I’ve been in a real reading slump lately and haven’t loved anything I’ve started. For someone who absolutely loves to read, this is a sad reality. After diving deep into the Goodreads and Amazon recommendations, I still couldn’t find anything that (1) was new to me and (2) grabbed my short-term attention span. Everything just seemed a little dull. BUT my husband had a really interesting suggestion – ask ChatGPT! Kinda novel, don’t you think? (**puns make me happy**)
So I tried to decide what kind of books I wanted it to recommend – romance, historical fiction, serial killer biographies – the list was endless. I settled on something more appropriate though – scifi/AI themed books. The blog below is 100% attributed to AI and now I’ve added five more books to my TBR shelf. Technology just blew my millennial mind and I’m pretty sure the robot revolution is imminent.
Alright, let’s have some fun with this!
Science fiction and artificial intelligence go together like peanut butter and jelly, or like robots and laser guns. So, if you’re looking for a good laugh and a few thought-provoking ideas about the future of AI, here are some of the best sci-fi AI books you won’t want to miss.
1. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
This classic novel may have inspired the movie “Blade Runner,” but let’s be honest: what’s really important here is the fact that it features a bunch of rogue androids on the loose. And who doesn’t love a good android rebellion? Plus, it asks the age-old question: do electric sheep count when you’re trying to fall asleep?
2. Consider Phelbas by Iain M. Banks
What’s better than a future utopia where humans and AIs live in harmony? How about a future utopia where humans and AIs live in harmony, and the AIs have really cool names like “Minds”? Seriously, though, this series delves into some deep philosophical questions about the nature of intelligence and consciousness, all while giving us a glimpse of a world where everything is run by super-smart computers. Sounds like my kind of paradise!
3. Neuromancer by William Gibson
Who doesn’t love a good cyberpunk novel? “Neuromancer” features all the classic tropes of the genre, including hackers, artificial intelligence, and neon lights. It also raises some interesting questions about what it means to be human in a world where technology is constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Plus, the main character is named “Case.” How cool is that?
4. The Three-Body Problem
What if aliens made contact with Earth, and the only thing standing between us and an intergalactic war was a group of scientists and a super-smart computer? That’s the premise of this award-winning novel, which explores the potential dangers of AI and the possible consequences of contact with extraterrestrial life. Plus, who doesn’t love a good “three-body problem”? I know I do.
5. The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
This novel takes place in a future where nanotechnology has transformed society, and where everyone has access to a magical book that teaches them everything they need to know. Oh, and there’s also a society of super-intelligent humans who use artificial intelligence to control everything. Sounds pretty great, right? Just make sure you don’t accidentally drop your magical book into a puddle of nanobots. Trust me, it’s not pretty.
So there you have it: the best sci-fi AI books that will make you laugh, cry, and ponder the meaning of existence. And if all else fails, just remember this: when the robots take over, at least we’ll have some good books to keep us company.
Alyssa Flores
Alyssa reads hundreds of books a year and is on a never-ending quest to find the perfect book.
