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The Science Fiction of Artificial Intelligence

When viewed through the camera lens of a sci-fi movie-maker, Artificial Intelligence is oftentimes portrayed as something to be feared or reviled. You see robots with human-like forms trying to equal if not surpass man, only to fail because of their inability to feel. I, Robot is an example of this genre, as is Stepford Wives. Another tack repeatedly chosen is that of humankind being enslaved by artificially intelligent machines that have overtaken their mortal creators. Recent and lucrative examples of this storyline include the trilogies of The Matrix and Terminator. Even AI, a movie commonly viewed as a touching story of devotion and dedication, can take on a more sinister feel when the “little boy” is thought of as a machine who didn’t know its place, who thought itself worthy of being the brother of a human child and the object of a human mother’s affection.

Although most people who engage in science fiction do so for the entertainment value of it, there are those who use it as a tool of study. Science fiction can provide an interesting glimpse into what future developments in Artificial Intelligence may possibly bring. It can reflect the current trends and beliefs of researchers. It can even offer inspiration regarding possible career opportunities for those so inclined.

Book Resources On The Science Fiction of Artificial Intelligence

Gödel, Escher, Bach : An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter

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