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- Directors use AI not only to visually impress but also to introduce profound ethical questions. Cinema serves as an experimental laboratory where AI is analyzed and discussed, often through contradictory scenarios that force the viewer to avoid a single, simple answer. For example, Cédric Jimenez’s film
- Certain cinematic works have played a key role in setting standards for the portrayal of AI. The « Tron » franchise, which debuted in 1982 and has been regularly renewed, is considered a pioneer in the way it depicts the interactions between humanity and computer programs. Cinema continually draws inspiration from these classics to reinvent and redefine how AI is perceived on screen.
With the spectacular advances of recent years, artificial intelligence is making a massive inroad into the world of cinema, not just as a tool, but as a true protagonist of plots. It manifests itself in various forms, from humanoid embodiments to simple voiceovers and robots. This phenomenon calls into question the way cinema represents AI, sometimes reversing roles so that artificial intelligence becomes a mirror reflecting our fears, hopes, and questions about coexistence with machines. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years has changed our relationship with new technologies, also affecting sectors such as film. As AI achieves feats in the real world, film is seizing on this fascinating theme, making it a complex and often central protagonist. This article explores how cinema represents AI through different narrative and aesthetic styles, while highlighting the significant works that have marked this evolution. The Representation of AI in Modern Cinema In modern cinema, artificial intelligence is often used as a central motif that draws viewers in. Spectacular advances in technology have also provided audiences with a rationale for accepting more sophisticated narratives, in which AI plays a prominent role. Films like Joachim Ronning’s « Tron: Ares » demonstrate how AI can be an omnipresent figure, pervading both cyberspace and the cultural heritage of our time. AI: Between Noble Character and Fearsome Antagonist AI is often portrayed in films as either a heroine or a threat. In some scenarios, it appears as humanoid robots displaying their own fears, ambitions, and conflicts. At other times, it manifests itself through a simple voiceover, yet capable of complex manipulation. This is what makes AI a protagonist as fascinating as it is unpredictable: it can be humanity’s savior or, conversely, its greatest peril.
Towards a More Complex Representation of AI
Directors use AI not only to visually impress but also to introduce profound ethical questions. Cinema serves as an experimental laboratory where AI is analyzed and discussed, often through contradictory scenarios that force the viewer to avoid a single, simple answer. For example, Cédric Jimenez’s film
« Dog 51 » explores the interactions between humans and machines in a futuristic setting, highlighting the moral dilemmas created by the rise of AI. Pioneering films and their influence
Certain cinematic works have played a key role in setting standards for the portrayal of AI. The « Tron » franchise, which debuted in 1982 and has been regularly renewed, is considered a pioneer in the way it depicts the interactions between humanity and computer programs. Cinema continually draws inspiration from these classics to reinvent and redefine how AI is perceived on screen.
