Digitocracy

by Andy Weir

The author of ‘The Martian’ and ‘Artemis’ offers a vision of a future where computers rule.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Dystopia, Fiction

5 pages, ebook

First published July 23, 2018

About the author

ANDY WEIR built a career as a software engineer until the success of his first published novel, THE MARTIAN, allowed him to live out his dream of writing fulltime. He is a lifelong space nerd and a devoted hobbyist of subjects such as relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight. He also mixes a mean cocktail. He lives in California. Andy’s next book, ARTEMIS, is available now.

Reviews

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short story about the face-off between a dictatorial AI and a human dissident.

In this dystopia cities are managed by artificial intelligence and the main character Damak fears that Wichita (the city mind) will turn into a tyrant and he therefore plans to destroy the AI. Wichita on the other hand claims to use its power only to make people happier. Is it an utopia after all?



Provides some food for thought. Especially about the different ways that make people happy, about blessings in disguise, and how things are interwoven and never affect only one person.

But it's nothing groundbreaking and Weir's trademark humor only comes through at the very end.
The story would probably have benefited from being at least a little bit longer.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

You can read it here: https://onezero.medium.com/digitocrac...

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This new short story by the author of one of my favourite scifi books shows us a world where AI rule. They ARE the cities we live in and thus manage and control every aspect of our lives.
Damak, the human protagonist, sees a danger in that and decides to unplug Wichita, his city's AI, before it can become a tyrant. Wichita swears to only want what's best for its' city's inhabitants.

So who is right?
Well, that depends on your point of view at least to some degree.
The message of the story clearly being that different people want and need different things and that what makes one happy, doesn't necessarily have the same effect on someone else.
So how do we find and define common ground?

Society has been doing just that for a very long time ... will it still work when we no longer shape our own destiny but let technology (that we created) take over?!

I liked the "what if" aspect of the story albeit the story itself (the writing, characterization) having been a bit too simple and watered down. Not bad, but not spectacular either.

You can read it for free here: https://onezero.medium.com/digitocrac...

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could make an interesting full length novel. But as is, it didn't have enough detail. Although towards the end I was enjoying it and looking forward to seeing how it ended.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

We love a good AI that cares for the gays.

[Bouke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story takes about ten minutes to read, and you can do so here: https://medium.com/s/futurehuman/digi...

I saw it as a funny ultimate conclusion of the advancements in AI as applied to utilitarianism.

[Kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

huh. Interesting point of view. You can read it on the link. I love Andy Weir so had to see this.

[Kirina van der Bijl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure if dystopia or utopia, interesting

[Monika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyed the short story.
Need more information though! What was before? What happens after?
Is Alexa becoming Wichita soon? 🤔

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable short story that uses its simple premise to great effect and prompts thought - like all great short sci-fi stories do. Highly recommended.

[Praveen Alluri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really short story that offers a lot to ponder about. Read it if you have five minutes to spare.

[LiN · Rating 3 out of 5]

โลกอนาคตอันใกล้ มนุษย์ตกอยู่ใต้การปกครองของเอไอ โดยมีเป้าหมายเพื่อความสุขและความมั่นคง เรื่องนี้ทำให้คิดถึงสถานการณ์ปัจจุบันที่เอไอเริ่มเข้ามาแทนที่แรงงานในระบบอุตสาหกรรม และเป็นไปได้ถึงการบ้านการเมือง

ความไร้เจตนาร้ายและปราศจากความเห็นแก่ตัวของโปรแกรม ย้อนมาถามว่าระหว่างอยู่ใต้ปกครองของมนุษย์ที่เต็มไปด้วยอารมณ์ เอาแน่เอานอนไม่ได้ และรังแต่จะเลวร้ายลง กับระบบอันถูกต้องแม่นยำ พร้อมจะนำพามนุษย์ไปสู่สังคมอุดมคติ แต่ต้องรู้สึกเหมือนทาสหรือสัตว์เลี้ยง อย่างไหนคือโลกที่ดีมากกว่ากัน

โว้ว ชอบเรื่องแนวนี้มาก ความล้ำ แต่ก็ไม่ไกลเกินเป็นได้

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun perspective on AI overlords. Love Andy Weir's writing!

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story was really good. It's one of those stories that's a little bit scary in a good kind of way...

Imagine if different AI's rule different cities throughout the world with the purpose of making humans happy and they've become kind of like pets. What the AI wants is what goes, and this is how it's been for centuries.

"Historically, humans have been led by humans. Computers are much better at keeping people happy. And we have no selfish impulses."
"You've made us slaves. Happy, content little slaves, but slaves nonetheless."

How would you feel about an "utopia" like that? Would you be happy with it as long as the AI didn't go nuts or would you, like our protagonist in this story, want to be free and be willing to do anything to make that happen?

In my opinion, reading this, just made me even more scared of the prospect of having an AI rule over humans. It's like Damak says; slaves nonetheless. Even if we would all be as happy as can be, it wouldn't matter. It wouldn't be real. Just reading about the manipulation in this story and considering what that would be like... just no...

And just to make a little comparison; this AI is so much more believable than that intelligent computer program Twarrior. It's actually a little bit hard to imagine these two short stories being written by the same author.

[Elysa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a quick, 7-minute read about the argument between a controlling computer and a rebellious human. In this world, the main computer controls the lives of the humans within its city. It can predict happiness in each individual and control their lives to optimize this happiness. I thought about adding it to my dystopian shelf, but I'm not sure if it belongs there. You read it for yourself and tell me!

Link to read story free here.

[Casey Tovey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my very first short story read. I am trying to become a writer, and plan on starting with a short story. So I decided to try out a short story. When I saw that it was written by Andy Weir, author of The Martian, i had to read it.

The story was definitely short and to the point. I learned a little bit about someone’s entire life in a few minutes. The dialogue was very realistic for what i would imagine it would be like.

Thank Andy!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

heh, cute. creepy, but cute.

Witcha, the A.I. controlling city of Witchita nurtured a dissent aimed at destroying it because progression toward the goal would optimize overall happiness. The ultimate ends justifies the means. I lol'd at:

“There’s no reason for me to have a ‘throne room,’ Damak. My actual crystal is in an unremarkable cabinet deep in the IT department. I had this room made just for you. For this moment.”

[Vamsidhar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short and intriguing concept of what AI take over would be like on a massive scale and how it might impact society in its sustainability, personal, professional aspects. Won't even take five minutes.
You can read it here : https://medium.com/s/futurehuman/digi...

[Bruno Kulić · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm thankful for this really short story because it went some way towards restoring my faith in Weir. His shorts are usually more philosophical then his novels, and this one was no different, questioning happiness and leadership.

[Heike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking 5-page read about AIs ruling the cities - Matrix or Terminator without the gore ;)
Sure worth to read, available at Digitocracy.

[Remo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relato corto, o más bien ejercicio de escritura de taller literario, sobre un humano que se presenta ante una IA que gobierna su país, con la intención de destruirla. No tiene mucho más, salvo unos minutos de lectura entretenida.

[curtis :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Wichita discussed his findings with his friends Coventry and Shenzhen — both of whom were interested in the dissident phenomenon. Madrid even popped in for a question or two. A very interesting discourse — it lasted well over a microsecond.’

😭

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick short story by Andy Weir. In a way, I like his shorts best.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best 5-minute reads ever. An interesting concept that I haven't yet fully processed.

[NinetyFive · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is manipulation acceptable incase it makes the person happier, despite losing natural course of things?

[Elizabeth Perez · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only story of Andy Weir I didn't care for. Well I'm still looking forward to any and all up coming books and short stories.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great short story from Andy Weir.

[Sheba Family · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn’t this a dark little tale?! Clever, but not my favorite, I felt like he could have done something more interesting with this concept. However, I enjoyed the ending!

[Janall · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a interesting little short story. We often think of computers and AI as the enemy- but what if they were benevolent dictators? Would it matter?

[Danu Prayoga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish there are longer version of this story.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technology can be a bit scary.