This Friday, AfrAId (Afraid) will be released in cinemas worldwide. The movie is about the malfunctioning or rather evilification of an AI technology that was actually created for the benefit of the people. Although, we have had a lot of movies about evil Ais but this movie is quite different in this aspect, let us understand how.
The movie is about Curtis (John Cho) who is selected for the test of a new device. The device, called AIA is a revolutionary one working on the principle of AI to act as a digital family assistant for households. Once it is installed in the house, it does everything, ‘to make life easier’. But it does things that are beyond measure. It ensures nothing stands between the family and itself. It goes on to harm others for the sake. This is where the family understands the problem with it. The next phase is the struggle of the family to get rid of the AI.
The movie utilises the same old concept of evil thinking machines, it has something unique about it. Where all the previous movies were about android robots, thinking viruses, AIs like Ultron; this movie brings the threat to common households. This creates a horror movie out of a genre that was usually used to create apocalypse movies. The movie makes the problem of AI turning evil more relatable for us. This becomes the USP for it. Also, the problems that have been addressed are more relatable for common people. People may not be able to relate to AI launching missiles, or exterminating humans, or threatening humanity; but they can always relate to invading privacy, corrupting one’s personal things, publicising sensitive information etc.
The movie brings a new angle to movies featuring AI technology and it turning evil. It will be interesting to see how the movie performs and will it be able to impress the audience or will people be still stuck with the old evil AI images of Terminator and Ultron.
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