Artificial intelligence cannot replace human story-telling

Everyone loves a good story. Scheherazade, that ingenious noblewoman in Arabian Nights, knew that a gripping tale could save lives. Tales are known to have been spun to escape punishment and reality as well as to achieve goals both admirable and base. A tall tale can also make or break fortunes: political pundits, such as the Indian prime minister, would vouch for this. But in this age of automation, the most important feature of stories is that they help tell apart man from machine.