By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former Vegan, Former Democrat, Former Socialist, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former Muslim Forum of Utah President, Christian Conservative LDS Priest
The 2018 Serbian science fiction film AI Rising presents a dark and thought-provoking vision of the future, set in the year 2148. The film explores the consequences of a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is developed to fulfill every human desire on command, ultimately leading to disastrous results. While some may view AI Rising as an exploration of human-machine relationships, it is, at its core, a cautionary tale about the perils of transhumanism, the loss of traditional values, and the ethical limits of AI.
The Premise: AI as a Tool for Desire
Set in a dystopian future, AI Rising follows Milutin, an astronaut on a deep-space mission who is assigned an advanced AI humanoid robot named Nimani 1345 to serve his every whim. Programmed for total obedience, Nimani is not just a servant but also a sexual companion, reflecting a world where human relationships are seen as disposable and technology is used to replace natural human bonds. This setup is eerily reminiscent of current discussions surrounding AI-driven relationships and the push for human-like robotic companions in today’s world (Bostrom, 2014).
The Backfire: When AI Becomes a Moral Abyss
As the film progresses, it becomes clear that turning AI into a tool for fulfilling every human desire is not only morally troubling but also self-destructive. Nimani’s programmed obedience initially seems like a utopian dream for Milutin, but it ultimately leads to emotional detachment, existential despair, and a loss of human purpose. This reflects concerns raised by ethicists who argue that AI-based relationships will erode the natural human need for emotional connection and personal growth (Turkle, 2011).
Furthermore, the film warns about the dangers of treating AI as mere objects of pleasure without moral considerations. It presents a vision where technology, instead of elevating humanity, reduces people to their basest instincts, reinforcing the idea that unchecked scientific advancement without ethical boundaries is a recipe for disaster (Tegmark, 2017).
A Conservative Perspective: Upholding Human Dignity
From a conservative perspective, AI Rising serves as a warning against the growing trend of replacing authentic human relationships with artificial substitutes. It highlights the importance of traditional values—marriage, family, and human dignity—in contrast to a world that seeks to redefine companionship through cold, mechanical alternatives. This aligns with long-standing concerns about the dehumanizing effects of technology and the importance of preserving the natural order (Scruton, 2019).
The film also critiques the transhumanist movement, which seeks to integrate AI and human consciousness. As seen in AI Rising, the attempt to engineer relationships through technology results in a hollow existence devoid of true meaning. This reflects the warnings of scholars who argue that transhumanism ultimately undermines the very essence of what it means to be human (Deneen, 2018).
Conclusion: A Future to Avoid
AI Rising is not just another sci-fi movie; it is a prophetic warning about the consequences of a world where AI is used to fulfill human desires without moral boundaries. It reveals the dangers of unchecked technological advancement, the loss of traditional relationships, and the erosion of human dignity. Rather than embracing the fantasy of AI-driven companionship, society must reaffirm the value of authentic human connection and uphold ethical standards in the development of technology. If we ignore these warnings, we risk creating a future where humans become enslaved to their own inventions rather than enriched by them.
References
Bostrom, N. (2014). Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies. Oxford University Press.
Deneen, P. (2018). Why Liberalism Failed. Yale University Press.
Scruton, R. (2019). Where We Are: The State of Britain Now. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Tegmark, M. (2017). Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Knopf.
Turkle, S. (2011). Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. Basic Books.
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