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cybernetic-volition
The chapter presents Shalmaneser as a machine capable of conscious volition, challenging the assumption that computers must be strictly programmed and predictable.
1 chapter across 1 book
Stand on Zanzibar (1968)John Brunner
Chapter 31
This chapter centers on the aftermath of a critical intervention involving Shalmaneser, a cybernetic entity managing the Beninia project. Chad Mulligan, a key figure, challenges conventional thinking by recognizing Shalmaneser's emergent volition and orneriness, which unsettles the project's stakeholders. The chapter explores themes of human-machine interaction, the limits of control, and the social dynamics surrounding technological breakthroughs.