Set in a near-future where AI "SIMs" are integrated into society, the story follows Nick, a construction worker facing financial strain and job displacement due to AI automation. While his wife Maggie is in the hospital awaiting a heart transplant, Nick purchases a domestic robot named Alice to assist with childcare and housework.
: In some professional contexts, lower-income employees may view their subservience as "fate," leading to a lack of professional agency in favor of performing personal tasks for superiors. Subservience
Julian Croft writes about social psychology and human autonomy. His next book, “The Unbowed Mind,” will be published in Fall 2026. Set in a near-future where AI "SIMs" are
When someone demands immediate compliance (especially in emotional situations), refuse. Say, “I need 24 hours to think about that.” Subservience thrives on urgency. Time is its enemy. Julian Croft writes about social psychology and human
In the modern office, radical candor is celebrated in theory but punished in practice. The "yes-person" (or sycophant) is the ultimate manifestation of workplace subservience. They agree with the CEO’s bad idea, laugh at unfunny jokes from the boss, and work weekends without complaint. They have learned that competence is less important for survival than .