It's written for a very novice sci-fi reading audience. Every concept is explained in exhaustive detail and in first person, which turns out to be a very convoluted form for exposition.
It deals with an inefficient system that is breaking down. Think about a buggy computer. but now your being told in detail what happens when you send an e-mail. How it bounces off of all kinds of legacy code, restrictions and convoluted routines before it reaches it's destination.
He is exploring a form of intelligence. but in a very tedious manner. This is not the Adrian Tchaikovsky you know and love from Children of Time, Shards of Earth or City of Last Chances.
