ANNIE BOT

At a moment when stories across genres are interrogating how AI and humanity will coexist, Jennifer Jill Araya's performance in this robot-led tale is a standout. Annie is a Cuddle Bunny, a sentient AI in a near-perfect human body designed to meet her owner Doug's every need. But as she reads, learns, and experiences new things, she becomes increasingly aware of her potential for agency, especially in relation to Doug's controlling, abusive behavior. Annie questions how autonomy functions within such a dynamic--and whether autonomy belongs to her at all. Araya's enthralling portrayal of Annie and gruff portrayal of Doug make listeners empathize with the robot and fear the boyfriend. Araya provides a powerful performance about gender dynamics, power, and what it means to be human. A.A.H. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2024]