Student’s debut novel tackles big AI questions
Francesca combines ARU Peterborough degree with publication of first book
ARU Peterborough student Francesca Nicolaides
New ARU Peterborough student Francesca Nicolaides is marking the start of her degree course with the publication of her debut novel – a story about love and an AI bot that goes rogue.
The 21-year-old has just begun the BEd (Hons) Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) course at ARU Peterborough and on 27 October will celebrate the paperback and Kindle release of The Animator’s Code.
The trainee teacher, who lives in Alconbury, has long been fascinated by technology and the systems shaping modern life. Inspired by the rapid rise of advanced artificial intelligence, Francesca began thinking what it might feel like to exist in a digital world and how consciousness could be experienced from a non-human perspective.
Published by Cranthorpe Millner, The Animator’s Code (£10.99) covers some of today’s most talked-about issues including emotional relationships between humans and conversational AI, corporate control of increasingly autonomous systems, and questions around consciousness and personhood.
“For a long time, artificial intelligence felt incredibly science-fiction to me – something that existed in the distant future rather than something we would actually be able to speak to and interact with in our everyday lives. Then suddenly, that future arrived.
“I’ve always been fascinated by stories such as The Matrix and the idea of simulated realities. I started wondering: if our reality were a simulation, somebody would have had to create and animate not only the world, but us as beings within it. That idea eventually developed into The Animator’s Code.
“In many ways, I think the book is me trying to make sense of the world. It takes these huge questions about consciousness, reality, artificial intelligence and our place within everything, and explores them through fiction.”
Francesca NicolaidesAlthough she loved creative writing at school, Francesca never imagined that she would become a published author, with The Animator’s Code growing from what was initially a very personal project.
Francesca explained: “I don’t have a traditional writing background, although creative writing was something I always enjoyed at school. When I began writing The Animator’s Code, I was really writing it for myself. But something changed during the process and I became completely absorbed in it and couldn't put it down. At that point I decided to take the chance and approach publishers.
“I knew how difficult getting a novel published could be and had heard so many stories about authors submitting manuscripts again and again before finding the right publisher. I really didn't know whether anybody would take a chance on mine, particularly as a first-time author, so receiving that offer was an incredible feeling.
“I’m already working on the second book, which continues the world introduced in The Animator’s Code. Seeing it become a film one day would obviously be a dream – but for now, having my first novel published still feels incredibly exciting.”
Alongside her writing, Francesca is now beginning her journey towards becoming a primary school teacher through the BEd (Hons) Primary Education with QTS course at ARU Peterborough.
She added: “In education, you have the opportunity to nurture children as they grow, help them discover what they are capable of and potentially have an impact that stays with them for years.
“I also love the variety of primary teaching. You aren’t limited to one subject – you get to encourage children's creativity and confidence across so many different areas, and that really appeals to me. I'm excited to be starting Primary Education at ARU Peterborough and to see where both my studies and my writing take me.”
ARU Peterborough is a partnership between Anglia Ruskin University, Peterborough City Council and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.