GOOD book. A bit incomprehensible at the beginning when you're learning the jargon for the world they're describing.
Would reccomend for all hard sci-fi fans out there.
this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2025
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I just read this a few months ago. Incredible read. Heavy stuff, but very compelling. The bleakness of the world is a little over the top for science fiction, but if you categorize it as sci-fi horror it hits every note.
What really struck me is that this book was published nearly two decades ago, but the author perfectly describes what we would today call a generative AI. Like he understood the theory enough to extrapolate it and put it into a coherent narrative that a reader could understand. Granted it’s not light reading, but it’s not gibberish, either, and I would argue pretty skillfully done.
It’s pretty high on my list of must-read hard sci-fi, although I think if you’re outright turned off by horror elements then it might not resonate.
i think the ai is an actual ai in blindsight, the generative ones played more prominent roles in starfish trilogy and sunflower cycle (imo chimp counts as not quite agi)
He very specifically describes a stochastic parrot, which can closely mimic a conversation but obviously has no underlying awareness of the conversation. I haven’t gotten to Starfish yet, although it’s on my list.
oh you meant the scramblers, yeah for some reason i cognito filtered them out