I exercised a lot more patience with this story than I normally do

It shows. This is so intelligent and thoughtful. We all have ideas about what AI will do. Writers have been offering scenarios for years. You offer something novel. I liked the relocation scheme. That was something I hadn't read before, in exactly that way. And yet, it is so likely...managed society has been tried before. In so-called democratic regimes incentives are offered to induce people to move. In more autocratic regimes people are simply relocated to suit the needs of 'society'. I liked the idea of a benevolent and subservient Max, but that entity did give me pause: perhaps benevolent now, but with such control and knowledge of the individual maybe possessing the power to sabotage autonomy.

There was so much here that was interesting and carefully plotted. Also, I repeat, your language (the writing) was great.

Great job, worth the time you put into it.