Eunice is almost here (William Gibson, Agency)

In the alternate San Francisco of 2017, as depicted in William Gibson's science fiction novel Agency, a young woman named Verity is tasked with testing an experimental AI assistant named Eunice. During a conversation, Verity questions the accuracy of Eunice's information. Eunice responds, "This no-name account, in Zurich. Part of me knew it was there, how to get it, how to get it here."

The conversation continues with many more details, but Eunice warns Verity that if she attempts to take further action, they may be in danger.

Verity inquires about Eunice's sources, to which Eunice replies, "Fuck knows." She also mentions starting her activities when they were simply looking out the window. Verity then asks about the term "points," to which Eunice explains it as a frequent flyer concept, indicating a global market for buying or selling. Verity examines the green bag, prompting Eunice to clarify that she has been performing these actions since Verity's activation.

The novel, published nearly three years before the release of ChatGPT and six years before the emergence of current autonomous AI agents, suggests that Gibson accurately foresaw the capabilities of such advanced AI systems. As technology continues to evolve, with models like OpenAI's Dots and Meta's Muse introducing 24/7 agents capable of acting independently and pursuing goals, the envisioned AI from Gibson's Agency appears increasingly close to becoming reality.