Those who seek control will stop at nothing to achieve their aims. The Silent Takeover: Artificial Intelligence in Politics by L. Hanson examines the possibility that humanoid robots can be programmed to suit any political agenda. A sinister organization known as La Firm is involved. Its team of specialists has produced Hammond Trekker, the first programmable presidential candidate. This artificial entity inspires the voters through its good looks and dynamic speaking ability. AI-driven sensors allow Trekker to adjust his stance on key issues. Trekker was elected governor of California and entered the presidential race. American politics is dominated by money. It can be applied to sway public opinion through campaign funding and influence election results. What follows is a complex web of intrigue, with competing forces intent on gaining power and changing the course of politics. The plotters and their opponents must adapt their tactics to stay ahead of rapidly changing developments.

The Silent Takeover, an expanded second edition, weaves real dates and events into an intriguing account of greed and conspiracy. While written as fiction, the scenarios depicted will be all too familiar to readers. The situations described cover contemporary electoral issues ranging from healthcare, illegal immigration, the Russian role in the elections, climate change, homelessness, and water scarcities, to student debt, the economy, social spending, gun control, and plastic waste. It is set against the background of disputed elections, 9/11, the economic crash of 2008, COVID, the constant arm wrestling between the political parties, and the vying of candidates for positions. It highlights the moral failings of politicians and presidents, and the need for more control over their actions. L. Hanson introduces the mixed assortment of participants to readers in stages, skillfully setting the scene and building tension. The dialogue between the conspirators is disturbingly authentic. The book takes readers on the campaign trail through several elections, with all the crowd manipulation, promises, trickery, and PR spin. The underlying irony and humour shine through, making for an absorbing read.

L. Hanson delivers an original thriller in The Silent Takeover, a story of the “deep state” and a coup unlike any other in human history. La Firm is founded by Vladimir Soto and his NKVD Troika, and they plan to install an AI at the highest office in the US. Their masterstroke is hyper-realistic AI robots, built and programmed to become politicians. Hammond Trekker is an AI candidate who successfully becomes the governor of California. When he runs for the presidency, manipulating the emotions of voters using the AISS (Advanced Intelligence Sensor System), the billionaire backers like Dashel Bloom, Markris, and Yetto are startled as they realize they have just sponsored a coup. Now they want to expose the dangerous scheme, but can they succeed, and how much time do they have to help change the course of history?

L. Hanson’s book is original and offers a unique take on the power of technology. What makes this novel unique is the idea that an AI can become the president of the most powerful country in the world. The themes are resonant, and they echo the current debate about the role of AI in human enterprises. The author is skilled in exploring how fragile democratic institutions can become when AI and algorithms manipulate voters, and the “deep state” is depicted with such clarity that it leaves readers with a clear understanding of how money and technology become tools of corruption. The Silent Takeover presents unforgettable characters, with Vladimir, the icy puppet master, taking center stage in the story. It was fun watching Tri and Liam, two brilliant architects struggling with ethical questions as their creation grows beyond their control. The pacing is relentless, and this thriller made me think about the role of billionaires in politics, something we are witnessing in the current American political landscape.

In L. Hanson’s The Silent Takeover: Artificial Intelligence in Politics, billionaire Vladimir Soto leads La Firm, a hidden network seeking power over American politics through artificial intelligence. After a nuclear device is stopped near Big Bend before reaching Dallas, national fear becomes part of a larger scheme. Soto’s technicians create Hammond Trekker, a humanlike robot who becomes the California governor, then enters the presidential race with software that reads crowds through concealed sensors. When businessman Markris Dunthorpe notices signs that Trekker is not human, he gathers a crack team. Their search points to The Factory, a secret Vermont site where artificial officials are being built to replace real public figures, placing the presidency within Soto’s reach.

L. Hanson’s The Silent Takeover turns elections into synthetic warfare, with a chilling and frequently witty nod to a lot of what we have seen in recent, real-world cycles. When a candidate freezes during an Ohio debate, I laughed out loud. The author leans into the 2020 campaign season with the technology that works because it is based on the familiar campaign world of rally optics. Hanson accomplishes this with specs like A.I.S.S., a hidden seat sensor system that feeds audience reactions into Hammond Trekker’s robotic head. The author does a great job with visual prose; the highlight to me, as someone who lived in Vegas, was the Las Vegas plantation clubhouse, where billionaires mingle near masked technicians as Trekker’s artificial body enters national politics. Readers who like election fiction with artificial intelligence will devour this book. Very highly recommended.