Title: Artificial Wisdom

Author: Thomas R. Weaver

Description: In 2050, as the climate crisis reaches a breaking point, the world elects a single Global Protector to save humanity. The contenders are Lockwood, a shady ex-president, and Solomon, the first AI candidate created by scientist Martha Chandra. After Martha dies under suspicious circumstances, journalist Marcus Tully, grieving his family lost to a deadly heat wave, investigates, uncovering a tangled web of climate conspiracies, AI ethics dilemmas, political intrigue, and a plot that could reshape humanity’s future.

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery, Thrillers

Book Review

Are you ready for an AI president?

Artificial Wisdom throws that question right in your face, and spoiler: it’s not a neat yes or no. As expected, the answer is… complicated.

I was intrigued by this premise because AI running for president? Not your everyday dystopian plot. It raises big questions like: Would an AI president be better than a human one? Would the AI president be able to save the world, rather than initiating wars and spreading corruption? Or would everything fall apart even faster, guided by unbiased logic?

The story takes place in 2050, when the climate crisis is so severe that the world decides to elect one Global Protector with unprecedented power to save humanity. The race comes down to Lockwood, a shady ex-president, and Solomon, the first-ever AI candidate, created by brilliant scientist Martha Chandra. When Martha drops dead under suspicious circumstances, determined journalist Marcus Tully, who is still hurting from losing his family in a brutal heat wave, dives into the mystery. What he finds is a chaotic blend of climate conspiracies, AI ethics drama, politics, and a plot that could change everything for humanity.

The idea? Brilliant. The execution? Less so. The pacing was slow, which might be deliberate, but it felt like it dragged more than it succeeded. Yes, with an investigative thriller, you should expect the book to be slow, but not in a way where you have more detail than story. There were a bunch of plot twists near the end of the story, which was the book’s saving grace – along with the excellent writing and grammar – but these twists ended up not getting answered very well, or at all, so they ended up being a disappointment. The ending fell flat, as it barely addressed the main questions, and the writing concluded with some random thoughts from the main character, rather than a memorable line.

Speaking of the main character, Marcus Tully is thrown right into the middle of this whole murder mystery. He’s someone known for refusing to kill a story, no matter the personal cost, and the price does run high, especially in the climate-stricken world. He’s not a bad character and genuinely tries to do the right thing, but what makes him truly memorable is how he pretends not to care while quietly showing he does. Most notably by looking out for his “strays,” a group of misfit assistants he’s hired over the years. Every character is well-written, has a distinct personality, and serves a purpose.

Having said all that, this book is mainly for the fans of slow-paced, but detailed, investigative narratives who don’t mind open-ended resolutions. Those who don’t mind the uncertainty of life, and who like to make up their own conclusions. Don’t expect fast-paced action, lighthearted tones, or neatly tied endings because that’s just not what this book delivers.

I’d give this book a 3.5 out of 5. The writing was excellent, and the characters had compelling stories, but the book was slow-paced and ultimately failed to deliver a memorable ending, which is crucial. Although it had potential, that wasn’t enough to warrant a higher rating.