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My husband and I went to see the Johnny Depp movie Transcendence and afterwards we had Arby’s. As of late I have stopped getting my chocolate shake, I am really trying hard to cease and desist with the sugar and I am doing fairly well forgoing on the chocolate shakes. I have now gotten into the habit of ordering the classic Reuben at Arby’s, my new favorite. I have always loved the combination of Thousand Island dressing, corned beef, sauerkraut and melted Swiss cheese surrounded by the wonderful flavor and texture of a marbled rye bread, Arby’s makes a very nice one.
Anyhoo, back to the movie. I don’t know what to tell you about it. It is very definitely about Artificial Intelligence and human beings, but in my mind, the movie is essentially a love story between two people and the implications of death and separation in their love story. If you had the chance to hold on to someone despite them “dying” would you? The other questions raised by the movie are important ones as well; what exactly defines self-awareness? Where resides the soul? Who are you, really? Can emotional intelligence be downloaded? All these questions are thrown at you and are they answered by the movie? Yes and no, depends on what you take away from the movie.
My husband focused on how close we were to artificial intelligence, how likely the events that happened in the movie could actually happen now, How dangerous could this whole industry be? This line of thinking occupied my husband’s thoughts and conversation the entire ride home. I was stuck on the love story angle and also I couldn’t help but think of Jeff Goldblum’s character in Jurassic Park when he said “the question isn’t could we, but more importantly SHOULD we?” This movie had this statement screaming out at me. Forgive me, but I think artificial intelligence and mankind should not be flirting with each other, we aren’t quite ready for the implications or the consequences. When I read the news, I feel sad that we haven’t grown up enough to come together as humanity to heal our planet, equitably distribute food, provide clean drinking water everywhere; things of this nature. I do not believe that we are ready to welcome self aware computers yet, the movie Terminator should be a red flag, hello!
laurieanichols 