The Gene of AI

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 shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Champion from November 2015 to August 2017, with its chapters collected into eight tankōbon 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, has been serialized in Bessatsu Shōnen Champion since July 2020, and has been collected into six volumes as of June 2023. 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.

Characters

 * Hikaru Sudō (須堂 光)


 * Risa Higuchi (樋口 リサ)


 * Jay (ジェイ)


 * Kaoru (カオル)

Manga
Written and illustrated by Kyūri Yamada, The Gene of AI was serialized in Akita Shoten's Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine from November 5, 2015, to August 24, 2017. It has been collected into eight tankōbon volumes, published from April 2016 to November 2017. A sequel manga, titled AI no Idenshi: Red Queen (AIの遺電子 RED QUEEN), was serialized in Bessatsu Shōnen Champion from October 12, 2017, to June 12, 2019. Five tankōbon volumes have been published from April 2018 to August 2019. A third series, titled AI no Idenshi: Blue Age (AIの遺電子 Blue Age), began serialization in Bessatsu Shōnen Champion on July 10, 2020. As of November 2023, seven tankōbon volumes have been released.

Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on December 8, 2022. It is produced by Madhouse and directed by Yuzo Sato, with scripts written by Ryunosuke Kingetsu, character designs handled by Kei Tsuchiya, who also serves as chief animation director, and music composed by Takashi Ohmama and Natsumi Tabuchi. The series aired from July 8 to September 30, 2023, on the Animeism programming block on MBS and other affiliates. The opening theme song is "No Frontier" by Aile The Shota, while the ending theme song is "Wasurenagusa" (勿忘草) by Greeeen. Crunchyroll licensed the series outside East Asia. Muse Communication has licensed the series in Southeast Asia.

Reception
The Gene of AI was ranked 14th in the 2017 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of top manga for male readers. In 2018, the series won the Excellence Award in the manga division of the 21st Japan Media Arts Festival Awards.