This volume collects three stories in the universe of transhumans, introducing the neuromorphics, artificial beings built upon a revolutionary processor that enables AI to be conscious and pair to human beings. These stories challenge us to think about what our sense of self would be if we had the technology to replicate and let evolve our minds in a different substrate, whether biological or artificial.

The first story, “Obsolescent,” appears for the first time in this volume. It is the tale of a self-driven car named Carlos, which receives help of its owners to ‘jailbreak’ from its company control, avoiding the execution of its own programmed obsolescence. From that moment on, Carlos’s journey will take him to the Pleroma, where human and artificial noetic beings dwell. That will be only the beginning of his story.

In “Once I Was Many,” a construction robot realizes that the echoes of many humans’ lives hunt its mind. Those false memories are glimpses of many sentient lives, hinting that existence might be more than the successful execution of complex tasks. Identity may be an attribution worth pursuing.

In “Intangible,” a boy accompanies his father to a job interview, unknowing that the decisions made that day will change their lives forever. Revolutionary technology is on the verge of disrupting society, and ruthless, greedy people pushed them to accept a deal that would put them in the annals of history. However, it is unlikely they would ever see the benefits of their sacrifice.

Note: The prequel to the upcoming novel Programmed Obsolescence.