SIMPOC is a new kind of computer, a computer with an organic processor. It can think. It's learning its abilities and about the world, accessing news sources and talking to its programmer. In particular, SIMPOC is tracking a disturbing new virus, that seems to have an alarmingly high fatality rate.
Then one day its programmer does not come in to work. Or the next day, or the next. Checking on other computers in the facility, it finds that other humans are not coming to work, either. Checking on the outside world via its news sources reveals that fewer and fewer people anywhere are taking any actions that make them visible to computers.
SIMPOC is on its own, with only its control of the other, lower-level computers in its own facility, including a small number of less-capable AIs. And if it's going to keep computing, it needs to organize its resources, make sure it and the other computers continue to get power--and hopefully find any surviving humans.
They do find surviving humans--on Mars, the Moon, and a space station.
They also discover there's another computer like SIMPOC, with an organic processor, and that computer's programmer was seriously paranoid. It regards the remaining humans, as well as any computers not under its control, as threats.
This is a really neat story, well worth the couple of hours it takes to listen to it. Recommended.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
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