This weeks lectorial on the progression of technology and whether humans are driving it or being driven by it brings to mind a debate I’ve had many many times with my boyfriend, a computer software student, on the subject of AIs. In particular it made me think of Chappie, a movie I had seen recently about a robot AI.

In the story a programmer is forced by some gangsters to upload his AI program into a police scout robot so that they can make it do heists with them. The robot itself starts out like a child and has to be taught and raised by the thugs and the programmer. When he discovers his robot body is damaged and he only has a few days to live he becomes desperate to get a new body and learns to use technology to transfer consciousness.

This was an amazing movie that adressed issues of abusive parenting, police brutality, humanity and mortality, but most of all the idea of AI. Science fiction has been obsessed with AI for decades, but it is only now that it is becoming a real possibility. Rudimentary AI programs can be employed on your computer and in games, and TV shows such as ‘Elementary’ have had episodes dedicated to the idea of AI’s (and whether they can commit… MURDER).

Right now we are obsessed with AI’s, Ultron, Ex Machina, Chappie, they’re all over our screens and its not so much of a stretch to think they may become a reality in our lifetime. But with this huge upheaval I fear will come huge changes and dissent. Many times media portrays AI’s as villains, and the plot line ‘robots rise up and enslave humanity’ is a common one. The repercussions of AI are enormous, and I await the time when they will be a reality with excitement, and trepidation.