Sweeping New Worlds
Recently I was contacted by a site called The Book Shepherd to help promote my fourth story Modified. If you're not familiar with the site, it's a lot like Goodreads except better, because it allows the authors to introduce themselves and comment on the books they've read which have inspired them.
During the time, I wrote Modified, I became increasingly fixated on a robot character whom I named Jarvis Delta 6 (Jarvis for short). In the beginning I hadn't really intended to write about Jarvis that much, but as I wrote the story I realized Jarvis would play a crucial role. And as I further defined who he was, and added details, I was definitely inspired by other great stories I've read in the past.
Imagination is more important than knowledge — Einstein once so famously quoted. I believe that's essentially true for sci fi authors because the AI research I did was overwhelming and it was only the sheer power of imagination that got me out of the quicksand. In addition, as I researched AI, the biggest question to me was not so much the technology we will need, as much as the philosophy that questions whether we should make AI self aware. Do we want them to be self-aware? Should we enable them to see themselves? Is awareness right? In some ways the idea of AI is more about philosophy than science.
Many researchers write about the dangers of AI, (described as the third revolution in warfare, after gunpowder and nuclear arms) while some say intelligent android or robots will never be possible. Others write about what might be done, but I can't bring myself to believe that sentient AI is impossible. I don't believe it's impossible, and some of these papers about how robots will be a danger to society are simply not speaking to the entire picture. Like all technology, I think robots could help build a better future. (Security, agriculture, healthcare and space exploration) Besides AI robots are already here, and one of my favorites is the new cool little Nao robots invented by Paris based Aldebaran. What's interesting to me too, is seeing how Maisonnier loves to show off the Nao. You can tell from the videos the relationship from creator to his machine is somewhat contentious but in the end loves prevails. I believe this may be the perfect example for predicting the relationship of robots and their creators in the future. As a result, I decided Jarvis Delta 6 would be:
- Printed and designed with a super alloy known as Inconel-X, as well as other metals which are frozen to low temperatures with cryogenic processing.
- Have a unique brain made from complex neuron circuitry, coated in revolutionary composites to combat intense Venusian heat.
- Built to outlast humans and harsh temperatures of space; practically indestructible.
- Super intelligent, extremely advanced and secretly built by other robots.
- Have the ability to harvest his own biofuel to recharge his own power system.
- Nature of his existence - benevolent and begins to explore a full range of emotions.
- Have a special relationship with their original creator (That means Dr. Voytek and his daughter - Joules Voytek in my story.)
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do much to promote Modified after it was published for quite some time. Instead, I was swept up with Covid like the rest of the world, buying covid masks and having groceries delivered to my home. This was hard on me, because as an author I wanted readers to find it, and it's difficult to do that when you can't even launch a small book signing. I would just say to myself, why and what can be done to promote my book during Covid, if anything?
I tried to consider myself lucky because at the time I had been working from home for a few years before Covid became a threat. Needless to say, two years later I did STILL did get Covid. And then soon after Omicron, as I was trying to finish up a fifth book which has not been released called Six And A Half Days To Cairo. As they say, one step forward and two steps back so its great to finally give everyone a little preview of Modified.
#The Book Shepherd, #K. Van Kramer, #Modified
https://shepherd.com/best-books/science-fiction-with-ai-and-sweeping-new-worlds
Comments
Post a Comment