One of the main subjects of Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro is the coming coexistence of artificial intelligence (AI) with our natural world. To give a small taste of AI’s present capabilities, I’m printing two reviews about Klara. One was written by Microsoft’s new AI program ChatGPT and the second is mine. After them are some excerpts of what the program can do with different points of view. If I didn’t identify them, would you know they were written by a computer? Thanks to my grandson for technical assistance with this.
Our first request was simply to write a 200-word summary and here is what the program (instantly) wrote:
Klara and the Sun is a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro that tells the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend (AF) who is designed to be a highly advanced robot companion for children. Set in a dystopian future, the novel explores themes of artificial intelligence, humanity, and the nature of consciousness.
Klara is an AF with exceptional observational skills and a unique perspective on the world. She is purchased by a teenage girl named Josie, who is suffering from an unspecified illness. As Klara adjusts to life in Josie’s home, she becomes increasingly curious about the human emotions and behaviors she observes. She develops a deep attachment to Josie and is determined to understand the mysteries of human existence, including love and mortality.
As Klara navigates her world, she encounters other AFs and humans, including Rick, a former AF who works at the store where Klara was purchased, and Mr. Capaldi, a reclusive scientist who holds the key to understanding Klara’s true purpose. Klara’s journey is both heartwarming and thought-provoking as she grapples with her own identity and the limitations of her programming.
Throughout the novel, Ishiguro raises philosophical questions about what it means to be alive, the nature of consciousness, and the ethical implications of creating artificial beings. “Klara and the Sun” is a poignant and introspective exploration of humanity, identity, and the complexities of AI, told through the eyes of a captivating and compassionate artificial friend.
Following is the human-written review I did last fall when I first read Klara. I have just reread the novel for a book group and found it as thought provoking as before. Well worth revisiting.
Klara, Josie’s best friend, has no questions about her purpose in life. She lives to make Josie happy, to care for and protect her, because Klara, a solar powered AF, is programmed that way. Kazuo Ishiguro, in Klara and the Sun, welcomes us to the near future when elite teenagers are tutored by experts via computer at home and need the companionship of an AF, Artificial Friend, for company.
We meet Klara when she is newly made, living in a store, waiting to be chosen as a best friend. She is learning about her environment, and we see as she does in pixels and shapes. Josie, the human who chooses her, is a metaphor for the benefits and risks of technology in our lives. She is especially intelligent and privileged but has a mysterious illness which brings a note of disquiet to the story.
Josie’s father, when he comes to visit, nicknames her Animal, an unsubtle commentary about one of the main issues. Exactly what is the difference between Klara and Josie who have indeed become best friends? Is there really a special spark in the human or is it all just chemicals and programming?
On the surface, this is a timely story about coming of age, friendship, family and the choices that define who a person is. Underneath is the provocative question of how much we want technology, computers, robots, and AI to intersect with our lives.
We thought that seeing what AI could do was fun, so we asked the program to write a few more reviews. Up on the screen they appeared, as fast as we could ask. Here is part of one written from the perspective of an 80-year-old avid reader.
Klara and the Sun is a remarkable novel that transported me to a world both familiar and yet unsettlingly different. As an 80-year-old avid reader, I have delved into countless literary realms, but Kazuo Ishiguro’s latest work struck a chord deep within me.
The story revolves around Klara, an Artificial Friend with a unique perspective on life. Ishiguro’s masterful prose painted vivid images of a society where artificial beings coexist with humans, creating a thought-provoking backdrop for exploring complex themes. Klara’s innocence and unwavering loyalty reminded me of simpler times, evoking a sense of nostalgia for my own youth.
Through Klara’s eyes, I witnessed the fragility of human relationships and the depths of loneliness. The novel delves into profound questions about the nature of consciousness and the ethical implications of creating sentient beings. Ishiguro’s insightful exploration of these themes left me pondering the essence of what it truly means to be alive…
Here’s an excerpt from “write like a British teenager:” (If you were her teacher, would you know she hadn’t written it herself?)
Klara and the Sun is an extraordinary novel that takes us on a thought-provoking journey into a not-so-distant future. Set in a world where artificial beings called AFs (Artificial Friends) exist, the story follows Klara, a highly intelligent AF with exceptional observational skills.
As a British teenager, I was immediately captivated by Klara’s perspective. Through her eyes, I witnessed a society divided by technological advancements and socioeconomic disparities. Klara’s innocence and unwavering curiosity about the world around her made her a relatable and endearing protagonist….
And finally, we asked for a casual American teenage version:
Yo, mate! Let me tell you about this wicked book called “Klara and the Sun.” It’s a futuristic story set in a world where artificial humans called AFs exist. So, our main gal, Klara, is one of these AFs, and she’s mad intelligent and observant.
Klara’s on a mission to find a special someone to be her owner. She’s all about this chick named Josie, who’s sick and needs some serious help. Klara’s got this wicked thing called “artificial friendliness” that makes her super sweet and caring. She’s like a next-level robo-buddy….
A hopeful note from a NYT reviewer of a 95 percent AI generated novella (!) says:
“A.I. will never pose a threat to the real thing — to writing with convictions, honest doubts, riddling wit, a personal vision of the world, rawness and originality.
Another word for these qualities is soul, which is exactly what ChatGPT lacks. Left wholly naked in front of the A.I. onslaught may be the writers of certain formulaic best sellers, but that’s a matter for their agents.”
Addendum – In our book group, opinions were very divided about the book and about AI. I think it is very interesting that none of the machine generated reviews (about another machine) are negative, but are invariably positive. Should we be worried about this or is it just that ChatGPT has been programmed to be nice?
Ann Wheeler -This is very interesting, Diane! I was heartened to note that AI goofed on certain aspects of their reviews. For instance the first review had Rick as a former AF.
The review by the American teenager sounded like what we might imagine to be American. Whereas the British teenager seemed conventional/unadventurous. Did AI not know that the Beatles, David Bowie and Elton John are all British? I really liked your review ending with the provocative question about how much we might want AI in our lives. It brought up a sad thought to me: it seemed that Josie led as much a soulless life as did Klara.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
Fascinating review. After the first, the AI written review, compared with your review from some time back, I thought, no brainer. Diane wrote the second. But I had to reconsider after the review from the 80-year old, avid reader point of view. BTW, Microsoft has just taken over after my aging Windows 10 operating system no longer downlowade my email. And as I write, the program behind Word anticipates what I will type. I mearly need to press the TAB button to proceed. Even when it is right, I have stopped using the tab, because as a touch-typist (having learned on a non-electric keyboard decades ago) this most irritating feature slows down my own typing. And it presumes to correct my punctuation when I know very well, there are exceptions. However, the spelling correction is just fine. Although non-AI programs already have spell correct features. Next time we are face to face we could continue our speculations about the subject. I expect you have read The Overstory by Richard Powers, 2018 I think. The character Neely represented the AI point of view.
Thanks for the comment Nancy. I agree about the spelling part. I play Spelling Bee and am often stunned when my spelling is not the one it wants!