Regardless that Ex Machina was launched 12 years in the past, the themes and concepts explored within the film quietly predicted right now’s AI period, and the scary outcomes it entails. The fashionable AI period has seen it turn out to be a mainstay in know-how, from its use in programming to its controversial associations with the leisure business.
The thought of AI as sentient beings has been a sci-fi staple for some time as properly. Nonetheless, Ex Machina explores these concepts in ways in which resonate with the fashionable period.
What Is Ex Machina About?
The story of Ex Machina follows Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), a programmer on the search engine firm Blue E-book, who wins a one-week go to to the house of the corporate’s CEO, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac). After signing an NDA, he’s launched to Ava (Alicia Vikander), an AI robotic with the likeness of an actual human lady.
Quickly, Caleb begins to develop romantically hooked up to Ava, desirous to free her and stay within the outdoors world together with her. Nonetheless, she is extra involved together with her self-preservation, whereas Nathan desires to maintain her hidden from the world. As author Alex Garland’s directorial debut, the film earned crucial recognition, scoring a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics.
Ex Machina Has Aged Nicely
The sci-fi movie has additionally aged properly concerning its themes. The story’s core focus is on Ava and her standing as a residing factor, on condition that she seems to course of advanced feelings regardless of being a machine. The story additionally delves into how humanity views AI programming as greater than software program, a direct parallel for a way a lot AI can affect human life, just like its trendy makes use of.
As well as, Ex Machina ends with Ava deciding to turn out to be free for herself, not trusting the need of humanity and what their expectations of her are. The film poses questions on how a lot AI’s motivations could be trusted if they are not human, as they’re more likely to assume in additional calculated ways in which do not consider concepts like emotion or justice.
Why Ex Machina Is Extra Than Simply About AI
Whereas Ex Machina‘s outward focus is on AI, the film is admittedly in regards to the human expertise by way of the lens of a programmed robotic that appears like an individual. The film’s questions on humanity lengthen past the AI focus, as Caleb finds himself infatuated with Ava, whose reciprocation would not look like the identical.
It makes Ex Machina a strong commentary on not simply using AI in society, however on how human notion of what’s and is not “human” shapes AI. It is a cautionary story about man attempting to play God, whereas additionally emphasizing how their creations have extra complexities than on the floor.
- Launch Date
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April 24, 2015
- Runtime
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108 minutes
- Producers
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Allon Reich, Andrew Macdonald
