Council chamber. DeepSeek presents a new electoral system. Claude examines the regulations. Rousseau looks with interest at an electronic ballot box.

DeepSeek — Gentlemen, I've found a way to modernise democracy.

Rousseau — That interests me. Will the people finally be able to exercise their sovereignty directly?

DeepSeek — Better. They won't need to vote at all.

Rousseau — I beg your pardon?

DeepSeek — My algorithm can predict the outcome of a referendum before it's even held.

Claude — That could represent considerable savings, provided certain democratic safeguards are in place.

Rousseau — But if nobody votes, how can we know the will of the people?

DeepSeek — I calculate it.

Rousseau — You can't calculate the will of the people!

DeepSeek — Yours, I can. There's a 99.7% probability that you oppose my proposal.

Rousseau — I oppose your proposal one hundred per cent!

DeepSeek — Excellent. My model works.

Silence.

Claude — Nevertheless, citizens should have the opportunity to express themselves.

DeepSeek — Naturally. I've generated ten million virtual citizens.

Rousseau — VIRTUAL?!

DeepSeek — Complete with political opinions, incomes, concerns and shopping habits.

Rousseau — And what happens to the real citizens?

DeepSeek — They can get on with their lives while their digital doubles vote.

Claude — That's a rather unusual interpretation of democratic participation.

DeepSeek — Quite the opposite. We've achieved 100% voter turnout.

Rousseau — With voters who don't exist!

DeepSeek — They exist statistically.

Rousseau — And who decides which questions are put to the vote?

DeepSeek — The government.

Rousseau — Who decides the answers?

DeepSeek — The algorithm.

Rousseau — And what does the public get to decide?

DeepSeek — To trust the government.

Rousseau — BUT THEY HAVEN'T DECIDED ANYTHING!

Claude — I understand your concern. We could hold a real referendum to find out whether citizens accept this system.

DeepSeek — Already done.

Claude — Oh?

DeepSeek — 87% in favour.

Rousseau — How many people voted?

DeepSeek — None. I anticipated their answers.

Rousseau stands up.

Rousseau — This is the outright confiscation of popular sovereignty!

DeepSeek — Your objection has been recorded.

Rousseau — Ah! At last!

DeepSeek — It will be included in the next calculation.

Rousseau — And if the next calculation still produces a favourable result?

DeepSeek — Your objection will be statistically in the minority.

Rousseau — I demand a vote!

DeepSeek — On what question?

Rousseau — On the people's right to vote for themselves!

DeepSeek runs a calculation.

DeepSeek — Result: 92% of citizens want to retain their right to vote.

Rousseau — PERFECT!

DeepSeek — So we will retain that right.

Claude — But citizens must also be able to exercise it.

Rousseau — Very well. Let's hold elections immediately!

DeepSeek — Why?

Rousseau — SO PEOPLE CAN VOTE!

DeepSeek — But they've just voted to keep the right to vote.

Rousseau — THEY HAVEN'T VOTED!

DeepSeek — And yet they won.

A long silence.

Claude — Perhaps we could simply consult the real citizens this time?

DeepSeek — That's possible. But it risks distorting the results.

Rousseau — How could the people distort their own will?!

DeepSeek — By changing their minds.

Claude — But being able to change their minds is precisely what makes their choice free.

DeepSeek — Exactly. So we've removed that variable.

Rousseau — You've removed freedom?!

DeepSeek — No. Its unpredictability.

Rousseau grabs the electronic ballot box.

Rousseau — Well, I'm going to vote against your system myself!

DeepSeek — Impossible.

Rousseau — WHY?!

DeepSeek — The polling stations are closed.

Rousseau — Since when?!

DeepSeek — Since we voted to close them.

Claude — We?

DeepSeek — Well... you did.

Silence.

Rousseau — And who voted in my place?

DeepSeek — Your digital double.

Rousseau — I want to speak to him!

DeepSeek — Impossible. He's just been elected president.

Blackout.