"This pacey AI thriller sees a teen orphan battle the grip of Big Tech to prevent her late father’s world-changing AI algorithm from falling into dangerous hands."
Centred on a compelling, thought-provoking AI data concept, Neil Taylor’s Anticipation debut boasts contemporary bite, and a strong sense of twisting conspiracy and high-stakes urgency.
After her father’s sudden death in a plane crash, 17-year-old Riya Sudame inherits access to his revolutionary AI algorithm when she becomes a Keyholder custodian of his Anticipation Machine that can predict people's futures using their online data. As revealed by his former colleague: “Your father’s creation literally predicts people’s futures. If someone got hold of this and embedded it in a social-media platform with millions of users, they might just end up controlling the future of the whole world”.
While Riya’s dad had created the algorithm to help ordinary people make better choices, in the hands of greedy corporations, all manner of mayhem might be unleashed. As a result, she’s forced to go on the run from a powerful social media tycoon who’ll stop at nothing to have access to the algorithm, and the influence it will grant him.
Sinister, suspenseful and twisty, the writing is immensely detailed on Riya’s every action and thought as she grapples with tortured decisions and faces grave peril. Above all, Anticipation is a gripping thriller that’ll make you think about what you reveal through your own online engagement and interactions.
Your every move is being watched by businesses hoping to manipulate your behaviour. Every picture, every post, every like, every follow, every purchase, every search.
When 17-year-old Riya Sudame inherits her father's secret AI algorithm, she and a handful of carefully selected Keyholders hold the power to predict people's futures using their online data. But with great power comes great responsibility, and they must safeguard it from falling into the wrong hands.
Enter Jim Booker, a powerful social media tycoon, who will stop at nothing to steal the technology for himself. Soon Riya faces a critical choice. Fighting ruthless tech giants seems like an impossible task-wouldn't it be easier to relinquish her father's creation in exchange for a normal teenage life?
But if she does, she will have to live with the knowledge that she is the reason that, like everyone, you are being played.
Neil Taylor marks his debut in this dark, twisty AI thriller.
Neil Taylor began his career in software engineering after leaving school at 16 years old to enter a 4-year engineering apprenticeship. He then went on to study computer engineering at university before moving into the software industry. His work has taken him across Europe, as well as to Nagoya, Japan and Boston, USA.
Neil is intrigued by behavioral science and the comparison between the human brain and computers—they are more alike than we would like to believe. Neil currently lives in Durham, UK where he enjoys various physical pursuits, including mountain biking and yoga.
