I picked this up purely on a whim, and honestly, it was better than I expected. That said, it’s certainly not for everyone, as some - admittedly ridiculous - current trends are turned up to 11, while other parts of the story seem to take a step back from satire to portray something more genuine. While I personally would prefer the satire to be subtler, I didn’t mind the over-the-top tone as such, but the switch between the two was at times jarring.

The ending was swift - if we can call it an ending rather than the beginning of a new chapter, and in my opinion raised more questions than it gave answers. Overall, this was certainly entertaining and did a decent job painting a picture of what a technologically advanced yet polarized society might look like.

3.5 rounded up to 4, for the sheer amount of laughs.

What a scream - I absolutely loved this! Yes, it's a bit farcical, and there's satire, and yes, there's lots of irony, but it's such a fun read.

So, it's 2040 in the US and the electoral race is between PresiBot, an AI and a fake native american chief who's 1/2054th Lakota and want's to abolish America The opening scene is the presidential debate betweeen the two candidates and works as an excellent introduction to the main characters, plot and the policical/social attitudes of 2040

As the book progresses, PresiBot's creators are coming up with more and more desperate attempts to make PresiBot credible, at the same time fighting off a buyout bid and for one of the main characters, Presibot creator and tech startup CEO, Ethan Burnswagger, escape from a ghetto in dystiopian San Francisco.

I was prettyt sceptical when I saw the write up, then I clicked on the link to a sample of Chaper 1 and I was instantly hooked. The novel moves on at a fast pace, has a cast of characters that are often hilarious and I'm sure are based on real people, although libel laws stop me from saying who. I read some of the book before going to bed, then tore through the rest before starting work the next day - it's just so funny. I'd say you shouldn't take it seriously, but looking over the pond at the moment...

I'll leave you to judge for yourself. Final verdict - very, very, highly recommended, and a hilarious antidote to the mad world we're living in - I just hope 2040 doesn't turn out the way it's portrayed in this book

This was a really clever idea which I was excited to read. A dystopian political campaign with some promising dissection of both right-wing and left-wing American politics. I enjoyed the elements of what had come to pass hypothetically between now and 2040, such as animal rights and AI recognition, both topics debated nowadays.

The political set up at first felt too parodied (though arguably American politics feels that way in real life at times) and I found I had to suspend disbelief a little too often whilst reading. The lack of context felt jarring, we do not know who is currently president in this story and so it was hard to decide which party would be to blame for the living conditions and segregation described in the book.

The story itself felt a little rushed towards the end, with a neat ending which did not feel like it did justice to the concept. I would have liked to see more about the personal relationships within the book, the triangle between Emma, Arvind and Ethan for example. Knowing more about the motivations for these characters would have added a lot to the story or explained behaviour beyond just 'going mad'.

This was a quick read and was thought provoking but overall it felt too rushed for the ambition of the initial idea.

Free review copy provided by netgalley.

Fast read of a frightening future in American politics. Can AI save us or are we doomed to factionalism and corporate manipulation? Does a democratic republic work as a model when the world is burning?
This is a cohesive work of fiction done as a sarcastic mirror of our current state of affairs. I enjoyed it.

Thank you to Net Galley and Book Baby for the ARC. 2040 was such a fun read. I loved the premise of an AI running for president. The book was really funny and also a bit scary as it is closely related to the current state of society, politics, and AI.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

It was a fantastic quick read! Humorous, yet at times, a bit too realistic. Wow! Just loved it. It was a great read, especially in this election year.

I think everyone should read this one! It is just such a fantastic, light-hearted, humorous read!

Highly recommend.

We're going through another colorful election season this year, but this novel envisions an even more colorful match-up: an extremist with a fraction of Lakota heritage calling for the end of the United States and a return of the land to indigenous people, and an embodied AI robot. Never mind Republican and Democrat, because the major players in the story are not really the candidates. The central characters are the giant tech companies, including Happiness, which sports a business model based on the Seven Deadly Sins.

The story is well structured and hangs together, even though the events are a mad romp of violent craziness. Parts of the dystopian fantasy of the future will ring true for current experience, and all of it will be a thought-provoking read.

A couple of caveats: some readers will find that the tech jargon makes the book harder to understand, and the ending is unquestionably a cliffhanger. This might make you eager to read the second installment when it arrives, or unsatisfied with this novel. It probably depends on your personality. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.

An over-the-top blend of satire and parody! Almost too close to reality, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry...

The setup: A white man making his drop of Native American ancestry his identity and a robot run for president
The punchline: sounds like something that could actually happen in America doesn't it?

If you find the movie "Idiocracy" hitting a little too close to home, think Brave New World's premise of control through pleasure is scarily accurate, or find yourself rolling your eyes at current American politics--- then this novella is right up your alley. Our cast of characters aren't root-for worthy or even multilayered (especially the women) and it is all over the top at moments--but it does make you think, what's the best way forward? How do you right every wrong? SHOULD we let AI direct us to a better future? I found myself wanting to learn more, so I'll probably tap into some of Domingos' essays for a deeper dive into the world of AI.

Thank you Netgalley for access to the ARC!

“2040” by Pedro Domingos offers an intriguing glimpse into the future of technology and society, weaving together predictions with current artificial intelligence and data science trends. Domingos’ expertise in machine learning shines through, providing readers with well-informed, thought-provoking, and plausible speculations. However, the book sometimes struggles with a dense academic style that may alienate readers not deeply versed in tech jargon. Furthermore, some of the predictions seem overly optimistic or not fully explored in the context of broader societal impacts. While “2040” is an enlightening read for enthusiasts of technology forecasting, its accessibility and narrative cohesion leave room for improvement. Three stars for its insightful, yet occasionally impenetrable, look into the future.

2040 follows a bizarre dystopian future in which two candidates face off to become the President of the United States. For the republicans, a dodgy AI controlled robot - which is only a glorified test dummy, designed to “unite” America. For the democrats, a white man pretending to be Native American with the overall aim of disbanding the United States and destroying the constitution on which it was founded. This dystopian world is essentially run by large tech companies, with segregation by race back in place with designated housing “zones” and guards patrolling the streets.

An odd amalgamation of the works of George Orwell and satirical comedy, this book is a short and enjoyable, if at times infuriating, read.

My only desire is that the book had slightly more exposition, I read it in just under 2 hours and would have liked to have seen maybe a bit more depth to the backgrounds of this dystopian society.

In an election year with an attempted assassination of one party's nominee and a last-minute replacement of the other party's top pick, you wouldn't think things could get any weirded. Unless, of course, you put an AI against a man pretending to be Native American. The plot is as straightforward (and zany) as that. The thing with this story is that it is exactly what it purports to be. The author takes the story to relatively logical conclusion and it is an interesting journey along the way. The storytelling seems a bit uneven in places, but overall it is a breezy and entertaining read.

This was a quick and easy read that I gravitated to as I currently live in the Silicon Valley and have a background working in politics. The story revolves around the 2040 presidential election and focuses on PresiBot, the first AI candidate to run for the nation’s highest office. Much of the action deals with trying to win the election while also dealing with numerous bugs that plague PresiBot’s humanesque robot form, while both skewering the state of politics in the United States and delivering a cautionary tale about AI and huge tech conglomerations.

I know this was billed as satire, but I did feel that the Chief character was so over the top that he became offensive. I don’t think that was a necessity to get the point across that these two candidates make a disgusting charade of running for president (and to cleverly poke fun at the disfunction of American politics).

Overall, a fun, quirky read especially if you are interested in politics or tech.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.

📚✨ BOOK REVIEW: 2040 by Pedro Domingos ✨📚

*This book was provided as an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for an unbiased book review*

Publish Date: August 20, 2024


This was quite the comedic political ride! This book was funny and entertaining, much like a late-night comedy skit. Think more MAD TV than Saturday Night Live because it wasn’t afraid to go “there.”

For what this book intended to be, I’m giving it four stars.⭐⭐⭐⭐ The story was messy in the best way, like reality TV messy, and it kept me hooked. The main characters, Ethan, Arvind, and Presibot, were engaging, but I found myself wanting to know more about the other characters, especially the Democratic candidate. The tech jargon didn’t bother me, even though I didn’t understand most of it added to the dystopian vibe of the story.

I did have to pay close attention to keep track of who was who, as many characters are introduced throughout the book. This actually made me wish the author had delved deeper into their backgrounds. For example, there was a scene with the campaign managers and when it ended abruptly, I was like “Wait! I need to know more!” Despite the chaos because there is a lot going on in this book,I believe it helps to keep the plot moving along swiftly.

I could totally see 2040 turning into a movie or at least having a part II of the book because of how the novel ended. It was a fun, wild read that kept me entertained from start to finish.

Politics is a crazy world…a ridiculous world at times. And indeed that’s the case in Pedro Domingos’s satirical new book 2040. And though the crazy presidential election taking place in the book is meant to be wildly unbelievable…the way things are these days the only truly unbelievable thing might just be the date he has chosen for this election. He’s a bit early, but probably by only a few cycles. With the circus that politics seems to be these days the idea of an AI running against a fake Native American honestly almost…almost…feels like it could happen at any minute. There is definitely plenty to like here, but it’s surface stuff. I honestly would have liked a deeper dive into what the heck has happened to bring the world to the point where these are the two candidates from the major parties. I think that would have been at least as interesting as the crazy campaigning and would have enhanced the story all the more. This is a very quick and clever read, just would have liked it fleshed out a bit more. 3.5 stars. I’d like to thank Book Baby and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of 2040.

A fun read. It scratched the surface on a number of elements in its worldbuilding that needed a bit more explanation and would have added to the overall story.

In the not-so-distant future, Pedro Domingos takes us on a wild ride through a Silicon Valley that’s both eerily familiar and absurdly exaggerated. His novel, 2040, blends satire, technology, and political chaos into a delightful cocktail that leaves readers both amused and contemplative.

In 2040, the United States faces an unprecedented presidential election. The Republican candidate? An AI named PresiBot, created by the tech startup KumbAI. The Democratic candidate? A fake Native American chief who aims to abolish the country altogether. As the campaign unfolds, we witness a collision of AI algorithms, culture wars, and good old-fashioned human folly. There’s a lot of human folly.

Domingos masterfully captures the zeitgeist of our times. His portrayal of Silicon Valley’s excesses, from self-driving avocado delivery drones to blockchain-powered dating apps, is both hilarious and scarily plausible. The tech jargon flows effortlessly, making you wonder if you’ve accidentally stumbled into a startup pitch meeting. It’s perhaps unsurprising that Domingos possesses such knowledge of both the culture and technology about which he writes, as he himself is a prominent AI researcher. I like when people write fiction from a place of academic authority, like Fred Hoyle, when he wrote The Black Cloud; one of my favourite novels.

The characters are equally memorable. PresiBot, with its algorithmic charisma and data-driven campaign promises, steals the show. The fake Native American chief, Chief Raging Bull, provides a satirical mirror to our obsession with identity politics. And let’s not forget the eccentric venture capitalists who fund KumbAI; each one more bizarre than the last.

While the novel’s humour is its strongest suit, it occasionally veers into caricature. The satire can be heavy-handed, leaving little room for subtlety. And yes, the ending, followong on from the grand showdown between PresiBot and Chief Running Bullshit, feels a tad too neat. It’s as if Domingos wrapped up all loose ends with a bow, leaving readers craving a messier, more unpredictable resolution. This might be where suspension of disbelief finally gives way.

And here lies the rub. A five-star review demands that extra spark—the unexpected twist, the lingering question, the emotional gut punch. 2040 delivers on wit, but it shies away from profundity. Is it a neater ending than we deserve? Perhaps if Domingos had dared to leave a few more threads dangling, we’d be talking about a masterpiece.

2040: A Silicon Valley Satire is a must-read for anyone who chuckles at tech bros, eye-rolls at political absurdity, or secretly fears that AI might take over the world. It’s a clever romp through a near-future America that’s both hilarious and unsettling. Just don’t expect it to change your life—unless, of course, you’re an AI running for president.

Just the tonic to help take my mind off the orange threat to democracy! This novella satirizes the race for president in 2040 between a 1/1024th Lakotan who wants to end America by reverting all lands to the indigenous peoples (but is also bat-sh*t crazy) and #PresiBot, an A.I. candidate entered as a joke by a Silicon Valley start-up, KumbAI. The “native” candidate’s slogan is Make America Go Away and in 2040 he is running as a Democrat. To quote his campaign manager, “I’d rather have an Indigenous Federation run by us than a United States run by the GOP.” I did quite a bit of chortling, snickering, sighing, and eye-rolling while reading this, often in recognizing how similar the over-the-top antics, environment, and ideas were to today’s fractious climate. I also enjoyed the puns and wordplay, such as naming a dating app PheroMoan! Because it is sometimes silly, I had to be in the right mood for it or I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much. Therefore, 5 stars for when you want to read a clever and often over-the-top story about partisan politics, money, and class (as in caste).
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for the advance reader copy of 2040: A Silicon Valley Satire for review purposes.

The premise and idea of this book were enough to pique my interest. With a background in software development and AI, I found the description intriguing. However, the technology mentioned in the book felt very surface-level and almost corny. I was also interested in the heavily political nature of the book, but it didn’t quite land as expected.

While politics were a central theme from the beginning, the execution fell short. Despite the focus on an AI president, the political elements were exaggerated to the point of being unconvincing, even for a satire. The characters felt extremely shallow, and their conversations and decisions seemed weightless, which was contradictory to the gravity of a presidential election that could end America as a whole. The satire spelled things out so explicitly that it left little to the reader’s imagination. There was very little suspense or any hook that compelled me to keep reading.

The ending was particularly disappointing. It was abrupt and wrapped everything up in a neat bow in about five pages, leaving nothing to ponder. For a political satire, I expected to be left reflecting on the implications of our own political decisions rather than feeling unsatisfied with an overly tidy conclusion.

While the concept had potential, the execution did not live up to it. The book lacked the depth and subtlety needed to make a lasting impact. It presents a light, unserious, and overly exaggerated narrative. Even understanding that it is satire, the story felt underbaked and ultimately was not that enticing of a read. It might entertain those looking for a light, exaggerated take on future politics, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

That said, if you’re in the mood for a quick, light-hearted read with some humorous takes on future politics, you might still find some enjoyment here.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's 2040. The US Presidential elections. An AI robot - PresiBot - run by Ethan & Arvind VS a Fake Native American. What could possibly go wrong?

2040: A Silicon Valley Satire is a very short, fast-paced read; a lot is going on in each chapter making you want to read more. It is mostly dialog which scratches my brain quite nicely. There is a lot of tech/AI talk (obviously), however it isn't hard to follow. The ending did fall kinda short for me, considering how messy/active/fast-paced it was throughout. "Too clean" maybe? All in all, I enjoyed it.

For people who enjoy SciFi/futuristic books, as well as politics with satire, this is the book for you.

This book was given to me by NetGalley as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

2040 by Pedro Domingos is to books what Idiocracy is to movies. It is as satirical warning of a possible dystopian future. It is a bit over the top but in a comedic yet sobering way. Although I laughed a lot when I was reading it, I found myself thinking that this book isn't far from where we are, especially with ideas such as the Department of Imaginary Injustices because that would be if X (Twitter) became a branch of government. I really enjoyed this book and will ever stop recommending it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Book Baby for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.

4 stars: everyone can read this amd find entertainment.

This book is a successful satire of both the current state of AI and our current state of electorial conversations. The presidential election reminded me of the candidates from Idiocracy. I think the final third of the book was the most entertaining and interesting.

I was given a review copy by netgallery.

When Ethan and Arvind started their AI company, and needed a way to demonstrate the capabilities of their product, they decided to make an AI presidential candidate. PresiBot, becomes the nominee for the Republican Party, and sets off the chain of events in this book. I laughed so hard, and genuinely loved the zany mix of characters. So many social themes that concern us today are touched on within the pages of this story, as well as the dread that many feel when discussing the current limitations of AI, and what the future of AI entails. I found this to be an easy read, and thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

A fun and quirky story!
This is a story about a fake Native American Indian chief and an artificial intelligence robot who are running for president. A very unusual idea for a book but it was a lot of fun. If you like dark humor this book may appeal to you .

The concept of this book hooked me immediately. A presidential election set in the future between a robot and a fake Native American? I was absolutely curious to see how the concept would grow.

It wasn’t what I expected, which disappointed me just a bit. This was very focused on the behind the scenes, which was still interesting at least, so I still enjoyed reading the book. However, there were some points that felt like the right-wing’s version of what will happen if “wokeism” takes over. Some projections felt pretty spot on, others just felt dramatized.

My biggest critic for the book? The ending. I wish it had ended before we found out the winner. Usually, I’m not a fan of cliffhangers (which this gave anyway), but between the options I think having the election results not be shared at the end would have been a bit better. The point of the book should have been more of a warning than an actual election.

Anyway, I did enjoy reading this book, and I think the cover is fantastic as well. Overall, a pretty good read.


Rating: 3.3/5

Recommend? Sure

Hysterical!! What a brilliant statement on the state of the union. Everyone should read this satirical portrait of what could potentially take place in the United States today. I'd love to see Pedro Domingos continue this story with the hopes that all who see this book laugh and think as hard as it made me contemplate.

I loved this book! I will definitely be recommending this to everyone. I think it is a MUST read! I loved the humor, and the realness, and it reminded me of Bo Burnham's song "Funny Feeling" because, it really does just hit so much! A great eye opener to the world, served on a funny, satirical, platter.

Fast-paced, short, entertaining.

This portion of the blurb summarizes the book well, and intrigued me enough to pick this book up:

“The Republican candidate is an AI named PresiBot, created by a tech startup, KumbAI, who are in deeply over their heads. The Democratic candidate is a fake Native American chief seeking to abolish the United States. What could go wrong?”

Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me. It is satirical and meant to be funny, but I found it a little too over the top and outrageous. There wasn’t one character I could remotely connect to or root for. 2.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

I LOVED this book!! I’m not typically one to grab a satire (esp a political one) but the premise of this book was too good to miss! 🇺🇸🤖

2040: A Silicon Valley Satire is a satire about the presidential election in 2040. Who’s running? The Republican candidate as an Al named PresiBot, and the Democratic candidate is a fake Native American chief named Raging Bull.

Hilarity ensues (in a laugh so you won’t cry kind of situation 🥴).

We’ve got tech giants, tech startups, polls and social media, campaigns, Al, the fragility of our nation, you name it! This is a mocking assessment of the current state of America - from tech giants’ empires and the anxiety and publicity around Al. It is set in a dystopian San Francisco in a future that is a little scarily not that far away. 😵‍💫💻👽🤖🦾🦿👩🏼‍💻

The characters have a resemblance to actual ones which the author claims “may or may not be a coincidence”. This was actually my favorite part - that Domingos took pros and cons of real life candidates, switched which party, and shined light on how ridiculous some aspects of each side really are - and how so many adopt or accept things because it’s one “their side.”
🫏🇺🇸🐘

The premise alone of this book piqued my interest enough to open it up and I found that once I did I was clicking my seatbelt along on this wild ride.🎢

No matter your political affiliation - I think everyone will enjoy this one! 🇺🇸

And to top it all off - the cutest PR package!!💕

Thank you to @netgalley, Pedro Domingos, and @bookbabyofficial for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! 💗🤖

Releases August 20, 2024!

Written with a very lean prose, this humorous satire supposes an AI running for President against a 1/1024th Lakota man whose platform is literally destroying America by “kicking out all the colonists.”

Lots of parallels to draw, and your enjoyment will depend on your style of humor. While entertaining, and a very quick read, I felt it was too dependent on dialogue while leaving some more interesting ideas by the wayside.

A fun diversion if you somehow don’t have enough politics in your life.

I was very excited about starting this one. Not only do I appreciate political satire, but reading a narrative about an AI presidential candidate during election season—when AI is a prominent topic in the tech industry—seemed like an incredible opportunity. However, upon completion, I found myself with mixed feelings.

The premise is excellent: a tech startup develops an AI, integrates it into a robotic body, and campaigns for it as a presidential candidate. However, I encountered some issues with the execution. The author effectively extrapolates a satirical near-future, both politically and technologically. The writing is engaging, featuring several humorous moments. The characters involved in the startup are relatable, even if not always likable, and the PresiBot is entertaining. Conversely, the opposition candidate and his supporters felt excessively exaggerated and appeared over-the-top and absurd. I believe the author pushed the satire too far, leading much of the book to feel farcical and causing it to miss its intended impact.

That said, I did find enjoyment in the book, although it wasn't what I anticipated. Throughout the novel, I was reminded more of a parody you might encounter on Family Guy or South Park, both of which are shows I do enjoy from time to time.

Ghost Busters Meets Dr. Strangelove

On the eve of a US Presidential election an unusual contest is unfolding. Will technology outpace traditional human electioneering tactics? Will people be too engaged with their devices and apps to care? Or simply lulled into indifference of expected stability?

Sound familiar?

Pedro Dominguez’s satirical science fiction, “2024”, imagines a near future US presidential election with opposing candidates playing out in in a dystopian urban San Francisco as a microcosm of the country:

• Posing as a Democrat, John Raging Bull, a wannabe Indian, intent on evicting all peoples except the original native Americans
• With Republican backing, PresiBot, a work-in-progress AI robot whose creators struggle to update while warding off corporate raiders and other disgruntled denizens

Readers should be forewarned the political party affiliations are a passing reference and have little to do with the madcap antics of this novel. In fact, the 2024 fictional world incorporates elements such as contained population zones, above and below ground; free-lance enforcement groups beyond the police; over-the-top buildings - not unlike the city of 1984 Ghostbusters!

The plot trails after three principal characters: Ethan Burnswagger, CEO of KumbAI (kumbaya?); his CTO Arvind Subramanian; Chief Data Officer, Emma Zong.

A seemingly diffident West Coast personality is Dave Newald, all-powerful head of Happinet interconnecting various public communication devices. He lives in his 300th floor office of the Flower building with floors named after the Seven Deadly Sins. The company motto: “Happinet Listens”. He is also inventor of the “neurosniffer”, an “unprecedented window into the individual’s emotional state.”

In fast paced chapters with titles like “Lords of the Valley”, “The Singularity Is Here”, “Only We Can Save The Planet”, “Ethan’s Run” and “The Machine Room Where It Happens” the author builds the story of the struggle to control the election’s direction and outcome while slyly sending up recent political, technological, even fictional tropes.

A quick, enjoyable ride and much welcomed breezy relief from the recent media humidity.

While "2040" was an engaging read, featuring an intriguing premise, it seemed to rely too much on satirizing current-to-2024 events to move the story forward. The characters felt a bit one-dimensional and the plot was on hyperspeed (I would classify this more as a novella than a novel, it felt much shorter than its advertised 228 pages and I finished it in only a few hours), so most of the ideas and concepts felt a little half-baked. However, it did feature some amusing dialogue and could be useful to some readers as an introduction to satire and speculative fiction.

2/5 stars.

2040: A Silicon Valley Satire by Pedro Domingos offers an intriguing blend of satire, technology, and politics that hits close to home, reflecting the extremes currently seen in the US. While the premise was promising, the execution left me wanting more. Despite being a short read, I struggled to stay engaged, and the ending felt disappointing. The characters lacked depth, and I found myself wishing for more focus on the actual political aspects rather than the drama surrounding the founders of PresiBot. Although the book had its moments, it didn’t fully deliver on its potential, leaving me somewhat unsatisfied.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange of an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

The 2040 presidential election stirs up more entertainment than the 2024 election.....which is a tough goal. But an AI robot running against a Lakota Indian Chief that will eject those lacking Native American blood paints a picture too intriguing not to read. Between the cover art and the story synopsis, just the thought of what Pedro Domingos could do with the story made me smile. Yes, it's a satiric look at the election process that has ballooned into the best soap opera on television. The book is short, no huge commitment, but it was entertaining and still brings a smile to my face just thinking about it. While it probably will not be the year's best selling title, if you talk to the politicians on the TV, you need to read this.

I was drawn to this book as I wanted something a bit different, a bit of a change. I usually steer clear of anything political, satire or otherwise however, I read a book of a similar genre about 6 yrs ago and I loved it. Which is why I had high hopes for this one.
Whilst this is a good, easy, quick read, with quirky characters and dialogue, it’s one of those that probably won’t stick with me in the future.
If you’re looking for a change in genre, want to try something out of your comfort zone, then definitely give this one a go.

2040 by Pedro Domingos was a surprising read that I didn’t quite anticipate. I'm open to all genres, and this satirical take was no exception. The story’s wild and chaotic elements were entertaining, but there was a surprising depth to the book that wasn’t immediately apparent. The absurdity of the characters cleverly masked the underlying themes.

Set in the year 2040, the book begins on the night of a highly unusual election. The Republican candidate is an AI named PresiBot, created by a startup called KumbAI, whose team is clearly in over their heads. On the other side, the Democratic candidate is a fabricated Native American chief with plans to dismantle the United States. Yet, the story doesn’t focus much on these two characters. Instead, it centers on KumbAI and its CEO, Ethan.

At its core, this book is a thought-provoking commentary on the potential pitfalls of our current trajectory, delivered with a hefty dose of absurdity. The narrative ends on election night, and while my husband asked if the abrupt conclusion left me frustrated, I found it fitting. I wasn’t particularly attached to any of the characters, as none of them were particularly likable—a choice that might be deliberate.

This would make for a timely and entertaining read leading up to our current election. The release timing couldn’t have been better.

This was a funny one! I had a good time with 2040. This book is a satire about a robot running in the American presidential election in 2040. There was a little more slapstick humor than I had anticipated and there were lots and lots of puns. It won’t be for everyone’s sense of humor.

3.5 stars-- 2040: A SILICON VALLEY SATIRE by Pedro Domingos is a satirical look at American politics, specifically the past eight years. In 2040, KumbAI has developed a robot, an AI Republican candidate for president named PresiBot; The Democratic candidate is a fake Native American calling himself Chief Raging Bull. A televised debate sets the scene as the ‘puppet’ candidate goes off-script, and the ‘panic button’ is lost in the ensuing melee of rioting and anarchy. No longer able to control their candidate, KumbAI sells their company to rival tech giant Happinet but the result is another spiral into chaos leading up to the day of election, and the resulting win.

2040, set in a futuristic America, reflects upon much of the past eight years of American politics, the run for president, and the ensuing fall-out when a political dare becomes reality, and the people in charge lose control of their presidential candidate. A caustic, cynical and farcical look America’s current political machine, reminiscent of an extended SNL satirical skit, 2040 mirrors the spiral of respect; the growth of racism and discrimination; the sectioning off of the American people, and the narcissistic attitude of the people in charge.



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2040: A Silicon Valley Satire by Pedro Domingos
Genre: Humor/Satire, Sci-Fi, Politics
Pub Date: Aug. 20, 2024

It's America in 2040 and time for the presidential election. A mere 16 years from now, things have NOT improved in the political climate, and the candidates are absolutely BIZARRE.

The GOP has put forth an AI candidate named PresiBot, created by two guys from a tech start-up. The Democrats' candidate is a fake Lakota Native American chief named Raging Bull, whose #1 goal is to destroy America... if you thought the 2-party system was extreme now, you haven't seen anything yet... will Americans in this very separated and crazy society actually elect one of these bozos, or will the mud-slinging and extreme ads lead to absolute chaos?

Opinion:
The second I saw this book available for request, I just had request it! In this insane time in our society with elections coming up, this book was the PERFECT satirical message. Though everything that happened to the people behind the scenes seemed so outlandis, you could really see how the author was making a statement about our current political climate on both sides. I think this is truly worth a read and I laughed out loud a few times at the zoo-like situations that were created by the debates, conferences, etc. in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Book Baby for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions given are solely my own.

During the 2040 presidential election, an AI Republican runs against a 1/1024 Lakota Democrat who plans to abolish the United States. The book starts off with a heated debate between the two. It caught my attention immediately. However, the rest of the book left a bit to be desired. The way we just jumped from one catastrophe to another was jarring to me. The storyline did keep me intrigued enough to keep going. The thing that brought the rating down to a three for me was the last major action that caused the final catastrophe. It just seemed a little predictable and easy. I overall enjoyed myself and would recommend this book to those who aren't swayed by my negative points. It was almost a four-star for me. I would also be interested to read more by the author.

I am not American to state the fact, but I can say we can all find the irony in everything happened in the book.
For the plot. As it is not a long story, every second something was always happening. It was action-packed and interesting the whole fricking time.
My favourite part was when Ethan went on a journey because of a lost gadget so valuable in the time of need.
This trip was humorous, absurd, but other than all that we got to know more about this world's society and community. In the beginning of the book I did not realise that this was in any way dystopian or utopian other than the date we know it takes place in, but as we got more information, the world-building turned out to be one.

I think this story has a few moral lessons to learn and share. The faulty of our kind and how we humans can and will always make mistakes. At the same time we can have a great time and laugh at all these things.

Brilliant, and I enjoyed every word of it!

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Book Baby for providing me an eARC for an honest review! Unfortunately, this was a DNF For me. I think I see what the author was going for, but I am not sure I was the audience for the book. I like the concept and see the potential in a satire like this, but for me it just never quite got me hooked.

I was very excited about starting this one. Not only do I appreciate political satire, but reading a narrative about an AI presidential candidate during election season—when AI is a prominent topic in the tech industry—seemed like an incredible opportunity. However, upon completion, I found myself with mixed feelings. The premise is excellent: a tech startup develops an AI, integrates it into a robotic body, and campaigns for it as a presidential candidate. However, I encountered some issues with the execution. The author effectively extrapolates a satirical near-future, both politically and technologically. The writing is engaging, featuring several humorous moments. The characters involved in the startup are relatable, even if not always likable, and the PresiBot is entertaining. Conversely, the opposition candidate and his supporters felt excessively exaggerated and appeared over-the-top and absurd. I believe the author pushed the satire too far, leading much of the book to feel farcical and causing it to miss its intended impact. I understand that the idea was to mirror the present absurdity and dementia of the today's US political climate, but Domingos goes a bit too far with the story.

Pedro Domingos’ *2040* presents a satirical vision of a near-future America, where the absurdities of politics and technology collide in a comedic yet unsettling narrative. Set against the backdrop of a presidential election, the book features an AI candidate, PresiBot, juxtaposed with an outlandish Democratic contender—a faux Native American chief named Raging Bull. While the premise brims with potential, the execution leaves much to be desired.

From the outset, Domingos draws readers into a world that mirrors contemporary political chaos while exaggerating it to absurdity. His portrayal of Silicon Valley’s quirks—from self-driving avocado delivery drones to outlandish tech jargon—evokes both laughter and a sense of dread at how plausible this satire might be. As an AI researcher, Domingos brings an informed perspective that enriches the narrative; however, this depth doesn’t entirely translate into character development or thematic nuance.

One of the book's strengths lies in its humor, particularly embodied by PresiBot, whose algorithm-driven charisma offers a witty commentary on modern electoral politics. Yet, the humor sometimes veers into caricature, with characters feeling more like exaggerated tropes than fully fleshed individuals. Raging Bull, while intended to be a critique of identity politics, often comes off as too absurd to be taken seriously, diminishing the potential for meaningful commentary.

Despite its engaging moments, *2040* struggles with tonal consistency. The political satire, while ambitious, is often heavy-handed, lacking the subtlety that could elevate it beyond mere farce. Readers may find themselves yearning for a more nuanced exploration of the implications of such an AI-driven political landscape, particularly as the narrative unfolds towards an ending that feels too neatly resolved. In wrapping up the story in a matter of pages, Domingos sacrifices the lingering questions and complexities that could spark deeper reflection on contemporary political dilemmas.

While the initial premise is enticing, the execution falls short of its potential. The narrative is entertaining but lacks the depth to leave a lasting impact. Domingos’ critique of a chaotic political system and the absurdity of modern technology offers ample opportunity for reflection, yet the superficial treatment of its themes ultimately detracts from the reading experience.

In conclusion, *2040* serves as a light-hearted satire that may entertain those looking for a humorous take on future politics, but readers seeking depth and a thought-provoking exploration of these themes might find themselves disappointed. Domingos provides an amusing romp through a bizarre political landscape, but the execution doesn’t quite match the intriguing premise. For readers looking for a quick and amusing read during election season, it’s worth picking up, but with tempered expectations.

2040
by Pedro Domingos

(Almost spoiler free)

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was an easy read. After reading the first page or so to get a feel, the following day I read the rest in one sitting.

This story is an absurd satire. However, it's something of a fairly large pool that's only several inches deep. When all is said and done, it's entertaining, but it left me wanting and somewhat disappointed.

The abstract does this book a disservice. It is not what it claims to be. This story is not a scathing critique, nor is it dialog driven in the manner of, say, the witty banter of a good vintage film or a Mamet play. The description set up expectations that were not met.

The premise of the book is intriguing. A number of interesting scenarios are presented. Unfortunately, none of them are explored. The topics include sentience, artificial intelligence, the rights of living creatures, the rights of indigenous people, politics, democracy, identity, discrimination, the rights of corporations, and more. There's a lot broached here. None of it is investigated to any degree. It's all for show.

I thought this book was going to be satire, but it's more general humor. Some of the humor seemed like it would be grounded, but the book leans into slapstick and the absurd. The story seems to reference many aspects of reality within the United States, but doesn't explore them - either their current state or the history leading up to it.

While reading the book, several unexpected left turns took place, including tonal shifts. Some of these new elements didn't make sense considering what came before them (e.g., how the city is divided).

The ending of the book feels abrupt, unearned and unsatisfying. As always, your experience may differ from mine.

This feedback may seem like a list of issues. However, parts of the book are entertaining and, as mentioned earlier, it's an easy read. The story introduces a lot of interesting topics ripe for deeper exploration. Unfortunately, all of them are glossed over. If you're looking for a silly surface level humorous quick read, this may be for you. I had high hopes for the book, but came away disappointed.

Side note: There is a sole real world reference that stood out to me that was out of place and seemed ill-advised. It was simply a name drop that, like everything else, wasn't followed-up on. It didn't seem in keeping with the rest of the book.

2040 was a book I chose way outside my typical genre but I couldn't pass on the political satire! I really enjoyed reading this laughing throughout at how ridiculous the candidates were. I think the novel sheds some scary realities of robots and AI and just how big companies can get if not properly monitored. The writing was easy to follow which made for a quick read, as well.

I love this novel! When I first tried reading it, I set it aside, thinking "Too much dialogue," and the Native Americans are not being shown with any dignity or respect, but, but, I have to review this ARC, so I tried again. Third time was the charm. I was hooked!

If you love the dark humor and slapstick mishaps of the TV series "Fargo," you will surely appreciate the action and antics in this story.

Pedro Domingos is witty, satirical, clever, and funny. I'm motivated now to see what else he has written.

In the days when I wrote long, thoughtful book reviews for Perihelion Science Fiction ezine, this novel would have had three pages of praise and excerpts. It seems people want short and simple, not long and detailed, so, here it is.

Great political satire, just in time for the 2024 presidential debates and election. Read and enjoy!

Not a bad satire. A bit in the nose in some places, but I like that element of it. I wonder where our democracy will go to this November and sadly this book is fair warning about what can happen if we’re not careful. There were some missed opportunities in the story, I thought, which makes this a 4 star book, but for the mist part, you take our poopshow of current political climate, add AI, and some very hyperbolic scenarios and you have 2040. Fingers crossed it doesn’t happen exactly like that. It’s a fun book.

2040 is a fun and quick read for anyone who enjoys sci fi set in the world of basically today. There are many moments where it's important to remind oneself "this is satire"! My main critique is there there is a lack of realized women characters in the book. There are maybe 3 speaking women characters and together they comprise half a person. Otherwise, I enjoyed the book.

This is a me not the book problem, I think. I DNF'd this at 20%.

When I saw that this was labelled as political satire, with the premise it had I thought it would be great. I am sure that there are readers that this would work for, but for me this is not satire. This is comedy with some political characters. I wanted the subtly disruptive nature of "A Modest Proposal" whereas this is in your face slapstick.

This is just not for me. The book reads very quickly, and I am sure there is an audience for it. If you are interested in reading it, I would read the first chapter and if you don't like it, go ahead and and put this down.

I thought this would be a topical choice for the moment we’re in, as it is about candidates running in a U.S. Presidential election. Our candidates here are PresiBot, who wants to “optimize” America; and Raging Bull, who wants to dismantle it and send everyone back to where they came from.

While those are the candidates, our actual main characters are the two software developers who created PresiBot – Ethan and Arvind. They feel like they “solved” Artificial Intelligence, but their startup company is tanking. How can they show the world just what their AI is capable of?

A recent Supreme Court case had conferred personhood on robots, so Ethan gets the idea that their AI could run for President! It was just supposed to be a crazy stunt, conceived while drinking, that would bring in clients. They have to contract a different company to create a “body,” as their campaign manager insists that it’ll look better. But then, PresiBot clinches a major party nomination.

What we see as the chaos ensues is an America divided… no, literally, with fences and checkpoints to keep people in their own “sectors.” The biggest business is a social media platform, on which everyone is fed whatever news the data miners think will make them the happiest. Much of San Francisco lives in the shadow of their flower-shaped building, which is several hundred stories tall.

This is a satire, of course. But it kind of feels like if our world right now just went further off the rails… could this be close to the 2040 looming in our own future?

This is a slim, fast-paced read. Yes, there is some tech speak in it, but nothing overwhelming.

Very cool premise, that didn't quite land for me personally. Surprisingly, there's not much of the PresiBot in the book, instead focusing much more on the adventures of the programmers/creators in managing him and running his campaign.

The pros were the story was lean and moves quickly. I loved the different strategies they took to position Presibot to the public. And the adventure to control him (which I had not been expecting to be the plot) was interesting. I particularly enjoyed this dystopian view of the future.

For me one of the biggest cons was female characters. To say they were one-dimensional would be an overstatement. They barely exist and have little agency. (Other than the woman running the other campaign who has a small, but interesting role.)

Also, the writing felt a little stilted and underwritten to me. For a satire, it's not particularly funny and the dialogue is very basic back and forth. This is likely a matter of personal preference.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.