Artificial Wisdom

By: Thomas R. Weaver

Narrated by: Steven Pacey

Brought to you by Penguin.

The most surprising thriller of the year
Who would you trust with the future?

The year is 2050. In the teeth of a climate catastrophe, the world is left with a drastic solution: one global leader to steer it through the coming apocalypse.

The final two candidates are ex-US President Lockwood, and Solomon, the world’s first political artificial intelligence.

As whispers of a global conspiracy emerge, investigative journalist Marcus Tully find himself at the centre of it – when Solomon’s creator turns up murdered.

Overnight, one investigation becomes two, and it’s not just the result of the election that’s at stake but the future of the species. Suddenly humanity must make an impossible choice – between salvation, or freedom.

© Thomas R. Weaver 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Critic reviews

Imaginative, impressive debut... Particularly compelling is Weaver’s riveting vision of technology in the near future and its ramifications once humans can no longer discern what is real

A thought-provoking page-turner that is intellectually rich, emotionally charged and hugely timely in its exploration of AI, ethics and climate collapse

Artificial Wisdom zips along, but avoids becoming too rushed or too concerned with end-of-chapter cliffhangers. Superior popular fiction, likely to trouble the bestseller lists, and neatly set up for a sequel

Stunning... As modern as tomorrow and even more frightening. Be afraid - very afraid - of where we are and of what is coming (Terry Hayes, bestselling author of I Am Pilgrim)

A richly-imagined, fast-paced exploration of an uncertain future where technology promises to serve as our saviour and rule as our master. At its heart, however, is an all too human story of a desperate man in search of the truth (Michael Cordy, bestselling author of The Messiah Code)

A taut tale with a disturbingly plausible what-if scenario.

A fast-paced blockbuster of a read!

The most surprising thriller of the year.. this thriller explores power, AI and survival – and is guaranteed to make you question everything

Ripped from tomorrow's headlines, this will give you the heebie-jeebies... [an] imaginative thriller'

The plot is gripping, Tully and the other main characters are sympathetic, and their dilemmas seem frighteningly relevant today