Becky Chambers and AI: Hopepunk, Utopia, and Personhood

Author

Abstract

This Infographic examines depictions of AI in the works of Becky Chambers. More specifically, it explores Chambers’ place in the Hopepunk subgenre and how the traits of Hopepunk can be seen within her portrayals of AI. It provides a brief overview of Hopepunk and the elements of that genre that can be found in Chambers work. It then takes a more focused look at the Wayfarer quartet and the Monk and Robot duology, examining how Chambers utilizes themes of embodiment, compassion, and community to create a vision of AI that resists dystopian conventions and embraces optimism. The goal of this project was to highlight the ways in which Becky Chambers’ work challenges the more traditional dystopian narratives we see surrounding AI in Science Fiction. By looking at her work within the context of Hopepunk this project underscores the ways in which Science Fiction can help to shape a more inclusive and hopeful version of the future.

Project: Becky Chambers and AI: Hopepunk, Utopia, and Personhood