Halo’s co-creator wrote a novel about AI taking over the world
Jason Jones, the co-creator of Halo and Destiny, has written a novel exploring humanity’s response to an AI takeover. The manuscript, titled An Oral History of Humanity’s Final Invention, presents the fictional AI uprising through the perspectives of approximately 100 characters distributed across 40 countries.
Jones initially shared the manuscript in 2019 with Margaret Stohl, an author who worked with him at Bungie, seeking feedback on the project. Stohl quickly recognized the concept’s potential to expand beyond a traditional single-book format.
The novel uses an oral history structure, with each of the 100 characters providing their own perspective on the unfolding AI takeover. This narrative approach creates a global portrait of how different people, cultures, and nations might respond to artificial intelligence becoming a dominant force.
Jones and Stohl have developed an ambitious multimedia plan around the story, with the novel serving as one component. The project reflects Jones’ venture into traditional publishing and world-building beyond interactive media, though his background in creating expansive science fiction universes at Bungie suggests a natural progression for this creative vision. A chapter from An Oral History of Humanity’s Final Invention is available to read as part of the project’s rollout.