Artificial intelligence (AI) has fascinated humankind for centuries, long before it became a concrete reality. Literary, cinematic and artistic works have anticipated and inspired technological innovations, influencing the way scientists and engineers have developed modern AI. More often than not, fantasy far exceeds the reality of actual technical and scientific possibilities, nevertheless it is literary fantasy or artistic vision that very often identify new frontiers and pave the way for future innovation. In this article we will explore some of the major works that have left a deep mark on science and the collective imagination.
The literary origins of artificial intelligence
“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley (1818)
One of the earliest examples of artificial creation in literature is Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” Although not an artificial intelligence in the modern sense, the work raises fundamental questions about the responsibility of the creator and the autonomy of the creature, themes we find in modern developments in AI. Frankenstein’s creature is the result of a scientific experiment that ends up being beyond the control of its own creator, a concept echoed in modern concerns about autonomous AI and its impact on society.
Jules Verne and the automation of the future
In “Paris au XXe siècle” (1863), Jules Verne imagines a society in which technology has taken over, describing innovations such as computers, video surveillance, and the electric telegraph with surprising accuracy. This novel, published posthumously, anticipates some of the challenges associated with digitization and automation, reflecting on the social and economic implications of an increasingly technologized civilization.
Isaac Asimov and the Three Laws of Robotics
With the “I, Robot” series, Isaac Asimov introduced the famous Three Laws of Robotics, a set of ethical principles for automata: a robot cannot harm a human being, must obey human orders, and must protect its own existence without violating the first two laws. These concepts have profoundly influenced the debate over the safety and reliability of modern artificial intelligence, contributing to the birth of AI ethics and regulations on autonomous robots.
Philip K. Dick and artificial consciousness
The works of Philip K. Dick, particularly “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” (from which the film “Blade Runner” is based), explore the concept of artificial consciousness and the fine line between human and synthetic. Dick questions the nature of reality and identity, imagining a future in which androids develop emotions and desires of their own, raising questions about the possibility of true artificial consciousness.
Cinema and the representation of Artificial Intelligence
HAL 9000 in “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)
Stanley Kubrick, inspired by the short stories of Arthur C. Clarke, brings to the screen HAL 9000, an advanced artificial intelligence endowed with dangerous decision-making autonomy. HAL represents one of the earliest cinematic examples of rebellious AI, a recurring theme in science fiction. His behavior, seemingly logical but actually driven by an internal conflict between conflicting orders, anticipates modern discussions of the risks associated with the autonomy of advanced AIs.
The replicants of “Blade Runner” (1982)
Directed by Ridley Scott and based on the novel by Philip K. Dick, “Blade Runner” raises questions about artificial identity and consciousness. Replicants, synthetic beings almost indistinguishable from humans, embody fears related to the evolution of AI and the ethical implications of creating artificial beings with emotions and desires of their own. The film profoundly influenced the aesthetics of the cyberpunk genre and the view of the relationship between humanity and technology.
“Ghost in the Shell” (1995): AI in the cyberpunk world.
The Japanese anime “Ghost in the Shell” addresses the issue of AI in a highly technological society, questioning the nature of consciousness and the boundary between human and machine. The film imagines a future in which human minds can be transferred into artificial bodies, exploring the concept of post-humanism and the potential implications of merging biological and digital intelligence.
AI in contemporary cinema
Films such as “Ex Machina” (2014) and “Her” (2013) explore the relationship between humans and advanced artificial intelligences, suggesting scenarios that are ever closer to reality. “Ex Machina” questions the ability of an AI to develop its own consciousness and manipulate humans, while “Her” tells a love story between a man and a virtual assistant, anticipating increasingly sophisticated human-machine interactions.
Comics and artificial intelligence
The world of comic books has also played a role in AI imagery. “Donald Duck and the Ula-Ula Man” (1959), by Romano Scarpa, introduced the concept of the “mechanical brain,” a precursor to today’s AIs. Other examples include sentient supercomputers in Marvel and DC comic books, such as Ultron and Brainiac, which embody the fears and ambitions associated with autonomous artificial intelligence.
AI-generated art: the future is already here
In recent years, AI is not only a subject of art, but also its tool. Works such as “Théâtre D’opéra Spatial,” made with the help of AI, are revolutionizing the concept of creativity. Advanced algorithms are able to paint pictures, compose music and write poetry, raising questions about what it really means to be an artist and how AI can redefine the boundaries of human creativity.
From literature to film to contemporary art, artificial intelligence has always fascinated and inspired the human imagination. Many concepts born in science fiction are now reality, and the dialogue between art and science continues to shape the future of AI. The influence of the collective imagination on technological innovations is evident, and will likely continue to guide how we develop and perceive artificial intelligence in the decades to come.