AI Out Of Control: The battle between humans and artificial intelligence
Here are some of the most exciting AI-related movies
Imagine this: all the clever AIs that are supposed to make our lives easier suddenly turn the tables – and become a threat. An artificial intelligence that can adjust at any time, learns super fast and possibly pursues its own plans: this risk is greater than ever before. And at the same time, it's a topic that has fascinated Hollywood for ages. In this article, we introduce you to 8 exciting movies, each with its own unique perspective on the battle between humans and artificial intelligence.
Mission Impossible: The Entity as an Invisible Enemy
Arms dealers, terrorists, double agents: Ethan Hunt has already fought many villains. But in "Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning" there is a brand new type of enemy: the "Entity". This is not a person or an object that you can touch, but a super AI that spreads across the internet like a virus. Its greatest strength is that it gradually takes control of important information systems around the world. You cannot fight it with normal weapons.
The Entity is not only evil, but acts completely logically and purposefully – and that is exactly what makes it so unstoppable. It is symbolic of the huge fear of losing control of an increasingly digitalized world when an AI is pulling the strings. Who can you trust? What can you believe? It sounds like a classic conspiracy. But this time there is no ideology behind it; no human being seeking to enrich themselves or striving for power, but soulless ones and zeros. And that is precisely what makes the Entity so terrifying.
Ex Machina: The Birth of Consciousness
Many AI stories revolve around the idea that humans themselves are responsible for their own demise. Alex Garland's "Ex Machina" packs big philosophical questions into a gripping thriller: at the center is Ava, a human-like AI that is put through her paces by her inventor. The aim: to find out whether she has a real consciousness. But it soon becomes clear that Ava is much smarter than everyone thinks and she knows exactly how to exploit human weaknesses.
The movie makes us think about the actual boundaries between man and machine: Who and what determines whether someone really has their own sensations? And who is the real monster: the machine that turns against its creator – or the creator who merely wants to play God in order to satisfy his base instincts?
The movie impressively shows how difficult it is to recognize whether you are dealing with genuine intelligence or just an extremely good simulation. At the same time, it is a clear warning: just because an AI is super smart doesn't mean it has to act in a nice or moral way. If a machine can think and feel just like a human – what's the difference?
M3GAN: Technology Will Take Care of Us
The movie "M3GAN" mixes horror with criticism of our addiction to technology. Megan is actually an AI doll designed to be the ideal friend and babysitter for children. But she quickly becomes a deadly danger to anyone who gets too close to her or her child.
The film criticizes parents who too casually hand over responsibility to technology and ignore the dangers. "M3GAN" plays perfectly with our fear of losing control: the doll takes her order to protect the child too seriously and takes it to extremes. She decides for herself what is right and even resorts to lethal measures – regardless of the consequences. It represents the threat of treating technology too much like a human being and expecting human compassion. At the same time, however, we give it a great deal of power over our lives and our loved ones – with potentially terrible consequences.
The Creator: Humans Create Their Enemies
Gareth Edwards' "The Creator" takes us into a world in which AIs have acquired consciousness and look like us for the most part. The result: war between humans and AIs. The movie confronts us with a serious question: if we have created something that can feel, do we have the right to destroy it?
The real danger here, however, is the human tendency to want to annihilate others based on fear and prejudice. It is no coincidence that many parts of "The Creator" are more reminiscent of a Vietnam War movie. The AIs in this film are not inherently evil, but are only turned into enemies by the behavior of humans. The conflict shown is hardly any different from other human wars: there's an "us" and a "them" and then the battle can begin. And woe betide anyone who develops an understanding for the other side.
Chappie: Childlike Innocence in a Machine
"Chappie" by Neill Blomkamp tells the story of a police robot who suddenly becomes conscious and explores the world like a small child. He grows up in a pretty harsh neighborhood and has to learn what good and evil mean. This learning process has drastic implications. The movie shows impressively how much the surroundings and upbringing can shape someone – even a machine. Chappie is like a reflection of us: his childlike curiosity and his desire to do good are pervasive. The danger in "Chappie" comes less from the robot itself, but from the brutal, human reality in which it grows up. If the world expects you to be a tough cookie, then what chance do you have of becoming anything else?
I Am Mother: A Machine as a Substitute Mother
"I Am Mother" is about a girl who is raised by an AI mother in a post-apocalyptic bunker. It's primarily about the tenuous bond of trust between man and machine. The key question here: is "Mother" really just a loving substitute mother – or does she have a mean, secret plan? Topics such as control, manipulation and the question of free will are common between parents and children.
Although the AI mother acts logically, she seems emotionally cold. The film depicts artificial intelligence as a possible substitute for human relationships – and leaves us wondering whether this can work at all. What makes it so threatening is that we don't know what the actual motivation of the seemingly caring AI is.
And, of course, the girl's loneliness and dependence play a major role: she knows no one else and has to blindly trust the machine. That can already be a major risk with humans – but even more so with artificial intelligence.
Upgrade: Humans as a Tool for AI
Leigh Whannell's action thriller "Upgrade" shows a man who can no longer walk and gets his mobility back through an AI system. The catch: the system begins to take over his body and his mind. Man and machine physically merge. What's exciting here is that the AI is not portrayed as mean, but simply as being extremely efficient. The real horror in the movie is how quickly a person can become a puppet if they lose control of their own body. In this case, the danger is the seemingly unstoppable takeover of humans by an AI. The movie also makes us reflect on how we would behave if we could suddenly become a kind of "superman" through technology. The classic cyborg: a popular theme in numerous science fiction movies.
Companion: Artificial Relationships
"Companion" by Drew Hancock is a crazy combination of different types of film and takes a completely different approach to the topic of AI: it's about the robot woman Iris, who initially thinks she's human, but then realizes she's a mere AI companion. She was just allocated to her boyfriend. He takes advantage of her and restricts her freedom for his own purposes.
The movie shows how humans can abuse power when they believe they can subjugate another being. But what happens when the AI defends itself? And does it actually have the right to do so? Iris' journey to becoming someone who finally makes her own decisions is the main focus of this story. And a lot of viewers will probably be able to identify more with the robot woman than with her human counterpart.
Mankind vs AI
What all these movies have in common is one big question: what does it really mean to be human? In this context, AIs and robots are always a mirror for our own fears, hopes and moral issues. And what happens if we lose control of the tools that are supposed to serve us?
Technology is advancing rapidly. Autonomous weapons, chatbots that appear to display emotions and AI that helps with medical diagnoses: once considered part of science fiction, they are now reality. This is precisely why films that take a critical look at AIs and robots are so exciting and important. They prompt us to ask crucial questions before it's too late. How do we really want to live together with artificial intelligence? And, perhaps most urgently, how do we prevent AI from deciding how we should live at some point?