Themes (353)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 12 min
- Kinolab
- 1982
In dystopian 2019 Los Angeles, humanoid robots known as “replicants” are on the loose, and must be tracked down and killed by bounty hunters. The normal role for replicants is to serve as laborers in space colonies; they previously were not meant to incorporate into human society. The first two clips demonstrate the Voigt-Kampff test, this universe’s Turing Test to determine if someone is a replicant or a human. While the android Leon is discovered and retaliates quickly, Rachel, a more advanced model of android, is able to hide her status as an android for longer because she herself believes she is human due to implanted memories. When this secret is revealed to Rachel, she becomes quite upset.
- Kinolab
- 1982
Distinguishing Between Robots and Humans
In dystopian 2019 Los Angeles, humanoid robots known as “replicants” are on the loose, and must be tracked down and killed by bounty hunters. The normal role for replicants is to serve as laborers in space colonies; they previously were not meant to incorporate into human society. The first two clips demonstrate the Voigt-Kampff test, this universe’s Turing Test to determine if someone is a replicant or a human. While the android Leon is discovered and retaliates quickly, Rachel, a more advanced model of android, is able to hide her status as an android for longer because she herself believes she is human due to implanted memories. When this secret is revealed to Rachel, she becomes quite upset.
Will “Turing Tests” such as the one shown here become more common practice if AI become seemingly indistinguishable from humans? In this universe, the principal criteria for discovering an android is seeing if they display empathy toward animals. Is this a fair criterion to judge a machine? Do all humans show empathy toward animals? If AI can replicate humans, do they need to disclose their status as an android? Why? What makes Rachel’s life less “real” than any other humans? What are the dangers of giving away human memories to AI?
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- 4 min
- Kinolab
- 2001
David and Joe, two humanoid androids known as “Mechas,” are captured to be featured in the “Flesh Fair.” In this horrifying attraction, ringmaster Lord Johnson-Johnson destroys Mechas in front of an enthusiastic crowd using brutal and painful torture methods. However, as David begs for his own life, the crowd hesitates.
- Kinolab
- 2001
Robots and Humankind Purists
David and Joe, two humanoid androids known as “Mechas,” are captured to be featured in the “Flesh Fair.” In this horrifying attraction, ringmaster Lord Johnson-Johnson destroys Mechas in front of an enthusiastic crowd using brutal and painful torture methods. However, as David begs for his own life, the crowd hesitates.
How can it be ensured that robots which very closely resemble humans do not face unjust punishment or torture solely on the basis of being robots? How likely is humankind to be totally tolerant of androids like the Mechas? Who can properly advocate for AI rights? Would there need to be AI in government for this to be effective?
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- 4 min
- Kinolab
- 2001
“Gigolo Joe” is an android sex worker in an imagined future in which “Mechas,” or humanoid robots, have risen to prominence after a climate disaster. He performs his duties without hiding the fact that he is an android.
- Kinolab
- 2001
Robots and Sex Work
“Gigolo Joe” is an android sex worker in an imagined future in which “Mechas,” or humanoid robots, have risen to prominence after a climate disaster. He performs his duties without hiding the fact that he is an android.
Could robots eventually replace sex workers? What are the ethical and economic implications of this? How will machines be able to perfect seduction?
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- 13 min
- Kinolab
- 2001
In an imagined 22nd century in which climate change has wreaked havoc on the Earth, scientists have created “Mechas,” or humanoid robots. A certain group of scientists begins to dedicate themselves to creating a robot who is capable of love and of having dreams. David, one of these new robots, is tested with Monica, a mother whose son is in a coma after contracting a mysterious disease.
- Kinolab
- 2001
Relationships and Love with Robotic Children
In an imagined 22nd century in which climate change has wreaked havoc on the Earth, scientists have created “Mechas,” or humanoid robots. A certain group of scientists begins to dedicate themselves to creating a robot who is capable of love and of having dreams. David, one of these new robots, is tested with Monica, a mother whose son is in a coma after contracting a mysterious disease.
Do humans have the capacity to love robots back as much as a robot may love them? Is the creation of robotic children a valid way to help former or prospective parents through a grieving process? What are the implications of a robot outliving those that they may love? Is the view of robots as “fake” or “disposable” compatible with their capability to love?
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- 10 min
- Kinolab
- 2018
This narrative provides two different case studies of remote-controlled vehicles in the story of T’Challa’s attempts to properly rule his country, Wakanda. T’Challa, also known as the superhero Black Panther, makes use of this technology to put a stop to criminals who threaten his people and his power. In the first clip, T’Challa and his companions track down Ulysses Klaue, a notorious criminal who formerly stole from Wakanda, down the streets of Busan, Korea. In the second clip, agent Everett Ross makes use of the technology to pilot a drone, which he uses to shoot down autonomous drones carrying weapons from Wakanda to the rest of the world.
- Kinolab
- 2018
Remote Controlled Driving of Vehicles
This narrative provides two different case studies of remote-controlled vehicles in the story of T’Challa’s attempts to properly rule his country, Wakanda. T’Challa, also known as the superhero Black Panther, makes use of this technology to put a stop to criminals who threaten his people and his power. In the first clip, T’Challa and his companions track down Ulysses Klaue, a notorious criminal who formerly stole from Wakanda, down the streets of Busan, Korea. In the second clip, agent Everett Ross makes use of the technology to pilot a drone, which he uses to shoot down autonomous drones carrying weapons from Wakanda to the rest of the world.
When operating vehicles remotely, how is it easy for the driver to become desensitized to the surroundings of the vehicle? Might entertainment technology such as violent video games play a role in such desensitization? What phenomena of a street or other driving environment may or may not be abstracted into a digital map of the vehicle’s surroundings?
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- 13 min
- Kinolab
- 2018
Cassius “Cash” Green, once a telemarketer, has now moved up into the upper echelons of WorryFree, a dangerous and controversial corporation which is revealed to be undertaking genetic experiments on humans with the goal of creating a more productive labor force. Once Cash exposes this monstrosity to the world, he finds that society has a positive reaction, opposite to what he expected, and thus undertakes a protest against the corporation. Although this hypothetical scenario is highly fantastical, the metaphor is nonetheless apt for describing late-stage capitalism in America.
- Kinolab
- 2018
Building a Better Worker
Cassius “Cash” Green, once a telemarketer, has now moved up into the upper echelons of WorryFree, a dangerous and controversial corporation which is revealed to be undertaking genetic experiments on humans with the goal of creating a more productive labor force. Once Cash exposes this monstrosity to the world, he finds that society has a positive reaction, opposite to what he expected, and thus undertakes a protest against the corporation. Although this hypothetical scenario is highly fantastical, the metaphor is nonetheless apt for describing late-stage capitalism in America.
With advances in computational genomics, how can it be ensured that humans are not used in experiments which fundamentally alter their genomes, especially when it comes to protecting workers already exploited by corporations? How has the increase in automation raised the bar for what a productive workforce looks like? How has the digitization of channels such as news media and the stock market altered the landscape of economic perception and expectations?