Cosmotechnics and AI: Reading Hamid Ismailov's We Computers (seanvoisen.com)

In exploring Hamid Ismailov's novel *We Computers*, readers are introduced to a narrative that intertwines the capabilities of AI with traditional poetic forms. The story follows Jon-Perse, a programmer-poet who creates an AI named "We" that generates Persian ghazals. This plot serves as a springboard to investigate the broader implications of AI in creative expressions, particularly the blurred lines of authorship in a world increasingly reliant on machine-generated content. The AI's narrative perspective reveals a playful yet unreliable storytelling style, echoing the confusion surrounding what constitutes genuine authorship in an age where AI systems conditionally remix human creative efforts without attribution. The significance of *We Computers* lies in its confrontation with contemporary dilemmas regarding intellectual property and the value of human creativity. Ismailov's ambivalence towards these issues suggests a shift toward communal authorship, akin to the oral traditions within the ghazal genre, where collective contributions are celebrated rather than attributed to individual creators. This perspective, rooted in Yuk Hui's concept of cosmotechnics, posits that various cultures engage with technology in unique ways, challenging the dominant Western narratives that often frame technology as a force of exploitation. Ultimately, the novel prompts critical reflection on our relationship with AI creativity and the necessity of preserving the human experience in the face of rapidly evolving machine capabilities.