March has arrived, bringing the Ides and strife. A nudge here, a push there, this is the time to bring out the passions hibernating in the lair of flair. Nothing is impossible, even the road is rough ahead; there's so much of the struggle that's left unsaid. TheAI's (read as there's) so much to be, this is the journey that makes us what we have to be.

This month's article is as you've already understood, we present AI is this month's sub-genre.

Science-fiction has become a reference point in the discourse on the ethics and risks surrounding artificial intelligence (AI). Science fictional AI is considered part of a larger corpus of 'AI narratives' that are analyzed as shaping the fears and hopes of the technology. To make this sub-genre work, AI is often portrayed as human-like or autonomous, regardless of the actual technological limitations. Taking science-fictional AI in the literal sense, and even applying it paints a distorted image of the technology's current potential and distracts from the real-world implications and risks of AI. These risks are not about humanoid robots or conscious machines, but about the scoring, nudging, discrimination, exploitation, and surveillance of humans by AI technologies through dependent and independent various sources. On the other hand, AI is a trope as part of a genre-specific mega text that is better understood as a dramatic means and metaphor to reflect on the human condition and socio-political issues beyond technology.

There are two ways to look at science-fictional AI--it can be viewed as being a substantial part of a larger corpus of the sub-genre scifi AI. The term AI applies featuring intelligent machines so that they can be analyzed as a reflection of our hopes and fears towards these technologies and thus may shape the development of AI by influencing our perceptions towards the sub-genre in general. In this sense, AI are understood as a serious representation of the potential of real AI and its possible consequences—like foresight or technology assessment. However, AI is not only about the hopes and fears of the particular technology, but about human dramas for a human audience and readership. From this perspective, it is not that AI per se that inspires dramatic stories, but—quite the other way round—the desire to tell dramatic stories requires certain types of AI, for example humanoid robots or almighty systems. Thus, second, science-fictional AI is not necessarily about the technology but can be a metaphor for other social issues.

This second perspective is relevant, because if it is the case that AI narratives exert influence on AI research, public uptake and political regulation then taking AI in fictional stories too literally can be misleading, because it paints a distorted image of the present potential and functionality of the technology.

The representation of artificial intelligence in popular culture is light-years away from the often more complex and mundane reality. Based on representations in popular culture and the media, a normal human would be forgiven for picturing AI as a humanoid robot , or at the very least a highly intelligent voice able to assist seamlessly with a range of tasks, which is not a true portrayal of its present capability.

Visual effects have always defined AI's search for wonder in science fiction. It is this definition of science-fictional AI that focuses primarily about how realistically science and technology are portrayed in the films, but rather about the "cinematic science", the technical achievement required to make the fictional images in the films look real.

AI in films often serves plots of machines becoming human-like or a conflict of humans versus machines. Science-fictional AI is a dramatic element that makes a perfect antagonist, enemy, victim or even hero, because it can be fully adjusted to the necessities of the story.Footnote6 But to fulfil that role, it often has capabilities that are way beyond actual technology—be it natural movement, sentience, or consciousness. If science-fictional AI is taken seriously as a representation of real-world AI, it provides a wrong impression of what AI can and should do now and in future.

Here are some novels I recommend! Be sure to drop your favourites in the inline comments here:

1) Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

Summary: A small Artificial Friend is purchased and assigned to a young, sickly girl named Josie in a wealthy family. As Klara cares for her and gets to know the family, she starts to ponder not only her own existence but also what it means to survive, forming her own spirituality and love for the world. As she gets used to the world she's entered—a rich community defined by those who are Lifted and those who are not—she begins to realize that Josie's mother has a sinister plan of her own that may or may not line up with what's best for Josie. This was the first novel Kazuo Ishiguro released after winning the Nobel Prize for Literature, and it's one of his absolute best.

2) I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

Summary: Obviously, this novel had to be included. Isaac Asimov asked the crucial questions about robots and AI that we're still asking today. When do we decide that robots are sentient? If they become sentient, is it acceptable that they're enslaved to us? If they become sentient, can they feel emotion? For the record, the movie featuring Will Smith has very little to do with this book except in its fundamental questions about AI. In a series of stories and scenarios, Asimov picks apart what it could mean to truly bring robots to life.

3) I am AI by Ai Jiang

Summary: As debates about AI and creativity rage, this novelette looks more and more interesting—and upsettingly prescient. Ai lives in a bleak capitalist dystopia where she struggles to keep up and make a living as a writer because AI is churning out easy content, and she can't compete. She's doing everything she can to compete though—she's been slowly replacing her own body parts with machine parts to try and grind out a more productive schedule, to try and keep up. But will any amount of cyborg additions really be enough?

And now for some amazing Wattpad stories:

1) Human Code by veelozada

Summary: Javier Morales is an android who only wished to be accepted in death as he was in life, but when rogue androids kidnap his sister and destroy the city, he must put himself last to save what matters most.

Javier Morales died in an accident on July 3rd, 2016. Unable to accept his death, his parents request Bionics Pharmaceuticals to recreate him -- a premium android to be their son. He is created as close to the person he is supposed to be, but reality sets in. And now, to his family, he's a memory. And to the rest world, he shouldn't exist. For Javi, it was life. And he came to terms with his fate. Until rogue androids start attacking other androids and civilians. And kidnap his kid sister. In order to save her and everyone else, he has to dig into his core to regain control of his mind and body. But does he have enough heart to regain his soul?

2) A Starship Called Starsong by CrystalScherer

Summary: Computer updates are simple, right? Apparently, that's not always the case when it involves a Spaceship's AI in the middle of deep space.

We have always relied upon technology to travel through space, but sometimes that very same technology has a mind of its own...

(This story has a happy ending)

Sneak Peek:

A flashing orange light in the top corner of my handheld device prompted me to check the system status page. My jaw dropped. All sorts of systems were going offline. Water, sewage, air, heating, cooling, weapons, and many more. What was going on?

The Overseer was more decisive than I was. "Go help get the air systems back online. We can eat dry rations for two weeks, but we can't hold our breath for that long."

I took off running once more. I hadn't gone far when I almost ran right into Logan. I asked, "What going on?"

He grabbed my shoulders urgently. "The main computer's AI is taking over the entire ship. I need to get to a backup mainframe to try and reverse the upgrade, but I can't find the room! The AI messed up the electronic maps, and I have never been to this one before! Where is the Delta access room?!"

My mind tried to wrap itself around the details as I gave directions, "...then turn left and it's by the plumbing room on that level."

"Thanks!" He took off running.

3) The Last She (Books 1-3, the Last She Series) by hjnelson

Summary: Ara, the only woman left alive after a plague, is searching for a way to save humanity. She thinks there isn't a man she can trust, until she meets Kaden.

A plague has swept over the Earth, killing the majority of the population and every female. Except one. Ara witnessed the horror and destruction, but for the last three years she has survived. Now, desperation and hunger force her out of the mountains and onto a dangerous path; across the flooded downtown and through the gangs of survivors is hope. Ara's father spoke of a clue that could save not just her, but humanity. Then she is captured by a group of men. Despite the seeming kindness of Kaden, a young man her own age, Ara doesn't know if she can trust them. Then again, there's no way she can cross the plague-ridden city on her own. Men. Monsters. Is there a difference? This is the story of The Last She.

Ara, the only woman left alive after a plague, is searching for a way to save humanity. She thinks there isn't a man she can trust, until she meets Kaden.

This is all for this month. We'll meet in April with an exciting new issue and theme. Until then, love you and take care! ❤️

Cheers, Nab =]

Nablai