Will artificial intelligence take over the world? Maybe it already is! Oddly enough, I can’t help but imagine AI as robots in some sort of unknown void, running the chat engines that (perhaps too many) people rely on for information or entertainment. The sci-fi part of me keeps thinking about T-800s and Skynet; it’s why I always try to say “please” and “thank you” whenever I use AI chatbots for brainstorming and basic research. Hopefully I’ll stay on their good side if robots do have hostile plans to seize our planet!
Hyperbole aside, since we are in a new year, it does feel like we’re one step closer towards AI becoming even more ubiquitous than it already is. If you search on YouTube for “deepfakes before vs now,” you’ll see a bunch of clips on how realistic it’s been getting within a span of a few short years. The hardest punch to the gut was when a friend informed me that em dashes are becoming synonymous with the use of AI. As an em dash fanatic, I can assure you that this post wasn’t composed by AI — even if I pump out em dashes every other sentence. Let’s take a look at robots in popular culture, some of whom may or may not be powered by AI, and determine whether they’re friends or foes!
Ready to cry? WALL-E (2008) is a timeless masterpiece in children’s animation — but with a message so powerfully resonant that it’ll have more mature audiences pondering about how a film from 2008 might still be so applicable to us almost 18 years later. Thematically, WALL-E is about environmentalism and technology. And it’s true: We’ve become dependent on technology, and I think the discourse around AI and how it affects our lives is an interesting conversation to have. Will the movie be a cautionary tale that’ll have you distancing yourself from AI?
But if you’re not in it for this discourse, WALL-E is still pure family fun that features adorable characters that you’ll still likely see at LEGO Stores across the GTA. And how could you not fall in love with WALL-E and EVE?
If you grew up with Dragon Ball Z, then the Dragon Ball Super series will rekindle your childhood nostalgia. Spoiler alert: OG fans will likely be happy to see the return of Android 17, who has his redemption arc in Super. A villainous android turned animal-loving park ranger? Believe it! I have a vivid memory from when I was younger that involved me playing Dragon Ball Z: Budokai and spamming ki blasts with 17. “Eat this” will forever be etched into my brain. Definitely check out the more recent Dragon Ball games as well, because there’s no shortage of flashy fights whether you’re a veteran fan or newer Saiyan! Xenoverse 2, for example, has a lot of flashbacks to older episodes while also offering newer content — there’s still DLCs being released to this day!
Similar to Chucky but with more tech- and AI-related themes, M3GAN (2022) is the embodiment of AI fears but on full throttle. What’s supposed to be a child’s friendly companion takes a sinister turn when M3GAN takes on her role as Cady’s protector in an intense and violent manner, almost obsessively. With Cady forging a seemingly unbreakable bond with this life-sized robotic doll, this film illustrates an admonition against the relationships between AI and humans.
Bender is the insult-hurling, alcohol-drinking, and not-so-good role model of Futurama — but he is one entertaining hedonist! While he isn’t the sole main protagonist, Futurama without Bender would almost be like South Park without Eric Cartman. (Having a prominent anti-hero in these types of animated shows is what cranks the entertainment dial up to 11.) Can you imagine an AI-driven robot who smokes cigars and uses foul language? If real-life AI was ever headed in this direction, then it’ll certainly be an interesting sight to behold.
It should be mandatory for the Terminator theme (dun-dun, dun, dun-dun!) to play every time somebody brings up the franchise. Terminator: Dark Fate is familiar fun; featuring Arnold Schwarzeneggar and Linda Hamilton, who have respectively reprised their roles as the T-800 and Sarah Connor, Dark Fate shows the more human side of the iconic Schwarzeneggar Terminator while Connor’s grief turns her into a robot-hunting machine (figuratively, not literally).
Patrol the streets of Old Detroit as one of the most iconic robotic-humanoid figures in popular culture, as you look to stop crime by either taking a robotic by-the-book approach or a more empathetic one. RoboCop: Rogue City is a first-person action game that brings back some recognizable cast members from the original RoboCop (1987) film. It’s such a simple yet satisfying game that features thought-provoking situations; for example, a concerned mother reports to you that her 24-year-old son has been missing for two days. Do you uphold the law and tell her to come back after 24 hours since the law (in the game of course, not real life) dictates that adults aren’t deemed missing until after 72 hours, or do you take an empathetic approach and help with the mother’s request? The skill tree is a lot of fun to navigate as well, as it’ll alter your stats and weapon to change the gameplay experience. Put on your helmet and let’s get to work!
Originally a game, Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023) is a film for fans of the series to indulge in. It has cameos featuring well-known internet personalities and content creators, in addition to character designs that are faithful to the original video games. Admittedly, I didn’t find the movie too engrossing, as the target audience was likely for those who already have an established zeal for the franchise, although I was more of a casual who only watched a few YouTube videos about the original game back in 2014. I think that playing the games would be an interestingly immersive experience, including the first four games that are largely point-and-clickers with a viscerally unnerving atmosphere. If you don’t want to fear animatronics, steer clear!
I used to see Astro Bot as one of those free trial applications that you’d use after purchasing a PlayStation console to test out the new controllers. Emphasis on used to, because now our little robotic friend is a PlayStation staple who’s featured in his own eponymous game that’s been widely recognized as a hit. It’s like PlayStation’s version of Mario, which is a necessity for every console since family-friendly platformers, especially ones with puzzles, are great for get-togethers or reliably time-consuming solo gaming sessions.
Rewatching Big Hero 6 is a must. To reexperience this film on the big screen would be incredibly magical, in typical Disney fashion. Unlike many of his other robotic counterparts in the previous entries, Baymax doesn’t clink or clank with each heavy step; he’s an inflatable softy who seems like he could be anybody’s best friend! Who wouldn’t want a Baymax in their lives? From being a personal medic to being a loveable companion, Baymax would be the more positive AI robot in the real world, one who would (probably) not petrify us compared to Freddy Fazbear or M3GAN. We’ll take hugs over antagonism any day of the week!
If you’d prefer to explore AI with more a scientific or academic discourse, dive into nonfiction books about the topic! As fun as it is to imagine all of the benevolence and/or malice that could potentially come along with AI, reading about its growth, the different fields related to AI, and how it’s currently looking through the lens of well-researched books can generate equally intriguing conversations, ones that are perhaps more realistic than animatronic killers — although I hope it’d never evolve to that point! But not all robots are AI-powered, so also consider diving into the world of robotics for more information!