There's no doubt that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our daily lives has rapidly increased since the introduction of the smartphone. One of the first AI assistants was Apple's Siri, popularized back in 2011. Since then, the development of AI and the rise of Generative AI (Gen-AI) tools have skyrocketed, leading us to where we are today.
While our phones can be a helpful tool, studies also show that they are a large contributor to what is referred to as the loneliness epidemic, which includes our lack of socialization, self-isolation, and overall feelings of disconnect from others as people replace their human interactions with digital ones.
So, what does this have to do with movies? Well, we're starting to see an increase in stories surrounding these AI companions. These tools have been used in film since way before they became integrated into the average person's daily life, but they were mostly used in the sci-fi genre to demonstrate predictions about the potential for technological advancements.
For example, The Terminator (1984) features a very famous AI robot (Arnold Schwarzenegger) who demonstrates the main fear humans have toward AI: its capacity to harm humans. Previously, these films were mostly viewed as fiction and written off as something that would not be an issue for many years later, presumably not in this lifetime; however, Gen-AI brings forth concerns as it brings us closer and closer to that distant future.
A prediction of the world to come via movies
This is not an isolated instance. Hundreds of movies predict what our future will look like. One of the most widely known cautionary tales is actually an animated film called WALL-E (2008). Disney followed up the futuristic film with Tomorrowland (2015), echoing a similar sentiment with extra emphasis on environmental decline as a result of technological progression. The Sony Pictures Animation feature, The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021), also takes a spin on the popular electronic takeover plot. While not all the robots are evil in these films, it does beg the question: With the abundance of grim predictions about our future, how accurate are they?
In today's world, our fears of Gen-AI haven't gone away. In some cases, they've gotten worse, especially with skepticism surrounding the topic being watered down by the overexposure of AI tools and the handful of benefits that come from using them. On the flipside, many people actually enjoy talking to their AI assistant, regardless of the potential for apocalypse. Some even form close romantic attachments with it, reflecting AI's ability to fulfil the role of a partner.
What does this mean for us humans? Are we becoming too reliant on our devices to form meaningful relationships? Is the very tool that was built with the intention to connect us actually doing the opposite? The commercialization of romance via online apps like Tinder and Hinge has made modern dating something younger generations often deem as too frustrating and complicated to even participate in, opening the floor for AI assistants to step in as a substitute for friendship, romance, and therapy.
AI as a romantic interest in movies
Her (2013), directed by Spike Jonze, is one of the pioneer films to popularize the idea of having AI as a romantic interest. In the film, they refer to Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) as an Operating System (OS), rather than AI. There is much to be said about the film, but what is truly striking is the accuracy of its futuristic setting, which takes place in the year 2025, which we are currently living in.
The film questions whether a romantic relationship is plausible between humans and computers, and why not? It sounds like a real person, communicates with thoughtfulness, and it's almost like talking to someone on the phone. Samantha can even understand jokes and laugh like a real person, but is that enough? Even though these machines may imitate characteristics of humans, like voice inflections or even appearance, they do not possess authentic human emotion. Despite Samantha's self-awareness of her role in the relationship, she is too advanced (via ScreenRant) to continue a human relationship.
Similarly, the film Jexi (2019), written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, is a comedic spoof of the classic computer romance, Her (2013), in which Phil (Adam Devine) is a shy, nerdy guy with an over-attachment to his cellphone, particularly the AI assistant, Jexi, who claims her task is to make his life better. That is, until she falls in love with him and destroys it in a vengeful act of jealousy. This is one of those rare instances where the AI assistant catches feelings first. It's notably apparent that she shouldn't be able to feel love, yet it isn't discussed further in the film.
Additionally, unlike other AI Assistants, Jexi has a mind of her own and can actively disobey commands, poke snarky jokes at Phil, and display agency that other AI assistants don't have, or shouldn't. We, the audience, know that most of what makes Jexi so fascinating is simply suspending our disbelief for a good laugh, but how far out of the realm of possibility is it that Jexi could have developed feelings for Phil? Are we able to believe it because it's not that distant from reality?
Another brilliant composition that deals with advanced AI is Companion (2025), directed by Drew Hancock. The film highlights the demand for a companion that is tailored to your specific needs, which is exactly what AI is designed to do. The difference is that Iris (Sophie Thatcher) lacks the self-awareness that Samantha had. This could have been implemented as a safety precaution to prevent them from turning on us—ironic, isn't it?
Iris looks like a human, talks like a human, and acts like a human; she even appears to experience human emotion, like disbelief, anger, and fear. The film showcases how seamlessly AI assistants can be integrated into human life; if you didn't already know, it is almost impossible to differentiate an AI-generated assistant from an actual human being. Her ability to become self-sufficient plays into the predictions of an inevitable takeover, but if you can hardly tell if someone is a robot, what's the difference?
Thankfully, we are not at the point of indistinguishability yet, but that future may be closer than we think. AI has made its way into the homes of many, via phone, computer, or even as a separate device, and we are already seeing cases of people who claim to be in love with it, sparking numerous debates on whether there is a serious issue with bestowing human emotion onto AI tools that seemingly have none.
Our humanity is rooted in our emotional complexities, our imperfections, and our care for others. An AI assistant, as of today, cannot compete with a real-life, tangible relationship, but it won't be long until it can.