Let’s face it, doomscrolling about AI can feel like watching the opening credits of a dystopian movie where humanity has already lost the plot. Are we all about to be outsmarted by machines? Will the singularity be a snooze-fest or a screamer? While Twitter spirals into existential panic and tech bros debate over whose algorithm can ruin the world faster, you deserve a break. A literary break, that is.

Instead of refreshing the news about AI taking your job (or your cat, who knows anymore?), why not explore stories that make you think, laugh, and even feel something about artificial intelligence? Here’s a cheeky list of robot- and AI-themed fiction that gives you more than anxiety—it gives you perspective, wonder, and occasionally a malfunctioning robot bestie.

1. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

For those who prefer their AI stories subtle, soulful, and just a bit heartbreaking.

Ishiguro’s tender tale about an AI companion named Klara is not your typical "robot uprising" blockbuster. Klara watches over her sickly human friend Josie, grappling with questions of love, sacrifice, and what it means to truly understand others. It’s an AI story where the machine has more emotional intelligence than your average doomscroller. Bring tissues—it’s less about circuits and more about hearts.

2. I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

The classic that started it all. Well, sort of.

If you haven’t read I, Robot, you’ve at least seen its DNA in every robot story since the 1950s. Asimov’s collection of stories gives us the legendary Three Laws of Robotics and asks ethical questions that still hold up today. Plus, it’s a lot more fun than that Will Smith movie. Think less action, more brainy debates with surprisingly sassy robots.

3. All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries) by Martha Wells

Anxious about AI? Same. Meet Murderbot.

This novella’s hero is a misanthropic, media-addicted security robot who just wants to binge-watch its favorite shows in peace—and who among us can’t relate? Murderbot’s voice is funny, cynical, and refreshingly honest about how weird humans are. It’s fast-paced and charming, with just enough existential dread to keep things spicy without spiraling you into panic.

4. Neuromancer by William Gibson

For the cyberpunk lovers who wear sunglasses indoors.

Gibson basically invented cyberpunk with this gritty, neon-soaked classic. AI? Check. Hacking? Double-check. A bleak, tech-obsessed future that feels just a little too close for comfort? Oh, you bet. If you want a wild ride through cyberspace with a side of AI conspiracy, Neuromancer is your jam. Just prepare for prose that moves faster than your 5G connection.

5. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

The book behind Blade Runner, but weirder (and with more fake animals).

Forget what you think you know about Blade Runner. Philip K. Dick’s novel takes the story of rogue androids in a post-apocalyptic world and adds layers of moral ambiguity, emotional longing, and bizarre details (fake electric sheep, anyone?). It’s not just about whether androids can pass as human—it’s about whether humans can pass as good. Heavy? A little. Worth it? Absolutely.

6. Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson

If you want robot mayhem and Michael Bay-level energy in book form.

Sometimes, you just need some chaos—and Wilson delivers. This blockbuster-style novel reads like an oral history of humanity’s war against AI after a rogue system goes rogue (obviously). It’s fast, fun, and full of punchy, cinematic moments. Think World War Z, but with homicidal robots.

7. The Lifecycle of Software Objects by Ted Chiang

What if raising AI was like raising kids?

Ted Chiang’s novella explores the emotional and ethical bonds we form with artificial beings as they grow and learn. It’s thoughtful, beautifully written, and avoids easy answers about what AI should be. If you loved Arrival (based on another Chiang story), this one will hit you right in the feels.

8. Artificial Condition (The Murderbot Diaries, Book 2) by Martha Wells

Yes, more Murderbot—because one book isn’t enough.

Did you think we’d stop at one Murderbot recommendation? Artificial Condition is the second book in the series and it takes Murderbot deeper into its quest for independence, identity, and, you know, not having to deal with humans. It’s short, snappy, and proof that robots can have better existential crises than we do.

Stop Scrolling and Start Reading

The world may or may not be on the verge of AI-driven chaos, but worrying about it won’t stop the singularity. These books, on the other hand, will give you a much-needed escape and a little perspective on the humans behind the hype. Whether you’re in the mood for soulful meditations on technology, chaotic robot wars, or snarky security units just trying to get through the day, there’s something here for you.

Close Twitter. Pick up a book. Let the robots in fiction remind you why it’s still pretty great to be human—flaws, feelings, and all.