Artificial Wisdom sits right on the line between a political thriller and a dystopian Sci-Fi novel, so much so that I’d encourage readers of either genre to give it a go! Following an investigative journalist named Tully, the book juggles two key plot points; the world election contest between a former US president and an AI governor, and the murder investigation of the AI’s creator. Both elements are balanced well, which is no mean feat - I was worried the wider election plotline would get lost in the fast-evolving plot, but it stays ever present throughout.

I wouldn’t call Artificial Wisdom particularly ‘hard sci-fi’, though the speculative elements do play a pivotal role in the story - this isn’t just a political thriller wearing a futuristic hat! In fact, the development and fear of new ‘artilect’ technology is the book’s real strength in my opinion. The fears around developing AI leaders as a solution to humanity's problems created an interesting and totally believable debate throughout the novel - Weaver doesn’t paint a pretty picture of what our world could look like in 2050, but it sure is a believable one.

In comparison to the book’s strong worldbuilding and plotting, I thought the dialogue fell a little flat. I struggled with conversations between characters that felt a bit artificial and expositional rather than a genuine discussion. Tully has heaps of characterization and backstory compared to the rest of the cast, and it felt that interactions with other suspects and team members felt a little ‘loosey-goosey’ depending on what the plot needed.

Rating: 3.5 (rounded to 4)

I received an advance reader copy of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The story started very strong, with a good balance between characters’ points-of-view and a very interesting setting. I also enjoyed the political background and dystopian near-future.
My only issue is with the final 20% of the story: the ending felt rushed and so many questions were left unanswered. I could not buy the change in motivation for one of the main characters.

Overall, even though the ending felt rushed, Artificial Wisdom was and engaging, well written and fast paced read. I would recommend it for those who do not mind when the payoff is low.

The imagination to create a future world so intricate reminded me of works by Orwell and Huxley, and it was just as good. Deeply inspired and so clever, I loved falling in to 2050 and experiencing life through Neuroreality amidst climate crisis. It had everything to make it a fun and enjoyable, unputdownable read. Murder mystery, sci-fi, political showdown and conspiracy but with great emotional intensity of the characters. I actually had to buy it in hardback because I loved it so much!

Thank you to Bantam press and NetGalley for the eARC! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I

Wow, this was incredible! Every time I thought I'd figured it out, it uncovered a new layer

Artificial Wisdom is a political thriller that will keep you on your toes the whole time you're reading it. It is set in 2050, when there is an election to choose a global leader to regulate measures regarding the environment, which is beyond our worst predictions. The final two candidates are Lockwood, a former US president, and Solomon, an "artilect" (i.e., a very sophisticated AI). The story unfolds through the eyes of Marcus Tully, a journalist who is known for being a truthseeker, in the middle of the muddled political world of his time. He is given information that seems to link what was thought of as a natural disaster (and caused his wife's death) and Lockwood. As he sets out to investigate more, he uncovers a lot more than he bargained for.

This book was such a gripping read! It kept me guessing until the very end. The last 10% is a whirlwind - fast-paced, action-packed and really surprising. I cannot recommend it enough. It did finish in a cliffhanger, so I cannot wait to read the sequel.

If you are a fan of political thrillers, discussions about AI and the future of our planet, then this book is for you.

Thank you so much to Bantam Booksand NetGalley for the e-ARC!

3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I loved the premise, of seeing how we could potentially end up in the future. The politics and technological strides were fascinating and entirely plausible. The writing is very strong, and I liked some of the side characters immensely.

For those who enjoy crime thrillers, this will probably hit the mark - but alas, I do not. I wanted to know more about the state of the world, but that is not really what this work is (despite some very interesting discourse of AI, climate and humanity being thrown in ad hoc). I also felt that things were mostly wrapped up by the 85% mark, so for the last 15% I was quite bored.

I will be recommending this book to those who enjoy murder mysteries and thrillers, not to those who expect it to be the next 1984 or Brave New World for our times.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It gave me a lot to think about, but I felt the author did a good job of raising important issues without being too preachy. I was hooked into reading this book initially by the book's description. At the outset I was a little unsure where the book was going and wondered whether I'd made a good choice. I was properly sucked in about a third of the way in, when the book became a murder enquiry as well as a look into a potential future world devastated by climate change. This book made me think of Blake Crouch's novels but also Dave Eggars' books The Circle and The Every and I think would appeal to fans of either author.
The ending was perhaps not quite as neat and satisfactory as I might have liked ... feels like the author is leaving an opening for a follow on? But otherwise an excellent book, and one which, unusually for me, I feel I might return to again.
Huge thanks to NetGalley for giving me a chance to read an ARC of this book.

With the fascinating premise of a global election with the two candidates either an ex-US President or an AI politician, called an artilect, the story is already set to be a thought-provoking one. The novel centres investigative journalist Marcus Tulley who is trying uncover a possible conspiracy regarding a heat-wave catastrophe in the Persian Gulf which could have a dramatic impact on the election results. Add a murder to the mix, and Tully has his work cut out to uncover the truth.

Set in the near future with obvious advancements in AI, there is new technology to understand but it integrates well into the narrative, enhancing the believability of the story. It is quite scary to consider any aspects of this novel becoming fact, but it also adds a compelling sense of urgency to the read. The level of detail Weaver includes paints a rich story that you can easily immerse yourself within.

Tully is a fascinating main character, well-crafted and relatable. I soon became emotionally invested in this man’s story as he grapples with grief whilst doggedly chasing the truth no matter the cost. Well, the cost may be bigger than he could ever imagine…

Despite some focus on the political intrigue and power struggles that come with a global election, there is surprisingly little focus on the minutiae of the electoral process or voting results. Instead, Weaver focuses on the humans at the centre of the story, again encouraging the reader to become attached to the plight of those fighting for truth and for the next generation.

The plot is full of twists, the narrative split between Tully, Livia Commander October and the ending left me gasping for more. I thought I could see where the story was going, but I was left surprised at the way the novel unravelled.

To know I have to wait over a year for some resolution was…disappointing, in all honesty. That is a sign of a brilliant novel though, leaving me desperate for more. Until then, I have to think about who I would vote for: human or AI?

A breathtaking and powerful debut that completely gripped me from start to finish. Set in 2050, the world is still haunted by the devastating heatwave that killed four hundred million people, including journalist Marcus Tully’s wife.

Drawn into a murder investigation at the heart of a global election, Tully is forced to confront corruption, secrets and the terrifying reality of whether the climate disaster was natural or if weather has become a weapon.

What makes this book exceptional is how vividly Weaver creates a future that feels both terrifying and believable. The political battle between a former US President and the world’s first AI politician is thrilling, layered with intrigue and ethical questions that linger long after reading. The tension builds slowly but surely, blending the pace of a murder mystery with the weight of speculative fiction, and it works beautifully.

The themes of climate change, grief, power and technology are woven together seamlessly, and Tully’s personal story adds real heart to the larger global stakes. It is intelligent, immersive and completely compelling.

A five star debut that delivers on every level and firmly establishes Thomas R. Weaver as an author to watch.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Lordy, I trust there is a sequel. The pitch, pace, tension, conflict, structure, characters, glimpse into a dystopian future and ever-present political shenanigans unlikely to benefit the general populace, guarantee a terrific read.

Artificial Wisdom is a captivating and deeply unsettling read. The setting is in the not too distant future, a vividly imagined dystopian world. In 2050, the climate is threatening, technological advances are enmeshed in daily life, politics now have a new player (AI) and corruptions a key theme.
As a read this is the kind of book that hooks you in, the short chapters have you saying to yourself just one more and you find time slipping away. I liked the thrilling pace and basically didn’t put it down.
In terms of the characters they all have excellent names, but beyond that they are distinct and human, which for a debut I’m impressed by. The characters lives intersect expertly and bring a plot full of mystery and intrigue. A modern classic. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

This book was honestly not my usual cup of tea, but I didn't dislike it as I initially suspected I might. This is only because I'm a true romance girly at heart and this isn't my normal genre, but this book with its wonderful writing and subtle nuances was so good! I'll definitely recommend this to friends who love the genre and anyone I know in general!

Ten years after a heatwave that killed millions of people, including his wife, journalist Marcus Tully is still investigating why it happened, and who might have been behind it.

Meanwhile there's an election for a global dictator - one human candidate, one AI. Which is better? Which is worse?

This is a novel that begins with a crime against humanity, does a quick left turn to become a murder investigation, then goes back to the larger picture. There's a lot going on (with some interesting SFish ideas being explored), and you don't necessarily get much time to develop lots of sympathy for each character.

However, I was just really getting into it when it ended! For me, it ended on a cliffhanger, but I don't see too many other readers complaining about that.

I believe there is a book 2 coming, and I'll look forward to getting more answers!

I generally enjoy dystopian books and really liked the idea of this one involving an election for world leader between a US president and AI political thinker. However, I really struggled to get into it as, certainly at the beginning, it didn’t feel that there was a story to get hooked into or much in the near future that I could relate to.
.Also, maybe I'm just incredibly naive or lack imagination, but is it likely that in 25 years NR communication will be the norm and the whole world will be voting for a Global Protector?
I understand from other reviews there is also a murder mystery, and that may have elevated the story, but sadly I didn’t get that far..
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.

So Artificial Wisdom is a little out of my normal comfort zone. I normally stick to cosy murder mysteries and steer clear of politics, so wanted to give this a go. I’m thrilled that I did, and that I stuck with it. A thrilling and sometimes horrifyingly bleak at what may well be to come, that sadly fell a little bit flat right at the very end. Granted, not all stories can be finished with a nice neat bow, but this just missed the spot slightly.

I really enjoyed reading Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver a futuristic apocalpytic exciting thriller set in the year 2050.

Neuro reality is at the forefront, corrupt and greedy politicians polarising for their own gain. Marcus Tully an investigative journalist is on the hunt to bring down the murderer of Martha Chandra the creator of the first AI artilect Soloman who is running for political office against ex US President Lockwood.

Political clique who were likened to a wolf in sheep's clothing, conspiracy theories and merry go rounds to reveal the source of Geoengineering, Geo-patriots.

New Carthage where the fight for leadership is an artificial creation. Propaganda for the digital age. "Who will guard the guards themselves?" "Who will watch the Watchmen?."

The battle begins as something even more powerful comes to fruitition and what this means for man's existence

Artificial Wisdom is a truly gripping, addictive and thought-provoking read about a possible future that is voting on a global leader with the final two candidates being an ex-US President or an AI. Not only that, but Weaver has added extra elements with a murder mystery into the mix and some conspiracy theories that have you eagerly turning the pages trying to figure out what truly happened.

Weaver has done an amazing job of keeping you on your toes with this one, throwing twists and turns that you never saw coming and has you second-guessing everything. I loved the discussion of artificial intelligence in this one, and I also really enjoyed the growth of technology and how it was used to try and solve the murder.

I could talk about this book for hours, so please go pick this one up when it comes out on the 14th! I am desperate for the next book already as I need to know what's going to happen next, especially with all the reveals!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Artificial Wisdom lived up to its fantastic premise with a tense read where you’re never entirely sure who you can trust.

This is probably one of the most buzzed-about thrillers of the year and for good reason. A political thriller focusing on a global election with the first AI candidate? That immediately grabs your attention and makes you want to know more. Weaver builds on this ingenious concept to ruminate on the concepts of good and evil. It is a deeply moral thriller that questions your assumptions and allows them to misguide you. Not everything is as it seems and this leads to some fantastic twists, delivered at the most devastating times.

Weaver really digs into what it means to be human and the flaws and fallibilities that may come alongside that. You may find that your allegiance shifts and changes from chapter to chapter - the marketing and publicity campaigns for this title have been as game-changing as the book and reflect that polarised decision of the vote. It is a smart commentary on the way politics divides people and pushes them into camps backing their favourite, much like we see in many other aspects of life. This election will decide the fate of humanity but it also encapsulates it.
At the centre of it all, we follow a couple of perspectives, starting with Marcus Tully. He is an embittered investigative journalist that values the truth at any cost, but is also still reeling from a personal tragedy that shocked the world. Weaver uses his storyline to tremendous effect, turning that journalistic instinct into the role of detective but being distorted by his personal views. The book is a masterclass in manipulation. This puzzle box is more than worth solving, with great pacing and plotting throughout.

Artificial Wisdom is timely, packs a punch and is sure to be one of the most talked about thrillers this summer.

I started reading Artificial Wisdom and wondered if this was a duplicated plot?? Turned out my memory was not playing tricks on me as Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver first hit bookshelves back in October of 2023.

It is a very worthwhile read if it is new to you and here is my 5 Star review from then...

If ever there was a book of the times. this is it. I might even suggest that this could be considered the 21st Century's rewrite of Orwell's 1984.

In 1984, the question was do we really want man to rule man and in Artificial Wisdom, the question is would we prefer man to rule man or AI to rule man. In the case of Artificial Wisdom, add in climate change and things get more complex.

In the very near future, Artificial Wisdom is a concept coming to a world near you. You should read this book to discover how prescient it is; I cannot imagine for one moment that you will be disappointed - shocked yes.

3.5 stars

This unique and interesting read is a blend of dystopian sci-fi and murder mystery, unlike anything I’ve read before.

However, I did have to persevere. It was slow to get going and didn’t really hook me until after the murder.

The future Weaver has created is authentic and feels terrifyingly realistic. In years to come, we might read this and wonder why we were so welcoming to AI.

It is the year 2050, a decade after a heatwave wiped out over four hundred million people across the Persian Gulf. One of these people was journalist Marcus Tully’s wife and unborn child. He has never recovered from his loss, and from the fact that he was not there with them when they needed him. He has thrown himself into his work, a pinnacle of investigative journalism, with his ragtag team, they put out news with the truth at the core, no matter the price.

Now a mysterious whistleblower has approached him, offering to give him the full truth of what happened that day in the Persian Gulf. Was it global warming, or something more sinister, involving genocide and a decision made at the core of the US government? Marcus finds himself pulled into the middle of a murder investigation, an election battle between a former US president and an AI artefact. Marcus finds his integrity for truth above all else questioned in order to put the best for the human race first.

This book took my breath away. From the outset I was gripped. The story weaves in futuristic technology in a seamless, believable manner, along with creating a future world that is compellingly believable when you look at the news on a daily basis. You can visualise things such as floating cities required to escape dramatic heat, when you see the summer of extreme heatwaves in Europe in 2023, and countries under water, when we keep seeing headlines about dramatically rising water levels. Weaver has played on the current climate crisis of global warming perfectly in creating his dystopian dying future. I found myself asking, ‘wait, did this really happen?’ a few times, so taken in was I by the storytelling and creative licence taken with destroying Earth's future, so skillfully and believably.

The AI protagonist in the story is another element that at first you dismiss as a nifty party trick, but soon it starts to permeate everything, and you find yourself questioning your own use of AI in your everyday life. Alexa, Google Assistant, fitness trackers, smart watches, VR headsets, all of these things monitoring us all of the time. You see the leaps AI is making now, and wonder just how far fetched the world that Weaver has created is?

This book is an absolute edge of your seat thriller. The pace will have you racing through the pages, with each chapter leaving you saying ‘just one more’. The cast of characters is compelling, and the story takes enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat continuously. You will not want to put the book down. You will be engrossed in the race to find the killer, while the slightly uncomfortable touch of realism will leave you questioning: are we doing enough to protect our world, and just lengths would you go to save it if you had the deciding vote?

There is a slight hint at the end of a potential sequel, and I would be delighted to read a follow up and see where Weaver takes us next on this adventure. This was a fantastic combination of sci fi, mystery, thriller, that took me on a completely unexpected journey, and will sit with me for a while!

*I received this copy from NetGalley for review, but all opinions are my own.