Science? Affirmative. Fiction? Possibly.

In times of uncertainty about the future, some individuals stockpile canned goods, while others seek solace in literature. Science fiction has consistently provoked thought regarding technology and society, frequently acting as a forewarning of our potential direction or as a motivation to construct alternate realities. The Gazette solicited suggestions from Harvard faculty and staff across various fields.

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“Through the narrative of the crew’s increasingly unsettling engagements with the aliens, Watts encourages us to face the disquieting possibility that consciousness — a component of human intelligence that appears vital — might actually be an evolutionary anomaly, a fault that more advanced forms of intelligence would lack, beneficially. In a time when we attempt to make machines more akin to our own intellects, the book’s lesson feels particularly urgent: Perhaps we should worry less about artificial intelligence mirroring us and more about what it signifies if it doesn’t need to be.”

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“A group of scientists ventures to the watery planet Solaris, whose oceans hint at possible intelligence. Scientific interventions fail; efforts to establish communication return as distorted echoes. Meanwhile, apparitions of lost loves haunt the crew. ‘Solaris’ serves as a narrative about encounters at the fringe of comprehension — a refreshing dose of humility when confronting the unknown.”

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Deschenes shared “A Rover’s Story,” a middle-grade narrative about the adventure of a fictional Mars rover, with her 7-year-old. In the tale, a rover named Res, an abbreviation for Resilience, interacts with humans solely via coded messages but is intrigued by the emotions and experiences of humans.

“My son and I discussed why some individuals might perceive a machine as their companion or even their offspring. One of the hazmats (a.k.a. humans), Rania, is entirely devoted to her mission, but we learn from letters her daughter sends to Res that Rania is sacrificing time with her family to ensure Res’ undertaking succeeds. Rania, one of the more practical hazmats, unexpectedly shares a melody with Res before he embarks on his mission. She informs him thatShe wishes he will recall her and that the melody will grant him fortune. This alteration in her demeanor, uncovering her emotional bond with Res, was another issue my son and I deliberated upon. We theorized that she might be longing for her daughter and striving to relate to Res in a more significant manner due to this.

“As AI progresses in ways I can barely comprehend, this presented my son and I with a chance to ponder what defines our humanity. It prompted us to examine how machines could serve as substitutes for companionship, and why they will never replace authentic human relationships. ‘A Rover’s Story’ encourages us to celebrate our distinct human qualities, even as AI and machines take on an increasingly large role in our existence.”

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A significant portion of novelist Han Song’s speculative fiction has faced censorship by the Chinese government for being “too somber,” yet for Friedman, that’s what makes his writing so remarkable.

“The cosmos has been diagnosed with an unhealable sickness and has initiated a transformation, alternately waxing poetic and eliminating patients, in a desperate effort to heal itself,” Friedman remarks. “Yang Wei awakens to discover he is confined to a geriatric unit aboard the Peace Ark, a military craft turned medical ship managed by robots and AI entities. The ship’s functioning is overseen by a malfunctioning AI entity known as Siming, whose fluctuating policies conflict with those of the hospital management.”

“‘Exorcism’ undeniably resembles a guide for preventing catastrophe in modern society, in that Siming generates and dramatizes calamity. In the narrative, the secret to averting disaster lies in acknowledging that although the cosmos could implode at any instant, humans have the power to compose their own narrative culture by questioning the authorities’ portrayal of reality and opting for pain rather than cultural amnesia. The ‘narrative-implant therapy’ portrayed in the novel appears eerily similar to much of the political discourse produced by U.S. media. Within the story, the hospital system modifies the fabric of time and space, just as the current political system attempts to distort our understanding of ‘reality.’ The vibrant characters onboard the Peace Ark become desensitized to their unmanageable suffering while war and demise rage around them. Their numbed bodies transform into battlegrounds where industrial advancements clash with the desire to forget and annihilate.”

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Saviano, a specialist in AI ethics, suggested Bradbury’s timeless cautionary narrative concerning censorship, asserting that it serves as a persistent reminder about the control and power of information.

“In the narrative, books are banned, and access to knowledge is systematically obliterated — not merely through brute force, but via a culture of distraction and passive consumption,” he stated. “Individuals in Bradbury’s tale are pacified by immersive entertainment, which stifles their curiosity and critical thought. It’s not solely about what’s prohibited; it’s about what supplants it.”

“This concept is especially pressing in the contemporary age of AI, where algorithm-driven content curation dictates what we read, view, and even believe. Just as Bradbury’s setting suppresses literature in favor of superficial entertainment, current AI systems can enhance mindless digital interaction at the cost of profound contemplation and critical analysis. ‘Fahrenheit 451’ underscores that safeguarding intellectual freedom entails more than merely keeping books on shelves — it necessitates vigilance against technology that prioritizes immediate gratification over substantial comprehension. An essential read for anyone contemplating AI’s role in shaping the future of knowledge.”