KQED's Forum Night of Ideas: Author Laila Lalami on her Dystopian 'Dream Hotel'
May 2, 2025
Laila Lalami, celebrated author of 'The Dream Hotel' and five other novels, dives into a chilling future where AI surveils our dreams to predict criminal behavior. She discusses the unsettling implications of government monitoring and how technology reshapes personal privacy and identity. Through the story of a mother ensnared in a web of data collection, Lalami sheds light on societal fears around safety versus autonomy. The conversation also touches on the emotional toll of constant scrutiny, emphasizing resilience and the human spirit amid dystopian realities.
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Surveillance Creeps In Gradually
- Global surveillance evolved slowly and became so pervasive we barely noticed.
- We sacrifice privacy step by step until we live in a near total surveillance state.
Data Tracking Revealed by Morning Alert
- Laila Lalami woke up to a Google notification predicting her location and appointment time, revealing invasive data tracking.
- This moment sparked her idea that soon even dreams could be surveilled by AI.
Algorithms Assess Crime Risk Broadly
- Risk assessment algorithms use multiple factors like race, income, and social media to predict crime likelihood.
- In the novel, these algorithms also incorporate dream data as part of their assessments.
