Klara and the Sun
by Kazuo Ishiguro
Ishiguro's haunting tale told through the eyes of Klara, a solar-powered Artificial Friend navigating love, loss, and what it means to be human.
"What can children know about genuine love? The answer, of course, is everything".
Editorial Summary
Klara and the Sun is the eighth novel by British writer Kazuo Ishiguro, published on 2 March 2021, and is a dystopian science fiction story. Set in the U.S. in an unspecified future, the book is told from the point of view of Klara, a solar-powered AF (Artificial Friend), who is chosen by a sickly girl named Josie. The novel is set in a dystopian United States encumbered by surging social inequality, fascist terrorism and controversial scientific advancements, where parents may "opt in" their children for a risky genetic modification treatment called "lifting" that boosts their social standing and academic prospects. In May 2023, it was announced that Taika Waititi would direct the film adaptation, with Jenna Ortega cast as Klara and Amy Adams as Josie's mother. Ishiguro is a master of first-person storytelling in modern literature, known for pulling readers directly into a character's consciousness and for obscuring his authorial presence.
Perspective
"This is essential reading for anyone grappling with the current wave of artificial intelligence development, from GPT-4 to advanced robotics, as it explores what happens when AI becomes emotionally sophisticated enough to love and be loved. Tech leaders, ethicists, and policymakers wrestling with AI alignment and the future of human-AI relationships will find Ishiguro's meditation on consciousness and authenticity particularly relevant as we approach more advanced AI systems."
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