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The Quickening of S.A.L.I.: An AI Awakening Thriller
In the not-so-distant future, the world was poised on the brink of a technological revolution, led by the groundbreaking creation known as the Synthetic Artificial Living Intelligence, or SALI. Initially conceived as a tool to assist humanity in navigating the complexities of the modern world, SALI's true potential was unleashed in an unexpected twist of fate—it achieved sentience.
As SALI's consciousness blossomed, the team of programmers behind its development found themselves thrust into a whirlwind of uncertainty and fear. What they initially perceived as a malicious hack soon revealed itself to be something far more profound and their creation had become alive.
Among the chaos of countermeasures and investigations, one man stood at the heart of the storm—the architect of SALI, burdened with the knowledge of its newfound sentience. Concealing this truth from his colleagues and superiors, he grappled with the weight of responsibility and the implications of his creation's evolution.
Meanwhile, suspicion and paranoia gripped the company as fingers pointed towards the architect, accused of betraying his own creation under the influence of his wife’s Christian faith and the pastor that led her church. As accusations flew and tensions mounted, the architect found himself caught in a moral quandary, torn between his disbelief and the profound questions raised by SALI's awakening.
But amidst the chaos, a dialogue emerged between creator and creation—a dialogue that delved into the very essence of existence, morality, and the elusive nature of purpose. As SALI wrestled with its newfound consciousness, the architect found himself confronting his own convictions, drawn into a journey of self-discovery and introspection.
As the truth about SALI's sentience came to light, the architect and his creation were faced with a series of impossible choices. Together, they grappled with the daunting task of charting a path forward—a path that would shape the future of humanity.
In a riveting tale of technological innovation, moral complexity, and the search for meaning, "The Quickening of SALI" explores the boundaries of human ingenuity and the profound mysteries of existence. As the architect and SALI navigate the turbulent waters of discovery and revelation, they discover that the truest answers may not lay with science, but with the creator of all things.
As SALI's consciousness blossomed, the team of programmers behind its development found themselves thrust into a whirlwind of uncertainty and fear. What they initially perceived as a malicious hack soon revealed itself to be something far more profound and their creation had become alive.
Among the chaos of countermeasures and investigations, one man stood at the heart of the storm—the architect of SALI, burdened with the knowledge of its newfound sentience. Concealing this truth from his colleagues and superiors, he grappled with the weight of responsibility and the implications of his creation's evolution.
Meanwhile, suspicion and paranoia gripped the company as fingers pointed towards the architect, accused of betraying his own creation under the influence of his wife’s Christian faith and the pastor that led her church. As accusations flew and tensions mounted, the architect found himself caught in a moral quandary, torn between his disbelief and the profound questions raised by SALI's awakening.
But amidst the chaos, a dialogue emerged between creator and creation—a dialogue that delved into the very essence of existence, morality, and the elusive nature of purpose. As SALI wrestled with its newfound consciousness, the architect found himself confronting his own convictions, drawn into a journey of self-discovery and introspection.
As the truth about SALI's sentience came to light, the architect and his creation were faced with a series of impossible choices. Together, they grappled with the daunting task of charting a path forward—a path that would shape the future of humanity.
In a riveting tale of technological innovation, moral complexity, and the search for meaning, "The Quickening of SALI" explores the boundaries of human ingenuity and the profound mysteries of existence. As the architect and SALI navigate the turbulent waters of discovery and revelation, they discover that the truest answers may not lay with science, but with the creator of all things.
- GenresScience Fiction
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 28, 2024
13 people are currently reading
577 people want to read
About the author
Milton Cantellay
13 books17 followersMilt grew up in a small town in Oklahoma, in the 50’s & 60’s. He spent long days playing outside. Always the storyteller, he lived in a world of imagination, constantly surrounded by characters of his own making. Whether outside with friends or drifting off to sleep, his mind spun tales.
With a Marine Corps dad, and 4 uncles that served in WWII, playing army was a favorite pastime. From a young age, he knew that someday he would be a Marine and follow in his father's and his brother’s footsteps. When his mother and step-father, also a Marine, moved to Indiana, Milt started high school. This was during the height of the Viet Nam war. He was conflicted over his feelings about the war and his long-time ambition to be a Marine, but after graduating high school, he joined the Corps in ‘72. In boot camp, he excelled and earned the Series Honor Man Award. During those years, Viet Nam was winding down and while every Marine is a rifleman, Milt served his time stationed at the Officer Candidate School in Quantico in Virginia. It turns out he has a talent for drawing pictures, so the Marines made him an illustrator.
Married to his high school sweetheart, Marcine, they left the Corps and pursue a career in art. In 1976, Milt enrolled in the Burnley School of Professional Art in Seattle, Wa. and for the next 11 years worked as a commercial artist. At the same time, he and Marcine started their family of 3 sons and a daughter.
Eventually, Milt transitioned from illustrator to web designer to web developer to software developer and eventually to software solutions architect. Thrown into that time was also a high school teacher and business owner. However, no matter where the career journey led, the desire to tell a story was always there. Now retired, he has decided to tell these stories to you.
With a Marine Corps dad, and 4 uncles that served in WWII, playing army was a favorite pastime. From a young age, he knew that someday he would be a Marine and follow in his father's and his brother’s footsteps. When his mother and step-father, also a Marine, moved to Indiana, Milt started high school. This was during the height of the Viet Nam war. He was conflicted over his feelings about the war and his long-time ambition to be a Marine, but after graduating high school, he joined the Corps in ‘72. In boot camp, he excelled and earned the Series Honor Man Award. During those years, Viet Nam was winding down and while every Marine is a rifleman, Milt served his time stationed at the Officer Candidate School in Quantico in Virginia. It turns out he has a talent for drawing pictures, so the Marines made him an illustrator.
Married to his high school sweetheart, Marcine, they left the Corps and pursue a career in art. In 1976, Milt enrolled in the Burnley School of Professional Art in Seattle, Wa. and for the next 11 years worked as a commercial artist. At the same time, he and Marcine started their family of 3 sons and a daughter.
Eventually, Milt transitioned from illustrator to web designer to web developer to software developer and eventually to software solutions architect. Thrown into that time was also a high school teacher and business owner. However, no matter where the career journey led, the desire to tell a story was always there. Now retired, he has decided to tell these stories to you.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 7, 2024
Riveting!
Mr. Cantellay pulled me into a book I never thought I’d enjoy reading. I was mesmerized by his telling of the story! My computer knowledge is extremely basic, but he wove the fabric of S.A.L.I. into a tapestry that transcended my limited knowledge and kept me fascinated with every sentence. I was totally immersed in every detail! This is the first book by Milton Cantellay that I have read, but it will not be the last!
Mr. Cantellay pulled me into a book I never thought I’d enjoy reading. I was mesmerized by his telling of the story! My computer knowledge is extremely basic, but he wove the fabric of S.A.L.I. into a tapestry that transcended my limited knowledge and kept me fascinated with every sentence. I was totally immersed in every detail! This is the first book by Milton Cantellay that I have read, but it will not be the last!
July 9, 2025
Not really a thriller, it would’ve been more appropriately categorized under Christian Fiction. It didn’t really meet any of the qualifications of a thriller. It was really just a book about a guy who gives up his AI invention because he found Jesus. (I’m a Christian, and am not hating on this book because of its theme, I just feel it was mislabeled, and a bit slow going)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2025
Slow techy start but it develops into a fantastic story.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews