A felicitous novel that highlights some of the obstacles, dilemmas, and incentives inherent in innovation.
In a world where seemingly everything has changed in the last century, political tensions in 2053 ring out like a painful history lesson. Having made tremendous advances in scientific disciplines, China is now on the brink of war with NATO nations. Unpredictable and dangerous AI development is at the core of the unease and China seems to have the upper hand. Though EU and US governments are desperate for a workable plan, it seems that military might won’t be enough to level the playing field so they look for innovative ways to fight fire with fire. With an impressive mind and a specific skill set, Dr. François DeSousa has a unique perspective of this technological landscape that threatens to undo society. For François, his social skills are not commensurate with his brilliant mind, but with the fate of mankind on the line, social etiquette is the last thing to be concerned with. Across the globe is Dr. Zhào Qianfan, a hardware engineer whose work in applied science shifts the geo-political landscape practically overnight. Where François is arrogant, unyielding, and entitled, Qianfan is humbled by his contribution and concerned for his loved ones. Qianfan’s priority? “We must live first. We will fight later.” Yet for all their differences and the distance between them, these men share a fiery passion for their work that will ultimately test them, leading to an international showdown like humans have never experienced before.
Whether you’re intrigued by the potential or worried about the ramifications, Artificial Intelligence has entered the collective conversation. Sentience Hazard is a felicitous novel that highlights some of the obstacles, dilemmas, and incentives inherent in innovation. Though the advancements are narrowly futuristic, suspension of belief is kept to a minimum with traceable science, reliably self-serving governments, and flawed characters. One example is François, a man whose passions equally drive him and hinder him. Obsession with his artificial intelligence project is rivaled only by his feelings for the woman who rejected him. In a fierce but convincing character arc, these two powerful motivations merge into a single purpose, his raison d’etre. The pace accelerates steadily and as François becomes more fanatical, the sense of urgency only increases. Bold foreshadowing is everywhere in the book, though not fully appreciated until the dramatic finale. Stimulating for scientifically minded individuals and aspirational, maybe shocking, for those who haven’t considered the possibilities, every reader will find themselves embroiled in the ethical dilemmas and explosive action in Sentience Hazard.
