Very interesting read about responsibility in the age of tech, especially advanced AI systems like self-driving cars. The book really shows how tech and the consequent responsibilities permeate almost every aspect of modern life. Although the AI commentary was sometimes too on the nose
(more telling than showing), overall the book had a good balance of this commentary and an interesting plot. It wasn't just about technology, but also human psychology and how the two are intertwined.

I loved the epigraphs (?) that preceded the chapters with a variety of formats including excerpts from a character’s book, chatbot logs, and even a research paper!! Overall a very well written, sociopolitically relevant, and unique book, and I felt it stayed true to the technical details as well as the Maryland/Virginia setting :)

So this is the first book I've read about self driving cars and possibility not the last. Bruce Holsinger's book opens with the Cassidy-Shaw family "driving" an autonomous minivan whilst all of them are on their devices. An accident happens. Who's to blame?
Holsinger's book explores the dilemma of ethics in AI.

In this age, noone can afford to be ignorant about AI and its ethical implications so this is a nice romp through that hinterland. I did lose interest on occasion, for instance I still have no idea who the child Alice was texting and the NetGalley reader is a bit glitchy (obviously, it's not possible to read a book about tech on NetGalley's new tech) so it spins out of control every so often and you cannot reclaim your place.

The narrator is an interesting choice. Noah is a so-so lawyer surrounded by much more impressive women but he's not bitter about it although he does occasionally show neanderthal tendencies, perving at the kids in swimgear, wanting to bang his wife at the slightest provocation.

We have a somewhat blurred version of Elon Musk popping up too , as their next door neighbor in their holiday villa.

Some readers described this as overwritten, I wouldn't agree with that. Bruce Holsinger clearly has an academic leaning but if anything, it added to the book's credibility.

Overall, quite a compulsive read even though I lost interest some way through.

I'm still on the fence about how I feel regarding AI. Sometimes I'm in awe and others I am disinterested. This title was a refreshing read about the subject, but had a powerful mix of family characters. The dynamics and secrets of each member held my interest. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I found Culpability to be an interesting read, and overall, I’d give it 3.5 stars. There were many aspects of the book that I enjoyed. The exploration of ethics and morality is always a topic that grabs my attention, and I think this book did a great job raising thought-provoking ethical questions. The events in the story kept me hooked, and I ended up finishing it in just two sittings (though it would have been one if not for my class).

As someone who's fascinated by AI and the limitless possibilities of artificial intelligence, I particularly enjoyed that element of the book. It felt very timely and relevant, and I appreciated how the author integrated these concepts into the story.

That being said, there were a few things that didn’t quite work for me. At times, the writing felt a bit choppy—some ideas were over-explained while others could have been developed more. While the prose did keep me engaged, I was left wanting a bit more depth by the end of the book.

If you're at all interested in AI, the future of technology, or the moral implications surrounding it, I’d definitely recommend giving this a read.

Big moral questions, overwritten prose, and just enough intrigue to keep me engaged. The premise of Culpability is compelling: A self-driving car accident, a fractured family, the creeping unease of living in a world increasingly run by AI. Holsinger sets up an interesting contrast -- familiar family drama playing out against the backdrop of rapidly evolving technology, begging the question: How much responsibility do human beings bear when we cede our control over to algorithms.

Unfortunately, the novel doesn't quite stick the landing. While the ethical dilemmas are timely and thought-provoking, the writing feels overwrought, like every sentence was run through thesaurus dot com (honestly, some of it gave the energy of chatgpt). Instead of letting the story do the work, the prose tries too hard. And while there are some interesting moments of tension, Culpability dodges the most interesting question at its core: are we still accountable for tragedies when we've outsourced our decision-making to machines?

A decent read, but could have gone deeper.

Thank you to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for the advance copy