"What's Expected of Us" is a science fiction short story by American writer Ted Chiang, initially published on 6 July 2005 by Nature.
[3][4][5] A small device, the Predictor, looks like a remote control.
However, it flashes a second before you click on the button—by receiving a signal a second from the future.
The Predictors create a dystopic world by providing evidence that free will is actually a myth—the future is predetermined and fixed.
As a result, people become lethargic and just stop eating entirely.