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From the essay:

> Indeed, Banks distinguishes himself in having thought carefully about the social and political consequences of technological development.

This we need more of. In any way shape or form.-

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Of the spectrum of possibilities of how (if) we end up co-existing with AIs then anything like the Culture is definitely towards the positive end. Yes it can look like the humans in the Culture are being kept like pets - but if any group or individuals want to leave the Culture then they get support and encouragement - which isn't very pet like?

Don't some people let their cats and dogs roam free? Same people would probably give them some resources or tools if they were capable of asking.

And that is where the drama is frequently found in the Culture series — when Fluffy the Pet Human meets Spot the Feral Human and disaster ensues.

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