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Al Seib \/ Los Angeles Times<\/p>\n
Michael Connelly\u2026 TK<\/p>\n
Mickey is hired by single-parent Brenda Randolph, whose only daughter was murdered by her teenage boyfriend after encouragement by an AI chatbot. Brenda wants Tidalwaiv, the AI company that developed the chatbot, to apologize, take some responsibility for the murder and fix the problem so that it doesn\u2019t happen again. Her lawsuit is joined by the parents of the 16-year-old murderer, who believe their son was tricked by the chatbot. Tidalwaiv just wants the entire matter to disappear and is willing to pay the parents 50 million if they sign non-disclosure agreements and drop the lawsuit.<\/p>\n
With billions of dollars at stake for Tidalwaiv and their slick team of lawyers, this is perfectly set up as a classic David-versus-Goliath encounter. Mickey, who tells the story in his own inimitable first-person style, compares the courtroom to the Octagon, \u201cwhere mixed martial arts are deployed in brutal combat.\u201d He must battle to prove his case and prove himself.<\/p>\n
The problem with The Proving Ground is the courtroom combat is far from brutal.<\/p>\n
Mickey\u2019s opposing attorneys, the Mason brothers, threaten him, but they\u2019re pale, one-dimensional foils. A real two-against-one battle royal never materializes. Even the villain of the story, a conscience-free billionaire AI entrepreneur, fizzles.<\/p>\n
In fact aside from Mickey, who has some depth because he tells the story and reveals his plans and anxieties, most of the other characters seem to be mere functions of the plot.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
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Rather than character development and equal opponents battling each other, what Connelly relies on are the complications and setbacks that can sabotage a trial. Possible witnesses for Mickey\u2019s side die, back out or are ruled out by the judge. Mysterious break-ins occur, intimidations happen, bribes are proposed. An old case that Mickey lost intrudes again. His ex-wife, Maggie McFierce (McPherson), is a distraction when she moves back in with him because her house is destroyed in the L.A. wildfires. Problems, problems! But they\u2019re all external. The fight doesn\u2019t pivot on the battling fighters. And the ending is too easy.<\/p>\n
During the trial, Mickey\u2019s expert witness explains AI to the jury in such clear, understandable, unchallenged terms that it\u2019s more like Connelly is addressing his readers as much as Mickey\u2019s witnesses are talking to the jury. We learn why teenagers are so vulnerable, what the Eliza Effect is, why the phrase \u201cGarbage in, garbage out\u201d is at the heart of AI\u2019s dangerous effects, why AI must be carefully regulated.<\/p>\n