These novels show what happens when robots conquer the heart
In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is slipping deeper into our lives, writing our emails, managing our calendars, and apparently stealing our hearts (messed up), it was only a matter of time before someone actually fell head over heels for a chatbot. And lo and behold, the New York Times delivered just such a story this January: a woman confessing her love for an AI model. (Truly, we are living in dystopian-romcom times.)
But honestly, as an avid reader and AI-hater, literature got there first. Whether it’s love, deep friendship, or just a little light flirting with your favourite algorithm, books have long explored the messy business of bonding with machines. Here’s a snappy list of four reads where humans fall for AI (and sometimes the feeling is terrifyingly mutual). Buckle up. It’s about to get weird. (And slightly Lolita coded in a very twisted way.)
‘Klara and the Sun’
Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun is a book about artificial love. At least that’s what I choose to call it, call me a Boomer. The story centres around Klara, an AI designed to be a companion for children. Through her lens, we explore the meaning of love, connection, and loneliness in a near-future world. Klara’s devotion to her human companion, Josie, is nothing short of heartwarming; she’s willing to make impossible sacrifices to ensure Josie’s happiness. It’s a beautiful exploration of what AI might feel if it could experience human emotion, and it’ll make you question if a robot could ever truly understand love or even better, offer it back. (No, it couldn’t. For God’s sake.)
‘her’
If you’ve only ever watched the film, welcome to the written version of cinema’s biggest heartbreak. While her is originally a film, its novelisation by Spike Jonze takes us deeper into the poignant and often uncomfortable relationship between Theodore, a man who falls in love with his AI assistant, Samantha. As Theodore’s relationship with Samantha grows, the boundaries between human and machine blur in ways that are both touching and unsettling. The book delves into the complexities of love, loneliness, and connection, raising the ultimate question: Can we truly love something that’s not alive? It’s a sci-fi romance with an emotional punch, perfect for anyone who’s ever whispered sweet nothings to Siri or Alexa.
‘Machines Like Me’
In Machines Like Me, Ian McEwan presents a 1982 Britain with AI robots almost indistinguishable from humans. The protagonist, Charlie, finds himself in a complex love triangle with his girlfriend and Adam, an AI who seems to exhibit human-like feelings. This novel explores the tensions that arise when technology starts to mimic and even surpass human behaviour, raising questions about morality, consciousness, and, of course, love. McEwan does a brilliant job of navigating the delicate balance between human emotion and synthetic intelligence, offering a chilling but fascinating view of future relationships.
‘Autonomous’
If you like your love stories with a side of cyberpunk rebellion, Annalee Newitz’s Autonomous is a must-read. In this gritty, whip-smart novel, a sentient military robot named Paladin slowly develops feelings for their human partner, Eliasz. It’s tender, confusing, and complicated (just like all the best relationships. Wait, what the hell is happening to me?), and it beautifully messes with the whole “who’s allowed to love whom” question when machines start writing their own narratives. Autonomous is about autonomy, agency, and the blurred lines between programmed loyalty and genuine emotion. Plus, it’s fast-paced and cool (and disturbing) as hell.
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