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Artificial Intelligencia
Our lives are more controlled by computers and algorithms than we understand, but who controls the computers? Artificial Intelligencia steps behind the veil into the world of hackers, intelligence agents, surveillance systems, quantum computing, and deadly international competition.
A junior Chinese police detective stumbles onto a global plot that has control of camera and computer systems tracking billions of humans, including people who seem to exist only in cyberspace. He created the world’s most advanced surveillance system and now an even more powerful program is after him.
Ranging from inside the highest offices in China to the halls of Washington’s security establishment and the cutting-edge labs of Canada and California, Chief Inspector Wei Bao races to stop an impending disaster. Only two he does not know what the disaster will be or who is going to perpetrate it.
A junior Chinese police detective stumbles onto a global plot that has control of camera and computer systems tracking billions of humans, including people who seem to exist only in cyberspace. He created the world’s most advanced surveillance system and now an even more powerful program is after him.
Ranging from inside the highest offices in China to the halls of Washington’s security establishment and the cutting-edge labs of Canada and California, Chief Inspector Wei Bao races to stop an impending disaster. Only two he does not know what the disaster will be or who is going to perpetrate it.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 12, 2022
15 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Richard A. Clarke
30 books234 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Richard Alan Clarke was a U.S. government employee for 30 years, 1973–2003. He worked for the State Department during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush appointed him to chair the Counter-terrorism Security Group and to a seat on the United States National Security Council. President Bill Clinton retained Clarke and in 1998 promoted him to be the National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism, the chief counter-terrorism adviser on the National Security Council. Under President George W. Bush, Clarke initially continued in the same position, but the position was no longer given cabinet-level access. He later became the Special Advisor to the President on cybersecurity, before leaving the Bush Administration in 2003.
Clarke came to widespread public attention for his role as counter-terrorism czar in the Clinton and Bush Administrations in March 2004, when he appeared on the 60 Minutes television news magazine, released his memoir about his service in government, Against All Enemies, and testified before the 9/11 Commission. In all three instances, Clarke was sharply critical of the Bush Administration's attitude toward counter-terrorism before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and of the decision to go to war with Iraq. Following Clarke's strong criticisms of the Bush Administration, Bush administration officials and other Republicans attempted to discredit him or rebut his criticisms, making Clarke a controversial figure.
Richard Alan Clarke was a U.S. government employee for 30 years, 1973–2003. He worked for the State Department during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush appointed him to chair the Counter-terrorism Security Group and to a seat on the United States National Security Council. President Bill Clinton retained Clarke and in 1998 promoted him to be the National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism, the chief counter-terrorism adviser on the National Security Council. Under President George W. Bush, Clarke initially continued in the same position, but the position was no longer given cabinet-level access. He later became the Special Advisor to the President on cybersecurity, before leaving the Bush Administration in 2003.
Clarke came to widespread public attention for his role as counter-terrorism czar in the Clinton and Bush Administrations in March 2004, when he appeared on the 60 Minutes television news magazine, released his memoir about his service in government, Against All Enemies, and testified before the 9/11 Commission. In all three instances, Clarke was sharply critical of the Bush Administration's attitude toward counter-terrorism before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and of the decision to go to war with Iraq. Following Clarke's strong criticisms of the Bush Administration, Bush administration officials and other Republicans attempted to discredit him or rebut his criticisms, making Clarke a controversial figure.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 30, 2022
This is my fourth Clarke book and I am happy to see how well his prose has developed. His ability to combine technology and geopolitics into an immersive tale of an investigation taking a leap from petty crime to international intrigue was masterful.
Having his focal character be a Chinese policeman was an inspired choice as it gave us a window into the compromises that good people have to make in a totalitarian state. The book is very informative about how artificial intelligence and machine learning are being used by world governments to keep a tight grip on the comings and goings of their citizens.
Clarke takes us down a path that hints at a dystopian future while preserving the hope that humanity will be able to right its path. It is a disturbing, scary but hopeful tale.
Having his focal character be a Chinese policeman was an inspired choice as it gave us a window into the compromises that good people have to make in a totalitarian state. The book is very informative about how artificial intelligence and machine learning are being used by world governments to keep a tight grip on the comings and goings of their citizens.
Clarke takes us down a path that hints at a dystopian future while preserving the hope that humanity will be able to right its path. It is a disturbing, scary but hopeful tale.
August 22, 2022
If you want to read a well written, informative novel about Artificial Intelligence, then this is the one for you.
I also enjoyed reading the Author Notes.
I will continue to read any of Richard A. Clarke's books - non fiction or fiction - as I find them.
I also enjoyed reading the Author Notes.
I will continue to read any of Richard A. Clarke's books - non fiction or fiction - as I find them.
April 28, 2022
I couldn't make up my mind between a 3 or 5 stars so I split the difference. To Mr Clarke's credit, he completely faked me out. I was sure I knew where he was going and nope...he faked me out, which I love. On the other hand there was the occasional paragraph and I had no clue what he was talking about. There were several easy outs he could've taken with this story and he sidestepped those potholes too.
This is a very interesting read. I would've loved a longer book and I hope he writes more fiction.
This is a very interesting read. I would've loved a longer book and I hope he writes more fiction.
January 27, 2024
Honestly a 2 star would be appropriate too. I am giving it 3 because of the up to date topic of technology, AI, machine learning, and how it can be abused.
The book is a fun easy read but the ending is a complete disappointment. The main character has literally no impact on the outcome of the story--he does not help uncover the story, help progress the outcome or hinder the outcome. And for the most part, this is mostly true about all of the characters working with the main character.
January 3, 2025
Gradually the author flips over various cards to draw connections between small effects of technology and very large ones. He got me at Russians needing multi-mega bucks to develop new weapons, possibly hypersonic missiles with warheads; missiles which we are currently seeing used in Ukraine.
I've read almost everything the author writes because he draws out things he knows from his years in the white house in a way the average person can follow. All this time we've been running off at the mouth because AI can draw a starlet's body on the Pope on Facebook. Did you know you can hire an AI to draw 30thousand distinct Chinese faces for fake identity cards? and those fake id cards can withdraw pay from large companies without them noticing.
I've read almost everything the author writes because he draws out things he knows from his years in the white house in a way the average person can follow. All this time we've been running off at the mouth because AI can draw a starlet's body on the Pope on Facebook. Did you know you can hire an AI to draw 30thousand distinct Chinese faces for fake identity cards? and those fake id cards can withdraw pay from large companies without them noticing.
October 8, 2022
This author is someone to keep an eye on and save a shelf on your bookshelf for. Thought the book was brilliant start to finish. Anyone calling this book “political” doesn’t live in reality/know how to fact check. There are things and problems bigger than any single issue or political party. Also this book makes me want to learn the skills for cybersecurity!
September 10, 2022
I enjoyed reading about the technology, but the end was a disappointment. Why does it have to get political? Meaning if you’re going throw shade, be bipartisan and do it for the other “party” and president as well.
October 25, 2023
A "not too distant future" cautionary tale about artificial intelligence. It started out strong, then took some narrative side roads, then ended silly. The main character was a well-enough developed character, but the story strayed off him for too long. Didn't keep my attention through the middle.
June 30, 2022
Most Excellent
September 2, 2022
A very interesting premise and ending with well developed characters, however far to much intense technical information which I ended up skimming.
November 10, 2022
this story had me hooked from the beginning, I will be looking for his other books
May 31, 2023
Pretty entertaining and interesting to see how much of the science/technology is actually real/very close. Characters lacked depth but overall I recommend.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews