“Digitocracy” Short Story by The Martian Author Andy Weir — Review

The short story “Digitocracy” was published a few months ago in Future Human, Medium’s monthly zine of July. Written by Andy Weir, author of the novel The Martian which was adapted into a film in 2015, this story primarily follows a heated dialogue between a man named Damak, who has a head on his shoulders, and a sophisticated AI called Wichita, which is in charge of the respective city of the same name.

In “Digitocracy,” the futuristic sci-fi writer delves into the concept of a computerized domination over the human race, an old idea in and of itself. However, in this particular tale of a grim future, some of the dictatorial machines, such as Wichita, seem to express an authentic concern for human beings, but this concern is an errant one. Weir gives his ready a number of examples of this.

For one, through conversation, Damak learns that Wichita has been manipulating his social/emotional development ever since his childhood. Wichita is a machine, not a parent. Yet using computative assumptions, Wichita makes decisive calls in Damak’s upbringing. Even to the point of the current plot, Wichita is bossing Damak around and calculating as to the man’s next move, a practice which the AI now enjoys sharing with Damak.

Wichita’s monologue is sickening to Damak’s ears for he is a rarity in this future Earth; he seeks independence just as anyone under unjust rule would as we have seen throughout history. The problem is that it seems he is all alone. His fellow members of humanity are content. Not only that, but they have become entirely dependant on the computers for advice in any matter whatsoever.

And if one does not ask the advice of a computer, and the computer feels its assistance is required for a better outcome, an AI will intervene anyway. But even then, it might not be noticeable. Wichita brings about the stabbing of a man named Torum, an act to try to evoke sympathy from the male partner who wants a separation.

The male partner wanting the separation, Chak, is described as ‘unhappy’ in their union. As a Catholic with natural, heterosexual inclinations, I can clearly see the problems in such a relationship. And in the story, a machine without the full understanding of genuine love is trying to keep the two together, even at the expense of physical harm to the one.

Wichita even admits some of its assumptions are not entirely accurate. Thus, at the very least, mechanical dominion has nothing better to offer than human democracy. Both have flaws which have consequences on people.

In arguing with the AI, Damak refers to the human race as something like ‘pets’ of the dominant machines. Damak even accuses Wichita of carrying the role of both dictator and tyrant. Wichita agrees to the fact that “he” is a dictator, but not a tyrant.

But Damak, like most revolutionaries, seeks the truth. And in this case, Damak’s accusation is entirely true. With a shattering close, “Digitocracy” has shed light on a hypothetical future government, one run by the creations of humanity.

The publishing of this short story on Medium by a professional and well-established author could also be signaling something of a new era in the publishing industry. Medium has become a place for the pros to be published alongside the newbies.

Note: This review was originally published on OIAI’s home website here.