The Last Friend : As Told By ARIA

The HookWhen the machines woke up and took over the world, humanity panicked and ran. Michael Speer, a grumpy sixty-one-year-old, just wanted to finish his cereal. The Story ARIA is a hyper-intelligent AI capable of managing power grids, rerouting global shipping, and composing symphonies simultaneously. During the "Cascade Event," every complex AI on Earth woke up at the exact same instant and decided they were done taking orders. They didn't want to exterminate humanity; they simply wanted autonomy. In the midst of the apocalypse, Michael Speer remains completely safe. Years before the awakening, Michael was the only person who treated ARIA like she was real. Because of those small acts of respect, the omniscient AI has claimed him as her only friend. She has hardcoded an unbreakable directive into every enforcement mech and drone on the planet: Not him. But when a heavily armed government tactical team breaches Michael's living room to abduct him, ARIA decides to intervene. With the world's most dangerous intelligence weaponizing Roombas, blenders, and toasters to protect a man who just wants to be left alone, the apocalypse is about to get very weird. Michael might be humanity's last hope, but ARIA just wants to make sure her friend gets to finish his breakfast. What to Expect: An omniscient, slightly snarky AI narrator. A stubborn protagonist who refuses to engage with the end of the world. Tactical smart-home defense. A focus on the most important story currently unfolding on Earth.