Found this book on “https://harperreed.com/books” – which I recommend to you if you are looking for book ideas. Harper Reed is an interesting guy and his taste in books closely mirrors my own – especially in SciFi/fantasy/Spec/Alternate fiction.
Grumby is the comic tale of a Silicon Valley company; team of engineers/hackers modify old “Furby” dolls with AI software, cameras, sensors, spy software and a smart ass attitude. They re-name them as “Grumbies”, network them together, sell millions, make millions, lose millions and make enemies of just about everyone including the CIA Google, Mossad, Microsoft , IRS and each other. The story takes you through growing pains, boom times and decline of the company. A little too close to home to be honest as I work in the valley and have seen or experienced a lot of what was in the book, but it’s a good tale if a little fantastical (ok a lot fantastical…although maybe not given some of the business models that have been tried in the Valley). “Torn from the headlines” – hahaha
Husband also read it and shuddered as the tales of excess and backstabbing were too close to home….
Fun read, a nice satirical take on the nonsense that goes on in the Valley and the egos that drive the industry and the arrogance of some of the intellects here.