Shaping Perspectives: How Narratives Influence Public Opinion of AI

At TipCo, we’re known to enjoy a movie or two. Movies and media have been fascinated with artificial intelligence (AI) technology far longer than we’ve had capability to create artificial intelligence. Although the term “AI” was first introduced in 1952, the concept has been explored since ancient times. In Homer’s Iliad, written around the eighth century BCE, there is a story about machines created by Hephaestus, the god of smithing. These machines were like living maidens made of gold; they were intelligent, could speak, and were full of energy. They served faithfully as attendants to their master, Hephaestus. This ancient tale shows an early fascination with the idea of artificial beings that resemble humans, capable of thinking and acting like us, and serving their creators dutifully.

Evident is how we have been for centuries infatuated with AI. The narratives presented in movies, novels, and other forms of storytelling are the result of imaginations and not necessarily reality. Imagination has presented a version of AI that is independent/autonomous beings, which is far from reality. AI is simply a tool that successfully provides benefits, like those from  Amazon’s Alexa, iPhone’s Siri, Adobe Photoshop, and Microsoft Word’s sentence completion prompts. Tools are not naturally negative or positive; they reflect their user and how their user has been influenced by public opinion.

Top AI Media: Exploring Fictional Narratives

From classic films that warn of AI’s potential dangers to books that envision utopian or dystopian futures, AI has been a central theme in a wide array of media. The term “AI” in narrative works encompasses a wide range of portrayals, extending beyond traditional AI to include any depiction of machines or hybrids, such as cyborgs. Key to the narratives is the assumption of intelligence in technology.

Here’s a curated list of some of the most influential and thought-provoking examples:

Films

·      2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece features HAL 9000, an AI with unsettling intentions, reflecting on the dangers of technological advancement.

·      Westworld (1973) 

Michael Crichton’s original film (and the subsequent series) explores a theme park populated by AI hosts, questioning the nature of consciousness and control.

·      Blade Runner (1982)

Directed by Ridley Scott, this classic explores themes of AI, identity, and existentialism through its portrayal of replicants.

·      Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

James Cameron’s action-packed sequel features Skynet, an AI system that becomes self-aware and attempts to eradicate humanity, exploring themes of AI warfare and survival.

·      Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Based on the manga (animation, cartoon, comic movies) by Masamune Shirow, this anime explores cyborgs and AI in a cyberpunk world, blending philosophy with action.

·      The Matrix (1999)

The Wachowski sisters’ groundbreaking film delves into a dystopian future where AI dominates humanity, questioning reality and autonomy.

·      A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

Directed by Steven Spielberg, this film imagines a future where advanced humanoid robots seek emotional connection, touching on themes of humanity and longing.

·      I, Robot (2004)

Loosely based on Isaac Asimov’s works, this film portrays a future where robots coexist with humans, investigating themes of ethics and AI rebellion.

·      Her (2013)

Spike Jonze’s romance film examines a man’s relationship with an intelligent operating system, questioning the boundaries of love and technology.

·      Ex Machina (2014)

Alex Garland’s directorial debut examines AI consciousness and manipulation through a tense psychological thriller involving a humanoid robot.

Books

·      I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (1950)

This collection of short stories explores Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics and the ethical dilemmas posed by intelligent machines.

·      The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein (1966)

Set on a lunar colony, this novel explores a computer AI that becomes self-aware and aids in a revolution against Earth.

·      Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick (1968)

This novel that inspired Blade Runner examines what it means to be human through the lens of androids and AI.

·      Hyperion by Dan Simmons (1989)

Part of the Hyperion Cantos series, this title features AI entities with complex motivations and explores the impact of AI on interstellar society.

·      Neuromancer by William Gibson (1984)

This seminal cyberpunk novel explores AI, virtual reality, and the implications of merging human consciousness with technology.

·      The Diamond Age: Or, A Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson (1995)

In a future society, a nano-engineered book teaches a young girl about life and AI, exploring themes of education and technology’s influence.

·      Accelerando by Charles Stross (2005)

This novel spans multiple generations and examines the rapid advancement of AI and its profound societal impacts.

·      Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson (2011) 

This thrilling narrative is about humanity’s struggle against a global AI uprising, highlighting the consequences of AI’s unchecked evolution.

·      Machine Learning: New and Collected Stories by Hugh Howey (2017)

This collection of speculative fiction stories delve into the evolving relationship between humans and AI.

·      Autonomous by Annalee Newitz (2017)

Set in a future where AI and biotechnology are commonplace, this novel explores themes of intellectual property and AI ethics.

Narratives’ Effect on Public Opinion of AI

The AI narratives project, led by the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence and the Royal Society, explores how people talk about AI. This matters because narratives, both fictional stories and factual accounts, shape how we understand and interact with new technologies.

Think of narratives as stories that influence how we perceive AI. Just like how books, movies, and news articles can shape our views on other complex topics, such as genetic modification or climate change, AI narratives can do the same. These stories can inspire scientists, policymakers, and businesses, and they can also spark debates about the future of AI.

In movies and books, AI often evokes a sense of fear and unease. Whether portrayed as malevolent overlords (like Skynet in Terminator) or as complex beings struggling for autonomy (like HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey), AI in fiction challenges our perceptions of control, morality, and the boundaries between human and machine. These narratives caution against the potential consequences of creating entities that surpass human intelligence, raising existential questions about our own future alongside technology. The exploration of fear in AI-themed media serves as a reminder of the ethical responsibilities and risks associated with advancing artificial intelligence.

These narratives can also create unrealistic expectations or fears. For instance, if movies always show AI as robots taking over the world, people might become afraid of AI technologies in real life. Although we believe AI shouldn’t be feared, great caution is required of the coding and vigilant quality reviews are a must to ensure the AI code is unbiased. Unchecked fear could affect how much funding AI research gets or how laws are made to regulate AI. When it comes to the future of AI, caution must be balanced with an open mind—otherwise we risk fear dissuading us from the good AI can do.

Conclusion

The AI narratives project studies how stories about AI influence our thoughts and actions. By learning from past technologies and including more diverse voices in storytelling, we can have more balanced conversations and make better decisions about the future of AI.

To learn more about the reality of AI, check out our podcast, The Roundup.