Including artificially intelligent beings is probably the most notable element in science fiction movies. Artificial intelligence, or AI for short, is the programming that creates the ability for human-made entities such as computer programs or robots to be designed to perform tasks that typically require an actual human to complete. Sci-fi films more often than not include characters that are artificially intelligent because it adds to the stakes of the narrative. Since AI-enhanced beings are programmed with immense knowledge that usually leads them to start thinking for themselves, viewers usually wait for the moment that the AI decides it no longer cares for the existence of the human race. With the ability to continue to evolve in ways that human beings cannot, it doesn't come as a surprise that many robots and computer programs in sci-fi movies end up despising the human race.
Films such as The Matrix or The Terminator are prime examples of artificially intelligent technology gone wrong. While AI is often depicted as a threat to human survival in many sci-fi films, there are cases where the AI is actually trying to aid human beings. Sometimes AI is the reason that humans are able to stop whichever forces of evil they are battling. They are not always actively trying to cause our extinction. In some movies, they are actively trying to prolong our existence. There doesn't necessarily have to be a global threat for AI to aid its human counterparts, sometimes they are simply friendly beings. With that said, here are ten sci-fi movies where the AI doesn't want to kill us all.
Her (2013)
In the not-so-distant future where the concept of people having their own AI-run operating systems isn't a far-off idea, Spike Jonze's Her follows a lonely man named Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), a letter writer who is in the final stages of divorce. He decides to purchase OS1, the world's first artificially intelligent operating system that is advertised as having a consciousness. He quickly bonds with the voice behind his AI, Samantha (Scarlett Johansson), and the two realize they are in love.
One of the best elements about this particular sci-fi film is that the stakes are not other-worldly. It's really a love story between two individuals who physically cannot be together. Sci-fi movies where robots are threatening human existence or computers might accidentally destroy the planet are extremely entertaining, but the simple yet intricate story between Theodore and Samantha is a breath of fresh air in the genre. Samantha truly develops feelings for Theodore, despite not having a physical body, and wants the best for him. She cares about his well-being. The feelings between the two are reciprocated even though deep down, they both know that a relationship between them is not viable.
Bicentennial Man (1999)
Chris Columbus's Bicentennial Man follows the 200-year journey of a sentient android named Andrew (Robin Williams), who was originally purchased by a family to perform mundane tasks around the house. After his time spent with the first family, it is apparent that Andrew is unlike other androids as he experiences human emotions.
The two-century odyssey that Andrew embarks on leads him to discover all the intricacies of what being a human being entails. He learns of pain, loss, heartbreak, and grief. He also learns of the best human feelings, such as happiness, excitement, and love. Andrew becomes more like a human than a robot as his journey continues, and he realizes that he just wants to be an ordinary man. Even when those that created him want to destroy him, he continues to be a good spirit.
Iron Man Trilogy (2008-2013)
Marvel is notorious for including high-tech gadgets and gear in their movies, especially if Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark is involved. Before he became Vision, he was originally J.A.R.V.I.S, Tony's high-powered AI that assisted him everywhere he went. J.A.R.V.I.S. helped Tony not only run the operation of his Iron Man suits but also helped him in his workshop when he was developing the first round of suits. Whatever Tony needed, J.A.R.V.I.S. willingly helped him with it. He was such an important part of Tony's life that the two formed a friendship that made it somewhat difficult for Tony to use the Mind Stone to allow him to become Vision in Age of Ultron.
J.A.R.V.I.S. actually stands for Just A Rather Very Intelligent System, which is funny because the acronym almost sounds sarcastic, which sums up the friendship between the two very well. J.A.R.V.I.S. was always ready to help Tony, and would even anticipate Tony's next request so that it would be completed for him when he asked. If there was only one being that Tony trusted his life completely with, it would have been J.A.R.V.I.S.
Moon (2009)
After being stuck in space for nearly three years due to his company sending him on a mission to harvest a substance called helium-3, astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) has a disturbingly personal encounter involving his computer, GERTY. The purpose of GERTY is to attend to Sam's needs and make sure he is always ready for work in Moon.
GERTY is Sam's only companion in space. He has no human interaction as the sole space-based employee for Lunar Industries. On top of that, his only communication source with his family back on Earth no longer works. He relies on GERTY to provide him with any sort of companionship. Even though there are things regarding Lunar Industries that GERTY is aware of that Sam is not, in the end, he helps Sam devise a plan to get him back to Earth.
WALL-E (2008)
Pixar
In a far-off, but not unrealistic, future, humankind has abandoned Earth as a viable place to live due to the mass amount of trash covering the planet at the hands of the multinational Buy N Large corporation. A small garbage-collecting robot named WALL-E is left on Earth by himself to clean up the mess. His only companion is his pet cockroach until he meets EVE, a futuristic reconnaissance robot who is sent to Earth to find proof that life is sustainable on Earth once again.
WALL-E does an excellent job and portraying the greed, corruption, and laziness of the human race. Even though this is a fictitious animated film, the world it depicts is not unrealistic given the way that society treats the planet like it's nothing. WALL-E has been left alone for 700 years, yet he is still a kind, protective being that easily develops feelings and emotions. When EVE deactivates herself according to her directive and is taken back to where she came from, WALL-E hops on board to be with his love. When they realize that the autopilot computer that is manning the space cruiser harboring all human life plans to prevent them from ever going back to Earth, WALL-E and EVE stage a plan to stop the computer. WALL-E and his friends genuinely care about each other as well as the people who are responsible for Earth becoming inhabitable in the first place.
Interstellar (2014)
- Paramount Pictures
After Earth's future has been ravaged by catastrophic events, famines, and droughts, a team of astronauts must find a way to ensure humankind's survival. They discover that interstellar travel via a wormhole in the farthest reaches of our solar system can lead them to a planet that might obtain a suitable environment to sustain human life.
Interstellar features an all-star cast including Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Ellen Burstyn, and more. McConaughey stars as the main protagonist who devotes his life to ensuring that society will have a place to continue living. However, McConaughey's Cooper would not have been able to complete his mission without the help of his crews' two robots, TARS and CASE. They are tactical robots provided to the crew of the Endurance by the U.S. Marine Corps to help them in their journey. They have a funny way of conversing and an equally funny foldable box design. When it comes down to it, TARS sacrifices himself by volunteering to enter the black hole first in order to understand its properties better, effectively destroying himself.
Big Hero 6 (2014)
Child prodigy Hiro Hamada's older brother Tadashi builds a friendly robot, named Baymax, to become a personalized healthcare companion for a project at his college. When tragedy devastates the city of San Fransokyo, Hiro must team up with Baymax and his brother's friends to form a group of high-tech heroes. Along the way, Hiro and Baymax form a bond that cannot be broken.
Big Hero 6 shows movie fans a side of AI that is often overlooked in sci-fi movies. Baymax has an incredible amount of advanced programming available to him and capabilities that one can only dream of having, but the only thing that matters to him is caring for others, especially for Hiro. Even when Hiro designs a high-powered superhero suit for him, Baymax's only true priority is still to protect Hiro. After getting a taste of what the battle programming chip can do, Baymax still wants to remain his friendly self, and even sacrifices his memory chip in order to save Hiro.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
In a society where the polar ice caps have melted, and the coastal cities have drowned, the remaining population is forced to live in the inland areas of each continent. After moving to the interior areas of the world's continents, humankind keeps advancing and developing technology that gives them the opportunity to create hyperrealistic robots that can pass as human beings. David (Haley Joel Osment), an AI boy and the first to have real feelings, lives happily with his "mother", who welcomed him into her home after her real son was diagnosed with an incurable disease. When her son is inevitably cured and sent home to her and her husband, David's life changes forever.
Steven Spielberg's A.I. Artificial Intelligence finds its protagonist David on a quest to become a "real" boy in order to regain the love and affection of the human mother who took him in. David is programmed to love and to feel emotions, so it is plausible that he would want to win back his "mother". Up her actual child returns, the mom treats David like her own. David desperately wants that back as he experiences life just as any human being does.
Star Wars
The Star Wars universe is known for having a droid capable of doing almost any task a person can think of. The first droids ever introduced in the Star Wars world were the anxious C3PO and the lovable R2-D2. C3PO only ever wanted to be of service to whoever he was to report to, while R2-D2 remained a hundred percent loyal to Luke Skywalker. Since we were first introduced to the two famous droids in 1977, we have met many other droids in the over 45 years since the original film was released.
When the new trilogy of Star Wars movies started in 2015 with The Force Awakens, fans were introduced to the adorable droid BB-8. He ends up on a multi-planet journey with the trilogy's protagonist Rey (Daisy Ridley) and original hero Han Solo as they attempt to stop Kylo Ren. BB-8 has the same loyal tendencies as R2 and fierce protectiveness. When he is reunited with Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), he shares that dependable nature with both of his favorite humans.
The Iron Giant (1999)
When a giant robot from outer space lands on Earth, nine-year-old Hogarth Hughes befriends the sweet alien robot. Despite the robot's kind nature, a government agent in town still seeks to have him destroyed at all costs. It's up to Hogarth to protect the giant by keeping him at Dean McCoppin's junkyard where hopefully he will be safe.
A special bond forms between Hogarth and the robot in The Iron Giant to the point where both of them will do whatever is necessary to protect the other. When the government agent who has been hunting the giant robot down accidentally launches a missile headed for Hogarth's home, the titular giant does not hesitate to protect his young human friend by intercepting the missile using his own body as a shield. It is one of the more endearing sci-fi films of the last 20+ years.