We’re Light-Years Away from True Artificial Intelligence, Says Murderbot Author Martha Wells

image via New Scientist

July 11, 2025, 11:00 AM

• •Author Martha Wells discusses the difference between real artificial intelligence and the AI of today, and its reflection in her Murderbot Diaries series.
• •Wells's series explores themes of corporate control, personhood, and neurodiversity, and the author herself has found that writing about her neurodiversity has helped her understand herself and connect with readers.
• •The success of the Murderbot TV adaptation highlights the public's interest in these themes.

In an interview, Martha Wells, author of the Murderbot Diaries, distinguishes between current AI and true machine intelligence, as explored in her books and now in the Apple TV+ series. Wells emphasizes that current AI is not sentient, and that the real danger is the exploitation of robots by tech companies. The Murderbot series delves into corporate control, personhood, and neurodiversity, reflecting real-world societal issues. The success of the TV adaptation suggests that the public is interested in the complex themes explored in the book series.

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