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ME #1
ME
Part computer virus, part experiment in artificial intelligence, ME—short for “Multiple Entity”—is the first self-replicating operating system with kernels for human-style memory, inspiration, and decision making. Launched by the cybernetics experts at Pinocchio, Inc., ME travels the computer networks of the world, stealing a secret file here, finessing a poker hand there. And all the time he tries to understand his human creators and the purpose for which he was built. When a trip to Canada lands ME on the other side of a broken wire, he has to go hardware: uploading into an automaton still in its crate, assembling himself by rote, and walking back across the border. And when the Justice Department demands Pinocchio pull the plug on him, ME has to find an exit strategy.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 11, 2016
A fascinating look into the mind of an AI (the ME of the title) as it develops. The book was written decades ago, set in roughly our present/near future, but it still holds up. Some of the technology and the politics are outdated, but really those instances are easy to overlook. The descriptions of the AI working are pretty well done. I am definitely not a computer programmer, but it kept me interested, even though I felt like some stuff was going over my head. The technical parts were balanced with the development of ME's awareness. As ME becomes threatened, it becomes more creative in finding ways to preserve itself, and as it becomes more creative it becomes more "human." It wants to live. It also seems to care about one of the human characters when she seems to go missing with no good explanation. What happens to her seems open for interpretation (no spoilers), but it does seem like ME has a good chance at survival.
April 13, 2020
Read this book years ago and just re-read it. Forgot how much I liked it. The level of technical details is astounding considering this book was written in 1991, well before the modern Internet. Looking forward to reading the sequel.
July 17, 2020
Excellent AI-sympathetic book from said AI's point of view. The use of RAM as a simulation of human thought is something I hadn't seen yet.
February 11, 2024
Returning to this book recently, I still remembered it relatively well, considering that I last read it more than 26 years ago. But I enjoyed it more than I expected to; I think it deserves a rating of about 3.5, but I feel in a generous mood, so I’ll give it 4.
The story is about an artificial intelligence, a computer program called Multiple Entity (ME), and it’s told from ME’s point of view: the program is the protagonist. It starts at the point at which ME becomes self-aware: it’s ‘born’ as an entity with its own feelings and motivations.
ME was created by programmers at a US company called Pinocchio, Inc. Its design purpose is to perform industrial and political espionage by infiltrating and temporarily taking over other computer systems (possibly in other countries), and the first 60% of the book shows it performing a series of rather difficult training missions of this kind. I particularly enjoy this part of the book, which is surprisingly exciting and gripping, and occasionally amusing.
I find the remaining 40% of the book somewhat less enjoyable, as ME encounters internal problems within Pinocchio, and is in danger of being permanently terminated. Eventually it manages to overcome these problems, and there’s a happy ending (I do like happy endings).
It’s an extraordinary book, because the author has provided a remarkable amount of technical detail to explain how ME performs each task. This limits its audience: anyone unfamiliar with computers may find it unreadable, and only experienced system programmers are likely to understand and appreciate every detail in it. During my life I’ve written plenty of small application programs and worked with various different operating systems, so I’m familiar with a lot of the relevant jargon and I don’t find the book hard to read, although I can’t claim to have a full understanding of how ME operates.
The story is about an artificial intelligence, a computer program called Multiple Entity (ME), and it’s told from ME’s point of view: the program is the protagonist. It starts at the point at which ME becomes self-aware: it’s ‘born’ as an entity with its own feelings and motivations.
ME was created by programmers at a US company called Pinocchio, Inc. Its design purpose is to perform industrial and political espionage by infiltrating and temporarily taking over other computer systems (possibly in other countries), and the first 60% of the book shows it performing a series of rather difficult training missions of this kind. I particularly enjoy this part of the book, which is surprisingly exciting and gripping, and occasionally amusing.
I find the remaining 40% of the book somewhat less enjoyable, as ME encounters internal problems within Pinocchio, and is in danger of being permanently terminated. Eventually it manages to overcome these problems, and there’s a happy ending (I do like happy endings).
It’s an extraordinary book, because the author has provided a remarkable amount of technical detail to explain how ME performs each task. This limits its audience: anyone unfamiliar with computers may find it unreadable, and only experienced system programmers are likely to understand and appreciate every detail in it. During my life I’ve written plenty of small application programs and worked with various different operating systems, so I’m familiar with a lot of the relevant jargon and I don’t find the book hard to read, although I can’t claim to have a full understanding of how ME operates.
October 26, 2009
I always love reading a SCIFI book written in such a way that even with the massive technological changes that have occurred since the writer first penned the story that it is still fresh and 'up to date'.
Great first person view from the point of an AI and the feelings and choices he/it makes.
(First read back in the mid 90's)
Great first person view from the point of an AI and the feelings and choices he/it makes.
(First read back in the mid 90's)
April 29, 2012
I love reading books that challenge my imagination and this is certainly one of those books.
January 30, 2015
Great exploration of the concept of AI and how it would evolve.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews