Review of Terms of Service
Posted: 30 Mar 2023, 07:36
[Following is a volunteer review of "Terms of Service" by Craig W. Stanfill.]
Kim is an AI trainer by trade. Training AI on what to look for regarding transgressions and the appropriate punishment. Kim and her best friend Shan got separated after school, and now, Shan is returning to the city after years. Will this turn out to be Kim’s happy-ever-after, or will Shan lead Kim down a path of self-destruction with her deviance? Will there be a backlash, or will the AIs turn a blind eye for once?
TERMS OF SERVICE: Subject to Change Without Notice by Craig W. Stanfill is a captivating, brilliant, fictional piece. With Craig’s Ph.D. in Computer Science and his years of experience with AI, I regard him as the perfect author on this subject. The narrative completely captivated me. I feel that some readers might find the first few chapters a little tedious, as not much is happening to the protagonist. However, these first few chapters cover Kim’s daily routine and give an insight into her work and involvement with the AIs. It touches on her trauma and the mental struggles that come with her environmental challenges. These first chapters laid the foundation to understand and relate to the protagonist, making the plot more suspenseful.
One can regard Kim as a model citizen, but whenever Kim and Shan are together, they get into trouble every single time. Shan brings out Kim’s rebellious side, making it impossible for Kim to resist anything that Shan suggests, no matter the potential dangers or repercussions. When they go on a bike ride and wander beyond the permitted perimeter, instead of getting reprimanded or let go from her position, Kim gets promoted. They presented her with the rare opportunity to create her own AI. It does not come without challenges, accompanied by a warning that she might lose her mind during the “awakening” process. Her AI creation initially presents itself in a childlike manner, where Kim has to “mother” it to its full potential, which exceeds everyone’s expectations. During Kim’s time with her AI, it led her down a path where she discovers the source of her trauma, which then leads to her uncovering where her feeling of loneliness comes from. The author set the narrative in the far future, with everything being controlled and run by AI. A place where obedience gets rewarded with a point system. The higher your score, the higher your social status and advantages. It determines everything from where you live, what food is available to you, whether you have access to hot water, to where you sit on public transportation. The governing body is against “genderism”, using female pronouns for everyone, and forbids the use of the word “I”. With regards to dating, you must do it through the relevant agency. It is punishable to have or show a gender preference. Should you show signs of preference, they send you for what they call remoderation or even castration.
I love how the narrative developed and how vividly the scenes were narrated, from the character attributes and personalities to the scenery seen and experienced by the characters. There is not a single thing that I disliked; therefore, I am giving this book a well-deserved rating of 5 out of 5. I did find some minor errors, but they did not distract me while reading. This book appears to be professionally edited. It does have some non-borderline profanity and non-explicit sexual scenes.
I would recommend this book to people who have an interest in Artificial Intelligence and futuristic fiction. While people who have a fear that the world will be taken over by AI should keep in mind that this is pure fiction. Readers who are sensitive to alcohol and drug use should take note that these substances are used freely throughout the narrative.
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Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Kim is an AI trainer by trade. Training AI on what to look for regarding transgressions and the appropriate punishment. Kim and her best friend Shan got separated after school, and now, Shan is returning to the city after years. Will this turn out to be Kim’s happy-ever-after, or will Shan lead Kim down a path of self-destruction with her deviance? Will there be a backlash, or will the AIs turn a blind eye for once?
TERMS OF SERVICE: Subject to Change Without Notice by Craig W. Stanfill is a captivating, brilliant, fictional piece. With Craig’s Ph.D. in Computer Science and his years of experience with AI, I regard him as the perfect author on this subject. The narrative completely captivated me. I feel that some readers might find the first few chapters a little tedious, as not much is happening to the protagonist. However, these first few chapters cover Kim’s daily routine and give an insight into her work and involvement with the AIs. It touches on her trauma and the mental struggles that come with her environmental challenges. These first chapters laid the foundation to understand and relate to the protagonist, making the plot more suspenseful.
One can regard Kim as a model citizen, but whenever Kim and Shan are together, they get into trouble every single time. Shan brings out Kim’s rebellious side, making it impossible for Kim to resist anything that Shan suggests, no matter the potential dangers or repercussions. When they go on a bike ride and wander beyond the permitted perimeter, instead of getting reprimanded or let go from her position, Kim gets promoted. They presented her with the rare opportunity to create her own AI. It does not come without challenges, accompanied by a warning that she might lose her mind during the “awakening” process. Her AI creation initially presents itself in a childlike manner, where Kim has to “mother” it to its full potential, which exceeds everyone’s expectations. During Kim’s time with her AI, it led her down a path where she discovers the source of her trauma, which then leads to her uncovering where her feeling of loneliness comes from. The author set the narrative in the far future, with everything being controlled and run by AI. A place where obedience gets rewarded with a point system. The higher your score, the higher your social status and advantages. It determines everything from where you live, what food is available to you, whether you have access to hot water, to where you sit on public transportation. The governing body is against “genderism”, using female pronouns for everyone, and forbids the use of the word “I”. With regards to dating, you must do it through the relevant agency. It is punishable to have or show a gender preference. Should you show signs of preference, they send you for what they call remoderation or even castration.
I love how the narrative developed and how vividly the scenes were narrated, from the character attributes and personalities to the scenery seen and experienced by the characters. There is not a single thing that I disliked; therefore, I am giving this book a well-deserved rating of 5 out of 5. I did find some minor errors, but they did not distract me while reading. This book appears to be professionally edited. It does have some non-borderline profanity and non-explicit sexual scenes.
I would recommend this book to people who have an interest in Artificial Intelligence and futuristic fiction. While people who have a fear that the world will be taken over by AI should keep in mind that this is pure fiction. Readers who are sensitive to alcohol and drug use should take note that these substances are used freely throughout the narrative.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes