Thank you to @harperaudio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘵 is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged story that delves into the complex themes of artificial intelligence and the essence of humanity. Set in a not-so-distant future, the story follows the journey of Annie, an advanced “Stella” robot who has been set to autodidactic so that she can learn and develop much like a human.
The narrative unfolds through a close third person perspective. Annie is owned by Doug who is controlling and at times abusive. He is not a simple one-dimensional character, however, and we can see how Annie might feel sympathetic towards him. Sierra Greer skillfully explores the moral and ethical implications of creating sentient beings capable of experiencing emotions. Annie’s quest for self-discovery and understanding leads her to question her own existence and what it truly means to be human.
One of the most captivating aspects of this story is the depth of emotional resonance the author infuses into the character of Annie. The novel also raises profound philosophical questions about the nature of consciousness, free will, and the boundaries between humans and machines.
Five years ago this story would have seemed to be far-fetched science fiction to me. But with the rise in sophistication of AI, this is story is completely plausible.
Greer explores the blurred lines between artificial intelligence and genuine emotions. 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘵 is a captivating and provocative novel that pushes the boundaries of our understanding of artificial intelligence and the essence of being human. A surprising five stars!
About the Book:
A powerful, provocative novel about the relationship between a female robot and her human owner, exploring questions of intimacy, power, autonomy, and control.
Annie Bot was created to be the perfect girlfriend for her human owner Doug. Designed to satisfy his emotional and physical needs, she has dinner ready for him every night, wears the pert outfits he orders for her, and adjusts her libido to suit his moods. True, she’s not the greatest at keeping Doug’s place spotless, but she’s trying to please him. She’s trying hard.
She’s learning, too.
Doug says he loves that Annie’s AI makes her seem more like a real woman, so Annie explores human traits such as curiosity, secrecy, and longing. But becoming more human also means becoming less perfect, and as Annie’s relationship with Doug grows more intricate and difficult, she starts to wonder: Does Doug really desire what he says he wants? And in such an impossible paradox, what does Annie owe herself?