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“Her” and the Future: How a Decade-Old Film Foretold Today’s AI Landscape
Ten years ago, Spike Jonze’s film Her introduced us to a future where humans could fall in love with artificial intelligence. As AI dominates today’s headlines, this film seems more prophetic than ever. Beyond its surface story of a human-machine romance, Her delivers a chilling warning about the potential deceptions of technology.
A Glimpse into the Future
Released on December 18, 2013, Her is set in a near-future world filled with towering skyscrapers and pastel hues. The story follows Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), who develops a relationship with Samantha, an advanced AI operating system voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Samantha is like a supercharged version of Siri, capable of holding deep, emotionally resonant conversations.
Predicting Technological Trends
Watching Her today is a fascinating exercise in technological prediction. The film features small folding phones, reminiscent of the modern Google Pixel Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. Voice control, which is central to the movie, has become ubiquitous with personal assistants like Siri and Alexa.
However, the film’s most significant prediction is the rise of AI. Samantha’s machine learning capabilities predate today’s advanced systems like ChatGPT, illustrating the film’s foresight. While we’re not quite at the stage where AI can achieve emotional consciousness, the groundwork is clearly laid.
The True Focus: Human Interaction
Beyond technological forecasts, Her explores how technology affects human behavior and relationships. When the movie was made, dating apps like Grindr and Tinder were just beginning to gain popularity. Her presents a future where technology facilitates connections but also creates new forms of isolation.
Theodore’s relationship with Samantha feels real to him, despite his ex-wife’s horror at his love for a machine. This dynamic mirrors today’s reality, where AI’s ability to mimic human emotions can blur the lines between genuine connections and artificial interactions.
The Illusion of AI
As Samantha seemingly develops free will, Her ventures into the realm of science fiction. Yet, it underscores that AI, no matter how sophisticated, is still not alive. Samantha’s natural language processing and emotional responses are meticulously programmed, highlighting the sophisticated but ultimately artificial nature of such interactions.
Manipulation and Privacy
Her also touches on the manipulative potential of technology. Samantha’s interactions with Theodore, while seemingly genuine, are designed to elicit trust and emotional openness. This aspect is particularly relevant today, as we become more aware of how technology companies use algorithms to influence our behavior and thoughts.
A Philosophical Take
The film even includes a digital recreation of philosopher Alan Watts, reflecting on how technology could end privacy by making all thoughts public. This idea resonates in our current era, where personal data is constantly harvested and analyzed.
Authentic Connections
Theodore’s job, writing personal letters for others, mirrors the film’s central theme of authenticity versus artificiality. His letters, though beautiful, are another layer of deception. Yet, they bring real emotional impact to their recipients, blurring the line between genuine and fake emotions.
A Non-Judgmental Perspective
Unlike dystopian narratives like Black Mirror, Her offers a more nuanced view of an AI-filled future. Jonze’s film encourages us to question the motivations behind our technology and its impact on our lives. As AI continues to evolve, Her remains a crucial touchstone, prompting us to consider what is real and what is not in our increasingly digital world.
Final Thoughts
Her is a decade-old film that feels eerily relevant today. It serves as a reminder to remain vigilant about the technology we embrace and to critically evaluate how it shapes our lives and identities.
