights the urge to use one himself after his real relationship falls apart.