Spotlight: The Doomsday Code by Sara Yager
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Publication date: November 14th 2023
Genres: Adult, Thriller
Synopsis:
In an artificial intelligence lab in Shanghai, something has gone terribly wrong. Days after a major breakthrough in machine learning, CyberGen Industries’ lead AI scientist is dead—and their precious prototype has vanished into the ether. An investigation reveals that, against all odds, the lab’s “unhackable” system has been breached.
The discovery, an algorithm mimicking human intelligence, is growing quickly—becoming more cunning and unpredictable with each passing hour. Soon its capabilities will eclipse its creators entirely.
Who stole it? And more troubling, what do they plan to do with it?
Ex-NSA hacker Adrian Pryor may be the only person on the planet capable of reining it in. He spent his career keeping the world safe, a vigilance for which he paid an enormous, personal price. Adrian knows there are people who will stop at nothing to control the powerful technology. He must find a way to do the impossible: to stop them, and to outmaneuver a rival more clever, more powerful, and more alien than anything he has ever seen.
Grounded in real-world science, Sara Yager’s wildly inventive debut brings advanced AI to life, illuminating a frightening, all-too-real truth about the future: we are one breakthrough away from inventing ourselves out of existence.
Excerpt
The long, quiet walk to her lab usually calmed her. This morning, however, the solitary trip had Olivia on edge. What she had learned hours before about her lab partner left no doubt in her mind that whoever had killed Andreas had walked this very same path. As far as she knew, his attacker could still be nearby, and she couldn't escape the feeling that a target now rested on her back.
Five years ago, Alexander Tso had walked Olivia down this very corridor, introducing her to CyberGen by proudly showing off its state-of-the-art lab.
"I thought that maybe you could use a dedicated lab space—a facility where you can push the limits of the work you have been developing these last few years.”
“Surely you know I can’t consider leaving Boston,” she had said, growing annoyed. “Some of the best work in the field is being done at the MIT AI Lab.”
“Olivia, let’s be honest. Are you not limited there? By the resources of the university, the extent of your grants, your immature tenure?”
Olivia didn’t appreciate the man’s presumptuous attitude. But she couldn’t argue that he had a point.
“Answer this,” Tso had continued. “Do you wish to probe the inner workings of the mind, Olivia? To unlock the full potential of mankind?”
“Of course I do. That’s why I study synthetic intelligence.”
“Then the job is yours,” Tso said simply.
Olivia stared at the stranger in shock. "But I haven't even interviewed for the position!"
"On the contrary, Ms. Chen. I have been following your work in neural networks for the last two years. It shows incredible promise. This isn't an interview," he said, his hazel eyes flashing warmly. "It's a job offer."
Olivia hadn’t known what to say. “Respectfully, the technologies required to run my research are—"
"Enormously expensive?" he finished. "I'm already aware." He smiled broadly. "The lab was completed six months ago. Funded entirely by a ghost investor."
Arriving at a glass door, Olivia stopped short, speechless.
“Beyond this door,” Tso continued, “is one of the most advanced machine learning facilities in the world. All the equipment you could possibly need would be here at your disposal.” He reached for the door. “Would you like to see your lab now?"
Olivia could barely manage a reply. "You are offering me my own lab?"
"I can think of nobody more qualified. Except maybe your new partner—Andreas Kohler. I will introduce you shortly.”
“But Mr. Tso—"
“Ms. Chen—the advances you are making will provide an incalculable value to science, not to mention the commercial prospects. Tso stopped and looked her squarely in the eyes. "Imagine what you could accomplish here, Olivia."
Then Tso led her through the glass doors and showed her the lab. A moment later, he handed her an offer letter with her new salary.
Olivia's jaw had dropped.
That was five years ago.
She had left her job at the AI lab at MIT and never looked back.
Now, as Olivia arrived at the same glass door, she realized how far they had come since that day. Exactly as Tso had predicted, Olivia's research had produced astonishing results, particularly in the last three months. The breakthroughs would usher in entire new paradigms of thinking. Andreas and Olivia had agreed to keep their discovery quiet until the implications were more fully understood. Olivia knew that when the time was right, they would go public with the most transformative science in human history.
If only she had known, it would come at a tragic personal cost.
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About the Author
Sara Yager built a successful ten-year career in the semiconductor industry before leaving to care for her children full time. With a unique perspective as a mother and former tech professional, she brings a fresh and insightful voice to the world of speculative fiction.
A mom of two young boys, Yager came up with some of her best concepts for The Doomsday Code while waiting in the elementary school pickup line. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is her first novel.
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