Review of Terms of Service
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Ignesta Ignetius
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Review of Terms of Service
[Following is a volunteer review of "Terms of Service" by Craig W. Stanfill.]
Terms of Service, the dystopian/science-fiction book by Craig W. Stanfill, is about a unified society ruled by artificial intelligence (AI). With the sole purpose of sustaining civilization by eliminating an individual's free will, AIs in this city oversee everything, including food, transportation, housing, and even your social life. The AIs are incredibly aware of everything you do, even the little contact you make with a stranger on the street. Individuals must abide by the contract conditions outlined in their agreement since failing to do so may occasionally result in worse consequences than one can imagine. This city is hostile to freedom and the expression of uniqueness. One's social position, which they are led to believe is based on virtue and adherence to laws, determines their way of living. Do things look as they should?
Kim, a young person who works for an artificial intelligence corporation, is the book's protagonist. She is unaware that the corporation has pre-programmed her life since infancy. Kim is eager to work with the AIs; She even receives a promotion as a result of her intelligence and diligence, despite all the ostensibly cool technology that makes life simpler, such as her excellent coffee maker that always knows exactly how to brew her coffee, virtual reality that enables her to hang out with friends virtually, or even her annoying refrigerator that forces her to eat healthy food rather than junk food. A hole that Kim cannot describe fills her, and this depressing feeling leads her to overindulge in alcohol most evenings. She soon dares to stand up for herself and reject the oppression that robs her of her humanity. Will she be successful, or will the system win? To learn more, pick up a copy of this book.
Craig transports the reader around 200 years into the future in this work. The plot of this book was superbly developed, and it is a breath of fresh air compared to typical sci-fi novels. Here, he creates an entirely new universe that uses a language distinct from ours. The characters' evolution and the world's organization all feel natural and plausible. The story's main character, Kim, and her fight for freedom are relatable. This book presents a clear picture of the benefits of AI as a tool for civilization and the potential drawbacks for humankind if it is left unchecked.
The author did an excellent job of letting the reader know what to expect from this book at the start. For instance, I didn't care when the book started slow since I knew it would pick up about chapter 5, and it certainly did. Also, I would have been perplexed to read about persons who were clearly male being addressed as she, her, or hers or individuals referring to themselves as we, us, or our rather than I. Nonetheless, I learned from the author's introductory statement that every feature of individuality, including race and gender, is suppressed in this book. It is considered disrespectful to put too much emphasis on oneself. The ability to make decisions, whether good or terrible, is what defines us as humans, and this book reinforces this vital fact. Every person has the right to this fundamental human right; if you take it away, we become no different than robots.
This book has nothing to be disliked. The plot progression is excellent, and I was engrossed the entire time. Even the most minor elements of the characters were carefully considered, which is rather uncommon. The plot develops sequentially, and each chapter's title explains what to anticipate reading next. Despite the author's use of AI jargon, the prose is easy to understand. I didn't notice any errors when reading the book, which suggests it has been carefully edited. I give Craig W. Stanfill's Terms of Service a solid 5 out of 5 stars without any reservations. I'm eager to read the follow-up.
Fans of science fiction books will adore this book. Likewise, this work will appeal to AI enthusiasts. This book will appeal to adults who enjoy reading works with original and uncommon perspectives.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Terms of Service, the dystopian/science-fiction book by Craig W. Stanfill, is about a unified society ruled by artificial intelligence (AI). With the sole purpose of sustaining civilization by eliminating an individual's free will, AIs in this city oversee everything, including food, transportation, housing, and even your social life. The AIs are incredibly aware of everything you do, even the little contact you make with a stranger on the street. Individuals must abide by the contract conditions outlined in their agreement since failing to do so may occasionally result in worse consequences than one can imagine. This city is hostile to freedom and the expression of uniqueness. One's social position, which they are led to believe is based on virtue and adherence to laws, determines their way of living. Do things look as they should?
Kim, a young person who works for an artificial intelligence corporation, is the book's protagonist. She is unaware that the corporation has pre-programmed her life since infancy. Kim is eager to work with the AIs; She even receives a promotion as a result of her intelligence and diligence, despite all the ostensibly cool technology that makes life simpler, such as her excellent coffee maker that always knows exactly how to brew her coffee, virtual reality that enables her to hang out with friends virtually, or even her annoying refrigerator that forces her to eat healthy food rather than junk food. A hole that Kim cannot describe fills her, and this depressing feeling leads her to overindulge in alcohol most evenings. She soon dares to stand up for herself and reject the oppression that robs her of her humanity. Will she be successful, or will the system win? To learn more, pick up a copy of this book.
Craig transports the reader around 200 years into the future in this work. The plot of this book was superbly developed, and it is a breath of fresh air compared to typical sci-fi novels. Here, he creates an entirely new universe that uses a language distinct from ours. The characters' evolution and the world's organization all feel natural and plausible. The story's main character, Kim, and her fight for freedom are relatable. This book presents a clear picture of the benefits of AI as a tool for civilization and the potential drawbacks for humankind if it is left unchecked.
The author did an excellent job of letting the reader know what to expect from this book at the start. For instance, I didn't care when the book started slow since I knew it would pick up about chapter 5, and it certainly did. Also, I would have been perplexed to read about persons who were clearly male being addressed as she, her, or hers or individuals referring to themselves as we, us, or our rather than I. Nonetheless, I learned from the author's introductory statement that every feature of individuality, including race and gender, is suppressed in this book. It is considered disrespectful to put too much emphasis on oneself. The ability to make decisions, whether good or terrible, is what defines us as humans, and this book reinforces this vital fact. Every person has the right to this fundamental human right; if you take it away, we become no different than robots.
This book has nothing to be disliked. The plot progression is excellent, and I was engrossed the entire time. Even the most minor elements of the characters were carefully considered, which is rather uncommon. The plot develops sequentially, and each chapter's title explains what to anticipate reading next. Despite the author's use of AI jargon, the prose is easy to understand. I didn't notice any errors when reading the book, which suggests it has been carefully edited. I give Craig W. Stanfill's Terms of Service a solid 5 out of 5 stars without any reservations. I'm eager to read the follow-up.
Fans of science fiction books will adore this book. Likewise, this work will appeal to AI enthusiasts. This book will appeal to adults who enjoy reading works with original and uncommon perspectives.
******
Terms of Service
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Working from Home: Making it Work for You by Thomas Engblom
