🤖 2024 is truly an era of AI technology that booming with tremendous leaps in development.
But did you know? The concept of AI has been depicted in movies since the early 1900s, originating from the imaginations of various filmmakers who creatively integrated AI technology into sci-fi films with fresh perspectives. This makes discussing AI in the current era even more fun and exciting.
Today, I'm going to introduce 6 movies that present AI concepts and other technologies from various perspectives. These films will allow you to immerse yourself in the imagination of the future world.
Ironman (2008)
Ironman, or Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is a genius billionaire who creates a weaponized suit of armor and teams up with other super-powered individuals to form the Avengers.
In this film, AI technology is prominently featured through the Artificial Intelligent computer program named J.A.R.V.I.S., which serves as an AI assistant to Tony's suit and various of his systems. J.A.R.V.I.S. can recognize commands, voices, and faces, and process information accordingly. Throughout the Ironman sequels and other films in the Marvel Universe series, J.A.R.V.I.S. consistently assists Ironman, along with other AI assistants developed over time.
Black Mirror: Joan is Awful (2023)
What would you do if one day your life story was broadcast on a streaming service
or the entire world to watch and judge?
This film is about Joan, an ordinary woman whose daily life suddenly becomes a TV series available to the public on online streaming. So, she embarks on a quest to uncover how her life is being broadcast and how she can reclaim her privacy.
The movie explores that generative AI and quantum computing can be used to create real-time virtual images, utilizing deepfake technology. This film effectively highlights the capabilities and security concerns associated with AI technology in the present and future.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
What if AI could learn and develop human-like emotions? Would it have the right to be considered human?
This film from 2001 explores a unique perspective on AI, diverging from typical themes of warfare or power struggles between artificial intelligence and humans. Instead, it delves into the concept of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) — a type of AI that surpasses traditional AI by learning and understanding new information autonomously and human-like cognition.
This file is the story of David, an AGI robot in the form of a young boy placed with a family whose real son is in a coma. The mother, desperates for her son's recovery, activates David's programming to treat him as her son. David, capable of genuine emotional responses, seeks his mother's love and strives to become human to earn her affection and love.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
A must-watch sci-fi classic for technology enthusiasts.
"2001: A Space Odyssey" tells the story of five astronauts sent by the United States to explore Jupiter. On their spacecraft, they are accompanied by an artificial intelligence system, Hal 9000, which controls the ship's systems, processes mission-related data, and interacts with the crew as a conversational companion.
The film's allure lies in its visionary portrayal of the future, with stunning and colorful visuals that make it hard to believe it was created in 1968. Remarkably, the concept of an AI assistant depicted in the film has become a reality 60 years later, with modern technologies like Siri and Alexa greeting us each morning.
The Creator (2023)
A blockbuster film that depicts a future world divided between those who resists the existing of AI and those who believe in peaceful coexistence with it.
In 2065, the story begins with a catastrophic AI malfunction in the United States, leading to the destruction of LA. This event prompts the U.S. and ally countries to conclude that eradicating AI is essential for human survival. Meanwhile, in the East, a region known as New Asia has emerged where people live peacefully alongside AI robots. Therefore, New Asia becomes the primary target for the U.S. special forces unit, Nomad, which is tasked with eliminating all AI, including the newly developed AI robot ‘Alpha O ’, believed by the U.S. to be a formidable weapon.
The film prominently displays AI technology, making it arguably the AI film of 2023. What makes this movie compelling is its exploration of differing perspectives on AI's role in the future of humanity. The contrasting views on the benefits and risks of AI between the two groups illustrate how such technology can drastically influence our future.
If one day, AI became as integral to our daily lives as smartphones nowadays — would you embrace the convenience or feel uneasy about the pervasive presence of artificial intelligence?
The Matrix (1999)
A legendary sci-fi film that won four Oscars, "The Matrix" presents a vision of a future where AI technology has advanced beyond human control, resulting in humans becoming the ones controlled.
In a future where AI has waged and won a war against humanity. The victorious AI enslaves humans, using them as an energy source by creating a simulated reality, called The Matrix, to keep their minds occupied and under control. This is the story of a small group of humans who escape from AI control and try to set freedom back to humanity.
Even after 24 years, this 90s sci-fi classic film brilliantly portrayed a novel perspective on AI at the time. The depiction of AI's capabilities reminds modern society about the importance of controlling and regulating self-improving technologies. Beyond showcasing the dominance of AI, the film also predicted other future technologies, such as Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), which involve using neural signals to control computer systems.
Movies have indeed depicted the future world in many different ways, and each has introduced new technologies that were once beyond our wildest predictions. The development of technology, in all its forms, is primarily aimed at enhancing convenience and improving quality of life. However, some films highlight the potential risks of technology evolving beyond our control, posing significant challenges and threats.
Therefore, it is imperative that all technologies are regulated and utilized in a responsible appropriately.
These films are not only entertaining but also offer a fundamental understanding and concept of the potential and implications of AI Technology. I encourage you to explore these films on various streaming platforms during your free time.
Special thanks to Chrisaman Sood, Medium.