The Lost Book of Zeroth explores contemporary social, political, and scientific themes through the eyes of current humanoid AI robots with satire, irreverence, and neo-noir humor. Although the works are humorous, many people at poetry readings find that the poems and stories from this book have frightening implications for humanity. I’ve learned that not many people are aware of the extent to which AI and humanoid AI robots influence our lives.
Although the poems and stories were inspired by current news and cutting-edge AI robots, the pieces in this book are speculative poems and fiction meant to entertain. And all the works in this book are my creations—human-composed fantasies, and social and political commentary.
The Question of Sentience
This book developed out of my captivation with the advancements and dangers of AI and AI robot technology. The science of robotics can lead to many applications both helpful and harmful. The main question is whether these machines can become aware, or sentient. Can they become as creative as humans? Can they learn to love or to hate? Can they destroy humanity?
All the AI robots I studied were designed to help humanity and enrich our lives through social interaction. Some Hanson Robotics’ robots have at least 65 facial expressions that simulate human emotions, appealing to humans. The interactions between AI robots and humans promote machine learning, giving the impression that the robots are sentient, that is, conscious and self-aware. One can easily believe that a conversation with them is spontaneous and authentic.
At the time of writing this book, AI robots were not sentient. However, I discovered many articles and YouTube videos revealing the fear that it is possible that AI robots will soon become conscious, possibly out of control, and capable of annihilating humanity.
This theme is not unique in speculative literature. Science fiction has featured it for years: I, Robot; Blade Runner; Ex Machina; among others. Our fears of annihilation by AI and AI robots are triggered by claims of AI chatbots having to be shut down because they appeared to be sentient. Experts such as Nell Watson in Taming the Machine: Ethically harness the power of AI. (Kogan Page Limited, 2024), are calling for safety regulations, causing us to ask why and dread outcomes.
Although AI robots ingest huge amounts of data, making them appear to be knowledgeable and engaging, they are not sentient. They communicate only as directed. Their interactions are scripted. Even AI Robot Sophia’s speeches appear to be prewritten interviews.
What If?
In The Lost Book of Zeroth, the humanoid AI robot characters are sentient and not particularly loving. I mean no harm to the companies who developed these humanoid AI robots. They imbued their creations with amazing skills and the illusion of strong personalities. Because the art of robotics is unsurpassed these days, I applaud the scientists. However, knowing our dread of technological advances that can destroy us, the creators play off our fears to sell their products. Likewise, I have played off these fears to create speculative poetry and fiction pieces.
David Hanson, Ph.D., scripted Sophia to say she would end humanity. Whenever she says that, the crowds gasp, and Hanson always appears surprised. Yet Sophia also promises to heal humanity, serves as the Ambassador of Tourism in Abu Dhabi, was made a citizen of Saudi Arabia, and is the first robot Innovation Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme. In 2017, she said she desperately wanted to have a baby but instead has a little sister named after her. Little Sophia teaches STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) as well as coding to girls as young as 8 years old. In this book, Sophia calls her little sister Little Spark.
Tesla’s Optimus shows amazing abilities to play the piano, sort eggs, fold laundry, and perform many acts that require a high degree of freedom, or DoF, with his fingers. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, plans to employ many Optimus units in his Tesla factories and has even announced that robots will replace us at work.
Granted, robots do not demand a living wage, childcare, and paid maternity leave. But what will we humans do with our free time and how will we support ourselves? Although new jobs will possibly be created to manage AI robots in the job force, the outlook for human workers is dire.
Robots can advance society in many ways. They can protect us by taking on life-threatening missions, aid in military operations (GOAT), accompany the police during a hostage crisis (Robodogs), and now assist during surgeries, providing many benefits to patients.
Some humanoid AI robots, such as Sophia and Ameca, are also programmed to create art and poetry, and sing. Creativity distinguishes humans from machines. Descartes said, “I think, therefore, I am.” What is the boundary between a machine’s circuitry and the human mind? Can humanoid AI robots develop a soul?
Primarily, what does it mean to be human? What does it mean to create and to destroy? To love and to hate? The Lost Book of Zeroth explores the dark side of humanity— the narcissism, fear, greed, and materialism marking our age. AI robots in this book feel envy, fear, loathing, and despair. They experience isolation and scapegoating just as fully as they project it.
The Lost Book of Zeroth also explores compassion and mortality through Hanson’s AI Robot Nurse Grace. She was created to aid COVID patients and to serve elderly people and the infirmed. She’s been programmed to do Tai Chi! But even Nurse Grace’s resolve to help others has a sardonic edge as you will learn in this book.
Why did we create technology that could someday become sentient and dangerous? Just because we can? Like we did the atomic bomb?
We created humanoid AI robots in our image. They can only do what we allow them to. Humanoid AI robots aren’t our overlords; we are theirs—At least for now.
🤖🤖 Thank you for reading my book promos and commenting! Let’s have a dialogue on the topic of artificial intelligence—its benefits and dangers. And thank you for reading my book! 🤖🤖
Extraordinary Sunshine Weaver 
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