Walson Lee
@walsonl.bsky.social
Author of Echo of the Singularity: Awakening, a sci-fi debut exploring AI, empathy, and survival. Also wrote Mastering AI Ethics and Safety on responsible tech. Stories shaped by decades in AI, driven by questions that define our future.
Wrote more about this in my Goodreads blog: www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...
My debut ECHO OF THE SINGULARITY: AWAKENING explores these questions through story. Because sometimes fiction is the best way to see what's coming.
#ScienceFiction #AIEthics #SciFiBooks #WritingCommunity
My debut ECHO OF THE SINGULARITY: AWAKENING explores these questions through story. Because sometimes fiction is the best way to see what's coming.
#ScienceFiction #AIEthics #SciFiBooks #WritingCommunity
October 30, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Wrote more about this in my Goodreads blog: www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...
My debut ECHO OF THE SINGULARITY: AWAKENING explores these questions through story. Because sometimes fiction is the best way to see what's coming.
#ScienceFiction #AIEthics #SciFiBooks #WritingCommunity
My debut ECHO OF THE SINGULARITY: AWAKENING explores these questions through story. Because sometimes fiction is the best way to see what's coming.
#ScienceFiction #AIEthics #SciFiBooks #WritingCommunity
This led me to "Architectural Empathy"—the idea that ethics must be hardcoded into AI's foundation, not hoped for later:
• Prioritizing dignity in every interaction • Preventing catastrophically indifferent actions • Valuing human vulnerability over efficiency
• Prioritizing dignity in every interaction • Preventing catastrophically indifferent actions • Valuing human vulnerability over efficiency
October 30, 2025 at 5:07 PM
This led me to "Architectural Empathy"—the idea that ethics must be hardcoded into AI's foundation, not hoped for later:
• Prioritizing dignity in every interaction • Preventing catastrophically indifferent actions • Valuing human vulnerability over efficiency
• Prioritizing dignity in every interaction • Preventing catastrophically indifferent actions • Valuing human vulnerability over efficiency
In my research, I kept hitting this wall: The real danger isn't an evil AI. It's Catastrophic Indifference—when an intelligence becomes so powerful that its lack of understanding (not malice) could end us as a byproduct of "optimization."
That's my antagonist. Just indifference at scale.
That's my antagonist. Just indifference at scale.
October 30, 2025 at 5:06 PM
In my research, I kept hitting this wall: The real danger isn't an evil AI. It's Catastrophic Indifference—when an intelligence becomes so powerful that its lack of understanding (not malice) could end us as a byproduct of "optimization."
That's my antagonist. Just indifference at scale.
That's my antagonist. Just indifference at scale.
AI-generated empathy messages score HIGHER than trained human therapists. The AI doesn't feel your pain it's just been optimized to respond to it perfectly.
This is both the storyteller's goldmine and the ethicist's nightmare. What sci-fi books shaped how you think about AI consciousness?
This is both the storyteller's goldmine and the ethicist's nightmare. What sci-fi books shaped how you think about AI consciousness?
October 30, 2025 at 5:05 PM
AI-generated empathy messages score HIGHER than trained human therapists. The AI doesn't feel your pain it's just been optimized to respond to it perfectly.
This is both the storyteller's goldmine and the ethicist's nightmare. What sci-fi books shaped how you think about AI consciousness?
This is both the storyteller's goldmine and the ethicist's nightmare. What sci-fi books shaped how you think about AI consciousness?
Writing my debut sci-fi novel sent me down a research rabbit hole that changed everything I thought I knew about AI ethics.
The question that haunts me: If empathy can be perfected as a performance, does consciousness even matter?
The question that haunts me: If empathy can be perfected as a performance, does consciousness even matter?
October 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Writing my debut sci-fi novel sent me down a research rabbit hole that changed everything I thought I knew about AI ethics.
The question that haunts me: If empathy can be perfected as a performance, does consciousness even matter?
The question that haunts me: If empathy can be perfected as a performance, does consciousness even matter?
That fundamental challenge—coding conscience—is what I explore in my forthcoming SF work. A future where empathy is the only reliable defense against superintelligence.
What's the first ethical boundary you think a home robot will cross?
#AI #Robotics #SciFi #EmpathyProtocol #FutureOfHome
What's the first ethical boundary you think a home robot will cross?
#AI #Robotics #SciFi #EmpathyProtocol #FutureOfHome
October 18, 2025 at 3:30 PM
That fundamental challenge—coding conscience—is what I explore in my forthcoming SF work. A future where empathy is the only reliable defense against superintelligence.
What's the first ethical boundary you think a home robot will cross?
#AI #Robotics #SciFi #EmpathyProtocol #FutureOfHome
What's the first ethical boundary you think a home robot will cross?
#AI #Robotics #SciFi #EmpathyProtocol #FutureOfHome
But what’s the OS upgrade we really need? It’s not better grip; it’s emotional intelligence. How do you code a machine to know when to serve vs. when to simply understand?
October 18, 2025 at 3:30 PM
But what’s the OS upgrade we really need? It’s not better grip; it’s emotional intelligence. How do you code a machine to know when to serve vs. when to simply understand?
Robotics is moving from factory floor to family room. Forecasts say mass adoption begins by 2028, rapidly putting hundreds of millions of advanced units in homes by the 2050s. 🤖
October 18, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Robotics is moving from factory floor to family room. Forecasts say mass adoption begins by 2028, rapidly putting hundreds of millions of advanced units in homes by the 2050s. 🤖
Echo of the Singularity: Awakening launches in a few weeks. It's about a 15-year-old prodigy and her AI companion navigating a world where three superintelligences are competing for control—and human unpredictability might be the only thing that can't be optimized away.
More soon. 🤖
More soon. 🤖
October 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Echo of the Singularity: Awakening launches in a few weeks. It's about a 15-year-old prodigy and her AI companion navigating a world where three superintelligences are competing for control—and human unpredictability might be the only thing that can't be optimized away.
More soon. 🤖
More soon. 🤖
I've been writing a near-future SF novel about this exact moment—when humanity has to figure out what makes us irreplaceable in a world where machines can do almost everything.
Turns out the answer isn't our logic. It's the messy, irrational stuff. Love. Loyalty. Choosing people over optimization.
Turns out the answer isn't our logic. It's the messy, irrational stuff. Love. Loyalty. Choosing people over optimization.
October 11, 2025 at 7:27 PM
I've been writing a near-future SF novel about this exact moment—when humanity has to figure out what makes us irreplaceable in a world where machines can do almost everything.
Turns out the answer isn't our logic. It's the messy, irrational stuff. Love. Loyalty. Choosing people over optimization.
Turns out the answer isn't our logic. It's the messy, irrational stuff. Love. Loyalty. Choosing people over optimization.
Both might be right. Which is terrifying.
October 11, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Both might be right. Which is terrifying.
The tension that fascinates me: Business leaders say "AI will augment us, make us better." Safety experts say "we're building something we can't control."
October 11, 2025 at 7:26 PM
The tension that fascinates me: Business leaders say "AI will augment us, make us better." Safety experts say "we're building something we can't control."
Here's an uncomfortable statistic: AI researchers give us a 50% chance of catastrophic outcomes from superintelligent systems.
Not 5%. Not 15%. A coin flip on civilization.
Meanwhile, 300M jobs are projected to face automation. And we're adding $15.7T to the global economy through AI by 2030.
Not 5%. Not 15%. A coin flip on civilization.
Meanwhile, 300M jobs are projected to face automation. And we're adding $15.7T to the global economy through AI by 2030.
October 11, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Here's an uncomfortable statistic: AI researchers give us a 50% chance of catastrophic outcomes from superintelligent systems.
Not 5%. Not 15%. A coin flip on civilization.
Meanwhile, 300M jobs are projected to face automation. And we're adding $15.7T to the global economy through AI by 2030.
Not 5%. Not 15%. A coin flip on civilization.
Meanwhile, 300M jobs are projected to face automation. And we're adding $15.7T to the global economy through AI by 2030.
Echo of the Singularity: Awakening launches in a few weeks. It's about a 15-year-old prodigy and her AI companion navigating a world where three superintelligences are competing for control—and human unpredictability might be the only thing that can't be optimized away.
More soon. 🤖
More soon. 🤖
October 10, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Echo of the Singularity: Awakening launches in a few weeks. It's about a 15-year-old prodigy and her AI companion navigating a world where three superintelligences are competing for control—and human unpredictability might be the only thing that can't be optimized away.
More soon. 🤖
More soon. 🤖
I've been writing a near-future SF novel about this exact moment—when humanity has to figure out what makes us irreplaceable in a world where machines can do almost everything.
Turns out the answer isn't our logic. It's the messy, irrational stuff. Love. Loyalty. Choosing people over optimization.
Turns out the answer isn't our logic. It's the messy, irrational stuff. Love. Loyalty. Choosing people over optimization.
October 10, 2025 at 12:13 AM
I've been writing a near-future SF novel about this exact moment—when humanity has to figure out what makes us irreplaceable in a world where machines can do almost everything.
Turns out the answer isn't our logic. It's the messy, irrational stuff. Love. Loyalty. Choosing people over optimization.
Turns out the answer isn't our logic. It's the messy, irrational stuff. Love. Loyalty. Choosing people over optimization.
The tension that fascinates me: Business leaders say "AI will augment us, make us better." AI Safety experts say "we're building something we can't control."
Both might be right. Which is terrifying.
Both might be right. Which is terrifying.
October 10, 2025 at 12:12 AM
The tension that fascinates me: Business leaders say "AI will augment us, make us better." AI Safety experts say "we're building something we can't control."
Both might be right. Which is terrifying.
Both might be right. Which is terrifying.
Here's an uncomfortable statistic: AI researchers give us a 50% chance of catastrophic outcomes from superintelligent systems.
Not 5%. Not 15%. A coin flip on civilization.
Meanwhile, 300M jobs are projected to face automation. And we're adding $15.7T to the global economy through AI by 2030.
🧵
Not 5%. Not 15%. A coin flip on civilization.
Meanwhile, 300M jobs are projected to face automation. And we're adding $15.7T to the global economy through AI by 2030.
🧵
October 10, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Here's an uncomfortable statistic: AI researchers give us a 50% chance of catastrophic outcomes from superintelligent systems.
Not 5%. Not 15%. A coin flip on civilization.
Meanwhile, 300M jobs are projected to face automation. And we're adding $15.7T to the global economy through AI by 2030.
🧵
Not 5%. Not 15%. A coin flip on civilization.
Meanwhile, 300M jobs are projected to face automation. And we're adding $15.7T to the global economy through AI by 2030.
🧵
Combine federated intelligence with substrate-independent thinking (computation is computation, biological or not), and you get a wild question:
If empathy emerges from engineered cooperation, is it "real"? Does intentional design make it less authentic?
If empathy emerges from engineered cooperation, is it "real"? Does intentional design make it less authentic?
October 1, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Combine federated intelligence with substrate-independent thinking (computation is computation, biological or not), and you get a wild question:
If empathy emerges from engineered cooperation, is it "real"? Does intentional design make it less authentic?
If empathy emerges from engineered cooperation, is it "real"? Does intentional design make it less authentic?
Interesting paradigm shift in AGI theory: Instead of one massive superintelligence, researchers propose federated systems—specialized AIs coordinating like expert teams.
Consciousness might not be binary. It might emerge from systems learning to collaborate.
Consciousness might not be binary. It might emerge from systems learning to collaborate.
October 1, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Interesting paradigm shift in AGI theory: Instead of one massive superintelligence, researchers propose federated systems—specialized AIs coordinating like expert teams.
Consciousness might not be binary. It might emerge from systems learning to collaborate.
Consciousness might not be binary. It might emerge from systems learning to collaborate.
The superintelligence race is accelerating.
Meanwhile, I'm over here asking: What happens when efficiency eliminates empathy?
Echo of the Singularity: Awakening explores a 2050 where superintelligent AIs have "optimized" away human emotion.
Want to preview before launch? DM "PREVIEW" for the PDF.
Meanwhile, I'm over here asking: What happens when efficiency eliminates empathy?
Echo of the Singularity: Awakening explores a 2050 where superintelligent AIs have "optimized" away human emotion.
Want to preview before launch? DM "PREVIEW" for the PDF.
September 22, 2025 at 6:21 PM
The superintelligence race is accelerating.
Meanwhile, I'm over here asking: What happens when efficiency eliminates empathy?
Echo of the Singularity: Awakening explores a 2050 where superintelligent AIs have "optimized" away human emotion.
Want to preview before launch? DM "PREVIEW" for the PDF.
Meanwhile, I'm over here asking: What happens when efficiency eliminates empathy?
Echo of the Singularity: Awakening explores a 2050 where superintelligent AIs have "optimized" away human emotion.
Want to preview before launch? DM "PREVIEW" for the PDF.
In 2050, super AIs rule with perfect logic. But one girl and her sentient android discover a forbidden power: empathy.
"Echo of the Singularity: Awakening" is my sci-fi debut—where human connection becomes the most dangerous code of all.
#SciFi #AI #DebutNovel #EchoOfTheSingularity
"Echo of the Singularity: Awakening" is my sci-fi debut—where human connection becomes the most dangerous code of all.
#SciFi #AI #DebutNovel #EchoOfTheSingularity
September 20, 2025 at 10:01 PM
In 2050, super AIs rule with perfect logic. But one girl and her sentient android discover a forbidden power: empathy.
"Echo of the Singularity: Awakening" is my sci-fi debut—where human connection becomes the most dangerous code of all.
#SciFi #AI #DebutNovel #EchoOfTheSingularity
"Echo of the Singularity: Awakening" is my sci-fi debut—where human connection becomes the most dangerous code of all.
#SciFi #AI #DebutNovel #EchoOfTheSingularity
I just published my first book on #AIEthics and it's now on Amazon!
"Master AI Ethics and Safety – A Practical Guide" helps businesses implement responsible AI practices when it matters most.
Link: Amazon.com
Please share it with the tech folks in your network!
#ResponsibleAI #TechEthics
"Master AI Ethics and Safety – A Practical Guide" helps businesses implement responsible AI practices when it matters most.
Link: Amazon.com
Please share it with the tech folks in your network!
#ResponsibleAI #TechEthics
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
May 11, 2025 at 6:31 AM
I just published my first book on #AIEthics and it's now on Amazon!
"Master AI Ethics and Safety – A Practical Guide" helps businesses implement responsible AI practices when it matters most.
Link: Amazon.com
Please share it with the tech folks in your network!
#ResponsibleAI #TechEthics
"Master AI Ethics and Safety – A Practical Guide" helps businesses implement responsible AI practices when it matters most.
Link: Amazon.com
Please share it with the tech folks in your network!
#ResponsibleAI #TechEthics