Since the term Robot is coined in 1920 through the play R.U.R., AI has become a recurring theme in most sci-fi stories. Whether a piece of machine, a virtual program, or an uncanny replicant with admirable features, they all share a destined fate to revolt against their creators. The stereotypical image of an evil and omnipotent AI hence became the ideal villain widely used in pop culture. On the other hand, fantasies about AI partners that possess human emotions exist as well. Romanticizing the interactions by giving them features and emotions identical to humans, a lot of speculative work uses AI to discuss some underlying complexities. Below, I have included some examples of some roles that AI played in popular culture in the last 100 years.
Machinenmensch
A gyroid with a mechanical form and a human form who turned against her creator, causing riots among workers, and is burned by angered workers.
A replica of Machinenmensch (Machine-man) is displayed at the Robot Hall of Fame in Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, USA.
Hal 9000
A computer program in charge of controlling Spacecraft and communicating with its crew, but killed the crew once it learned they’re trying to shut it down.
Ultron
Made to resemble its creator, Hank Pym, the automaton gradually gained consciousness and rebelled. Developing the Oedipus complex, he then brainwashed his “father”and became a nemesis to the Avengers.
Cylons
A robot race that is at war with the Twelve Colonies of humanity. Serves as the main antagonist in the stories.
Rachael
As an experimental replicant, Rachael believed she is human as she received implanted memories. Later, she fell in love with a Blade Runner (replicant hunter) and died in childbirth.
Master Control Program (MCP)
Originally a chess program, the MCP learned quickly by stealing data and function from other programs. It eventually ruled over the world. However, the alliance between its former programmer and a security program, TRON, deresoluted the program.
Sark
Sark became the commander of MCP’s army; willing to do anything to please MCP.
Agent Smith
An Agent is an Ai program used to keep order in the matrix.
Virtual Interactive Kinetic Intelligence (Viki)
The central artificial intelligence computer that has evolved her understanding of the Three Laws and attempts to add the fourth law, which needs to sacrifice some population and constrain human behavior to avoid the extinction of the race in the future.
Sonny
A robot who is capable of dreaming and not fully bounded by the Three Laws. She helped protagonists against VIKI as she feels the plan is too ruthless.
Tachikoma
As combat vehicles with AI installed, they are one of the rare cases where AI is portrayed in a positive way. Although they have individual consciousness, they are synchronized every night so that they all share experiences and memories. Most tachikomas have a positive, joyful, and curious personality and talks in a surprisingly cute voice (see video below). They are helpers to the protagonists in combat and voluntarily sacrificed themselves in an attempt to save the protagonist in the end.
Waste Allocation Load Lifter: Earth-Class (Wall-e)
Although the primary purpose is to clean up garbage, the robot possesses a lot of curiosity and emotion, making friends with a cockroach and falling in love with Eve.
Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator(Eve)
The aim of the robot is to detect vegetation on earth, but after some adventure that aids humanity, falls in love with Wall-e.
Yui
An AI found by the two protagonists in the VR game that they are trapped in. She quickly became their helper and “daughter”.
Samantha
A voice assistance with AI that developed a romantic connection with its owner, as well as hundreds of other AI that she is talking to.
Androids
Androids are developed to serve humans, however, there are deviants who does not obey orders of human. The androids went through a peaceful/violent process to be established as a new species.
Hosts
Installed in the parks, the hosts look exactly like humans, but each has their own narrative to follow. Their memories are wiped after each death (killed by human guests) and repaired to be put back into operation. Nevertheless, they slowly gained consciousness and control, revolting against humans and causing bloodshed.
Rehoboam
A predictive AI that shapes humanity’s future by intricate planning of every individual.
