Blade Runner explores the possibility of artificially intelligent lifeforms becoming indistinguishable from human beings. In the film, a replicant (humanoid robot) named Rachel has been programmed with memories, leading her to believe that she is human. Deckard, who is tasked with killing replicants, develops feelings for Rachel, complicating the societal differentiation between humans and robots.
The movie asks the question: if robots act human, appear human, and think that they’re human, how different are we, really? If artificially intelligent life is convinced of its humanity, how sure can we be of our own? According to some, the movie subtly suggests that Deckard is a replicant; as Schoenberg argues, “his name bears a resemblance to...Rene Descartes, who famously said ‘I think, therefore I am.’”
Blade Runner Movie Poster (Alvin)
Artists Ken Feingold, Ken Rinaldo, and Gijs Van Bon engage with the film’s theme: the possible convergence of humanity and artificial intelligence.
In Feingold's “Hell,” two human heads converse using speech recognition technology. Their conversation is full of misinterpretations and miscommunications, as Feingold points out, “they’re constantly searching for something that will reaffirm their desire to connect with the other one. And it’s always undermined.” This piece negates the idea that AI will ever attain human connection. Despite the robots’ ability to simulate conversation, their inability to engage with one another emphasizes their inhumanity.
Hell (Feingold)
Alternatively, in Rinaldo’s 3-Story Robots, a projected humanoid speaks of a future where “humans are...forming loving relationships with robots.” This piece mimics the ideas in Blade Runner: that AI might one day reach a place where they are not only able to simulate human behavior, but internalize humanity.
3-Story Robots (Rinaldo)
Similarly, Van Bon’s exhibit BLOM emphasizes the human characteristics already attained by robots. BLOM exhibits creativity and socialization as it interacts with children to create chalk art.
These artistic works are motivated by the concept of AI adopting human traits, something that Mindy Weisberger argues sews a “seed of unease” in society. During the industrial revolution, machines began replacing humans in the workplace, and as technology continues to progress, AI becomes capable of more human activities. This fear of being replaced by AI, is what fuels society’s fear of industrialization and technological advancement. Our response to industrialization is characterized by this discomfort, the idea that humanity itself can be replicated, and therefore devalued.
Alvin, John. “Blade Runner.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner. Accessed 15 April 2021.
Feingold, Ken. “Hell.” GGM, Ryszard Kluszczyński, https://www.ggm.gda.pl/en,0,0,1081,Ken_Feingold_FIGURES_OF_SPEECH_stolen_voices,0,0,index.php. Accessed 15 April 2021.
Feingold, Ken. “Hell.” Ken Feingold, http://www.kenfeingold.com/Hell_L.html. Accessed 15 April 2021.
Rinaldo, Ken. “3-Story Robots.” 21st Century Digital Art, http://www.digiart21.org/art/motion. Accessed 15 April 2021.
Rinaldo, Ken. “3-Story Robots.” Ken Rinaldo, https://www.kenrinaldo.com/portfolio/3-story-robots/. Accessed 15 April 2021.
Schoenberg, Henrik. “AI in the year of Blade Runner.”
New Humanist, https://newhumanist.org.uk/articles/5424/ai-in-the-year-of-blade-runner. Accessed 15 April 2021.
Van Bon, Gijs. “BLOM.” Gijs Van Bon, http://www.gijsvanbon.nl/blom1.html. Accessed 15 April 2021.
Hello Marlene, I personally also really enjoyed the movie Blade runner as my parents had exposed me to the film when I was a kid. I really like the interactions that these robots have with humans, and the possibility that robots can replicate that in the future. Although we are not there yet as proven in Feingold's experiment, I feel there is a possibility for greater AI interactions in our upcoming future.
ReplyDelete