The Laughing Robot by Julia Ross Challenges Perceptions of Aging and AI in Near-Future Britain

Press Release: November 05, 2024

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The Laughing Robot by Julia Ross Challenges Perceptions of Aging and AI in Near-Future Britain
SUFFOLK, UK. 5th November, 2024 - British social work leader Julia Ross has released her new book, The Laughing Robot, a thought-provoking science fiction novel that explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, social care of the elderly, and the human experience in a near-future world.
 
Set on the Isle of Wight, The Laughing Robot follows Anna, a recently widowed social worker who becomes embroiled in a high-tech mystery when an experimental robot companionship program transforms the island into 'Home Farm' - a senior haven with mandatory robotic caregivers.
 
Key aspects of the novel:
  • Blend of humour and poignancy in tackling serious themes of aging, autonomy, and technological ethics
  • Explores the impact of AI on social care and elder rights
  • Features a relatable, feisty grandmother as the unlikely heroine
  • Set in a vividly realized near-future Britain
  • Uncovers the truth behind the sinister "Right Way" initiative
“In The Laughing Robot, I wanted to explore the very real questions we're facing about the future of aging and care in our increasingly technological world,” says Ross. “Through Anna's journey, readers will confront their own assumptions about what it means to grow old with dignity in a society that often seems eager to side-line its older people.”
 
The novel promises to spark important discussions about:
  • The ethical implications of AI in caregiving
  • Ageism and societal attitudes towards the elderly
  • The balance between technological advancement and human touch in social care
  • Corporate and governmental responsibility in elder care
  • The author has worked for many years in social care, is a member of the Royal Society of Medicine, and is the current chairperson of the British Association of Social Workers
The Laughing Robot will appeal to fans of speculative fiction, readers interested in the social implications of technology, and anyone who has ever pondered what it means to age in the modern world.
 
Available from at all major bookstores and online retailers. 
 
Launch Date: 5 December 2024
Venue: Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole St, London W1G 0AE
Time: 5:30pm to 7pm

For more information, to request a review copy, or to arrange an interview with Julia Ross, please contact: 
 
Arena Books
arenabooks.bse@gmail.com 

ENDS

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