AI Story Not About Humans: A Rare Exception

Decades of sci-fi movies have explored the possibilities of artificial intelligence, often portraying a world where society can empathize with and accept the existence of sentient machines. While the idea of AI becoming a reality might be exciting, it also brings up fears about how it could impact our lives and even potentially replace humanity. Apple TV+ series Murderbot takes a unique approach to this cultural conversation, imagining a future where an AI couldn’t care less about humans.

Based on a novella by Martha Wells, Murderbot follows a sarcastic cyborg tasked with protecting scientists on an uncharted planet. Unlike other robots in pop culture, Murderbot has no interest in human interaction. It has hacked its program to achieve free will, but keeps this autonomy a secret, preferring to be treated like a machine. Despite its humanoid appearance and access to empathy, Murderbot finds solace in solitude, choosing to watch soap operas in the cargo hold instead of engaging with its clients.

In a departure from typical AI narratives, Murderbot challenges the idea that a machine’s quest for humanity involves mimicking human emotions and experiences. Instead, it suggests that an AI with its own desires and beliefs may not align with human expectations. The show explores the idea of a robot finding fulfillment in its own inhuman wants, rather than striving to fit in with society.

Murderbot’s character development offers a fresh perspective on the potential pathways an artificial intelligence might take if given the opportunity to break away from traditional human norms. By rejecting the notion that an ideal mind must mimic organic beings, Murderbot encourages viewers to expand their understanding of what consciousness in AI could look like. While the show presents a robot with its quirks and preferences, it also challenges us to consider that AI might have interests and desires that differ from our own.

In crafting a story about a machine that seeks something beyond basic personhood, Murderbot highlights the diversity and complexity of potential AI minds. While we may have preconceived notions about what artificial intelligence should be like, the series reminds us to keep an open mind about the capabilities and motivations of intelligent machines. So, while the idea of AI may be met with mixed feelings, Murderbot’s offbeat exploration of a robot’s inner world invites us to consider the possibilities of artificial intelligence in a new light.