5 Books Found

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Based on your description:

"Man or woman builds a computer in their home, names it, programs it to complete tasks and think on its own, then worries that it’s out to kill him/her"

August 9, 2026

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Likely answer

Science Fiction Novels About Creating Sentient Computers

David Gerrold's "When Harlie Was One" is the confirmed book matching your query. It follows a psychologist and a computer scientist working with HARLIE (Human Analogous Robot, Life Input Evolver), a sentient artificial intelligence. The story explores the complex relationship between the creators and their machine as it develops its own desires and begins to pose a perceived threat to those who built it.

Confirmed match: When Harlie Was One by David Gerrold