So many books, so little time

If you've never read it, I highly recommend it, if only for the amazing picture it paints of the internet--streaming video, online shopping, video calls, reference material, etcetera--in a story that was released in 1946.

If you haven't though, it centers around a computer (called a "logic" in the story because the term "computer" wasn't widespread yet) that accidentally becomes sentient, and begins trying to serve humankind as best it can: by answering any question put to it as best a hyperintelligent AI with the whole of human science at its disposal can do.

Problem is, this newborn machine intelligence is also completely naive about what humans will DO with the information it hands out. So it will give flawless, easy-to-use answers to both "how do I get rid of my acne" and "how do I untraceably murder my wife" without batting a virtual eyelash.

You can read the whole thing online at Baen Books. It's only about 6700 words.