In a dystopian future, AI-based robots known as “hums” have taken over numerous jobs, leaving many unemployed and raising concerns about government control and surveillance. This is the premise of Helen Phillips’ new novel, which serves as a warning about the potential consequences of climate change, artificial intelligence, surveillance, and the erosion of personal privacy.
The protagonist, May Webb, encounters her first hum at a bus stop, initially mistaking it for a sculpture. A year later, she finds herself undergoing facial recognition obscuring surgery performed by a hum, a test that pays well but may have unforeseen consequences. The novel paints a bleak picture of a society where hums have become integral to various sectors, rendering human labor obsolete.
Phillips’ work has been compared to renowned authors such as Calvino, Kafka, Margaret Atwood, Ursula Le Guin, and Lorrie Moore, highlighting her unique voice in the speculative fiction genre. The novel explores the dire implications for a responsible mother seeking moments of privacy with her husband while exposing her children to the diminishing natural world within a costly botanic garden reminiscent of Disneyland.
The writing and launch of the novel were heavily influenced by the ongoing pandemic and global conflicts. Phillips had to pause her work on the book for three months to adapt to online teaching and oversee her children’s remote schooling. The emotional and psychological impact of the pandemic, the 2020 election, and wildfires in Colorado, where she was raised, intensified the novel’s themes.
Phillips began working on the book in the fall of 2019, shaping loose notes and conducting extensive research. The concept of the hums, elegant and sculptural beings, was inspired by the duality of the word “hum” itself. It represents both the constant noise emitted by machines and the soothing sound of a lullaby, reflecting the complex nature of the hums in the book.
One of the central plotlines involves May undergoing facial surgery to erase her facial recognition identity, making her untrackable in a city where surveillance is pervasive. This concept delves into the creepy nature of facial recognition technology and the potential limits of adversarial tech designed to interfere with surveillance systems.
May’s loss of her job to hums after years of working on AI communications highlights the concern that human labor could become obsolete due to advancements in AI. This notion is not far-fetched, as recent incidents involving the unauthorized use of authors’ works to train generative AI have raised questions about the role and livelihood of writers.
The article also touches on the possibility of hums or AI robots handling customer service, although the exact timeline for such developments remains uncertain. However, the use of robot dogs by the NYPD indicates the potential for further integration of AI in various sectors.
The novel’s exploration of climate change is evident throughout, with references to the impact of wildfires, air quality concerns, and the loss of natural habitats. Phillips conducted extensive research on climate change, drawing inspiration from David Wallace-Wells’ book, “The Uninhabitable Earth.”
Currently, Phillips is working on a collection of short stories and gathering notes for her next novel, continuing her exploration of thought-provoking themes.