Review of Terms of Service

[Lara Keir]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Terms of Service" by Craig W. Stanfill.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Terms of Service is a futuristic novel by Craig W. Stanfill about the dangers of AI technology to humanity. The book is an eye-opening account of the drawbacks of AI, such as its ability to control human behavior, movement, choices, and even thoughts. Kim, the protagonist, works for the AI company and is well-versed in the ins and outs of the operation. Initially, she is compliant with everything the system does, no matter how questionable it appears, such as separating lovers, separating children from their parents, or denying you the right to choose what you will eat. This begins to change when she discovers that she doesn’t have access to her real name and meets her partner, whom she was separated from by AI creators a long time ago. 

This book's world-building was fantastic. It reminded me of some dystopian novels in which the future of today's technology is similarly questioned. I liked how the controlled environment was separated from the world beyond borders, where people coexist with nature. I also thought the book was well-thought-out, with situations escalating in order for Kim to awaken from the dysfunctional world she was contributing to.

I loved the paradox relating to the AI creators' goals as they assign Kim a new job. They wanted to advance AI technology, but, at the same time, they couldn't because all humans were heavily controlled. Kim, who began to rebel and break the rules, was the only one who could help them. AI learned to progress and evolve alongside her. I liked this catch because it exemplifies today's problems, in which many leaders seek to control others without realizing that doing so hinders overall growth.

There are no drawbacks to this book that I can identify, and I am looking forward to the next sequel. Some of my favorite quotes include: "Year after year she had lived that lie, and eventually, it became the truth." and "Life seems so empty, so painful. I crack open a bottle of vodka, and the next thing I know, it’s empty, the alarm is buzzing, and it’s the start of another meaningless day."

I would advise anyone interested in intriguing scenarios involving AI and new technologies to read this book. It had excellent editing; I found no errors. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars because it had an original message and I was engrossed to read thanks to the author's engaging writing.

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Terms of Service
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