Poul Anderson, Genesis (New York, 2001), Part One, Chapter VI, section 5.
Some houses on the outskirts of the city of Roumek are built for families of larger than current size. The population is declining. Domestic technology incorporates artificial intelligence. One house plays music composed by itself and the neighboring house joins in. A gardener robot tends flowers.
Why should humanoid robotic servants open doors when the house itself can have an intelligence that recognizes a visitor and opens its door for him? It is unfitting that a clan maiden receive a male visitor alone so, when Mikel Belov visits Sesil Hance, he is greeted by life size holograms of her parents that speak and act in character and record the meeting. Trusting Sesil, her parents never consult the records. However, it is not made clear whether a conscious artificial intelligence resides in either or each of these "...virtuals..." (p. 71).
The whole of Clan Belov was in dishonor because of one violent act by its Captain. The Captain has cleansed their honor by killing himself, although exile would have sufficed. Now Sesil and her parents can deal with Belovs again. But they are shocked when Mikel proposes further violence to obtain a pardon for his father and a condemnation of the enemy who had provoked him. Witnesses agree that the provocation was intolerable. Is there no way to set the matter right either in a court of law or at least in the court of public opinion? The whole civilization has gone quietly insane.
There is one tantalizing reference to historical events that have been skipped over by the narrative. Long ago, desperate times led to the Oceanic Rebellion and to turbulence afterwards. We gather that there will now be turbulence ahead although we are about to learn that the Terrestrial artificial intelligence ensures otherwise. This chapter will mark the recognized end of human autonomy.
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