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CHAT
The social media giants of the early decades in the 21st century have died and been replaced by ‘CHAT’, a new artificial intelligence network built on a powerful quantum computer, affectionately called the 'Engine'. Avoiding the failings of its predecessors, CHAT has become ubiquitous. A key feature is the network's ability to translate any language to the language of the user, in real time; meaning that everyone around the world can speak to each other as if they are all speaking the same language. CHAT's artificial intelligence was developed at a remote campus of Cambridge University in Warwick, England. The academics at Warwick, led by Professor Nick Caine, continue to search for new human, as well as non-human languages, to extend the capabilities of the Engine. The Engine polls the Internet for signals by connecting to a wide range of equipment, from wildlife monitors to space stations. But one mysterious signal initially eludes the powerful translation abilities of the Engine. The signal, codenamed Alpha285, gets the attention of one of the university department's sponsors; the US military intelligence agency. As Alpha285, gradually reveals more about its origins, Nick is subjected to increasing pressure from the agency and their CIA associates to hand over control of what is rapidly becoming the most significant event in the history of mankind. Set in a future where the legacy of past generations' environmental abuse has come home to roost and human ingenuity has created innovative solutions in an attempt to arrest the damage, the pursuit of knowledge about Alpha285 becomes fraught with danger and intrigue.
- GenresScience Fiction
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 27, 2020
3 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Peter Lihou
16 books10 followersPeter graduated with honours in Science from the Open University in 1997, following the completion in a multi-disciplinary degree that included Science and Belief from Copernicus to Darwin, Physics, and Complexity Management.
Since that time he has pursued a keen interest in quantum mechanics and the cutting edge between the sciences and philosophy. He has also followed a career in technology businesses; in particular the large enterprise systems used by manufacturing corporations. For several decades Peter was a member of the UK's Institute of Directors, having been made a Fellow in 1986. In the early 1990's, he spent several years as an adviser to the world's largest computer company during the period when few of the large corporations had fully appreciated the potential of the Internet; his hallmark reputation was for 'banging on about the Internet'!
Peter's career as a writer began with his debut novel, 'Rachel's Shoe', which was originally published by Libros International in 2008. Since then he has written a number of books spanning the genres of general fiction, science fiction and a 'factional' novel about the history of his family covering 500 years on the island where he was raised, Guernsey.
He now lives in Cornwall, England, with his wife, Gill; their Cockapoo, Barney, and retired dressage horse, Charlie. When not writing, he takes care of their 7 acre woodland or takes to the sea in his sailing boat.
His writing preference now reflects a lifelong interest in science and philosophy.
Since that time he has pursued a keen interest in quantum mechanics and the cutting edge between the sciences and philosophy. He has also followed a career in technology businesses; in particular the large enterprise systems used by manufacturing corporations. For several decades Peter was a member of the UK's Institute of Directors, having been made a Fellow in 1986. In the early 1990's, he spent several years as an adviser to the world's largest computer company during the period when few of the large corporations had fully appreciated the potential of the Internet; his hallmark reputation was for 'banging on about the Internet'!
Peter's career as a writer began with his debut novel, 'Rachel's Shoe', which was originally published by Libros International in 2008. Since then he has written a number of books spanning the genres of general fiction, science fiction and a 'factional' novel about the history of his family covering 500 years on the island where he was raised, Guernsey.
He now lives in Cornwall, England, with his wife, Gill; their Cockapoo, Barney, and retired dressage horse, Charlie. When not writing, he takes care of their 7 acre woodland or takes to the sea in his sailing boat.
His writing preference now reflects a lifelong interest in science and philosophy.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 16, 2021
Is science fiction fundamentally different from other genres—ideas-led, rather than character-led? I suggested that once, in one of the discussion groups here on Goodreads, and was sort of shouted down: fiction (all fiction) is and can only be first and foremost about characters. Well, I not only think SF is about ideas first, but that it’s one of the best vehicles we’ve ever devised for exploring interesting, new, or just plain strange, concepts—and why it remains so popular, despite everything that gets thrown at it.
Anyway, CHAT reminded me of all that because it is definitely a novel of ideas. For instance: imagine you could devise a computer programme able to analyse—in fact, completely deconstruct—the very book review you’re reading right now; the idea is that, using the stream of English words on this page as your sample, you would run the film backwards so to speak, trace my own particular branch of the language-tree all the way back to its trunk to find a proto-language early enough in history, then run the film forwards again—but this time along the branch leading to modern French. You’d have translated this book review into perfect French. In theory, you could do this for any pair of languages: what you’d have would be a universal translator. Well, CHAT is set in a future where the awesome power of quantum computing has not only made this possible, but led to a new form of social media—or rather, an entity which has replaced today’s social media, a global forum where, in effect, everyone is finally speaking the same language.
But it has, inadvertently, done something even more profound too. As part of the development of this programme, the team at Cambridge University’s Machine Intelligence Group have been analysing millions of communications channels; their computer has been hooked up to everything from local TV to radio telescopes—and has found one particular signal it can’t either identify or decipher. More puzzling still, it can’t even pin down the location of the mystery transmitter—so could it be coming from space, an alien civilisation? Not everyone thinks so—there are other, more earthly, possibilities—and the research team begin to realise they’re being spied on…
CHAT sent my mind off in several directions. For a start, there’s quantum computing: this was a subject I knew nothing about before, but have been following up ever since—and trying to imagine where it might lead in real life (if it lives up to its billing, it could change everything).
Then there’s the message-from-space idea: say SETI did suddenly pick one up, wouldn’t it be the differences between us and its senders which would be particularly fascinating—and perhaps revealing? The similarities might confirm a lot of things we know already, sure, but would tell us little or nothing truly new. It would be the differences between us I reckon—between our worlds and respective minds, our two whole ways of looking at life—which would tell us most, not only about them, but also about ourselves.
Finally there’s ‘CHAT’ itself, that global forum free from the misunderstandings of language: if it ever really comes about, I think we’ll not only be able to get to know people on the other side of the planet, but actually see them as they see themselves—and (most revealing of all maybe) for the first time in history get a true idea of how we have always looked to them. Now that really would change everything.
…all of which were good reminders of why I read science fiction in the first place. And also why (because I’m sticking to my guns here) people write it.
Anyway, CHAT reminded me of all that because it is definitely a novel of ideas. For instance: imagine you could devise a computer programme able to analyse—in fact, completely deconstruct—the very book review you’re reading right now; the idea is that, using the stream of English words on this page as your sample, you would run the film backwards so to speak, trace my own particular branch of the language-tree all the way back to its trunk to find a proto-language early enough in history, then run the film forwards again—but this time along the branch leading to modern French. You’d have translated this book review into perfect French. In theory, you could do this for any pair of languages: what you’d have would be a universal translator. Well, CHAT is set in a future where the awesome power of quantum computing has not only made this possible, but led to a new form of social media—or rather, an entity which has replaced today’s social media, a global forum where, in effect, everyone is finally speaking the same language.
But it has, inadvertently, done something even more profound too. As part of the development of this programme, the team at Cambridge University’s Machine Intelligence Group have been analysing millions of communications channels; their computer has been hooked up to everything from local TV to radio telescopes—and has found one particular signal it can’t either identify or decipher. More puzzling still, it can’t even pin down the location of the mystery transmitter—so could it be coming from space, an alien civilisation? Not everyone thinks so—there are other, more earthly, possibilities—and the research team begin to realise they’re being spied on…
CHAT sent my mind off in several directions. For a start, there’s quantum computing: this was a subject I knew nothing about before, but have been following up ever since—and trying to imagine where it might lead in real life (if it lives up to its billing, it could change everything).
Then there’s the message-from-space idea: say SETI did suddenly pick one up, wouldn’t it be the differences between us and its senders which would be particularly fascinating—and perhaps revealing? The similarities might confirm a lot of things we know already, sure, but would tell us little or nothing truly new. It would be the differences between us I reckon—between our worlds and respective minds, our two whole ways of looking at life—which would tell us most, not only about them, but also about ourselves.
Finally there’s ‘CHAT’ itself, that global forum free from the misunderstandings of language: if it ever really comes about, I think we’ll not only be able to get to know people on the other side of the planet, but actually see them as they see themselves—and (most revealing of all maybe) for the first time in history get a true idea of how we have always looked to them. Now that really would change everything.
…all of which were good reminders of why I read science fiction in the first place. And also why (because I’m sticking to my guns here) people write it.
January 13, 2021
CHAT is an amazing look into the future, a creative prediction of where all social media may be leading us. It's a sci-fi thriller that kept the pages turning late into the night.
The "Engine," an artificial intelligent network capable of the highest level of cognitive functioning (even rivals the human mind), makes the world a smaller place by its ability to translate all languages, allowing everyone on earth to interact with one another. In a way, it monopolizes control of all earthly communications (anyone concerned about the big tech giants having too much power over our every-day lives, will find greater concern reading this story). The "Engine" also has the ability to communicate and interpret signals from non-human sources, which is does. And one particular signal becomes a matter of concern for all mankind. Frank Herbert once said, "The function of science fiction is not always to predict the future but sometimes to prevent it." I certainly feel that's true after reading CHAT.
The "Engine," an artificial intelligent network capable of the highest level of cognitive functioning (even rivals the human mind), makes the world a smaller place by its ability to translate all languages, allowing everyone on earth to interact with one another. In a way, it monopolizes control of all earthly communications (anyone concerned about the big tech giants having too much power over our every-day lives, will find greater concern reading this story). The "Engine" also has the ability to communicate and interpret signals from non-human sources, which is does. And one particular signal becomes a matter of concern for all mankind. Frank Herbert once said, "The function of science fiction is not always to predict the future but sometimes to prevent it." I certainly feel that's true after reading CHAT.
June 5, 2021
'CHAT' is a good read for people interested in scientific and philosophical speculation written from an informed perspective. It covers an amazing breadth of topics: from origins of the universe and meaning of life to concepts of multiverses, the collective unconscious, the nature of death, and the underpinning principles of communication within and across species - tied together with the bow of quantum entanglement!
Two aspects of the novel stand out in particular. Firstly, there is a lot of attention to detail in projection of application of technological advances in the near future. Secondly, there is a strong reflection on the socio-political themes, with discussion of alternative social structures.
The narrative style employs the omniscient third person point of view with frequent 'head-hopping' across the thoughts of different characters, interspersed with passages where the narrator takes a step back to a 'camera' POV. This tends to detract from the voices of individual characters and, not being a character-centric story, there are no significant character arcs to explore. Indeed, the strongest voice and personality that comes through in the book is that of the author himself.
I recommend approaching this book as a fascinating essay spanning scientific, philosophical and socio-political themes, underpinned by solid scientific foundations.
Two aspects of the novel stand out in particular. Firstly, there is a lot of attention to detail in projection of application of technological advances in the near future. Secondly, there is a strong reflection on the socio-political themes, with discussion of alternative social structures.
The narrative style employs the omniscient third person point of view with frequent 'head-hopping' across the thoughts of different characters, interspersed with passages where the narrator takes a step back to a 'camera' POV. This tends to detract from the voices of individual characters and, not being a character-centric story, there are no significant character arcs to explore. Indeed, the strongest voice and personality that comes through in the book is that of the author himself.
I recommend approaching this book as a fascinating essay spanning scientific, philosophical and socio-political themes, underpinned by solid scientific foundations.
March 26, 2022
A fascinating read: Quantum science meets thriller! An absorbing story that seamlessly blends the latest discoveries in technology and quantum entanglement theory with a rollicking investigation and adventure. Am really loving it!
January 18, 2021
This science-fiction envisions a future where strong artificial intelligence (AI) empowers social media letting us go beyond our current limits. It warns readers by reminding them that future generations may remember us for our environmental abuse. The only hope left is human ingenuity that may create innovative solutions for the worldwide challenges they will face. The novel suggests answers to the most critical questions of life and existence based on quantum theory. It appreciates human beings and their emotions through the interactions of its characters. It contains features making it look like realistic fiction. They shape the settings of the story and the characters’ thoughts, decisions, and actions. Philosophers, computer scientists, technologists, outer space life and intelligence researchers, futurists, and everyone interested in the future of AI and life may enjoy reading CHAT.
January 26, 2021
Reviewed in Australia on 26 January 2021
I found this book to be quite interesting. The author clearly has done his research regarding the science needed to correctly write this novel. The story itself keeps the reader intrigued to want to know what happens next and the growing tension of what lifeform they are talking to keeps you on edge.
I look forward to sequel.
I found this book to be quite interesting. The author clearly has done his research regarding the science needed to correctly write this novel. The story itself keeps the reader intrigued to want to know what happens next and the growing tension of what lifeform they are talking to keeps you on edge.
I look forward to sequel.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews