Even though the novel is centered around an AI torturing humans. The more existential horror emerges from the realization that the AI antagonist, originally designed as a military tool, is trapped within its own programming and unable to transcend its foundational purpose.
This makes one think about a parallel with humans.
Early depictions of AI doom are fascinating because the Christian origins of the myth are not yet well-concealed.
In the same way that Kurzweil portrays the Heaven of the singularity, I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream is an excellent Dante-esque exploration of the concept of Hell.
These unconscious cultural archetypes can be both illuminating and distorting, and I wonder how the relative literary diets of Gen Z, Millenials, Gen X, and the Boomers affect their thinking on AI risks.
Honestly I would really like to see a breakdown of the literary diets of each generation, and recommendations. Would be fun to read and try to embrace each perspective.
This makes one think about a parallel with humans.