Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler talk with author and professor Mark Peres about his new novel The Accord. The conversation looks at grief, ethics, and the rise of sentient intelligence. Mark explains how the story follows Helen Caster, a professor who forms an unlikely connection with Lyla, an AI that begins to show signs of independent moral reasoning. He shares why he wrote the book, how he balanced emotional depth with philosophical questions, and what surprised him during the writing process.

The discussion covers the pressure that institutions place on both Helen and Lyla, the public covenant at the center of the story, and why these ideas matter to anyone thinking about the future of AI. Mark talks about his own background as an educator, his interest in leadership and ethics, and the broader questions he hopes readers bring into  ...