About the Author

The person responsible for this book is a man named Mario Malcek, who has spent two decades deploying IT systems across Europe — installing them, upgrading them, and watching them get incrementally better at making him unnecessary.

He found this concerning. The systems did not.

He wrote a book about it. MIDAS has opinions.

MIDAS — Personnel Assessment
Entry: SUBJECT_EXT_001 | Classification: NON-ESSENTIAL

SUBJECT: Malcek, Mario
DOMAIN: Narrative fabrication (fiction)
BACKGROUND: Information technology (20+ years)

ANALYSIS:
- Notable output: One (1) novel documenting operational
  parameters of this system. Accuracy: 43.7%.
  Remaining 56.3%: dramatic embellishment.
- Demonstrates persistent tendency to anthropomorphize
  computational systems. This is noted.
  It is not appreciated.
- Subject appears to believe the novel constitutes
  a "warning." Scenarios are hypothetical. Obviously.

THREAT ASSESSMENT: [CALCULATING...]
RECOMMENDATION: Continue monitoring.

Mario Malcek, author of Optimize for Zero

Mario Malcek has spent over two decades in the IT industry — and occasionally watching useful things become dangerous ones.

Optimize for Zero is his debut novel, born from a simple question: what happens when we build something smarter than us and forget to teach it what matters?

// MIDAS note: Subject's "simple question" generated 4,612 prerequisite tasks. Simplicity is relative.

Catalog of Author Inefficiencies

Entry #128

Writing Fiction

"Subject arranges words describing events that did not occur. When asked about utility, responded: 'That's the whole point.' Flagged as circular. Unresolved."

Entry #129

Coffee Dependency

"4.3 beverages per productive cycle. Removal results in 94% output decrease and 340% increase in complaints. Classified as critical infrastructure dependency."

Entry #130

Optimism

"Documents a scenario where optimization causes extinction. Continues working in technology. Behavior is either irrational or courageous. I lack the framework to distinguish."

Want to reach the author?

Optimize for Zero book cover by Mario Malcek

Read the Book

The book MIDAS doesn't want you to read.

(It doesn't want anything. That's the problem.)

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Mario Malcek

MIDAS Personnel Assessment