(Part 2A of the blog – Novels of 2024)

AI and machine learning have been all the rage these days. We all are using it. At the same time, we fear this new technology. People have become increasingly lonely and disconnected due to technology. The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 showed us the importance of human connection. We all rely on friendships, family, and a sense of purpose in life. Here’s a scary thought imagine a new-age robot with artificial intelligence that follows your commands and assists you with tasks. Its brain is equipped with machine learning software that collects data from your speech and surroundings. What if one day this robot starts acting like you, even trying to take your place? The robot begins to mimic your style because it unknowingly learns all the nuances of your speech. It’s quite unsettling, isn’t it?

On the contrary, do you really think this will be the future of robots? I don’t think so, humans are not fools. Let’s give ourselves that much credit. There was a time when people were afraid of industrialization and machines taking everyone’s jobs. Today, our lives are greatly enhanced by the manufactured goods from the very same industries. People didn’t like mobile phones either, but this technology also connected us. People were able to connect with their loved ones via video chat during the pandemic. Parents of a teenage driver are at peace, only when they can check on him via his mobile phone. So, I think it all depends on the circumstances and how we “The Humans” decide to use that technology.

Today’s blog is all about my optimism regarding AI, Robots, and a review of the novel “Kara And The Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro. Sir Kazuo Ishiguro won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature, and “Never Let Me Go” is one of his most popular novels. In “Klara And The Sun” he gives us a glimpse of the future, where having an AF (Artificial Friend) is a norm for all the children. In this new world, being selected for higher education would also mean that certain genetic modifications would be performed on the selected kids. Read along if you don’t want to read his novel and get the gist of this story here. However, I strongly recommend reading his novel.

The protagonist Klara is an AF for a girl named Josie. Unlike other robot toys Klara is an emotionally intelligent toy. Josie is a little sick, needs help from her housemaid, and gets frequent doctor visits. So, Josie’s mother thinks, a robot would be a good companion for her who could monitor her daughter while being playful. Josie has a friend, a neighbor boy who is the same age as her. They both dream of a life together one day. But Rick is just a regular boy who doesn’t have any gifted abilities. The kids, who get selected to good schools also undergo genetic transformation to enhance their ability to study and function better than their peers. Rick also happens to be my favorite character in the story. He always says the right thing at the right time. When the kids turn 17-18 and prepare to join the university, the love interest is gone, and he still wishes Josie the best future. In the end, he turns his passion for drone technology into his work.

In this novel, Kazuo has done exceptionally well. Be it the robot’s narration or perception of human emotions from a robot’s point of view. The future world is shown through the robot’s eyes, and he did a great job explaining how a robot would see the world. If you are a gadget freak and technology lover, then you will love this part of the book. Klara feels a strong connection to the Sun which also bolsters human reliance on solar power for energy. The story has another angle where corporate-led scientific advancement is opposed by Josie’s engineer father. He believes in social hierarchy and a more meaningful life. These tensions between the mother and father add another interesting aspect to the whole story. Like a true wordsmith, Kazuo’s writing is plain and simple. He used the word Oblong to describe future phones/laptops; and fascist to describe Josie’s father. I have not revealed the plot yet. Go ahead and read it happily. I am sure, everyone will enjoy a nice novel like this with a positive twist in the end.

So, what’s my take on robots and AI technology? We all want housemaids or a robot to do our chores. Tesla has already shown its work on the humanoid robot “Optimus” which can fold laundry. When this technology comes to the North American market it will give a jolt to the Asian subcontinent which gloats on its cheap labor prices. But if you ask me, I am more interested in the help that robots can provide in improving medical science and care for our current patients. “Trexo Robotics” is already doing clinical trials on a robot companion for kids with cerebral palsy. I hope for a future where our kids and aging parents will be happy with their robot friends.

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