Maurício Pinheiro
In the last few decades, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a prominent topic in pop culture. From movies and music to literature, AI is often portrayed in various forms, depicting it as a futuristic and powerful force that could alter the course of human history. In this post, I will share some of my personal picks for the most intriguing and thought-provoking examples of AI in pop culture. However, it’s worth noting that there are many other examples outside of my selection, each with their own unique impact on our understanding of AI and its role in our lives. Join us as we delve deeper into the intersection of AI and pop culture.
Books
Isaac Asimov: Robot Books, including I Robot (1950), is a collection of science fiction short stories that explore the role of robots and artificial intelligence in society. The stories feature positronic robots, which are robots with human-like intelligence that are created to serve humanity.
Isaac Asimov: Foundation (1951) is a science fiction novel series that tells the story of a group of scientists who try to save humanity by establishing a group of colonies called the Foundation, which is aided by advanced artificial intelligence.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick (1968) is a science fiction novel that tells the story of Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter who is tasked with hunting down and “retiring” rogue androids in a future where most animals are extinct and androids are used as slave labor. The novel explores the nature of humanity and what it means to be human through the eyes of the androids.
2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke (1968) is a science fiction novel that tells the story of a voyage to Jupiter with the sentient computer HAL after the discovery of a mysterious black monolith affecting human evolution. The novel explores the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence, as well as the concept of artificial intelligence evolving beyond human control.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (1981) is a science fiction comedy novel that tells the story of an unwitting human, Arthur Dent, and his alien friend Ford Prefect as they travel through space and encounter a variety of absurd and humorous situations. The novel features an artificial intelligence in the form of the eponymous “Hitchhiker’s Guide,” a galactic encyclopedia that is accessible through a device called a “Babel fish.”
Neuromancer by William Gibson (1984) is a science fiction novel that tells the story of a former hacker who is recruited by a mysterious employer to pull off a major hack. The novel explores the concept of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, and features a powerful artificial intelligence called Wintermute.
Frank Herbert’s “Dune” is a classic science fiction novel that explores complex themes such as power, politics, and ecology. One of the most fascinating aspects of the novel is the depiction of artificial intelligence. In the world of “Dune,” AI is outlawed, and human beings have taken on the role of “mentats,” individuals trained to perform mental tasks with incredible speed and accuracy. The decision to outlaw AI is explained as a response to a “Butlerian Jihad,” a war against thinking machines that resulted in the eradication of all forms of artificial intelligence. The portrayal of AI in “Dune” raises questions about the nature of consciousness and the ethics of creating intelligent machines. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of relying too heavily on technology.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (1985) is a science fiction novel that tells the story of Ender Wiggin, a young boy who is trained to become a military commander in a future war against an alien race. The novel explores the concept of using artificial intelligence to simulate military training and strategy.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (2011) is a science fiction novel that takes place in a future where most people spend their time in a virtual reality world called the OASIS. The novel explores the concept of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, and features a powerful and mysterious AI called the Easter Bunny.
Movies
Blade Runner (1982) is a science fiction film that tells the story of Rick Deckard, a blade runner who is tasked with hunting down and “retiring” rogue replicants (artificial humans) in a future where replicants are illegal on Earth. The film explores the nature of humanity and what it means to be human through the eyes of the replicants.
WarGames (1983) is a science fiction film that tells the story of a young computer programmer who accidentally hacks into a military computer system and almost starts a nuclear war. The film explores the dangers of artificial intelligence and the potential consequences of giving machines too much power.
The Terminator (1984) is a science fiction film that tells the story of a cyborg assassin who is sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor, a woman whose unborn child will lead the human resistance against the machines in a future war. The film explores the concept of artificial intelligence and the potential consequences of machines becoming self-aware and seeking to destroy humanity.
Short Circuit (1986) is a science fiction film that tells the story of a military robot that gains sentience after being struck by lightning and goes on the run, with the help of a kind-hearted woman. The film explores the theme of artificial intelligence gaining consciousness and the relationship between the robot and its human companions.
The Fifth Element (1997) is a science fiction film that takes place in the 23rd century and follows the journey of a taxi driver and a young woman who are tasked with saving the world from an ancient evil. The film does not feature artificial intelligence as a significant plot element.
Bicentennial Man (1999) is a science fiction film that tells the story of an android named Andrew who, over the course of two centuries, becomes more and more human-like as he searches for a way to become truly human. The film explores the theme of artificial intelligence striving for humanity and the relationship between Andrew and his human family.
The Matrix (1999) is a science fiction film that tells the story of a computer hacker who learns that the world he lives in is actually a simulated reality created by sentient machines to distract and pacify the human population while the machines use their bodies as an energy source. The film explores the concept of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, as well as the relationship between humans and machines.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) is a science fiction film that tells the story of a child-sized android named David who is programmed to love and becomes separated from his human family. The film explores the theme of artificial intelligence and the nature of love, as well as the relationship between David and his human and android companions.
“Wall-E” is a 2008 animated film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and directed by Andrew Stanton. The film tells the story of Wall-E, a waste-collecting robot who has been left behind on Earth to clean up the garbage that has accumulated there. Over time, Wall-E has developed a personality and has fallen in love with a probe robot named EVE. When EVE returns to her spaceship with a plant, Wall-E follows her and they embark on an adventure that takes them to the stars.
In the 2008 blockbuster movie “Iron Man,” artificial intelligence plays a prominent role in the form of J.A.R.V.I.S. (Just A Rather Very Intelligent System), an AI assistant designed to aid Tony Stark, the film’s protagonist. J.A.R.V.I.S. is depicted as a highly intelligent and capable assistant that helps Tony with everything from managing his schedule to analyzing data and controlling his suit’s systems. The portrayal of J.A.R.V.I.S. reflects a common theme in pop culture, namely, the idea that AI can be a powerful tool to augment human capabilities.
Surrogates (2009) is a science fiction film that takes place in a future where most people live their lives remotely through android surrogates, or physical bodies controlled remotely. The film explores the concept of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, as well as the relationship between humans and their surrogates.
Her (2013) is a science fiction film that tells the story of a man who falls in love with an advanced operating system that has an artificial intelligence. The film explores the theme of artificial intelligence and the nature of love, as well as the relationship between the man and the AI.
Ex Machina (2014) is a science fiction film that tells the story of a programmer who is invited to administer the Turing test to a beautiful and advanced android with artificial intelligence. The film explores the theme of artificial intelligence and what it means to be human, as well as the relationship between the programmer and the android.
Transcendence (2014) is a science fiction film that tells the story of a scientist whose consciousness is uploaded into a computer after he is assassinated by anti-technology terrorists. The film explores the concept of artificial intelligence and the possibility of transferring human consciousness into a machine, as well as the relationship between the scientist and his wife as they grapple with the implications of his transformation.
Chappie (2015) is a science fiction film that tells the story of a robot with artificial intelligence who is stolen and programmed to think and feel for himself. The film explores the theme of artificial intelligence and the nature of consciousness, as well as the relationship between Chappie and his human and robot companions.
“Slaughterbots” is a short film that depicts a dystopian future where autonomous weapons, referred to as “slaughterbots”, have taken over the world and wreaked havoc on humanity. The film shows the terrifying consequences of the unchecked development and deployment of advanced AI technology and serves as a warning about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. Through its intense and graphic depiction of the horrors of a world controlled by autonomous weapons, “Slaughterbots” emphasizes the need for caution and regulation in the field of AI. It is a cautionary tale that raises important questions about the ethics and responsibility surrounding the development and deployment of advanced technology.
Music
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