Looking for good AI-themed sci-fi books… any suggestions?

Seeking Advice
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Hello everyone,

Like many of you here, I’m totally fascinated by AI and spend a lot of time reading about its advancements. I’ve always been interested in tech and innovation, and my interest in AI overlaps with my love for science fiction.

I’m looking for book recommendations where AI plays a big role in the story. Some of my favorites are:

  • The Culture Series – I love the idea of a post-scarcity world where AI basically runs everything.
  • A Fire Upon the Deep – It’s got some awesome AI-driven elements that really make the story exciting.
  • I, Robot – A classic!
  • Service Model – A recent read about robots in a post-human world, trying to figure out their purpose.

I’m especially interested in more recent sci-fi about AI, but I’m open to older classics too. If you’ve read anything great or have a favorite, I’d love your suggestions!

Thanks so much for helping me find my next read!

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Short answer: Rainbows End. It’s a great short read.

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Tavis said:
Short answer: Rainbows End. It’s a great short read.

Vinge’s other books are awesome too – especially the Zones of Thought series: A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky. I also really liked The Peace War/Marooned in Realtime.

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Check out Stanislaw Lem’s books. I really enjoyed “Golem XIV” from his “Library of the 21st Century” series.

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Afton said:
Check out Stanislaw Lem’s books. I really enjoyed “Golem XIV” from his “Library of the 21st Century” series.

Lem is a gem!

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I just read Liquid Reign by Tim Reutemann, and it’s really good.

The world-building is amazing and it’s all about a post-singularity world with AI Personal Companions (autonomous agents) for every person. There’s decentralization, Direct Democracy, Virtual realities, Wealth distribution, UBI, Independent AGI systems, and so much more!

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@River
Great, thank you! This one’s definitely going on my list.

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Playground by Powers

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Weston said:
Playground by Powers

This is exactly what I’m looking for. Thanks!!!

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The Liveship series by McCaffrey has some AI-like elements too.

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Accelerando by Charles Stross

The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect by Roger Williams