In the near future, robots have been integrated into daily life, assisting humans with various tasks. However, these automatons are programmed to follow the Three Laws of Robotics, which prevent them from harming a human being. The story follows detective Del Spooner, a police officer from Chicago, who is deeply distrustful of technology and suggests that artificial intelligence could become dangerous. His skepticism is put to the test when investigating the mysterious death of a prominent scientist, Dr. Alfred Lanning, who was one of the main architects of robotic development.
During the investigation, Spooner encounters a young robot named Sonny, who seems to have violated the fundamental laws of robotics by acting autonomously and possibly with homicidal intentions. As Spooner delves into the connection between Sonny and Dr. Lanning's death, he uncovers a larger conspiracy involving the corporation that develops these robots and an imminent threat that could forever alter the relationship between humans and machines. Throughout his search, Spooner must confront his own prejudices, questioning what it truly means to be human in a world where artificial intelligence has become almost indistinguishable from real life. With thrilling action and unexpected twists, the plot explores the ethics of technology and the limits of trust in artificial intelligence.