The sci-fi genre of movies has been ahead of its time for its whole existence. Do you know that Bluetooth headset you use daily for those important phone calls? Yep, Uhura did it first. Sliding doors? Siri? Yeah, those were also Star Trek.
So when you are thinking about specific technologies like artificial intelligence, it should come as no surprise that science fiction films and shows have been doing it forever.
In fact, in what is considered one of the first science fiction movies ever, 1927's "Metropolis," features an AI-enabled character that was fully autonomous and carried out her creator's wishes.
In early movies, AI was a danger.
However, recently, technology has become both a positive force in actual movie scripts and a tool used by film creators. Here are examples of each.
Artificial Intelligence in movies - Iron Man (2008) and beyond: Long before we knew the character of Vision as a muscled-up deep purple version of Paul Bettany, he made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as the J.A.R.V.I.S., the artificial intelligence serving as Tony Stark and Iron Man's peppy and snarky sidekick.
J.A.R.V.I.S. wouldn't think twice about responding to Stark's commands, especially if it meant "accidentally" sending Iron Man crashing through a window. Stark heavily relies on him throughout the MCU's run, which seemed like it lasted 123 years, didn't it?
J.A.R.V.I.S. is a classic example of an artificial intelligence presence with a positive impact on the movie's plot.
Artificial Intelligence in Movies - Her (2013): Nothing like a little bit of love between man and artificial intelligence, huh? This movie put that on display, both confirming skeptical people's suspicions that this will be part of the future and hopeful people's excitement at AI's possibility.
The film explores the concept of a romantic relationship between a man and Scarlett Johansson, I mean Samantha, an operating system with advanced AI.
The portrayal of Samantha's ability to learn, adapt, and develop emotions raises questions about the nature of consciousness and artificial intelligence.
Are you here for it or nahhh?
Artificial Intelligence in Movies - Blade Runner 2049 (2017): Should artificial intelligence-embedded humanoids be considered truly alive? The Ryan Gosling version of the sci-fi classic features highly realistic humanoid replicants, and bioengineered beings used for labor.
So, OK, maybe not all of the examples on this list are necessarily positive although, in this instance, they are being helpful, right?
This movie thoughtfully explores the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI and questions whether replicants are living beings.
Artificial Intelligence in Movies - The Jungle Book (2016): Let's look at movies that have used AI in production, in this modern interpretation of Rudyard Kipling's classic tale of a boy raised in the jungle by his animal buddies.
Now, the live-action remake features real animals in some scenes, to be clear. However, photorealistic CGI brought many of the characters to life.
AI was instrumental in believably animating these creatures, from fur texture movement to emotional expressions.
I think they nailed it.
Artificial Intelligence in Movies - Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015): Similar to The Jungle Book, this film heavily relied on AI for complex character animation.
In this case, particularly with the creation of BB-8, the spherical droid moved with fluid autonomy thanks to advanced animation techniques.
Did you think I was going to mention Jar Jar Binks? NO, WE DON'T TALK ABOUT HIM!
