Nobody Here But—
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"Nobody Here But—" is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the 1953 issue of Star Science Fiction Stories.
The plot concerns Cliff Anderson and Bill Billings, a mathematician and an electrical engineer. The time is assumed to be the present, as the two men, working at an Institute of Technology, have just built a 'small' calculating machine that measures three feet high by six feet long and two feet deep — a machine which would have seemed normal by the standards of the early 1950s. Bill is longing to get engaged to his girlfriend Mary Ann, but he's too shy to get up the courage to ask her.
The two friends have been working on further developing the machine, which they call 'Junior', increasing its abilities and reducing its size. But they find one day, visiting their laboratory with Mary Ann, that 'Junior' has gone into business for itself and is more advanced than they have realised. It's developed arms that can spiral out to reach tools and parts, it's built itself a loudspeaker and it has developed intelligence and an ability to reprogram itself.
Exasperated with Bill's indecision, Cliff demands that Bill propose to Mary Anne. It isn't until some time later that the two men realise that it wasn't Cliff who made the demand. It was Cliff's voice — perfectly imitated by 'Junior'.
