The Gene of AI (AIの遺電子) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kyūri Yamada. It was serialized in Akita Shoten's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Champion from November 2015 to August 2017, with its chapters collected into eight volumes. A sequel manga, AI no Idenshi: Red Queen, was serialized in Bessatsu Shōnen Champion from October 2017 to June 2019, and has been collected into five volumes. A third series, AI no Idenshi: Blue Age, was serialized in Bessatsu Shōnen Champion from July 2020 to October 2024, and has been collected into nine volumes. An anime television series adaptation produced by Madhouse aired from July to September 2023.
Plot
The Gene of AI delves into a futuristic world where humanoids, advanced AI entities with human-like traits, form a notable portion of the population. The tale unfolds around Dr. Hikaru Sudo, a devoted physician specializing in treating these humanoids, who secretly partakes in unauthorized medical practices to alleviate their unique ailments. Known by the pseudonym Moggadeet, his clandestine operations steer him into a life of duality.
As humanoids experience 'illnesses' akin to humans, albeit with divergent treatment approaches, the narrative navigates the murky ethical waters of this human-humanoid coexistence, especially when new, peculiar diseases sprout from this shared living arrangement. Dr. Sudo finds himself at the heart of moral dilemmas, witnessing first-hand the tribulations faced by the AI beings, thus challenging the conventional boundaries of legality and ethics in this advanced yet complex society. Through Dr. Sudo's eyes, the story probes the intertwined destinies of humans and artificial intelligence, painting a compelling portrayal of empathy, understanding, and the quest for coexistence in an evolving world.