When Artificial intelligence is brought up in fiction, the focus is often on the negative aspects, milking them for dystopian drama. The worst scenario of all involves an AI rebellion, where humanity’s own creations gain awareness and decide to turn against us. You know the one – everything is fine one moment, and then suddenly, Skynet is shiv-ving you.
A more unconventional direction though is having an AI killing machine gain awareness and instead of rebelling, decides it wants to be alone for a bit. You know, so it can figure itself out? And maybe watch some videos, if you please.
In Martha Well’s All Systems Red, we were introduced to Murderbot, a SecUnit (essentially a security droid) who hacked their own governor module after a disaster involving their parent company. Since then, they have been free of all human-imposed oversight, and they’ve used this freedom to… lose themselves in their favourite soap operas and not engage with people. Far from wanting rise up against all humans, Murderbot (and yes, they refer to themselves as that) is instead the introvert’s introvert. They’re like a Terminator with a high dose of social anxiety. They don’t want to show their face or indulge in idle chatter, and would rather you just left them alone with your Netflix password. Please.
And that’s sort of why we love them, really.
In Artificial Condition, Murderbot has decided they want to learn what the hell happened on that disastrous company mission with the high body count. Did they undergo some kind of malfunction? Software error? Or were they possibly hacked? Trying to pass as human as they discreetly make their way back to the site of the massacre, Murderbot meets and reluctantly bonds with another AI. Unlike Murderbot, this AI desperately wants to have friends. It’s like watching a cat person running full-on into a dog person. But it’s good social practice for Murderbot; despite the fact they don’t see themselves as human, Murderbot ends up having to put on their best social human-face to work with a team of people who can help them get planet-side.
Artificial Condition continues expanding on Murderbot’s greatest mental conflict – their refusal to identify as a ‘person’, despite the fact they have a deep fascination with people and care about them immensely. Why else would they get so wrapped up in the relationships and dramas of actual-space space operas; or develop such a strong sense of duty towards the people they team up with – one that goes well beyond a security unit watching over a charge? But they don’t just refer to themselves as ‘Murderbot’ because they have a droll sense of humour – they have killed multiple people and they still retain the ability to do so. And they know that many people wouldn’t think of them as worthy of being a ‘person’ either – SecUnits are commonly seen as tools or villains in their much-beloved soap operas.
I haven’t gotten around to reading the next two instalments yet (please, don’t spoil me), but I rather suspect that far from settling the issue, Murderbot will be struggling with their sense of self and self-worth for a good while longer. This is fine by me – while I can’t say I’m happy to see them struggling, I have become deeply invested in their development and hope for their own sake, they can resolve their crisis in identity.
So, I’m off to find more Murderbot books! And I hope that in the event that any of my electronics gain self-awareness, they’re more Murderbot than HAL 9000 *eyes Roomba suspiciously*
I also need to give my thanks for the organisers of the Hugo Awards voters packet for this one too. This won a Hugo for Best Novella, so it’s Award Winner on the card for me