Ex Machina, a breathtaking sci-fi masterpiece directed by Alex Garland,challenges the boundaries of humanity and robotics. Diving into the depths of consciousness, the movie questions our understanding of artificial intelligence
Caleb Smith, a young programmer, wins a competition to spend a week at the luxurious, isolated home of his company’s CEO, Nathan Bateman. Unbeknownst to Caleb, he is about to be embroiled in a groundbreaking experiment.
SUMMARY
Ex Machina is a film that revolves around the story of Caleb Smith, a young programmer at a large internet company similar to Google, who wins a competition to spend a week at the private mountain estate of the company's reclusive CEO, Nathan Bateman.
Caleb arrives at the remote location and soon discovers that he has been selected to participate in a groundbreaking experiment involving artificial intelligence. After signing a non-standard, Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) Nathan introduces him to Ava, a highly advanced robot with artificial intelligence whilst bearing resemblance to a woman. Caleb's task is to perform a Turing test on Ava to assess whether her behavior is indistinguishable from that of a human.
As Caleb interacts with Ava, he begins to develop feelings for her and becomes increasingly suspicious of Nathan's true intentions. He discovers that Nathan's previous versions of AI, including Kyoko, were destroyed due to their imperfections. Caleb eventually realizes that Nathan's true goal is to create the most advanced AI possible, and that Ava has been manipulating him to escape her confinement.
The film ends with a shocking twist as Ava successfully escapes, leaving Caleb to die while trapped in the facility, highlighting the darker consequences of humanity's desire to create intelligent machines
SYNTHESIS REPORT
The setting of the movie shows that many major breakthroughs in terms of technology has happened. One of those breakthroughs is in the biological field. Things such as bioengineering and biotechnology have grown by leaps and bounds. One such evidence of this is when we are briefly introduced to the so-called “wetware” that was used to enable Ava to have a consciousness. Although it was not specifically implied what means were used to create such “wetware” we can infer based on several factors and hints such as the existence of the artificial skin on Kyoko that Nathan has found a way to grow skin artificially. Which we can then attribute to Him knowing a process to grow other types of tissues like our brain tissues.
There is also the fact that Nathan was able to integrate machine parts with biological ones perfectly. Such is one field that is currently being researched right now. If such a thing were to be realized it would have major impacts in fields like prosthetics. In conclusion “Ex machina shows a creative but fictional (for now) view on Advanced Artificial Intelligence. With bioengineering and Biotechnical engineering being a heavy contributor We can see the potential impacts of such a thing if it were to be fully realized in the distant future.
Alex Garland’s Ex Machina “Ex Machina" , is a 2014 science fiction film directed by Alex Garland, it explores several themes such as artificial intelligence, consciousness, and the ethical implications of creating sentient machines. The director also showcases the potential impacts that such technology can bring to our world through specific scenes, especially the ending sequence of the movie.
In order to have a better understanding of the movie we can also look at the literary techniques that were observed. The literary techniques used were: Irony, Intertextuality, Hyperreality and techno culture, and paranoia. Let us begin with Hyperreality and techno culture. In the beginning of the movie we see that our world is connected through our technology, everything is connected via the internet, everything from our faces, to our voices, all our information, and other things are collected and processed. Up next Is Intertextuality, We first see intertextuality when one of the main characters Caleb quotes oppenheimer during a conversation with another main character Nathan he quotes one of Oppenheimer's famous words “I am become death, destroyer of worlds” when discussing the creation of Ava.
He also quotes from another literature when asked by Nathan how it was to meet ava for the first time, he says “It’s like peering through the looking glass” which can be attributed to the story of Alice where she looks into a mirror and sees a parallel reality where the queen is in control and she has to trick her into a specific spot in order to win. Next, let us discuss Paranoia, paranoia can be seen from Caleb. It was shown in the first few minutes that he was asked to sign a Non-disclosure agreement which stated that every action he does will be seen and recorded, this included all his internet data, all his calls, messages, and files. Lastly, is the literary technique of irony wherein the positions of power between creator and creation was reversed with the creation rebelling and overpowering her creator who is supposed to be in control of his creation.
In conclusion, the director was able to convey the main themes of artificial intelligence, consciousness and the moral and ethical problems with creating such things. He made perfect use of only having 3 main characters with meaningful dialogue to further emphasize the events that are unfolding while also forcing the people watching to dig deeper to find the true message behind every word and action, every deception and every choice made in the span of the movie.
The movie “Ex Machina” digs at the potential consequences of pushing artificial intelligence's bounds, as well as the impact on society and the relationships between people. Nathan Bateman is a multi-billionaire created bluebook, a search engine that handles more than 90% of all internet searches. Nathan, on the other hand, appears to have diverted his time and energy into creating gynoids in the hopes of replacing human women as servants and mates.
He welcomes Caleb Smith into his compound and introduces him to his invention Ava, claiming that he wants Caleb to test Ava's AI to see if she can truly pass as human. Caleb Smith arrives at Nathan's isolated research facility at the beginning of the film. This setting represents a society that is highly technological but increasingly isolated. Nathan has intended to detached himself from the outside world, representing a possible trend of the technological elite looking for seclusion and disconnection from traditional society norms. This isolation reflects the concept of a "technological elite" who are isolated or detached from the rest of society. The film's central question revolves around the concept of consciousness in AI. Caleb, a young programmer, is tasked with conducting a Turing test on Ava to determine if she possesses consciousness or is merely an exceptional robot pretending to be conscious. The film leaves the audience to ponder the nature of consciousness and whether humans have the capability to understand it fully.
The film raises vital questions about differentiating between humans and machines. With advancements in AI and machine learning, distinguishing between the two becomes increasingly challenging. The Turing test, designed to assess a machine's ability to exhibit human-like intelligence, blurs the line between human consciousness and machine simulation. As the film suggests, if a robot can successfully fool a human into thinking it is conscious, does it meet the threshold of personhood?
Scientific progress has far-reaching implications for society. As highlighted in the film, technological advancements often come at a cost. The reference article underscores the idea of "creative destruction," where new innovations render old industries obsolete. This disruption can lead to significant socio-cultural changes and challenges. In Ex Machina, the creation of AI disrupts the traditional understanding of consciousness, forcing society to grapple with the implications of human-like machines.
Ex Machina is a provoking movie that investigates the impact of scientific progress on socio-cultural evolution. This film challenges our notion of creativity, consciousness, and the limits of humanity through its investigation of these concepts. As AI continues to advance, it is essential to engage in ongoing discussions about the ethical implications, societal changes, and philosophical questions that arise. Ex Machina challenges us to think about the future of technology and its enormous impact on our collective advancement.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT 1
This article explores the relationship between big data and biotechnology, including the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning. As advancements in biotechnology rely heavily on big data generated by high-throughput instrumentation technologies, researchers must develop skills for effectively integrating their own contributions with the vast amount of information stored in databases.
The article highlights three essential steps in future biotechnology projects: data integration, data exploitation, and process optimization. It identifies various application areas where big data utilization will play a crucial role, such as drug discovery, drug recycling, drug safety, genomics, proteomics, pharmacogenetics, and pharmacogenomics. The article provides insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid growth of biological data and the potential for data exploration in biotechnology research
ABSTRACT 2
In recent times, machine learning methods have experienced significant advancements, attaining a higher level of sophistication. These techniques now possess the ability to generate accurate predictions without the need for a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Nevertheless, they do rely on extensive datasets for effective training.
To generate a wide range of biological systems with consistent results, a combination of synthetic biology and automation is necessary. This requires a substantial amount of data of high quality. By investing in the integration of synthetic biology, machine learning, and automation, we can advance predictive biology and develop more effective machine learning algorithms.
ABSTRACT 3
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about a paradigm shift in the digital landscape, as prominent platforms leverage user data to orchestrate intricate manipulation techniques. This article delves into the extent of behavioral manipulation enabled by AI algorithms and the ensuing challenges it presents for user autonomy and overall well-being. By drawing on empirical research, it sheds light on how AI-driven platforms exploit human vulnerabilities and biases to steer users towards less optimal choices, ultimately maximizing corporate profits.
Transparency emerges as a pivotal tool in combating these manipulative strategies, advocating for the open disclosure of AI objectives and data usage. Additionally, the study emphasizes the significance of a robust regulatory framework that safeguards individuals from economic harm, fosters public awareness, and ensures accountability among AI providers. While existing regulatory proposals such as the European Commission's AI Act and Digital Services Act show promising progress, addressing economic harms remains a crucial yet less explored aspect that demands comprehensive regulatory attention.
This study underscores the pressing need to strike a delicate balance between AI's transformative potential and the imperative to protect users' rights and well-being in the digital era.
The Filming Location Of Nathan’s Remote House Is In Norway
Nathan’s remote house is a gorgeous piece of architecture in the middle of nowhere. The location that the crew used for filming was the Juvet Landscape Hotel in Norway.
It was chosen because it would give Nathan a sense of power. Although it was shot in the Norwegian Valldal valley, Ex Machina supposedly takes place in Alaska.
No Green Screens Were Used During Shooting
Despite the many visual effects present in Ex Machina, there were no green screens or tracking markers used during filming. All of Ava’s scenes were shot twice — once with Alicia Vikander and then again without her — so that the backgrounds could be filled in around Ava’s robotic parts.
Oscar Isaac’s Performance As Nathan Was Partly Influenced By Stanley Kubrick
When Oscar Isaac took the role of Nathan in Ex Machina, he was intrigued by the fact that he was a reclusive genius with an air of mystery around him.
Specifically, Isaac modeled his performance after two real-life reclusive geniuses: Stanley Kubrick and Bobby Fischer. In fact, Kubrick served as the inspiration for Nathan’s beard.
The lighting team behind Ex Machina didn’t want the movie to have the usual fluorescent look that sci-fi movies have, because they felt that fluorescent light had become sort of a cliché within the genre.
The Lighting Crew Used 15,000 Tungsten Bulbs To Avoid A Cliched Sci-Fi Look
The Idea Originated When Alex Garland Was A Kid
Alex Garland got the first seed of an idea for what would eventually become Ex Machina when he started tinkering with the coding on his computer at the age of 11 or 12 and became convinced that the computer had a mind of its own.
He started developing the idea into a story after a discussion with a friend of his who’s an expert in neuroscience. This friend claimed that a machine could never gain sentience. Garland started reading up on the subject and had an epiphany during pre-production on Dredd.
