The Great A.I. Book Hoax: A Philosophical Experiment or Deception?

Mon Dec 22 2025 03:53:11 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A man creates a fake philosopher and a book with A.I., igniting debates on ethics.

Andrea Colamedici's "Hypnocracy," allegedly authored by a made-up philosopher, has sparked controversy for its use of AI in writing. Some view it as a hoax, while others see it as a call to rethink how we engage with technology.

In a bold experiment, Andrea Colamedici, an Italian publisher, crafted an entire book titled "Hypnocracy: Trump, Musk, and the Architecture of Reality," supposedly written by a fictitious philosopher named Jianwei Xun. This book, although created with the help of artificial intelligence, quickly caught attention and spurred a wave of controversy. Critics accused Colamedici of dishonesty and bad ethics, prompting many to question the implications of AI-generated content in our society. Colamedici, however, defends his work as a "philosophical experiment" meant to illustrate how AI can potentially degrade our independent thought processes.

The book contemplates how influential figures manipulate public perception through technology and captivating narratives, leading to a collective trance among the masses— a theme that resonates as the world grapples with the rise of AI in everyday life. Following its Italian release, "Hypnocracy" received coverage from various international media outlets and has been referenced by notable tech figures, sparking ongoing discussions about the intersection of technology, ethics, and reality.