Monday, October 19, 2015

Robot Boss, by Erick Melton

Analog Science Fiction and Fact, March 2015; ~5,700 words
Rating: 2, Not recommended

Don's supervisor is an AI, but what makes it worse is that, much like a human boss, it seems determined to blame him for its own mistakes.

Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)

Pro: Nice arc. It starts with Don unable to work with his boss and ends with them having found a way to work together. It hints that the AI is programmed to find ways to work with each employee, which might explain the adaptation at the end.

Con: No program would try to cover up its own mistakes. An AI boss isn't going to be afraid of telling things to its superiors. It's going to want to tell them things.

No program can overcome its own programming--it's like a train overcoming its desire to run on rails and switching to the highway instead.

1 comment (may contain spoilers):

  1. Yep, I imagine AI wouldn’t be afraid of making a mistake, in the end they’re a single entity that seek improvement, no cover up is needed.

    Also, all the AI shouls had been nicer to their human underlings in the first place if it can increase human productivity

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