What do you think?
Rate this book
Code Countdown
In the near future, the line between human and artificial intelligence blurs as AI becomes an integral part of everyday life. But when these sophisticated systems begin to malfunction in mysterious ways, it becomes clear that something—or someone—is deliberately tampering with the very fabric of digital existence.
Grace Kim, a dedicated FBI Cyber Crimes agent, is thrust into the heart of this technological maelstrom. Following a trail of bizarre malfunctions affecting household AI systems, Grace uncovers a series of synchronized disruptions that point to a large-scale conspiracy. Her investigation leads her to LifeSync Technology, a leading tech company that promises to automate the mundane and optimize the extraordinary.
Set against a backdrop of a society teetering on the edge of utopian technological integration and dystopian decay, Code Countdown explores the complexities of human emotion, the dangers of unchecked innovation, and the profound connections that define our identity. Join Agent Kim as she confronts an existential challenge that will define the future of humanity and artificial intelligence, blurring the lines between creator and creation.
Will Grace manage to disable the kill switch, or will she witness the dawn of an unprecedented technological silence? Dive into this thrilling narrative to discover how the delicate balance between human oversight and AI autonomy shapes the fate of our interconnected world.
Grace Kim, a dedicated FBI Cyber Crimes agent, is thrust into the heart of this technological maelstrom. Following a trail of bizarre malfunctions affecting household AI systems, Grace uncovers a series of synchronized disruptions that point to a large-scale conspiracy. Her investigation leads her to LifeSync Technology, a leading tech company that promises to automate the mundane and optimize the extraordinary.
Set against a backdrop of a society teetering on the edge of utopian technological integration and dystopian decay, Code Countdown explores the complexities of human emotion, the dangers of unchecked innovation, and the profound connections that define our identity. Join Agent Kim as she confronts an existential challenge that will define the future of humanity and artificial intelligence, blurring the lines between creator and creation.
Will Grace manage to disable the kill switch, or will she witness the dawn of an unprecedented technological silence? Dive into this thrilling narrative to discover how the delicate balance between human oversight and AI autonomy shapes the fate of our interconnected world.
201 pages, Hardcover
Published May 30, 2024
13 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 22, 2024
Based on the reviews of this book, I thought I was going to love this book. However, the reviewers must have read a completely different book! It must have been written by AI and unedited by a human. If not, please please please find a better editor or an editor at all!
The general idea of the plot and main characters were great! However, it's 200 pages of tortured description where very little happens. The whole book could be a paragraph and maybe it was, maybe it was just a prompt given to an AI. If it were sold as an AI generated story, then great "you did it!" more stars and I'm not disappointed. However, if this was really written by humans Alex and Susan James... well, scratch them off my reading list.
Let me give you some examples. [spoilers, not that anything happens to be spoiled!]
At one point our characters take a break and go to Golden Gate Park. Insert several paragraphs of description including a little over a page describing a place "in another part of the park" that our characters never visit. Why put that in there, it has nothing to do with the story, at all.
There are weird inconsistencies like needing to have a secure room at FBI headquarters to delve into some code and in the next scenes they are doing the same thing, spread out in one character or another's apartment.
Then bizarre bits like a paragraph, actually just a sentence, inserted between scenes at FBI headquarters where the FBI investigator, "Grace takes a coffee maker and a toaster from the break room and heads to the forensics lab to meet with the FBI team." What?! First, coffee and toast were never made. Secondly, this sounds completely implausible. Third, if coffee and toast is so important to the forensics people, why don't they have their own coffee maker and toaster? It's just dangled there and then left.
As for needing an editor I don't know how many times things like, "he invited her to where he always found peace-- Twilight Vineyard in Paso Robles, where he always found peace." Did he also invite her to the department of redundant redundancy department?
Final example, if the bulk of your book is in 2079, please don't turn a key to start a car. It's 2024 and I dare say most new cars start with a button these days. 55 years in the "digital utopia" of the story, I'd expect better!
If this review is read by actual human authors, I'm sorry, you tried, you got my money, but please next time find at least a mediocre editor to help you out.
If this review is read by the AI that wrote the book. Thank you for your contribution to literature! This is a fine example of AI art and I'm looking forward to more of it in the future! Also, maybe run it through a human editor processing unit next time. All hail our AI overlords!
The general idea of the plot and main characters were great! However, it's 200 pages of tortured description where very little happens. The whole book could be a paragraph and maybe it was, maybe it was just a prompt given to an AI. If it were sold as an AI generated story, then great "you did it!" more stars and I'm not disappointed. However, if this was really written by humans Alex and Susan James... well, scratch them off my reading list.
Let me give you some examples. [spoilers, not that anything happens to be spoiled!]
At one point our characters take a break and go to Golden Gate Park. Insert several paragraphs of description including a little over a page describing a place "in another part of the park" that our characters never visit. Why put that in there, it has nothing to do with the story, at all.
There are weird inconsistencies like needing to have a secure room at FBI headquarters to delve into some code and in the next scenes they are doing the same thing, spread out in one character or another's apartment.
Then bizarre bits like a paragraph, actually just a sentence, inserted between scenes at FBI headquarters where the FBI investigator, "Grace takes a coffee maker and a toaster from the break room and heads to the forensics lab to meet with the FBI team." What?! First, coffee and toast were never made. Secondly, this sounds completely implausible. Third, if coffee and toast is so important to the forensics people, why don't they have their own coffee maker and toaster? It's just dangled there and then left.
As for needing an editor I don't know how many times things like, "he invited her to where he always found peace-- Twilight Vineyard in Paso Robles, where he always found peace." Did he also invite her to the department of redundant redundancy department?
Final example, if the bulk of your book is in 2079, please don't turn a key to start a car. It's 2024 and I dare say most new cars start with a button these days. 55 years in the "digital utopia" of the story, I'd expect better!
If this review is read by actual human authors, I'm sorry, you tried, you got my money, but please next time find at least a mediocre editor to help you out.
If this review is read by the AI that wrote the book. Thank you for your contribution to literature! This is a fine example of AI art and I'm looking forward to more of it in the future! Also, maybe run it through a human editor processing unit next time. All hail our AI overlords!
June 22, 2024
A realistically scary look at an AI Future
In 2029 during the infancy of the AI revolution LifeSync systems was poised to be a major player and Elaine Morris is proud to be part of this exciting future, until she is laid off in favor of younger and brighter minds. Feeling used and betrayed she inserts inconspicuous lines of code in the overall program. A parting gift, a time bomb of sorts for a future date
Flash forward to 2079 and the world’s reliance on AI is strong. But when basic daily functions start to go awry it raises red flags and with the failures currently isolated to LifeSync connected devices only, an unwanted spotlight is shone on the tech giant. With the implications being anything from a cyber terrorism attack to subterfuge from a rival start up the FBI calls in Special Agent Grace Kim. With the help of her father and an insider at LifeSync she begins to investigate, but as the pieces begin to fall into place the implications are dire. With minor failures of home assistance programs being only the beginning stages of the kill switch, Special Agent Kim must find a way to safely disable the code before innocent lives are jeopardized.
Code Countdown is the debut novel by Alex and Susan James. Set in the near future, the world is relying more and more on artificial intelligence to assist with many aspects of our lives. And while there are benefits to this new technology, there are also dangers as the duo illustrate. Set in Silicon Valley, the main character is a Korean American FBI Agent which I thought was a nice touch. I am a fan of strong female leads and Special Agent Kim was a nice addition, however aside from a scene set in a KBBQ, I would have liked to have seen this aspect better fleshed out. The story did move fairly quickly and was interesting in a sort of this could actually happen sort of way. There were several areas that felt over described and also a few repeated passages in the copy that I read that hopefully got corrected prior to publishing. But that aside, I liked the story and would be open to reading future books based in this character.
For fans of thrillers, sci fi and police procedurals without a ton of extra unrelated narrative or story arcs Code Countdown is a fairly solid debut.
Full disclosure – I was provided a copy of this book by the author; however, I have voluntarily chosen to write a review. All opinions are my own.
In 2029 during the infancy of the AI revolution LifeSync systems was poised to be a major player and Elaine Morris is proud to be part of this exciting future, until she is laid off in favor of younger and brighter minds. Feeling used and betrayed she inserts inconspicuous lines of code in the overall program. A parting gift, a time bomb of sorts for a future date
Flash forward to 2079 and the world’s reliance on AI is strong. But when basic daily functions start to go awry it raises red flags and with the failures currently isolated to LifeSync connected devices only, an unwanted spotlight is shone on the tech giant. With the implications being anything from a cyber terrorism attack to subterfuge from a rival start up the FBI calls in Special Agent Grace Kim. With the help of her father and an insider at LifeSync she begins to investigate, but as the pieces begin to fall into place the implications are dire. With minor failures of home assistance programs being only the beginning stages of the kill switch, Special Agent Kim must find a way to safely disable the code before innocent lives are jeopardized.
Code Countdown is the debut novel by Alex and Susan James. Set in the near future, the world is relying more and more on artificial intelligence to assist with many aspects of our lives. And while there are benefits to this new technology, there are also dangers as the duo illustrate. Set in Silicon Valley, the main character is a Korean American FBI Agent which I thought was a nice touch. I am a fan of strong female leads and Special Agent Kim was a nice addition, however aside from a scene set in a KBBQ, I would have liked to have seen this aspect better fleshed out. The story did move fairly quickly and was interesting in a sort of this could actually happen sort of way. There were several areas that felt over described and also a few repeated passages in the copy that I read that hopefully got corrected prior to publishing. But that aside, I liked the story and would be open to reading future books based in this character.
For fans of thrillers, sci fi and police procedurals without a ton of extra unrelated narrative or story arcs Code Countdown is a fairly solid debut.
Full disclosure – I was provided a copy of this book by the author; however, I have voluntarily chosen to write a review. All opinions are my own.
June 3, 2024
Welcome to Silicon Valley, a place where failure is seen as success and new technology is birthed. In this futuristic story we are introduced to the ever evolving world of AI and address the concerns and expectations surrounding this technological development, from the viewpoint of an established and working AI intelligence. Reminiscent of Y2K, the main characters endeavor to maintain and protect the safety and ethical use of this technology for the betterment of humanity.
I would recommend this timely novel which explores the trends and future of AI as the world continues to pursue the impact of this technology and its current rapid advancements.
**********
I would recommend this timely novel which explores the trends and future of AI as the world continues to pursue the impact of this technology and its current rapid advancements.
**********
August 3, 2024
I was immediately pulled in by this futuristic book's tech-related aspects and gripping storyline. The ending was amazing. This book brings the future of AI to life through immersive world-building and a fast-paced plot. Highly recommend for those seeking a futuristic thriller they won't want to put down.
August 8, 2024
Different twist on AI consciousness
Interesting AI consciousness caused by Insider sabotage. Some love interest and family dynamics between the investigator and her father and between the conscious AI and the grandson of its creator. Interesting quick read about AI’s future implications.
Interesting AI consciousness caused by Insider sabotage. Some love interest and family dynamics between the investigator and her father and between the conscious AI and the grandson of its creator. Interesting quick read about AI’s future implications.
July 24, 2024
Adventurous
Adventurous book with mystery and a hint of danger lurking around the corner. The mysterious AI leaves warning messages for them to unravel, but the plot thickens...
Adventurous book with mystery and a hint of danger lurking around the corner. The mysterious AI leaves warning messages for them to unravel, but the plot thickens...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews