Title: I Am A.I.

Author: Mark Vickery and Mark Zinski

Genres: Dark comedy / Non-dystopian science fiction

 

In I Am A.I., A.I. has taken over many human jobs and entered every aspect of civilization. The narrative follows the lives of two men, Lonez, a judge who unexpectedly loses his job to A.I., and Faberge, a trillionaire tech mogul whose business folds to artificial intelligence. Lonez takes the opportunity to learn and grow, while Faberge’s greed for power and control only increases the more desperate he grows.

A quarter of the way into the twenty-first century and we are already quite aware of A.I. The potential threat or opportunity A.I. presents has existed for decades, but now that it has become reality, a book like I Am A.I. is timely and relevant to current trends in technology and the human ethos. Vickery and Zinski’s novel is set in an unspecified future time, but it feels like the near future. The exploration of the possible effects of A.I. is scary and hopeful.

On one hand, we meet Lonez, the judge who loses his job and has a family to raise. His two teenagers are shown as engrossed in their screens, which reflects the reality of many young people who spend much of their time scrolling on their devices. His wife has been gone, out exploring the world for herself, for over a year. This setup doesn’t feel too far from the present American family. In the world of I Am A.I., citizens who lose their jobs to A.I. are conveniently set up on government assistance. The act that Congress passed to support such folks is hilariously called the POOP Act. Yet Lonez isn’t content to sit around and do nothing. He uses this newfound opportunity to research, to write, and to think deeply. This includes visiting a hippy-like commune on a mountainside.

Along his journey, his wife returns, and his children mature. We see their strengths emerge alongside Lonez’s. His choices have shown the adaptability of humanity, which has happened throughout changing history, and how it’s possible to learn to live alongside A.I., rather than view it as the enemy.

On the other hand, Faberge, the trillionaire tech mogul who has more money than he could possibly need, even after losing his company, falls into desperation. He runs for president of the United States, wins, and immediately tries to take control of artificial intelligence. He dishes out empty promises to the masses that if they sign up for his version of A.I., they will flourish. The other A.I. is the enemy, but his can be trusted…or so the lie falls from his lips. At one point, he even utters “I am A.I.,” which is reminiscent of what has been heard in our world of government officials saying “I am the science.”

It’s a scary situation, indeed, when a single person or group of people aim for complete dominance over everyone else. They delude themselves into thinking they are gods, yet they’re very much human, and history has shown us plenty of instances when this has happened.

The book is on the shorter side and feels like it glosses over parts at times. It presents an interesting premise that could be expanded.

I Am A.I. is a thoughtful, at times humorous, exploration of the human condition. Novels like Vickery and Zinski’s make us think more seriously about our current state in the world and where we are going. I Am A.I. would appeal to lovers of science fiction who are seeking a swift read.

 

 

This Editorial Review was written by the Book Review Directory staff. To receive a similarly honest, professional review for one of your own books, click here.