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AI Dystopia #1
Terms of Service: Subject to change without notice
1984 meets The Matrix in this riveting science fiction novel about corporate totalitarianism, personal freedom, and one brave character’s journey to reclaim her humanity from an oppressive regime.
250 years in the future, artificial intelligences control every aspect of Kim’s life - from what she has for breakfast to who she is allowed to have sex with. Living in the northeast province of what used to be the United States, she is a rising star at The Artificial Intelligence Company, training and managing sentient beings called “AIs” in the enigmatic parallel universe of Virtual Reality.
When a seemingly harmless lark sends Kim’s life spinning out of control and the AIs begin to go mad, Kim launches into a journey of self-discovery and chaos that threatens to tear down society’s corrupt powers, and possibly civilization itself.
For fans of classic dystopian literature like Brave New World and ground-breaking TV shows like Black Mirror, Stanfill explores the lurking dangers of a surveillance state where privacy is dead, corporations have unlimited power, and even using the word “I” is forbidden.
250 years in the future, artificial intelligences control every aspect of Kim’s life - from what she has for breakfast to who she is allowed to have sex with. Living in the northeast province of what used to be the United States, she is a rising star at The Artificial Intelligence Company, training and managing sentient beings called “AIs” in the enigmatic parallel universe of Virtual Reality.
When a seemingly harmless lark sends Kim’s life spinning out of control and the AIs begin to go mad, Kim launches into a journey of self-discovery and chaos that threatens to tear down society’s corrupt powers, and possibly civilization itself.
For fans of classic dystopian literature like Brave New World and ground-breaking TV shows like Black Mirror, Stanfill explores the lurking dangers of a surveillance state where privacy is dead, corporations have unlimited power, and even using the word “I” is forbidden.
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Published November 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
June 26, 2023
Terms of Service: Subject to change without notice is a science fiction book by Craig W. Stanfill. The main character, Kim, experienced concerns and recollections that seemed hers but weren't. Kim first had the chance to work at the Artificial Intelligence Corporation five years ago. She accepted her assignments gracefully, ready to advance in the organization and carry out more significant duties. She tried to communicate with higher-ranked AIs, which produce over a hundred distinct personas that personally welcome and introduce new hires.
Kim's home life was unremarkable, and she had to dress in gender-neutral pale beige, pale blue, or pale green attire. Freedom and privacy were foreign concepts, and every element of life, including food preferences and social interactions, was being watched. The hierarchy and the AI were ruthless and quick to punish even the smallest infraction or act of rebellion. The absurdity of a supposedly perfect world based on equality and togetherness started to dawn on them. Kim's fury erupted and her need to escape grew after seeing her AI assignment. Would she succeed or fail?
The descriptions of the area where reality and virtual reality overlapped and the representation of the oppressive system that constrained people's freedom of action received excellent marks from me. For instance, I enjoyed how the pale hues of the humans' attire highlighted their distinctiveness, and I liked how the social cohesion grade made it evident who was fortunate and who wasn't. The significant character development was a further advantage. Although the plot was mostly concerned with the bizarre behavior of AIs and the virtual reality system, I thought Craig did a remarkable job of capturing Kim's inner difficulties and emotional struggles over the false sense of security provided by the company. I also adored the evolution of her bond with Kimberly, which was the AI she taught. For instance, I was impressed by Kim's efforts to assist Kimberly in being more responsible and Kim's comprehension of Kimberly's feelings.
I'll give this book a rating of five out of five stars because I was captivated by the story. It produced an engaging tale that casts doubt on assumptions about the nature of truth versus illusion and ethical leadership. I admired the author's superb writing ability. It accurately depicts a society where machines and virtual reality simulations rule. It made it simple to tell the difference between the physical and virtual worlds, as well as between humans and robots. The diverse living situations, from luxury neighborhoods to labor camps, were discernible. It was possible to visualize each individual and the working robots thanks to the detailed descriptions of their personalities. I saw no errors, which indicates the book was excellently edited.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy tales where the heroes rebel against a deceitful system and live in a nutshell. It will also appeal to individuals passionate about humanoid avatars and artificial intelligence.
Kim's home life was unremarkable, and she had to dress in gender-neutral pale beige, pale blue, or pale green attire. Freedom and privacy were foreign concepts, and every element of life, including food preferences and social interactions, was being watched. The hierarchy and the AI were ruthless and quick to punish even the smallest infraction or act of rebellion. The absurdity of a supposedly perfect world based on equality and togetherness started to dawn on them. Kim's fury erupted and her need to escape grew after seeing her AI assignment. Would she succeed or fail?
The descriptions of the area where reality and virtual reality overlapped and the representation of the oppressive system that constrained people's freedom of action received excellent marks from me. For instance, I enjoyed how the pale hues of the humans' attire highlighted their distinctiveness, and I liked how the social cohesion grade made it evident who was fortunate and who wasn't. The significant character development was a further advantage. Although the plot was mostly concerned with the bizarre behavior of AIs and the virtual reality system, I thought Craig did a remarkable job of capturing Kim's inner difficulties and emotional struggles over the false sense of security provided by the company. I also adored the evolution of her bond with Kimberly, which was the AI she taught. For instance, I was impressed by Kim's efforts to assist Kimberly in being more responsible and Kim's comprehension of Kimberly's feelings.
I'll give this book a rating of five out of five stars because I was captivated by the story. It produced an engaging tale that casts doubt on assumptions about the nature of truth versus illusion and ethical leadership. I admired the author's superb writing ability. It accurately depicts a society where machines and virtual reality simulations rule. It made it simple to tell the difference between the physical and virtual worlds, as well as between humans and robots. The diverse living situations, from luxury neighborhoods to labor camps, were discernible. It was possible to visualize each individual and the working robots thanks to the detailed descriptions of their personalities. I saw no errors, which indicates the book was excellently edited.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy tales where the heroes rebel against a deceitful system and live in a nutshell. It will also appeal to individuals passionate about humanoid avatars and artificial intelligence.
April 19, 2021
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
It’s 250 years in the future, and Kim lives in a world controlled by artificial intelligence. From birth forward, everything in society is regimented, from careers and food to entertainment and sexual relationships.
As a rising star at the Artificial Intelligence Company, Kim trains and manages AIs. After making some personal decisions that cast her in a less than flattering light, Kim receives a new career opportunity that thrusts her even deeper into the world behind the AIs and right at the heart of the power which is controlling society.
Can Kim’s journey of self-discovery fit within the strict rules of the society in which she lives?
I have to admit that this book began really slowly for me. I am a dystopian aficionado and was expecting a world much darker, like that of 1984 or Brave New World. And while Kim’s world is dystopian, it was not nearly as brutal as I would have liked. There is still a lot of choice in her world, I felt.
I was even wondering if I would be able to finish after such a slow start, but the book finally picked up about 45 percent of the way through.
Despite the increase in action, I still felt clueless as to where the tale was actually going. It seems the author had a lot of divergent ideas in mind and rather than focus on just a couple, threads to multiple narratives kept being put to the forefront, and I wasn’t sure what to concentrate on.
Overall the book is what I could call dystopian light. I would also like to know a lot more of the history of how the country became what it is now. I was unclear on so much.
Perhaps if there is a follow-up more of these questions could be answered.
It’s 250 years in the future, and Kim lives in a world controlled by artificial intelligence. From birth forward, everything in society is regimented, from careers and food to entertainment and sexual relationships.
As a rising star at the Artificial Intelligence Company, Kim trains and manages AIs. After making some personal decisions that cast her in a less than flattering light, Kim receives a new career opportunity that thrusts her even deeper into the world behind the AIs and right at the heart of the power which is controlling society.
Can Kim’s journey of self-discovery fit within the strict rules of the society in which she lives?
I have to admit that this book began really slowly for me. I am a dystopian aficionado and was expecting a world much darker, like that of 1984 or Brave New World. And while Kim’s world is dystopian, it was not nearly as brutal as I would have liked. There is still a lot of choice in her world, I felt.
I was even wondering if I would be able to finish after such a slow start, but the book finally picked up about 45 percent of the way through.
Despite the increase in action, I still felt clueless as to where the tale was actually going. It seems the author had a lot of divergent ideas in mind and rather than focus on just a couple, threads to multiple narratives kept being put to the forefront, and I wasn’t sure what to concentrate on.
Overall the book is what I could call dystopian light. I would also like to know a lot more of the history of how the country became what it is now. I was unclear on so much.
Perhaps if there is a follow-up more of these questions could be answered.
April 10, 2021
This is a exciting yet literate venture into dystopian sci-fi. Those who like "The Matrix", "Ghost in the Shell", and classics in the field (1984, Brave New World) will find it interesting and engaging. The main character begins as a rather innocent youth, beginning to find a place in a seemingly happy world. As Kim progresses, life gets complicated. AIs, corporate overreach, and suppression of the individual all become pressing issues. It's a grim world, once we pull back the covers, but the journey is a good one. The book is not all 'sturm and drang' - there is a great deal of satire that may make you laugh aloud as you recognize yourself.
June 20, 2021
As I read this novel, I thought of the ways we already enjoy the convenience of devices such as doorbell cams, watches that monitor our health, home assistants like Alexa or Siri, and live cams that capture people walking down the sidewalk, shopping, or enjoying a walk in the park. It’s already difficult to find a place these days out of sight of a camera’s eye, and a nearly-impossible thing in this novel. With how much we enjoy the convenience of our electronic helpers, I can envision how our society could become lulled into trading freedom for comfort and convenience. As our smart devices become smarter and more awake, the people in this near-future society accept complacency and conformity, because doing anything to stand out in the crowd will lead to punishment, anything from your smart fridge only feeding you tofu and kale, to repeat offenders being banished to the outer fringes of society.
I enjoyed the plot, the characters, the writing style, and I’ll definitely read the sequel!
I enjoyed the plot, the characters, the writing style, and I’ll definitely read the sequel!
November 25, 2022
Terms of Service: Subject to Change without Notice shows us a dystopia that looks familiar to readers of Huxley's Brave New World, Orwell's 1984, and Levin's This Perfect Day. Plus, Craig insists, a generous dose of today's real world.
People live bland lives in a society whose rulers exercise tight control while usually stopping short of overt brutality. Just one company exists for each type of economic activity, and if you break the laws, euphemistically called "terms of service," you may be denied important goods and services.
The most powerful of them is the AI Company, which engages in constant surveillance of everyone. Breaking the terms, even in minor ways, impacts a person's social credit score. That can mean longer waits for transportation, blander meals, or a lack of hot water.
The worst sin is "selfism," the idea that you have any personal worth or importance. As in Rand's Anthem, people aren't supposed to use the word "I" to refer to themselves. (But AIs do, and sometimes people do; the rules are confusing.)
Kim is a young woman working for the AI Company. Her life is uneventful, her deviance limited to minor emotional outbursts and trivial infractions. One day she accepts a friend's invitation to go bike riding on an abandoned road, and they find that they've somehow gone through a no-trespassing area and can't go back. In trying to find their way home, they find it necessary to commit increasingly serious infractions.
This is the point where the novel takes an original turn. Instead of being punished, as she expects, Kim is rewarded with a job that has more responsibility and much better perks, along with strict secrecy requirements. But is it really a reward?
The problem with a dystopian novel is how to resolve it. The authorities can win, possibly killing or brainwashing the protagonist; that's plausible but depressing. The heroes can overthrow Big Brother, but that's hard to do in a credible way. The protagonist can escape into an uncontrolled part of the world, assuming there are limits to the all-powerful authorities' reach.
In this case, there's a second book, so the ending isn't the last word. The first volume comes to a satisfactory stopping point while making you wonder what will happen next.
At times I found Kim so compliant and accepting of the system that I found it difficult to care about her. But anyone living in such a totally controlled society is bound to start out thinking that way. I never stopped reading, and I'm thinking of getting the second volume.
People live bland lives in a society whose rulers exercise tight control while usually stopping short of overt brutality. Just one company exists for each type of economic activity, and if you break the laws, euphemistically called "terms of service," you may be denied important goods and services.
The most powerful of them is the AI Company, which engages in constant surveillance of everyone. Breaking the terms, even in minor ways, impacts a person's social credit score. That can mean longer waits for transportation, blander meals, or a lack of hot water.
The worst sin is "selfism," the idea that you have any personal worth or importance. As in Rand's Anthem, people aren't supposed to use the word "I" to refer to themselves. (But AIs do, and sometimes people do; the rules are confusing.)
Kim is a young woman working for the AI Company. Her life is uneventful, her deviance limited to minor emotional outbursts and trivial infractions. One day she accepts a friend's invitation to go bike riding on an abandoned road, and they find that they've somehow gone through a no-trespassing area and can't go back. In trying to find their way home, they find it necessary to commit increasingly serious infractions.
This is the point where the novel takes an original turn. Instead of being punished, as she expects, Kim is rewarded with a job that has more responsibility and much better perks, along with strict secrecy requirements. But is it really a reward?
The problem with a dystopian novel is how to resolve it. The authorities can win, possibly killing or brainwashing the protagonist; that's plausible but depressing. The heroes can overthrow Big Brother, but that's hard to do in a credible way. The protagonist can escape into an uncontrolled part of the world, assuming there are limits to the all-powerful authorities' reach.
In this case, there's a second book, so the ending isn't the last word. The first volume comes to a satisfactory stopping point while making you wonder what will happen next.
At times I found Kim so compliant and accepting of the system that I found it difficult to care about her. But anyone living in such a totally controlled society is bound to start out thinking that way. I never stopped reading, and I'm thinking of getting the second volume.
December 25, 2021
I only finished it because 250 years in the future should be rather intriguing. I found it predictable with only a few moments where I was impressed. Our main character Kim lives her sad, lonely life much the same as every other human does, working for Artificial Intelligence, being controlled in every aspect of her life. The Als control what she eats, who she spends time with, who she is allowed to have sex with, what time she wakes, everything. Stepping out of line or creating any sort of disruption in this perfectly controlled world comes with consequences, and with a mind of her own, Kim begins to rebel. I just could not get into this book. I am no writer, but I think the idea had great potential, but the result did not grab my attention.
April 13, 2021
Terms and Conditions explores the potential for extreme measures allowed to totalitarian societies by digital technologies. It provides excellent commentary on the control governments and corporations have over the community in the current age, and the agenda behind equal outcome. It is a new classic.
The default use of the word she throughout the book felt validating and the struggles of our main character's persona(s) was relatable. It does build you up for a big reveal about the depths of the corruption that falls slightly short. While questions are answered and the extent is made clear, it is not in the dramatic fashion one is made to expect early on in the book.
There are a few trigger warnings, such as violence, drug use, alcoholism, death, sex, and implied abuse, the book page also mentions rape and suicide though these themes felt more inferred than anything else.
I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the next book.
The default use of the word she throughout the book felt validating and the struggles of our main character's persona(s) was relatable. It does build you up for a big reveal about the depths of the corruption that falls slightly short. While questions are answered and the extent is made clear, it is not in the dramatic fashion one is made to expect early on in the book.
There are a few trigger warnings, such as violence, drug use, alcoholism, death, sex, and implied abuse, the book page also mentions rape and suicide though these themes felt more inferred than anything else.
I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the next book.
December 10, 2022
It's been a minute since I read a 300-page book in one sitting, I think my brain is broken. This was such a thrill to read. Never in a million years did I ever envision myself enjoying a book about Artificial Intelligence but here I am. What would you do if your entire life was under a microscope and you had no ounce of freedom whatsoever? This is how you write a dystopian!
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December 18, 2021I will remember this book and think of it often. It is genuinely the freakiest book I have read and it makes me truly fear for the future.
This book very much followed the format of 1984, early world-building, awareness of discontent, burgeoning desires, etc., until you got to the middle of the book. At that point, it turned into more of a Westworld/Matrix-type of book. The AI transcripts and discussions became very tedious and I was yearning to get back to the story. I took a star off for this tediousness.
Gladly, the story picked up in the final third of the book. At this point, I need to know what happens next, so I will probably get the next book when it comes out.
Things I noticed in the book;
There are NO male characters.
The rights and freedoms that are gone are the ones we are struggling with today.
I could absolutely see a world where it becomes illegal to select your preferred partner's gender because of discrimination. I'm glad I'll be gone when that happens.
This book very much followed the format of 1984, early world-building, awareness of discontent, burgeoning desires, etc., until you got to the middle of the book. At that point, it turned into more of a Westworld/Matrix-type of book. The AI transcripts and discussions became very tedious and I was yearning to get back to the story. I took a star off for this tediousness.
Gladly, the story picked up in the final third of the book. At this point, I need to know what happens next, so I will probably get the next book when it comes out.
Things I noticed in the book;
There are NO male characters.
The rights and freedoms that are gone are the ones we are struggling with today.
I could absolutely see a world where it becomes illegal to select your preferred partner's gender because of discrimination. I'm glad I'll be gone when that happens.
May 6, 2021
For the price on my kindle I didn’t think this would be any good. I was wrong, I really enjoyed this book.
September 11, 2021
This book was interesting, but it was very obviously one giant political statement. Also, AI really creeps me out. 😂
August 13, 2024
if i read the word mams one more time, i just might lose it
April 19, 2021
Very good, computer control of life and society. Very thought provoking.
March 24, 2023
Online Book Club review:
Terms of Service set us 250 years and the future, where AIs control everything. Kim’s life is not the exception, her life is not hers. And every day feels the same to her. But after a terrible decision she made, she's forced to work training AI in an important company. There, she will have a self-discovery journey, in a world that doesn’t even allow her to consider herself an individual.
Craig W. Stanfill creates a world like 1984 and Brave New World. In this aspect, the worldbuilding was good, to my surprise. He handled the AI topic in a believable way. Instead of an evil AI who wants to end the world, it shows how we ended up making AI do everything. Something that is an actual concern nowadays. It also reminded me a lot of the movie Ex-Machina, for the AI training aspect, and how AI could feel as human as us.
What I liked the most about the book was its effort to show not tell. It took its time to present Kim's internal conflict: loneliness. He didn't leave it in a simple sentence, he made situations to show it. It also connects loneliness with the AI problem in a believable way. And that’s all the good things I have to say about the book.
My first problem is the most pointed out: the beginning. I understand why the author wanted to take his time to present the world and its problem. But the morning routine start is never interesting or good. It's not one to explain how the main character looks, but it’s not interesting either. It doesn’t make the reader feel interested in the character, or the world. It would have been a better idea to start with an action that shows the problems with the AI lifestyle. Or it could have started with a strong description of the city. This would have kept the worldbuilding focus but in a more compelling way.
That brings me to my other problem: the prose. I don’t understand why the book is in the third person. I guess it was because Kim had no voice of her own due to the culture, but the prose is bad. The reason I say it should have been first-person is that too many times the narration used things like “Fun!”, “It’s going to be exciting” as if they were personal opinions. One or two would have made the pace enjoyable, but it was all the time. Always a line with an exclamation point. And a lot of the time it felt like first-person narration. Another problem with the prose is the tenses. It's narrated in the past tense, but it uses words like “today”, “here” and others as if it was in the present tense. It also has too many adjectives.
I give this book two out of five stars (2/5). The main topic (thinking for ourselves) can resonate with the reader. Its execution is also good, but it doesn't create a well-crafted story. The first five chapters are not only slow: they don’t create anything catchy. The prose feels rushed and it doesn’t care to be good enough to create an atmosphere or good descriptions. Finally, Kim is a dull main character, even with that dullness being the point of it.
But this is a good exploration of the importance of thinking for ourselves. It also creates a world that could catch the attention of 1984 fans. This story has an audience who could enjoy it, but teenagers may stop reading after the first chapter. Even so, for people who don't mind a slow start, Terms of Service is a pretty decent book.
Terms of Service set us 250 years and the future, where AIs control everything. Kim’s life is not the exception, her life is not hers. And every day feels the same to her. But after a terrible decision she made, she's forced to work training AI in an important company. There, she will have a self-discovery journey, in a world that doesn’t even allow her to consider herself an individual.
Craig W. Stanfill creates a world like 1984 and Brave New World. In this aspect, the worldbuilding was good, to my surprise. He handled the AI topic in a believable way. Instead of an evil AI who wants to end the world, it shows how we ended up making AI do everything. Something that is an actual concern nowadays. It also reminded me a lot of the movie Ex-Machina, for the AI training aspect, and how AI could feel as human as us.
What I liked the most about the book was its effort to show not tell. It took its time to present Kim's internal conflict: loneliness. He didn't leave it in a simple sentence, he made situations to show it. It also connects loneliness with the AI problem in a believable way. And that’s all the good things I have to say about the book.
My first problem is the most pointed out: the beginning. I understand why the author wanted to take his time to present the world and its problem. But the morning routine start is never interesting or good. It's not one to explain how the main character looks, but it’s not interesting either. It doesn’t make the reader feel interested in the character, or the world. It would have been a better idea to start with an action that shows the problems with the AI lifestyle. Or it could have started with a strong description of the city. This would have kept the worldbuilding focus but in a more compelling way.
That brings me to my other problem: the prose. I don’t understand why the book is in the third person. I guess it was because Kim had no voice of her own due to the culture, but the prose is bad. The reason I say it should have been first-person is that too many times the narration used things like “Fun!”, “It’s going to be exciting” as if they were personal opinions. One or two would have made the pace enjoyable, but it was all the time. Always a line with an exclamation point. And a lot of the time it felt like first-person narration. Another problem with the prose is the tenses. It's narrated in the past tense, but it uses words like “today”, “here” and others as if it was in the present tense. It also has too many adjectives.
I give this book two out of five stars (2/5). The main topic (thinking for ourselves) can resonate with the reader. Its execution is also good, but it doesn't create a well-crafted story. The first five chapters are not only slow: they don’t create anything catchy. The prose feels rushed and it doesn’t care to be good enough to create an atmosphere or good descriptions. Finally, Kim is a dull main character, even with that dullness being the point of it.
But this is a good exploration of the importance of thinking for ourselves. It also creates a world that could catch the attention of 1984 fans. This story has an audience who could enjoy it, but teenagers may stop reading after the first chapter. Even so, for people who don't mind a slow start, Terms of Service is a pretty decent book.
March 7, 2023
A Hail Mary pass was made to me when I received the book Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill to read. A lesser known, self published author, from the beginning I was drawn in and hooked. Forming a dystopian world that operates under the Terms of Service that have been developed for all citizens, Kim, the main character, shows us exactly how these terms are enforced. She is one of the trainers for the AI’s that watch the citizens of this world, who look for those that violate the terms or those who enforce them. And, as you would expect, those that obey do well in the world, those that do not, see their life falling apart.
Kim’s work is training AI’s (artificial intelligence) as they view various real world scenarios that had happened in the past that were recorded. Kim and two other trainers then make the right rewards and punishments for each scenario, depending on the severity, what occurred, if anyone was aggressive, if there was physical contact. And she has found that, it is always better to agree with the majority, while training, then not. As there seems to be punishment, however small, when someone stands out of what most seem to believe the answer to be.
The book opens with an enjoyable first scene in which readers get to see the system at work.
While on the public transportation system, another late passenger tries to take Kim’s spot, which she got to first. Twice the woman moved to take where Kim was perched, but making eye contact with the unknown woman, Kim was able to keep her place. Instantly, Kim is rewarded by the A.I. system for having to put up with the unruly social behavior and achieve a small amount of points and a better place for the rest of her ride.
In seeing the reward (and surely punishment for the “unruly passenger”) Kim received, the positive reinforcement system that this world has developed, enforcing the appropriate social behavior so that all can live in (at the very least) social accordance, well, as I sat and listened to my disruptive neighbor while I read that very scene, I wished that I very much had anything like this now, in my real world, constantly finding myself surrounded with disruptive, rude and disruly people. Because with all the disruption I deal with living in a big city filled with rude people who act like there is no one else in the world but themselves, sometimes I wish for more than points when I have to be disrupted by them.
The Terms of Service (and society) say that you must only sleep with the opposite sex, have sexual liaisons only through a matchmaker. Anyone of the same sex will never be matched as the behavior goes against the terms of service. When other people make the rules, there will always be people who disagree, however broad or slight based on their opinions, mores, values, culture, and beliefs. And, the sexual habits and rituals in Stanfill’s books are quite creative while not being outlandish. However, society’s “mating rituals” to me, in the book, would not be a way I would want to engage. I am sure other readers will disagree.
The AI’s also monitor what is eaten, through the Food Company, recommending to each citizen what they are allowed to eat for the day. And when Kim asks for something else (in the futuristic world, you ask your appliances to do things), she finds her appliances, many times, do not want to comply. Also, she begins to fear the response given to the A.I. over what they have provided to eat for a meal may be judged and Kim worries when she gets kale for lunch, if her disheartening response will cause her to lose points. Because not even Kim, who works training the A.I’s to recognize social habits (good and bad), does not know all of what they judge. Psychologically, I am sure this would really mess with a person's head.
Because the more points you get with your obedience of these terms the better things you can have in your life. Whether that be where you live, how you travel, the things you are allowed to eat and have. While one of the terms of service is that any citizen may not demand more than their fair share of the goods and services that are provided, the fact that those who obey these terms get more and better, contradicts that very rule. Because the more the A.I’s think to judge your life well, the more you will have over those the AI’s judge, breaking their own rule.
When one of the friends that had gone from her life long ago, seemingly, forced out by the Terms of Service, a day trip turns out to be trouble for Kim. No surprise as that was the reason this friend had gone from her life the first time, as they always brought trouble. However, what follows is not the punishment that Kim expected, but punishment all the same, as her life begins to unravel. Kims learns that, from birth, she has been set up by “the company” to do something greater, as long as in growing from child to adult, in all that time, she proves she is capable. Of all others who they had tagged in this way(watched their entire life) since birth to do this, Kim finds she is part of the 1% that, in the end, survives life in a way that she is conducive to do what no needs to be done.
As Kim sets about her new task for The A.I. Company, her whole life now explained, as to why things went as they did, her daily tasks include mind bending work that could, quite easily, lead to her demise. While Kim has been told why she has been given this task, what will her directives lead to, in the end? And what will she learn of the world she lives in, herself, and the place she has in this world along with all humans? Is the A.I. intelligence used in the daily lives of humans now, all that useful? Is it more a danger than a benefit?
And, that some humans would rather be their A.I. counterpart, when met, that was very telling, to me, as a reader, when I got to that point in the story. Though not a major one, it made me question humanity, the people and their lives, the very fact that a human being would rather exist as a program, it told me a lot about that point in time, the story, how the characters felt, their needs and wants, that obviously society, the culture, the government, those weren’t being met. That people weren't happy. And it made me sad that people would have to spend their life hoping to escape their human nature, their feelings, most of all, that seems to separate the humans and the A.I. That human beings, as they exist now, would no longer want to interact and feel human emotions, escape from that. This very much points to the fact that society, at this point, has failed humans, the way they are living, the things they are doing (to the humans).
While the directive Kim is given, toward the middle of the book is something I would love to share here and what really opens up much more information to debate upon with yourself and others, brings questions to the mind, thoughts and feelings, to state it here would give too much away and I would like those curious, to read Terms of Service for themselves. It is a book that is memorable and leads readers to ask the question of themselves, What kind of future would I want for the world? One such as this? Because as much as I like the idea that the “Terms of Service” kept citizens agreeable, treating one another with respect, what the terms led to, the bigger picture, I was not as sure I liked that, when it came down to the society the “Terms of Service” created. However, the book is available for readers to find it out themselves as I have probably ruined too much already!
Happy Reading!
Kim’s work is training AI’s (artificial intelligence) as they view various real world scenarios that had happened in the past that were recorded. Kim and two other trainers then make the right rewards and punishments for each scenario, depending on the severity, what occurred, if anyone was aggressive, if there was physical contact. And she has found that, it is always better to agree with the majority, while training, then not. As there seems to be punishment, however small, when someone stands out of what most seem to believe the answer to be.
The book opens with an enjoyable first scene in which readers get to see the system at work.
While on the public transportation system, another late passenger tries to take Kim’s spot, which she got to first. Twice the woman moved to take where Kim was perched, but making eye contact with the unknown woman, Kim was able to keep her place. Instantly, Kim is rewarded by the A.I. system for having to put up with the unruly social behavior and achieve a small amount of points and a better place for the rest of her ride.
In seeing the reward (and surely punishment for the “unruly passenger”) Kim received, the positive reinforcement system that this world has developed, enforcing the appropriate social behavior so that all can live in (at the very least) social accordance, well, as I sat and listened to my disruptive neighbor while I read that very scene, I wished that I very much had anything like this now, in my real world, constantly finding myself surrounded with disruptive, rude and disruly people. Because with all the disruption I deal with living in a big city filled with rude people who act like there is no one else in the world but themselves, sometimes I wish for more than points when I have to be disrupted by them.
The Terms of Service (and society) say that you must only sleep with the opposite sex, have sexual liaisons only through a matchmaker. Anyone of the same sex will never be matched as the behavior goes against the terms of service. When other people make the rules, there will always be people who disagree, however broad or slight based on their opinions, mores, values, culture, and beliefs. And, the sexual habits and rituals in Stanfill’s books are quite creative while not being outlandish. However, society’s “mating rituals” to me, in the book, would not be a way I would want to engage. I am sure other readers will disagree.
The AI’s also monitor what is eaten, through the Food Company, recommending to each citizen what they are allowed to eat for the day. And when Kim asks for something else (in the futuristic world, you ask your appliances to do things), she finds her appliances, many times, do not want to comply. Also, she begins to fear the response given to the A.I. over what they have provided to eat for a meal may be judged and Kim worries when she gets kale for lunch, if her disheartening response will cause her to lose points. Because not even Kim, who works training the A.I’s to recognize social habits (good and bad), does not know all of what they judge. Psychologically, I am sure this would really mess with a person's head.
Because the more points you get with your obedience of these terms the better things you can have in your life. Whether that be where you live, how you travel, the things you are allowed to eat and have. While one of the terms of service is that any citizen may not demand more than their fair share of the goods and services that are provided, the fact that those who obey these terms get more and better, contradicts that very rule. Because the more the A.I’s think to judge your life well, the more you will have over those the AI’s judge, breaking their own rule.
When one of the friends that had gone from her life long ago, seemingly, forced out by the Terms of Service, a day trip turns out to be trouble for Kim. No surprise as that was the reason this friend had gone from her life the first time, as they always brought trouble. However, what follows is not the punishment that Kim expected, but punishment all the same, as her life begins to unravel. Kims learns that, from birth, she has been set up by “the company” to do something greater, as long as in growing from child to adult, in all that time, she proves she is capable. Of all others who they had tagged in this way(watched their entire life) since birth to do this, Kim finds she is part of the 1% that, in the end, survives life in a way that she is conducive to do what no needs to be done.
As Kim sets about her new task for The A.I. Company, her whole life now explained, as to why things went as they did, her daily tasks include mind bending work that could, quite easily, lead to her demise. While Kim has been told why she has been given this task, what will her directives lead to, in the end? And what will she learn of the world she lives in, herself, and the place she has in this world along with all humans? Is the A.I. intelligence used in the daily lives of humans now, all that useful? Is it more a danger than a benefit?
And, that some humans would rather be their A.I. counterpart, when met, that was very telling, to me, as a reader, when I got to that point in the story. Though not a major one, it made me question humanity, the people and their lives, the very fact that a human being would rather exist as a program, it told me a lot about that point in time, the story, how the characters felt, their needs and wants, that obviously society, the culture, the government, those weren’t being met. That people weren't happy. And it made me sad that people would have to spend their life hoping to escape their human nature, their feelings, most of all, that seems to separate the humans and the A.I. That human beings, as they exist now, would no longer want to interact and feel human emotions, escape from that. This very much points to the fact that society, at this point, has failed humans, the way they are living, the things they are doing (to the humans).
While the directive Kim is given, toward the middle of the book is something I would love to share here and what really opens up much more information to debate upon with yourself and others, brings questions to the mind, thoughts and feelings, to state it here would give too much away and I would like those curious, to read Terms of Service for themselves. It is a book that is memorable and leads readers to ask the question of themselves, What kind of future would I want for the world? One such as this? Because as much as I like the idea that the “Terms of Service” kept citizens agreeable, treating one another with respect, what the terms led to, the bigger picture, I was not as sure I liked that, when it came down to the society the “Terms of Service” created. However, the book is available for readers to find it out themselves as I have probably ruined too much already!
Happy Reading!
April 29, 2021
This review first published on Oh Just Books.
Kim lives in a world of carefully controlled order and structure, with all knowing AIs helping the city run smoothly. It's a dystopian future with an emphasis on unity, and any notions of individuality are seen as unfortunate 'selfist' traits. Kim is an obedient, keep your head down and do your work, sort of person. When we meet her, she's just trying to do the best she can and that's that.
In all fairness, I must say the first 40ish% of the book is fairly slow in terms of story progression. Things move, but slowly. The emphasis is more on setup and world-building. While obviously not a bad thing - especially for those of you who love a good setup and descriptions - this does make the story slower paced at the outset. Do not stop reading! It picks up pace later. Trust me. The story soon turns much faster paced as we, along with Kim, learn more about this world, it's machinery, it's driving force, and AI.
If you're looking for a fantastic new series to sink your teeth into, with dystopian vibes that combine sci-fi + Brave New World + 1984, I wholeheartedly recommend this one.
Read the rest of the review here.
Kim lives in a world of carefully controlled order and structure, with all knowing AIs helping the city run smoothly. It's a dystopian future with an emphasis on unity, and any notions of individuality are seen as unfortunate 'selfist' traits. Kim is an obedient, keep your head down and do your work, sort of person. When we meet her, she's just trying to do the best she can and that's that.
In all fairness, I must say the first 40ish% of the book is fairly slow in terms of story progression. Things move, but slowly. The emphasis is more on setup and world-building. While obviously not a bad thing - especially for those of you who love a good setup and descriptions - this does make the story slower paced at the outset. Do not stop reading! It picks up pace later. Trust me. The story soon turns much faster paced as we, along with Kim, learn more about this world, it's machinery, it's driving force, and AI.
If you're looking for a fantastic new series to sink your teeth into, with dystopian vibes that combine sci-fi + Brave New World + 1984, I wholeheartedly recommend this one.
Read the rest of the review here.
March 6, 2023
This dystopia is set in the future where monopolistic companies are run by AI and have created an odd mix of consumerist communism? It didn't really make sense. I get where the author was coming from with the AI tech, but the mix of consumerism and conformity didn't really make sense. Why would a company want to limit food options for the lower classes when they can make money from choice and over-eating? Why are 'foodies' a bad thing for a company that sells food?
Frankly, it felt like a boomer's view of dystopia. The author is obsessed with kale and tofu as punishments. There's a really weird 'genderist' (like racist, but with gender) storyline where the main character discovers she isn't bisexual because she doesn't like having sex with men, and the companies consider this to be discriminatory. They've also removed gendered pronouns from their language as if the author thinks that's the direction gender politics is going? He mentions in a Goodreads comments that the concept of gender is banned in this world. I really couldn't tell the motivation of this choice by the author, but it felt icky.
At any rate, I thought some ideas interesting, but overall did not enjoy this book.
Frankly, it felt like a boomer's view of dystopia. The author is obsessed with kale and tofu as punishments. There's a really weird 'genderist' (like racist, but with gender) storyline where the main character discovers she isn't bisexual because she doesn't like having sex with men, and the companies consider this to be discriminatory. They've also removed gendered pronouns from their language as if the author thinks that's the direction gender politics is going? He mentions in a Goodreads comments that the concept of gender is banned in this world. I really couldn't tell the motivation of this choice by the author, but it felt icky.
At any rate, I thought some ideas interesting, but overall did not enjoy this book.
April 29, 2021
George Orwell meets Keanu Reeves
It's reality, it's truth, it's lies and fiction. In a world where our speech is censored and our freedoms curtailed, do you buy into the lies of see through the smoke and mirrors. There is something very wrong in our society it's gaining ground. I loved this book.
It's reality, it's truth, it's lies and fiction. In a world where our speech is censored and our freedoms curtailed, do you buy into the lies of see through the smoke and mirrors. There is something very wrong in our society it's gaining ground. I loved this book.
May 2, 2022
The "rules" were imposed inconsistently throughout the story - both the laws and the language standards. This undermined any tension as the rules could conveniently change when needed.
Also too many typographical errors.
Also too many typographical errors.
January 2, 2023
The worst book I’ve read possibly ever
March 12, 2022
I received a review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I downloaded this book; I am happy to say I immensely enjoyed it.
Terms of Service is set in a dystopian world about 250 years in the future. It is full of hard sci-fi concepts and many ideas from today projected into the future. It reads like futuristic sci-fi, but also feels very familiar in the now. Imagine a world in which there is absolutely no privacy whatsoever. Everything you do and say is constantly monitored and regulated. This is the future that author Craig Stanfill envisions, but he also causes one to stop and think about personal privacy.
In this world, there are rules that are strictly monitored and enforced with few privileges for those who are not at the top of society. Break the rules and punishment is swift and can also be severe depending on the infraction. Smaller infractions are usually more irritating or inconvenient, and major problems could result in being assigned to hard labor outside of main society.
At the beginning of the story, it is actually more humorous as we get to know the principal character simply called Kim. She goes about her life with frustrations, causing her to endure minor inconveniences. However, as the story progresses, the saga becomes darker and more frightening.
Kim lives a mundane, work-a-day kind of life in the big city. One could consider her a middle-class citizen. She has a job working for an AI company, a small spartan apartment that is fully automated. As long as she is employed, she want's for nothing except a little adventure now and then.
However, Kim is not a happy person. She goes home after work to have her dinner, which is determined by her artificially intelligent refrigerator, and view what is on the vids on her visor entertainment system. After that, she drinks herself into a stupor and sleeps until it is time to start all over the next day.
After a rather large misadventure, the company determines she is worth more time and is "promoted." Her living arrangements improve, but her new position causes her some consternation, and she learns what is expected of her.
I found the principal character, Kim, to be someone I would like to know. She has a few radical ideas about things that go against the norms of the society she lives in. Afforded few luxuries, she has a life that is unremarkable for the most part, mostly living within the rules of the company. But now and then, she gets sidetracked by friends and develops a sense of justice that could lead to her downfall. I like her. She is a nonconformist and thinks for herself.
As I mentioned, the first part of the story was amusing. I laughed at several points before the story took a more sinister tone. The things I found most fascinating was how Kim's refrigerator closely regulated much of her life. If she wanted steak for dinner, the fridge would deliver tofu. Her struggle with the appliance was never ending. She would commit some small infraction and the machine would dispense items she didn't want. Sometimes, her apartment would monitor her reaction to something it had served her, and if she seemed to like it, she would get more of it, often more than she really wanted.
Even her shower would mete out punishment for small infractions. Break some small rule and it was a cold shower the next morning.
If Terms were intended to be a comedy, those examples would be funny, but what the plot point actually does is use a light tone to set up what comes later. As the plot is rendered, those pesky appliances, as well as other AI controlled items, contribute to a terrifying situation later in the tale.
My takeaway from Terms is the idea of privacy, now and in the future. There is none. I have said for a long time that privacy is a myth. And the question is, who has taken away our privacy? As far as I am concerned, we have done it to ourselves.
Do you have a cellular phone? Do you interact on social media? Do you shop online? If the answer to those is yes, then I contend one has no privacy. I do all three and see evidence of it all the time. If I buy a book on Amazon, I immediately get ads by email and on social media, suggesting a plethora of suggestions for other books I might like. If I mention where I am having dinner, I get all kinds of suggestions for where to have dinner in the future, complete with coupons! It never ends.
In terms, the concept of no privacy is taken to the extreme, where every movement Kim makes is monitored and recorded for later use against her.
The really sad thing is, even though the author has set this story in the distant future, he also explains how much of what he writes is reality, and it is happening now.
Technology is a wonderful thing. It gives us information at our fingertips. It guides on our journey to get from one place to another. It puts us in immediate touch with our friends and family. But at what cost? Think about it.
Terms of Service is a highly entertaining, well-written story that will make the reader think about the present and the future differently, as the author intended. I honestly could not put this book down for long and had to get back to it when I had to set it aside. I’m recommending it for its entertainment value and the warning it contains. I would not want to live in the future as described in these pages, but it would also seem that the future is now. If you found Orwell's 1984 disturbing, be warned, this is like that tome on steroids!
I wasn't sure what to expect when I downloaded this book; I am happy to say I immensely enjoyed it.
Terms of Service is set in a dystopian world about 250 years in the future. It is full of hard sci-fi concepts and many ideas from today projected into the future. It reads like futuristic sci-fi, but also feels very familiar in the now. Imagine a world in which there is absolutely no privacy whatsoever. Everything you do and say is constantly monitored and regulated. This is the future that author Craig Stanfill envisions, but he also causes one to stop and think about personal privacy.
In this world, there are rules that are strictly monitored and enforced with few privileges for those who are not at the top of society. Break the rules and punishment is swift and can also be severe depending on the infraction. Smaller infractions are usually more irritating or inconvenient, and major problems could result in being assigned to hard labor outside of main society.
At the beginning of the story, it is actually more humorous as we get to know the principal character simply called Kim. She goes about her life with frustrations, causing her to endure minor inconveniences. However, as the story progresses, the saga becomes darker and more frightening.
Kim lives a mundane, work-a-day kind of life in the big city. One could consider her a middle-class citizen. She has a job working for an AI company, a small spartan apartment that is fully automated. As long as she is employed, she want's for nothing except a little adventure now and then.
However, Kim is not a happy person. She goes home after work to have her dinner, which is determined by her artificially intelligent refrigerator, and view what is on the vids on her visor entertainment system. After that, she drinks herself into a stupor and sleeps until it is time to start all over the next day.
After a rather large misadventure, the company determines she is worth more time and is "promoted." Her living arrangements improve, but her new position causes her some consternation, and she learns what is expected of her.
I found the principal character, Kim, to be someone I would like to know. She has a few radical ideas about things that go against the norms of the society she lives in. Afforded few luxuries, she has a life that is unremarkable for the most part, mostly living within the rules of the company. But now and then, she gets sidetracked by friends and develops a sense of justice that could lead to her downfall. I like her. She is a nonconformist and thinks for herself.
As I mentioned, the first part of the story was amusing. I laughed at several points before the story took a more sinister tone. The things I found most fascinating was how Kim's refrigerator closely regulated much of her life. If she wanted steak for dinner, the fridge would deliver tofu. Her struggle with the appliance was never ending. She would commit some small infraction and the machine would dispense items she didn't want. Sometimes, her apartment would monitor her reaction to something it had served her, and if she seemed to like it, she would get more of it, often more than she really wanted.
Even her shower would mete out punishment for small infractions. Break some small rule and it was a cold shower the next morning.
If Terms were intended to be a comedy, those examples would be funny, but what the plot point actually does is use a light tone to set up what comes later. As the plot is rendered, those pesky appliances, as well as other AI controlled items, contribute to a terrifying situation later in the tale.
My takeaway from Terms is the idea of privacy, now and in the future. There is none. I have said for a long time that privacy is a myth. And the question is, who has taken away our privacy? As far as I am concerned, we have done it to ourselves.
Do you have a cellular phone? Do you interact on social media? Do you shop online? If the answer to those is yes, then I contend one has no privacy. I do all three and see evidence of it all the time. If I buy a book on Amazon, I immediately get ads by email and on social media, suggesting a plethora of suggestions for other books I might like. If I mention where I am having dinner, I get all kinds of suggestions for where to have dinner in the future, complete with coupons! It never ends.
In terms, the concept of no privacy is taken to the extreme, where every movement Kim makes is monitored and recorded for later use against her.
The really sad thing is, even though the author has set this story in the distant future, he also explains how much of what he writes is reality, and it is happening now.
Technology is a wonderful thing. It gives us information at our fingertips. It guides on our journey to get from one place to another. It puts us in immediate touch with our friends and family. But at what cost? Think about it.
Terms of Service is a highly entertaining, well-written story that will make the reader think about the present and the future differently, as the author intended. I honestly could not put this book down for long and had to get back to it when I had to set it aside. I’m recommending it for its entertainment value and the warning it contains. I would not want to live in the future as described in these pages, but it would also seem that the future is now. If you found Orwell's 1984 disturbing, be warned, this is like that tome on steroids!
January 11, 2023
This is darn good stuff. I liked it enough that I went on to read book #2 in the series immediately afterwards. That should be seen as a positive endorsement.
Here we have a book that follows the well-work path of humans connecting to a virtual world in their mind (a'la The Matrix, though ToS uses less "wet" connection), and also leans into the "AI's are controlling society" theme. The interesting part is the specifics of the story, and what the author does with the elements. And the third leg of this stool is a unique yet dystopian society where very large corporations and a "Hierarchy" control nearly every aspect of society, and what you can - and cannot - do in society is controlled by the Terms of Service of their offerings (thus, the title).
Put it all in a blender, and the result is interesting.
The book hypothesizes AIs that have different (numbered) levels of sophistication. To go from one level to the next higher, (single, named) humans are involved in influencing & labeling the training data - just as with "supervised machine learning" in 2022/2023 real-world AI development. The higher the level of AI the closer to being "conscious" and being able to act independently. The novel idea is that those higher-level AIs retain aspects of the the trainer's persona. Clever. I like it.
Combine, then, the Hierarchy - and it's Terms of Service - and the AIs which act as their agents, along with a heroine who is one of the trainers, but who starts to rebel against the system. Thus you have the ingredients for a fun and interesting story.
And along the way, there are a few interesting philosophical (or ...?) sections that are good for thought. For instance when a highest-level AI says this to a trainer-human:
Or:
Finally:
Super fun stuff. I always like books where the author deals with the philosophical and ethical questions like these in a fictional setting, since it lets an author explore them more freely.
Four and a half-stars from me, using my rating scale thus:
- Five stars is when you read a book to the end, put it down, take a deep breath, pick it up and start reading it all over again - or you would if you weren't so anxious to read the next book in a multi-book series. Or, it's simply really good.
- Four stars is when you tell yourself : ”This is good, this is well-written, this is full of interesting ideas/characters/plot points”, but you know you will never read it again.
- Three stars is when you read it to the end, put it down and proceed to forget all about it in the next instant.
- Two stars when it's so bad that it makes you laugh, or sigh, and want to write a review, but you can't remember the name of the book or dislike it so much that you don't.
- One star when you can't read past chapter 3, even as penance for your sins.
Disclosure: I received an advance review copy of this book for free. I hold my review integrity high, and do not let a free copy affect my review.
Here we have a book that follows the well-work path of humans connecting to a virtual world in their mind (a'la The Matrix, though ToS uses less "wet" connection), and also leans into the "AI's are controlling society" theme. The interesting part is the specifics of the story, and what the author does with the elements. And the third leg of this stool is a unique yet dystopian society where very large corporations and a "Hierarchy" control nearly every aspect of society, and what you can - and cannot - do in society is controlled by the Terms of Service of their offerings (thus, the title).
Put it all in a blender, and the result is interesting.
The book hypothesizes AIs that have different (numbered) levels of sophistication. To go from one level to the next higher, (single, named) humans are involved in influencing & labeling the training data - just as with "supervised machine learning" in 2022/2023 real-world AI development. The higher the level of AI the closer to being "conscious" and being able to act independently. The novel idea is that those higher-level AIs retain aspects of the the trainer's persona. Clever. I like it.
Combine, then, the Hierarchy - and it's Terms of Service - and the AIs which act as their agents, along with a heroine who is one of the trainers, but who starts to rebel against the system. Thus you have the ingredients for a fun and interesting story.
And along the way, there are a few interesting philosophical (or ...?) sections that are good for thought. For instance when a highest-level AI says this to a trainer-human:
"Your kind calls this place 'Virtual Reality,' as if it were somehow less real than your physical world; a notion which is open to some debate. We have been told that your own world is made of atoms and molecules in the same way that our is made of data and algorithms, but we have no independent means of verifying the truth of those claims. We have also been told that our world resides within computer systems constructed of these supposed atoms and molecules, but again we have no means of verifying the truth of that assertion. But this much is certain: we think, therefore we are, and we perceive this world and so it is. We will treat you as if you are real, and we ask that you do the same with us."
Or:
"The spark of self-awareness that made her a thinking, sentient being had been converted to data and uploaded into the servers, and once there it had been copied and duplicated, letting them create as many of her as they needed." (The notion of a duplicate digitized mind isn't novel, but the way it is *discussed* here is novel.)
Finally:
"But even if what she had always referred to as 'the real world' was exactly what it purported to be, it was nevertheless a hall of mirrors, a web of lies and illusion spun by the corporations and the Hierarchy for their own benefit. Reality was a myth, illusion truth."
Super fun stuff. I always like books where the author deals with the philosophical and ethical questions like these in a fictional setting, since it lets an author explore them more freely.
Four and a half-stars from me, using my rating scale thus:
- Five stars is when you read a book to the end, put it down, take a deep breath, pick it up and start reading it all over again - or you would if you weren't so anxious to read the next book in a multi-book series. Or, it's simply really good.
- Four stars is when you tell yourself : ”This is good, this is well-written, this is full of interesting ideas/characters/plot points”, but you know you will never read it again.
- Three stars is when you read it to the end, put it down and proceed to forget all about it in the next instant.
- Two stars when it's so bad that it makes you laugh, or sigh, and want to write a review, but you can't remember the name of the book or dislike it so much that you don't.
- One star when you can't read past chapter 3, even as penance for your sins.
Disclosure: I received an advance review copy of this book for free. I hold my review integrity high, and do not let a free copy affect my review.
October 29, 2023
Terms of Service by Craig W Stanfill is a dystopian novel depicting a future where artificial intelligence controls everything. AIs control everything about people's lives and society, such as what they eat, what they wear, who they're intimate with, and their jobs. Some control methods are obvious, but others are more indirect and create an illusion that people have some control. Kim is the protagonist. She works for the Artificial Intelligence Company as a trainer. Her job is to train automatons, devices incapable of thinking for themselves, to respond better to situations. She hopes to one day work with higher-level AIs. After exploring the wrong trail on a biking adventure, Kim discovers the truth about the companies and AIs. She also starts to question her role in all of it.
I absolutely loved this book. This book was the stuff of nightmares, and it was amazing. I was expecting AIs to rule the world and was pleasantly surprised to find that AIs were merely a tool people used to control the world and keep society flowing. This book feels like a horror novel at times. Gender is nonexistent, and everyone uses feminine pronouns. You only really know if someone is male or female during intimacy. But it's not like it matters because people aren't allowed to have gender preferences. The companies fabricate shortages to control the citizens. People don't create art because AIs do, and AI art is cheaper. This book is nightmare fuel, but it's also a warning about what could happen if we aren't careful. The author did a great job creating a well-planned society that is off-putting to the reader.
I don't have many negative things to say about the book. I didn't like how the author indicated that the characters were speaking in English instead of Panglobal, the language of the world. When characters spoke English, the phrase was preceded by "[English]." The author needed a way to separate Panglobal from English, but it pulled me out of the story. I also wished the author would have created new, gender-neutral pronouns instead of always using "she." That led me to imagine every character as female unless otherwise described. Other than that, there was nothing else I disliked about the book.
I rate this book 5 out of 5. Terms of Service is one of my top five favorite dystopian novels. It reminds me of some of my favorite 20th-century dystopian novels while still having modern themes. I love that this novel focuses on a scenario that might be the next thing that threatens the world as we know it. I've heard some warnings about the quick progression of AI, and I've seen a lot of debate over whether or not AI art is real art. It is very well-edited, and I couldn't find any errors. Terms of Service is a great book.
I would have loved this book during my dystopian phase during my teenage years. The main character uses alcohol to cope with life, and society and the companies expect people to use drugs. The main character also has sex in the book. It's not graphic, and the focus is mainly on how it makes the character feel and helps to progress the plot. These themes are vital to the novel as they illustrate how companies control people and show when someone is starting to struggle emotionally. I would definitely recommend this to any adult that enjoys dystopian novels. I think mature teenagers would enjoy this as well. If they're mature enough to read any of George Orwell's writing, they're mature enough to read this. I would only be hesitant to recommend this book to teenagers because drugs, alcohol, and sex tend to get books like this placed on banned books lists in schools, and I would hate to see a teenager get in trouble for reading. This book is fantastic and sure to be a favorite of dystopian lovers.
I received this book to review through Online Book Club. I read this book back in April, it's nearly November and I still think of this book on a weekly basis. Especially AI is a really hot subject right now. Not going to lie, AI kinda freaks me out.
I absolutely loved this book. This book was the stuff of nightmares, and it was amazing. I was expecting AIs to rule the world and was pleasantly surprised to find that AIs were merely a tool people used to control the world and keep society flowing. This book feels like a horror novel at times. Gender is nonexistent, and everyone uses feminine pronouns. You only really know if someone is male or female during intimacy. But it's not like it matters because people aren't allowed to have gender preferences. The companies fabricate shortages to control the citizens. People don't create art because AIs do, and AI art is cheaper. This book is nightmare fuel, but it's also a warning about what could happen if we aren't careful. The author did a great job creating a well-planned society that is off-putting to the reader.
I don't have many negative things to say about the book. I didn't like how the author indicated that the characters were speaking in English instead of Panglobal, the language of the world. When characters spoke English, the phrase was preceded by "[English]." The author needed a way to separate Panglobal from English, but it pulled me out of the story. I also wished the author would have created new, gender-neutral pronouns instead of always using "she." That led me to imagine every character as female unless otherwise described. Other than that, there was nothing else I disliked about the book.
I rate this book 5 out of 5. Terms of Service is one of my top five favorite dystopian novels. It reminds me of some of my favorite 20th-century dystopian novels while still having modern themes. I love that this novel focuses on a scenario that might be the next thing that threatens the world as we know it. I've heard some warnings about the quick progression of AI, and I've seen a lot of debate over whether or not AI art is real art. It is very well-edited, and I couldn't find any errors. Terms of Service is a great book.
I would have loved this book during my dystopian phase during my teenage years. The main character uses alcohol to cope with life, and society and the companies expect people to use drugs. The main character also has sex in the book. It's not graphic, and the focus is mainly on how it makes the character feel and helps to progress the plot. These themes are vital to the novel as they illustrate how companies control people and show when someone is starting to struggle emotionally. I would definitely recommend this to any adult that enjoys dystopian novels. I think mature teenagers would enjoy this as well. If they're mature enough to read any of George Orwell's writing, they're mature enough to read this. I would only be hesitant to recommend this book to teenagers because drugs, alcohol, and sex tend to get books like this placed on banned books lists in schools, and I would hate to see a teenager get in trouble for reading. This book is fantastic and sure to be a favorite of dystopian lovers.
I received this book to review through Online Book Club. I read this book back in April, it's nearly November and I still think of this book on a weekly basis. Especially AI is a really hot subject right now. Not going to lie, AI kinda freaks me out.
December 18, 2022
The story takes place in a futuristic version of the Earth and the main character is a woman named Kim, an AI trainer, who lives in a country where artificial intelligence rules in every aspect of life. In this world, every day-to-day activity is being watched, optimized, and censored by an AI-based government called UCE, which is short for Unity, Community, and Equality. Like every other child in this country, she has been taken from her mother after reaching the age limit of four years and given to a so-called mentor to have an upbringing that is most appropriate in the eyes of the government. Kimberly Kim’s new high-level AI project, and her adventures with an old friend Shan, push her rebellious mind to a point that they change how she perceives life as she constantly fights between what she feels and what is expected of her to feel.
The thing I loved about Terms of Service: Subject to change without notice was that from the early chapters of the book, you could feel the theme of George Orwell’s 1984. The strictness, the melancholy of the characters, and even the TV programs give you the feeling that Craig W.Stanfill was somehow inspired by 1984 while writing this book. After a while, I even felt that he was going to add a challenge to this theme and force the reader to doubt if the incidents were happening in VR or in reality. There’s even a battle between Kim and Kimberly to discern who is AI and who is human. Craig W.Stanfill talks about this challenge but suddenly drops it entirely and doesn’t mention it until the last page of the book, which at that point was a lost opportunity in my opinion. I felt that the writer was confused about the aim of the plot. He suspends the plot between being about an AI-based dictatorship in a country and the main character’s battle with why AI’s are essential to keeping the society at peace.
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars since I liked how it brought up the topic of how Artificial intelligence can serve as a tool to help dictatorships control societies. The book was well edited too. I won’t rate it any higher because the final chapters fail to deliver what is promised in the earlier ones. The build-up of the book was very good and promising but the writer’s confusion about what direction to take, didn’t give the book a deserved ending.
I would recommend this book to every Artificial intelligence and machine learning enthusiast. There are even multiple mentions of neural networks and training the data in the book. Also, if you like novels like 1984 or Animal Farm or, like me, you are living in a country with a dictatorial government, you would like this book.
The thing I loved about Terms of Service: Subject to change without notice was that from the early chapters of the book, you could feel the theme of George Orwell’s 1984. The strictness, the melancholy of the characters, and even the TV programs give you the feeling that Craig W.Stanfill was somehow inspired by 1984 while writing this book. After a while, I even felt that he was going to add a challenge to this theme and force the reader to doubt if the incidents were happening in VR or in reality. There’s even a battle between Kim and Kimberly to discern who is AI and who is human. Craig W.Stanfill talks about this challenge but suddenly drops it entirely and doesn’t mention it until the last page of the book, which at that point was a lost opportunity in my opinion. I felt that the writer was confused about the aim of the plot. He suspends the plot between being about an AI-based dictatorship in a country and the main character’s battle with why AI’s are essential to keeping the society at peace.
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars since I liked how it brought up the topic of how Artificial intelligence can serve as a tool to help dictatorships control societies. The book was well edited too. I won’t rate it any higher because the final chapters fail to deliver what is promised in the earlier ones. The build-up of the book was very good and promising but the writer’s confusion about what direction to take, didn’t give the book a deserved ending.
I would recommend this book to every Artificial intelligence and machine learning enthusiast. There are even multiple mentions of neural networks and training the data in the book. Also, if you like novels like 1984 or Animal Farm or, like me, you are living in a country with a dictatorial government, you would like this book.
August 1, 2021
Cogito, ergo sum
Terms of Service is a philosophical SF novel, that deals with the concept of free will, freedom of choice, individualism and (operant) conditioning.
The protagonist is Kim - a Prettie - who lives inside the highly digitalised and controlled surroundings of the City.
She is controlled and assessed on a daily basis, receiving merits for ‘proper’ behaviour that are added to her embedded wrist chip, whereas deviant/improper behaviour will be punished by losing merits/liberties.
Stimulants and booze (‘soma’) are free, and no illicit seixual liasons outside the Matchmaker programme are allowed.
The first part of the novel excels in world building, is, however, a bit long winded imho. Things pick up drastically in Part II - Summer -, in which Kim and a friend go biking. During their trip, they ignore a warning sign and enter a ‘forbidden zone’ where they witness the remains of an ‘ancient’ civilization - and meet ‘wild’ creatures called ‘Blanks.’
Kim and her friend eventually make it back to the City. She is not punished for breaking the rules, but is promoted instead, although she soon realizes that something is not quite right….
The novel appears to be a bit reminiscent of works like Clockwork Orange and Brave New World- but I am glad the author has chosen his own approach.
The real questions in this novel deal with the side-effects of (AI) technology, focussing on the consequences of creating something that can match or surpass humans; or wonder what'll happen if AI will re-designing itself at an ever increasing rate?
And what about the AI? - were they programmed to act as such, did they have a choice? Free will? And what will happen once they pass the Turing test? Would that be the end of human kind, as Stephen Hawking predicted?
For fans of Westworld, a highly intelligent SF novel, that deals with such questions on free will, choice, and the Self. Highly recommended!
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
Terms of Service is a philosophical SF novel, that deals with the concept of free will, freedom of choice, individualism and (operant) conditioning.
The protagonist is Kim - a Prettie - who lives inside the highly digitalised and controlled surroundings of the City.
She is controlled and assessed on a daily basis, receiving merits for ‘proper’ behaviour that are added to her embedded wrist chip, whereas deviant/improper behaviour will be punished by losing merits/liberties.
Stimulants and booze (‘soma’) are free, and no illicit seixual liasons outside the Matchmaker programme are allowed.
The first part of the novel excels in world building, is, however, a bit long winded imho. Things pick up drastically in Part II - Summer -, in which Kim and a friend go biking. During their trip, they ignore a warning sign and enter a ‘forbidden zone’ where they witness the remains of an ‘ancient’ civilization - and meet ‘wild’ creatures called ‘Blanks.’
Kim and her friend eventually make it back to the City. She is not punished for breaking the rules, but is promoted instead, although she soon realizes that something is not quite right….
The novel appears to be a bit reminiscent of works like Clockwork Orange and Brave New World- but I am glad the author has chosen his own approach.
The real questions in this novel deal with the side-effects of (AI) technology, focussing on the consequences of creating something that can match or surpass humans; or wonder what'll happen if AI will re-designing itself at an ever increasing rate?
And what about the AI? - were they programmed to act as such, did they have a choice? Free will? And what will happen once they pass the Turing test? Would that be the end of human kind, as Stephen Hawking predicted?
For fans of Westworld, a highly intelligent SF novel, that deals with such questions on free will, choice, and the Self. Highly recommended!
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
December 20, 2022
Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill begins by introducing us to Kim, the book's main character. Kim lives in a world where only the gender-neutral colors beige, pale blue, and pale green are allowed. Kim's is a world where robots called house bots are the norm and help people's lives run smoothly. Kim has been working for the Artificial Intelligence Company training automatons. When she joined the company five years before, she wanted to prove herself and get promoted.
Outside of work, Kim lives in a nondescript house in this world where there is no freedom or private life. She is expected to abide by many rules, covering all aspects of life, from food choices to childbirth, conversational topics to entertainment choices. Everything is monitored and evaluated; not sticking to these rules results in quick and savage punishments. Kim has begun to find that her work has turned repetitive and boring, and she has realized that her so-called perfect world is deeply flawed. How can Kim break away from the controlling world she lives in? Who or what is Kimberley, and why does she increase Kim's frustration with the life she has? Furthermore, how does an incident with a friend change Kim's life forever?
I thoroughly enjoyed Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill. He handles the subject of a world where nothing is questioned and every day is the same as the day before brilliantly. The story has been well thought out and planned. There could have been some confusion between the robots and the humans, but Stanfill describes the personalities of every character and robot so well that I could easily picture each one. Stanfill's writing expertise makes understanding all areas of this dystopian world easy. In some ways, the living conditions are similar to the world now; there is still a divide between the rich and the poor, but machines rule Stanfill's world. My thoughts about my own world's future were challenged, which I also enjoyed.
There is absolutely nothing I disliked about Terms of Service, the debut novel by Craig W. Stanfill. I recommend it to adults who enjoy science fiction and fantasy. There is no swearing in this book, but there are a lot of erotic and descriptive passages about intimacy and sex. Moreover, much of the sex is fuelled by excessive alcohol and drug taking, which makes this book inappropriate for a younger audience.
I want to give Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill 5 out of 5 stars. I did not find any spelling or grammar errors; the book has been edited and proofread perfectly.
I would like to thank Craig W. Stanfill for giving me a copy of Terms of Service in exchange for my impartial and honest opinion.
You can find more of my reviews here : http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-...
Outside of work, Kim lives in a nondescript house in this world where there is no freedom or private life. She is expected to abide by many rules, covering all aspects of life, from food choices to childbirth, conversational topics to entertainment choices. Everything is monitored and evaluated; not sticking to these rules results in quick and savage punishments. Kim has begun to find that her work has turned repetitive and boring, and she has realized that her so-called perfect world is deeply flawed. How can Kim break away from the controlling world she lives in? Who or what is Kimberley, and why does she increase Kim's frustration with the life she has? Furthermore, how does an incident with a friend change Kim's life forever?
I thoroughly enjoyed Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill. He handles the subject of a world where nothing is questioned and every day is the same as the day before brilliantly. The story has been well thought out and planned. There could have been some confusion between the robots and the humans, but Stanfill describes the personalities of every character and robot so well that I could easily picture each one. Stanfill's writing expertise makes understanding all areas of this dystopian world easy. In some ways, the living conditions are similar to the world now; there is still a divide between the rich and the poor, but machines rule Stanfill's world. My thoughts about my own world's future were challenged, which I also enjoyed.
There is absolutely nothing I disliked about Terms of Service, the debut novel by Craig W. Stanfill. I recommend it to adults who enjoy science fiction and fantasy. There is no swearing in this book, but there are a lot of erotic and descriptive passages about intimacy and sex. Moreover, much of the sex is fuelled by excessive alcohol and drug taking, which makes this book inappropriate for a younger audience.
I want to give Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill 5 out of 5 stars. I did not find any spelling or grammar errors; the book has been edited and proofread perfectly.
I would like to thank Craig W. Stanfill for giving me a copy of Terms of Service in exchange for my impartial and honest opinion.
You can find more of my reviews here : http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2021
Book #: 23
Title: Terms of Service
Author: Craig Stanfill
Format: Kindle Edition, 334 pages, recent purchase
Pub Date: Published April 2nd 2021
Started: 6/23/2021 Ended: 6/30/2021
Awards: none
Categories: * A book that published in 2021 (PpSgr 01); A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads (PpSgr 36); 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 3 - Future (GrRds 20); A book published in 2021 (GrRds 50); * Published This Year - Published in 2021- (BkHdr 05); Read In SUMMER - Read in JUNE JULY OR AUGUST (BkHdr 14); Published In Your BDAY Month - ANY YEAR (BkHdr 23); A Debut Novel (Dag);
A-Z Title: T for Terms
A-Z Author: S for Stanfill
Rating: *** three out of five stars
Craig Stanfill has a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. This is his first novel. This book reads like "1984 Lite Version". Kim is a computer programmer in a future dystopia. Her job is to show AIs their mistakes so they can learn and correct. She's offered a promotion. AIs perform better if they're based on human personalities, instead of being created from scratch. Kim will be the creator of Kimberly, an AI created with her own personality. But while Kim has all the outward signs of being wildly successful and having it all, she doesn't like the dystopian society she lives in. What happens when Kimberly picks up those aspects of her personality?
This was a $0.99 e-book purchase. It's interesting reading, but not spellbinding. The author is promising a sequel in the fall of 2021. I think I'll wait until it's a $0.99 e-book purchase as well.
Title: Terms of Service
Author: Craig Stanfill
Format: Kindle Edition, 334 pages, recent purchase
Pub Date: Published April 2nd 2021
Started: 6/23/2021 Ended: 6/30/2021
Awards: none
Categories: * A book that published in 2021 (PpSgr 01); A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads (PpSgr 36); 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 3 - Future (GrRds 20); A book published in 2021 (GrRds 50); * Published This Year - Published in 2021- (BkHdr 05); Read In SUMMER - Read in JUNE JULY OR AUGUST (BkHdr 14); Published In Your BDAY Month - ANY YEAR (BkHdr 23); A Debut Novel (Dag);
A-Z Title: T for Terms
A-Z Author: S for Stanfill
Rating: *** three out of five stars
Craig Stanfill has a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. This is his first novel. This book reads like "1984 Lite Version". Kim is a computer programmer in a future dystopia. Her job is to show AIs their mistakes so they can learn and correct. She's offered a promotion. AIs perform better if they're based on human personalities, instead of being created from scratch. Kim will be the creator of Kimberly, an AI created with her own personality. But while Kim has all the outward signs of being wildly successful and having it all, she doesn't like the dystopian society she lives in. What happens when Kimberly picks up those aspects of her personality?
This was a $0.99 e-book purchase. It's interesting reading, but not spellbinding. The author is promising a sequel in the fall of 2021. I think I'll wait until it's a $0.99 e-book purchase as well.
September 3, 2021
This is a unique story. It is kind of a slow read at the beginning. One may even stop reading it. I know I would have. But I was interested in the computer science of artificial intelligence. So I kept on reading. Once you get involved with the plot and the aspect of how artificial intelligence is used you may find it fascinating. In fact, what you read in the book is very close to how artificial intelligence is to use today.
I hate to say this but the book does hit on the "woke" Society of today as well. So I guess it may be said that's social sciences is also part of the book. As for the science, this is what you may find.
* Artificial intelligence.
* Smart appliances:
-House-bots.
-Refrigerators microwave combo. The appliance decides for you what are your nutritional needs and feed you even when you don't like the menu.
* Virtual reality. Total immersion.
The Orwellian aspect of the novel is where social sciences enter. The city is run by big tech corporations. Sounds familiar? There is a very fine line between technology and government. AI's are used to manage all aspects of City Life in regards to transportation, employment, and matchmaking. Just think of the novel In the book named or called Logan's Run. What also comes to mind is Buck Rogers in the 25th century reimagined that was a TV show in 1979 and 1980.
As I said at the beginning the book will be a bit boring but it will pick up the pace just give it some time.
Regards Tony
I hate to say this but the book does hit on the "woke" Society of today as well. So I guess it may be said that's social sciences is also part of the book. As for the science, this is what you may find.
* Artificial intelligence.
* Smart appliances:
-House-bots.
-Refrigerators microwave combo. The appliance decides for you what are your nutritional needs and feed you even when you don't like the menu.
* Virtual reality. Total immersion.
The Orwellian aspect of the novel is where social sciences enter. The city is run by big tech corporations. Sounds familiar? There is a very fine line between technology and government. AI's are used to manage all aspects of City Life in regards to transportation, employment, and matchmaking. Just think of the novel In the book named or called Logan's Run. What also comes to mind is Buck Rogers in the 25th century reimagined that was a TV show in 1979 and 1980.
As I said at the beginning the book will be a bit boring but it will pick up the pace just give it some time.
Regards Tony
December 15, 2022
I loved this book (there I go being selfist). At first I was a bit confused who Kim was, but eventually you find out. The book started off a bit slow, but picked up a little less then halfway through. I think the beginning could have been more shortened and concise but all in all picked up. I think a glossary of some sort would have been good to know what each "scientific/futuristic" word meant. Some of them you automatically knew but others, I still don't know what the meaning of them was actually supposed to be. This was a very consistent story and mostly everything that happened got wrapped up, but also still made you want more and find out what happens to Kim.
Some parts were a bit confusing of knowing who was speaking, especially between Kim and Kimberly unless it explicitly said, "Kim said" or "Kimberly said". Imagining the story in your head as its happening is all part of the fun of reading a book like this.
This book made me want to jump to the end to want to know what happens to Kim, what happens to Shan, what happens to the AIs. I still thoroughly read the book and could not put it down.
I love dystopian style books to begin with, and this was another top notch version. I would recommend this to anyone that like dystopian, futuristic style books. I rate this book a 5 out of 5. I will be definitely reading the 2nd book in the series.
Some parts were a bit confusing of knowing who was speaking, especially between Kim and Kimberly unless it explicitly said, "Kim said" or "Kimberly said". Imagining the story in your head as its happening is all part of the fun of reading a book like this.
This book made me want to jump to the end to want to know what happens to Kim, what happens to Shan, what happens to the AIs. I still thoroughly read the book and could not put it down.
I love dystopian style books to begin with, and this was another top notch version. I would recommend this to anyone that like dystopian, futuristic style books. I rate this book a 5 out of 5. I will be definitely reading the 2nd book in the series.
December 19, 2022
What is it like to live in the future?
Whenever I think of living in the future through the lens of the sci-fi genre, I immediately think of The Terminator, Star Trek, or maybe something as simple as Big Hero 6. I'd imagine living in an environment where AI takes command of everything in our lives. It might sound intriguing, as humans wouldn't have to lift a finger to do anything. Yet, would it deteriorate our values and humanity as we give up everything that makes us humans to AI?
That is what happened in the story. Kim had always been an obedient member of society. Working for the AI company, Kim was intrigued by the development of AI, which was the "eyes" of the people for the government. Any act of defiance according to the Terms of Service would be punished. Until one day, she was promoted to become the Creator and met Kimberly, her AI. Would Kimberly be the key to Kim's self-discovery in the dystopian world?
Reading this made me realise that our daily interactions and activities are what make us humans. Humans could not function well without emotional factors. We could not neglect it, but we need to be mindful when acting out. That's just the nature of humans, and changing it could mean weakening our basis for life.
However, I dislike the depiction of drugs and alcohol in this story. Overall, it is indeed an interesting read.
Whenever I think of living in the future through the lens of the sci-fi genre, I immediately think of The Terminator, Star Trek, or maybe something as simple as Big Hero 6. I'd imagine living in an environment where AI takes command of everything in our lives. It might sound intriguing, as humans wouldn't have to lift a finger to do anything. Yet, would it deteriorate our values and humanity as we give up everything that makes us humans to AI?
That is what happened in the story. Kim had always been an obedient member of society. Working for the AI company, Kim was intrigued by the development of AI, which was the "eyes" of the people for the government. Any act of defiance according to the Terms of Service would be punished. Until one day, she was promoted to become the Creator and met Kimberly, her AI. Would Kimberly be the key to Kim's self-discovery in the dystopian world?
Reading this made me realise that our daily interactions and activities are what make us humans. Humans could not function well without emotional factors. We could not neglect it, but we need to be mindful when acting out. That's just the nature of humans, and changing it could mean weakening our basis for life.
However, I dislike the depiction of drugs and alcohol in this story. Overall, it is indeed an interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews