Ten films about artificial intelligence according to an expert

Dec 10, 2023 ·

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a popular topic in films for decades, and there’s no shortage of movies about the subject. A new list compiled by AI expert Dr. Bruce Schneider identifies the best movies that explore AI in both its positive and negative aspects. The top ten titles on his list include Blade Runner (1982), Ex Machina (2014), I, Robot (2004), Her (2013), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), WarGames (1983), A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), The Terminator (1984), The Matrix (1999), and Wall-E (2008).

Blade Runner is set in the future and follows a blade runner tasked with hunting down and “retiring” rogue replicants – artificially created life forms. Ex Machina tells the story of a young programmer who wins a competition to spend a week at a reclusive inventor’s estate, only to discover that the inventor has created a true artificial intelligence. I, Robot follows an officer of the law as he investigates a crime linked to robots. Her sees a lonely man falling in love with an advanced operating system.

In Stanley Kubrick’s classic 2001: A Space Odyssey, a sentient computer named HAL 9000 is the main antagonist. WarGames is set during the Cold War and follows a teen hacker who accidentally initiates a nuclear missile launch protocol. A.I. Artificial Intelligence is set in the distant future, and focuses on an android boy’s search for a human connection. The Terminator follows a cyborg from the future sent to assassinate a woman in present day Los Angeles. The Matrix depicts a world where machines have enslaved humans in a virtual reality, while Wall-E follows a robot’s journey through a desolate, abandoned Earth.

In all these films, AI is used to tell stories that explore a range of themes, such as the implications of technology on humanity, the potential consequences of advancing technology, and the importance of understanding the difference between humans and machines. These films ultimately show us that, while AI can be potentially dangerous, it can also be beneficial when handled responsibly.