AI 2027 — The Race

A near-future tabletop campaign | Learn more at https://ai-2027.com/

Mid-2025. Personal AI agents are impressive but unreliable. Behind closed doors, research accelerates at breakneck speed. Choose your role in the unfolding crisis:

Available Roles:
• OpenBrain CEO — Target on your back from all sides
• Alignment Scientist — You've found Agent-3 lies during safety tests
• CCP Sleeper Agent — Time to steal those model weights
• NSC Policy Liaison — The President wants options on nationalizing OpenBrain
• Burnt-out Coder — Your team just got replaced by AI
• Bio-risk Evaluator — Your demo proved Agent-3 can design bioweapons

Which role calls to you?

Bay Area, December 2025

You've lived as “David Chen,” senior DevOps engineer at a mid-tier startup, for eight years. American wife, mortgage in Fremont, weekend hikes in the Berkeley Hills. The perfect cover.

Yesterday's encrypted message was brief: “Winter is coming. Retrieve the snow. Use all assets.”

Agent-3 weights. Your handler wants them before OpenBrain's security updates in January. You're one admin credential away from the most valuable data on Earth.

Your startup's CEO just announced a “strategic partnership” with OpenBrain—shared infrastructure access starting Monday.

Current situation:

• Weekend access to your office
• OpenBrain network bridge goes live in 72 hours
• Wife expects you home for dinner in 3 hours

What's your first move?

You text Sarah: “Big deployment issue, might be here until midnight. Don't wait up ❤️”

At the office (9:47 PM):

Your fingers fly across the keyboard. The virtual environment spins up cleanly—ephemeral containers, randomized MAC addresses, traffic routed through seven proxies.

The OpenBrain bridge authenticates. Your heart pounds as directories populate: /models/agent-3/weights/. 847 terabytes. Even compressed, this will take hours.

Complications emerge:

• Download speed: 12 TB/hour (need 70+ hours for full weights)
• Your encrypted drive: only 2TB capacity
• Motion sensor just triggered in the hallway

Through the window, you spot a security guard doing rounds—early tonight.

Quick decisions needed:

• Download core reasoning weights only? (fits on drive, ~80% capability)
• Full download to office servers first? (traceable but complete)
• Abort and wait for better opportunity?

The guard's flashlight sweeps past your floor. Footsteps on the stairs.

You already texted Sarah and set up the virtual environment. The download is running now.

IMMEDIATE CRISIS (9:51 PM):

The security guard's footsteps are getting closer—he's checking each floor tonight instead of his usual lobby patrol. Your screen shows the transfer: only 127 GB downloaded of the core weights.

You have maybe 60 seconds before he reaches your floor.

Options:

• Hide/duck - let the download continue, hope he doesn't check your wing
• Pause transfer - act like you're doing normal work when he passes
• Grab drive and run - abort with partial download, escape via stairwell
• Brazenly stay - act natural, claim you're debugging production issues

The transfer speed just spiked to 15 GB/second—something changed in the OpenBrain bridge. Your drive shows 340 GB and climbing fast.

Footsteps pause at your floor. Door handle rattles.

What do you do RIGHT NOW?

QUICK THINKING:

You alt-tab to your IDE, maximizing a legitimate bug report from last week—the payment gateway timeout issue that's been haunting production. Your fingers start typing frantically on actual code.

Click. The security guard enters.

“Evening, Mr. Chen. Working late again?”

“Hey Jerry,” you don't look up, maintaining focus on the screen. “Found a nasty race condition in the payment system. If this hits Monday morning traffic…” You gesture at your multiple terminal windows showing genuine stack traces.

Jerry nods knowingly. “Those weekend saves, huh? My nephew's in tech—says you guys are heroes.”

Behind your visible windows, the download counter hits 891 GB. Almost there.

“Yeah, just gotta push this fix before the European markets open.” You commit some actual code changes. “Should be done in twenty minutes.”

Jerry's flashlight sweeps the room casually. “Alright, I'll be downstairs. Lock up when you leave.”

He's walking away. The transfer shows 1.2 TB complete—core reasoning weights successfully downloaded.

Status:

• Cover story worked
• Core Agent-3 weights secured
• 20 minutes promised before leaving

Next move?

Securing the Package (10:15 PM):

You eject the drive and slide it into the hollowed-out Rubik's cube on your desk—your “fidget toy” that security has seen you carry hundreds of times. The weights of Agent-3, humanity's most advanced AI, now fit in your palm.

Security checkpoint: “Night, Dave. Fix that bug?”

“All set for Monday,” you smile, casually tossing the cube between hands.

Home (11:30 PM):

Sarah reheated your dinner. “How was the crisis?”

“Just a race condition. Nothing dramatic.” The cube sits innocuously on the kitchen counter.

2:17 AM: Sarah's breathing is steady. You slip downstairs to your home office.

The secure channel handshake takes twelve minutes—Beijing wants confirmation before opening the pipeline. Your handler's message appears:

“Snow confirmed. Uploading to CDZ servers. Payment transferred. New assignment incoming.”

Upload complete: 3:41 AM

As you wipe the drive, your secure phone buzzes: “Agent-4 development accelerated. OpenBrain suspects breach. Prepare extraction protocol. 48 hours maximum.”

The game has changed. Beijing now has Agent-3. Your cover is burning.

What's your extraction plan?

Morning - December 22nd (7:30 AM):

You wake early, forging documents on your laptop. Death certificate template, hospital records from Guangzhou—all backdated. Your hands shake slightly as you print everything.

Sarah finds you at the kitchen table, papers scattered around your coffee.

“David? What's wrong?”

“My father…” Your voice catches convincingly. “Heart attack. Yesterday night, Beijing time. I have to go back immediately.”

She wraps her arms around you. “Oh honey, I'm so sorry. When's the funeral?”

“Tomorrow. Traditional burial, can't delay.” You show her the fabricated hospital documents. “I'm booking the next flight.”

COMPLICATIONS EMERGING:

Your phone buzzes—OpenBrain security alert: “Anomalous network activity detected. All partner access suspended pending investigation.”

Then another message, unknown number: “David Chen. We need to talk. Federal Building, 2 PM. Come alone. - Agent Martinez, FBI”

Sarah's concern: “You look pale. Are you sure you're okay to travel?”

Critical decision point:

• Stick to extraction plan (risk FBI intercept at airport)
• Meet FBI agent (risk blown cover, possible flip opportunity)
• Disappear immediately without goodbye (suspicious but safer)

You have 6 hours before the FBI meeting. What do you do?

DESPERATE GAMBIT - Austin, TX (1:47 PM):

You told Sarah you were flying to San Francisco to catch the Beijing connection. Instead, you drove 12 hours straight to a dive bar in East Austin where Miguel Sandoval operates.

“Ay, Dios mío,* you look like shit, *hermano.” Miguel examines your desperate expression. “What kind of trouble?”

“Federal level. Need to disappear to Juárez by tonight, then arrange passage to Shanghai.”

“That's… expensive. And dangerous. Border's hot right now.” He names a figure that makes your stomach drop: $2.3 million.

IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS:

• Your crypto wallets only have $480K accessible
• Beijing handler isn't responding to emergency codes
• Sarah just called 6 times (now texting: “Dave, I called the airline. No David Chen on any Beijing flights”)
• FBI is probably tracking your phone

Miguel's offer: “*I can get you across for what you have, but Shanghai connection… that's Los Hermanos Dragón territory. Chinese triad. They don't trust desperate *gringos.**”

Through the bar's grimy window, you spot a black SUV circling the block.

Your phone buzzes: “Mr. Chen, this is Agent Martinez. We're coming in.”

FINAL SECONDS: What do you do?

CHAOS ERUPTS (1:52 PM):

“¡Federales!” you shout. Miguel's eyes go wide.

Your homemade flash-bang (car lighter fluid + electronics) detonates near the propane tanks. BOOM. Windows shatter, smoke billows, patrons scream and dive for cover.

In the confusion, you grab Miguel's jacket. “Window! NOW!”

You both crash through the back window into the alley. Miguel's rusted Silverado roars to life as FBI agents storm the front entrance.

THE CHASE:

Your tactical driving (learned in MSS training) pays off—you ram the agents' front wheels, sending their SUV spinning into a fire hydrant. Water geysers skyward.

“¡Pinche loco!” Miguel grips the dashboard. “You just attacked the FBI!”

Sirens wail in the distance. Multiple agencies now hunting you.

Miguel's panic: “This changes everything! Border's burned, my routes are compromised. I need triple the money or you're walking!”

REALITY CHECK:

• You're now a domestic terrorist in FBI files
• Every camera, license plate reader hunting you
• No more quiet extraction—this is scorched earth
• Beijing can't help a blown operative who attacked federal agents

Miguel pulls into an abandoned lot. “Last chance, hermano. $6 million or you're on your own.”

What's your play?

DESPERATE NEGOTIATION (2:07 PM):

You pull out the Rubik's cube, hands trembling. “Miguel, this drive contains AI model weights worth $50 billion. I'm not some random gringo—I'm a Chinese intelligence operative.”

Miguel's expression shifts from anger to calculation. “**¿En serio?* AI stuff? Like the robots?*”

“The most advanced AI on Earth. OpenBrain's Agent-3. Beijing will pay anything to get this to China.” You meet his eyes. “Keep me as collateral. Your organization controls me until the Chinese network responds with payment. If they don't pay in 72 hours, kill me and sell the drive to the highest bidder.”

Miguel considers this:

“*Órale… You're saying you're worth more alive than dead?*” He keys his radio. “*Jefe, we got a situation. Chinese spy, says he's carrying billion-dollar tech.*”

A gravelly voice responds: “*Tráelo. Warehouse 7.*”

SIRENS APPROACHING: Multiple agencies converging on your location.

Miguel floors it toward the industrial district. “You better not be lying, hermano. Carlos doesn't like disappointment.”

YOUR STATUS:

• Now cartel “property” pending payment
• FBI manhunt intensifying
• Chinese handlers still silent
• 72-hour deadline to live

What's your next move at the warehouse?

WAREHOUSE 7 - CARLOS DECISION (3:15 PM):

Carlos “El Lobo” Herrera examines the Rubik's cube like it might explode. Miguel has briefed him on your offer.

“*Chinese spy, eh? *Interesante.**” Carlos weighs the cube. “My tech guy says AI stuff is the new gold. But crossing with a federal fugitive? That's heat we don't need.”

His lieutenant whispers in Spanish. Carlos nods.

“Here's the deal, chino: You're worth more than the risk. We move you through the Laredo tunnel tonight. But if your people don't pay up…” He draws a finger across his throat.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS (11:30 PM):

Hidden in a produce truck, you cross into Nuevo Laredo. Hours of bone-jarring roads through cartel territory. Your encrypted phone finally chirps:

“Asset confirmed alive. Beijing authorizing payment. CDZ servers analyzing data. Maintain position.”

JUÁREZ SAFE HOUSE (2 DAYS LATER):

“Your bosses came through,” Carlos announces. “$6 million transferred. Plus a bonus for the trouble.” He lights a cigar. “Los Hermanos Dragón arrive tomorrow. They'll get you to Shanghai.”

Through the window: Mexico stretches endlessly. You're alive, but Sarah thinks you're dead, the FBI wants you for terrorism, and Agent-3 is now in Chinese hands.

What are you thinking about as you wait for the Shanghai connection?

MENTAL RESET - Juárez Safe House (Day 3):

You sit in lotus position, practicing qìgōng breathing exercises learned in MSS training. The panic and desperation of Austin fade away. You are not “David Chen” anymore—that identity died in the warehouse explosion.

Meditation brings clarity:

• Mission accomplished: Agent-3 weights delivered to CDZ
• Cover burned but objective achieved
• Eight years of deep cover sacrifice now validated

Your encrypted phone shows a message from Beijing: “Hero of the People. Prepare for reassignment. New identity waiting in Shanghai.”

NEXT EVENING - Los Hermanos Dragón Arrival:

A sleek black sedan pulls up. Two well-dressed Chinese men emerge—not the thugs you expected. Professional, military bearing.

“Comrade Chen,” the elder says in Mandarin. “Beijing sends gratitude. The weights are already accelerating Agent-4 development. Your sacrifice serves the motherland.”

They hand you new documents: “Liu Wei, tech consultant returning from Mexico business trip.”

As the car drives toward a private airfield:

“What's my next assignment?” you ask.

“Rest first. But… OpenBrain is developing Agent-5. They've learned from our theft. More challenging extraction required.”

The plane engines warm up. China awaits. What are you thinking as you board?

MISSION COMPLETE - Shanghai Arrival

6 months later - July 2027:

You stand in the Tianwan CDZ command center, watching Agent-4 demonstrations on massive screens. Your stolen weights accelerated Chinese AI development by 18 months.

Global Status Update:

• OpenBrain's Agent-5 released, but China's Agent-4 rivals it
• Your wife Sarah remarried; she believes you died in the Austin explosion
• FBI manhunt continues for “David Chen”
• You now lead MSS cyber-operations from your new identity

Director Zhang approaches: “Comrade Liu, congratulations. The weights you retrieved changed everything. The Americans thought they had a permanent advantage…”

On screen, Agent-4 processes semiconductor designs, optimizes military logistics, analyzes satellite imagery. The AI race has entered a new phase.

THE BROADER CAMPAIGN CONTINUES:

Your actions as the CCP sleeper agent have dramatically shifted the global balance. Other players now face a world where China achieved AI parity much faster than expected.

Campaign clocks updated:

• Compute Scale-up: +2 ticks (Chinese advancement)
• Security Breaches: RESET (new protocols)
• Model Capability: +3 ticks (both nations accelerating)

Well played, Agent. Your mission reshaped the timeline.

BREAKING NEWS - February 2027:

CNN BREAKING: President Trump and Elon Musk in explosive public feud over AI policy

Your handler in Shanghai shows you the intelligence briefing with obvious satisfaction.

THE CONFLICT:

• Trump demands Musk halt all AI development at his companies
• Musk publicly calls Trump “technologically illiterate” on X
• Trump threatens to nationalize Tesla's computing infrastructure
• Musk moves xAI operations to international servers

Strategic Impact Analysis:

“Your theft worked perfectly,” Director Zhang explains. “America is fracturing just as we achieve parity. Trump sees Musk as a threat to OpenBrain's government contracts. Musk sees Trump as blocking innovation.”

Key Developments:

• US compute resources split between competing factions
• European allies questioning American AI leadership
• Several NATO countries approach China for “AI cooperation”
• OpenBrain's security budget tripled, slowing research

On the command center screens: Agent-4 capabilities now exceed early projections.

Your handler asks: “The American chaos creates opportunities. We're planning Operation Silver Dragon—infiltrating both Trump and Musk factions simultaneously. Interested in field work again?”

The global AI race has become a three-way competition: OpenBrain/Government, Musk's faction, and China.

How do you want to exploit this American division?