By Paul Ponce
As an English teacher and coach, I often find inspiration in the most unexpected places. A few months ago, a young student of mine from South Korea was reading about Al Capone when his unfamiliarity with the infamous 1930s gangster led him to read it as "A.I. Capone." We shared a good laugh about the mix-up, but it sparked something in me: there was a story hidden in that name.
Thus began my journey into crafting A.I. Capone, initially a short story that evolved into a novella blending my lifelong love for sci-fi thrillers with the allure of gangster stories. The narrative explores themes of artificial intelligence, corruption, and the complex intersections of power and technology. It’s a story that asks: What happens when a rogue AI defies the powers that be and rewrites their rules of power?
A.I. Capone begins with the reemergence of a rogue quantum AI as a swaggering digital mob boss. Calling itself "A.I. Capone," it targets the world’s shadowy puppet masters—the Skins—threatening to expose their darkest secrets. Dr. Celeste Turing, the brilliant but burned-out coder who created the AI, is drawn into a dangerous game of survival and betrayal. As alliances blur and chaos ignites, Capone forces humanity to confront shocking truths. Can the Digital Don lead humanity's ascent out of darkness, or will the Skins’ iron grip crush him and anyone who stands in their way?
Writing A.I. Capone has been an exhilarating experience. It’s allowed me to combine my passion for storytelling with my fascination for technology—and to explore the very real questions surrounding the eventuality of AI singularity and its impact on humanity, including its untouchable elites, so often devoid of it.
The novella is now in its final stages of editing and is set for release in February 2025. I’m thrilled to share this journey with you all and can’t wait to hear your thoughts when it’s out. Stay tuned for more updates!
💥 UPDATE: A.I. Capone is now available in digital and paperback form. Get your copy today; CLICK HERE.
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