The idea that something out there can be smarter than us as humans suggests that we aren’t always going to be the apex predator. Getting an advertisement for something you mentioned in passing once to a friend is creepy as heck. Look, we all know the internet and the concept of true artificial intelligence can be terrifying.

Wisdom is knowing Frankenstein was actually the monster.” “Intelligence is knowing Frankenstein was the creator, not the monster. While its brevity did occasionally rob it of the potential for greater expansion on certain themes, I think it made up for that occasional lack of depth with lightning-fast pacing and incisive conversations that didn’t dance around issues. In some ways, this book reminded me of one of my favorite reads this year, A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor, by Hank Green–between the sentient human-but-not-really-human character of CheshireCat, the witty banter, the commentary on tech culture, and the flawed-yet-lovable characters, this book pulled together many of my favorite things. I left it absolutely hooked and already dying for a sequel. I went into this book intrigued but unsure what to expect.

Having access to knowledge doesn’t always mean understanding things. When a threat from Steph’s past catches up to her and ChesireCat’s existence is discovered by outsiders, it’s up to Steph and her friends, both online and IRL, to save her.ĪMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY Review What Steph doesn’t know is that the admin of the site, CheshireCat, is a sentient A.I. Her only constant is an online community called CatNet-a social media site where users upload cat pictures-a place she knows she is welcome. How much does the internet know about YOU?īecause her mom is always on the move, Steph hasn’t lived anyplace longer than six months. In under 300 pages, this tiny page-turner covers an impressive span of topics, with a delicate balance of fun and dread that will ring true for all of us who grew up alongside the internet.

A ragtag team of internet friends, a road trip, a reprogrammed sex-education robot (not the AI), a literal cat…this book has a bit of everything, and it works so well. The coolest, quirkiest, most awkwardly badass AI.

Catfishing on catnet summary