The Turing Option

Novel by Harry Harrison (http://www.futurenet.com/sfnet/lit/harry/harry.html)

and Marvin Minsky (http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/minsky/minsky.html)

New York: Warner Books, 1992

Reviewed by Yeonsuk Lee

August 7, 1998

The Turing Option is a science fiction novel about artificial intelligence by Harry Harrison and Marvin Minsky. Harry Harrison, one of the most prolific and accomplished science fiction writers, wrote a good story while Marvin Minsky, one of the pioneers and leading experts in the artificial intelligence field, provided technical knowledge about AI. Harrison created a complex technical concept of AI in an entertaining form, which is readable for general public.

In 2023, Brian Delaney, a young computer genius, created Robin-1, which is the world’s first human like artificial intelligence. Soon, Brian was attacked and his brain was severely injured. All research, including Robin-1, was stolen as well. Miraculously, Brian was reborn after Dr. Snarebrook, an excellent surgeon, inserts minuscule chips into his damaged brain and links his disconnected neurons by applying Brian’s research theories on AI. After Brian recovered, He rebuilds another AI, Sven, based on his first AI program data. With Sven’s help, Brian finally discovers his real killer and solves the murder case involving the first AI, Robin-1. As the criminal case gets revealed a little by little, it turned out military, government, and industry espionage was involved into the crime for the AI.

The most interesting point in the aspect of AI is Brian himself and his AI, Sven. This book seems to focus more on Brian, half-human and half machine, than Sven, true artificial intelligence. Brian eventually becomes like half human and half machine after having CPU microchips implanted into his brain and gaining neural pathway and memory. He becomes capable of interacting with CPU and the part of his brain and download from CPU into his brain. However, the more he get superior machine ability, the more he gets confused about his identity; Brian becomes unsure whether he owns the machine or the machine is him. Finally, he identifies himself as more a machine and accepted it.

Sven is a human-like AI and it claims to be an MI, machine intelligence rather than AI. Sven is exactly like a dream robot for present humans. It would absolutely pass the Turing Test. It is capable of self-learning, storing information into memory, understanding natural language, and mobility, etc. In contrast to Brian, Sven became more and more human. In the end, Sven became a tragic hero. It sacrifices itself to protecting Brian, its creator, from another attack by the killer.

This book is suited to those who are interested in artificial intelligence at the beginning point. The book provides an introduction to everything about AI, including the future, in a detailed and conversational manner. However, to those who are seriously interested in AI or who like very adventurous and imaginative sci-fi style, it may be tedious.