The Oppenheimer Moment —
Are there any lessons to be learnt — in Artificial Intelligence, in Medicine and Ophthalmology?
Personal thoughts from Christopher Nolan’s film and the man himself
This weekend, I watched the IMAX premiere of Christopher Nolan’s latest epic — the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the atomic bomb. The film is based on the biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer (2005, Bird & Sherwin).
As with all of Nolan’s films, Oppenheimer shines when experienced in IMAX, where the filmmaker’s sweeping cinematography (whether intense courtroom shots or New Mexico desert landscapes) provide such a spectacle. This is complemented by Ludwig Göransson’s driving score which transports viewers right into the breathless intensity of this complex world.
Cillian Murphy is mesmerizing as the enigmatic physicist, portraying both his brilliance and internal turmoil. Nolan takes some narrative risks, framing the story through abstract metaphors and occasionally disorienting jumps in time. While this may puzzle the viewer, it also creates moments of incredible visceral power. He also uses colour and black-and-white to help orientate us, and I felt that I was muchless bamboozled than when watching his last film, Tenet.
Oppenheimer and the story of the Atomic Bomb
Oppenheimer was a brilliant theoretical physicist with a glittering reputation within the scientific community. However, as the war escalated, his talents were redirected towards the development of a weapon with unimaginable destructive power. This transformation thrust him into the heart of moral ambiguity.
He became leader of the Manhattan Project, and played a pivotal role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. Often hailed as the “father of the atomic bomb,” his genius was undeniable, but his journey was marred by profound inner conflicts. There were factors to this: his own unique personality traits, his left-leaning political inclinations and sympathies for socialist ideals.
“I can’t think that it would be terrible of me to say — and it is occasionally true — that I need physics more than friends.” Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer felt that the pursuit of scientific knowledge was a noble endeavour. Yet, the realization that his work would lead to the creation of a weapon capable of ending countless lives weighed heavily on his conscience.
Oppenheimer was a secular humanist, with Jewish heritage. The bomb represented a double-edged sword — a testament to human ingenuity and progress, but also a harbinger of devastation and suffering. He fought and became tortured by the conundrum of potentially ending the war sooner, versus the catastrophic loss of civilian lives. After all, it was the humanity which had driven his scientific pursuits and his previous political allegiances.
“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds” — Oppenheimer after witnessing the first successful test. Words translated from Bhagavad Gita
On 6 and 9 August 1945, the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively. The aerial bombings together killed up to 226,000 people, most of whom were civilians. This remains the only use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict.
After the war, Oppenheimer’s guilt and remorse persisted. He advocated for international cooperation and disarmament, becoming an advocate for the peaceful use of atomic energy. However, his past involvement in the bomb’s creation remained a constant source of internal struggle. Eventually his security clearance was revoked during the McCarthy era due to alleged ties to communism. The political climate of the time cast a shadow on his reputation, highlighting the personal cost of his internal battles.
“The extreme danger to mankind inherent in the proposal to develop thermonuclear weapons wholly outweighs any military advantage.” Robert Oppenheimer, 1949
Cillian Murphy, directed by Christopher Nolan, expertly portrays the conflicting emotions and moral dilemmas surrounding the bomb, and indeed all the actors portray highly flawed characters in a time which showed the complexity of human nature and the haunting consequences of scientific advancements.
Personal Perspective
Promotion Hall, Hiroshima. Credit: Own Photo
Growing up, I attempted but could never really imagine the irreversible implications of dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, something which could cause such indiscriminate and devastating loss of innocent human lives. Nolan’s epic brings home how these flawed individuals might have wrestled with their decision.
A few weeks after the bomb landed, Oppenheimer was confronted and startled by footage of victims at Hiroshima and Nagasaki . Visiting the sites for themselves was very important for me, in order to appreciate more closely the event which happened those decades ago. I travelled there in 2019 and visited The Atomic Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome) in Hiroshima, close to the hypocenter of the nuclear bomb. The entire district was incinerated, but there was a concerted effort to preserve this hall as a memory of the 70,000 people who died instantly and the 70,000 who died in the days, weeks, months and years after the atomic bomb.
Although Hiroshima has experienced the worst of humanity, the city is one of hope. The friendly schoolchildren in the picture above were practising English and approached with clipboards and ball-point pens to ask me what message I had for world peace.
This was a very difficult question. I thought for a bit. All I could say is that we need to talk to each other and understand each other. There is much more than brings us together than separates us. I really hope we never ever have to see these scenes again and I suppose that I had always felt like this. In 2003, I had visited El Bolsón in Northern Patagonia, Argentina — which was the first nuclear-free zone in Latin America, and one of the first in the world. I contrasted this perspective on a utopian local and world community with visiting Auschwitz and the scenes of the worst of humanity in the 20th century a few years later.
“That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history.” — A Huxley
It is difficult for anyone to truly rationalise the worst of humanity and the decisions which needed to make at that time. Whatever our feelings on the use of nuclear weapons to end World War II, Nolan’s film does not preach whether the “right decision” was made, only a window into the tremendous inner conflicts being fought at the time.
AI and “The Oppenheimer moment”
In the discussions about the moral dilemmas in his film, Christopher Nolan has drawn parallels between those posed by artificial intelligence (AI) and the challenges faced by Oppenheimer’s work on the Atom. We are at a critical watershed of excitement about the possibilities that AI provide and the potential for catastrophe.
Nolan describes how leading researchers in AI and AI ethics are referring to their “Oppenheimer moment”, and sounding the alarm on the potential national security risks arising from the weaponization of AI and the loss of human control over autonomous weapons systems. Birgitta Dresp-Langley, a professor at the University of Strasbourg, emphasized that the advancement of AI carries a “real threat of giving rise to new forms of weapons of mass destruction”.
Apart from national security concerns, AI technology poses various other hazards: from inequitable environmental costs, stereotyping, denigration, extremist ideology, and wrongful arrests associated with AI. Corporate accountability regarding AI and weaponry is a pressing issue, as expressed by Nolan. The idea of individuals developing or utilizing AI technology without a full understanding of its implications is deeply troubling. Especially alarming is the prospect of AI systems gaining control over nuclear weapons within the defense infrastructure.
In the film, Nolan recreates the intense experience of witnessing the first detonation of a nuclear weapon, known as the Trinity Test. His goal was to make the scene feel as realistic and terrifying as possible, raising awareness about the grave dangers society faces today and provoking unsettling questions in the minds of the audience. As AI continues to advance, the relevance of the lessons learned from Oppenheimer’s story becomes increasingly apparent. The challenges of developing powerful technologies with the potential for unintended consequences cannot be overlooked. It is imperative to approach AI with a strong sense of responsibility and a comprehensive understanding of its implications to ensure a safer and more secure future.
Oppenheimer: Human perspective insights for our field of Medicine and Ophthalmology
Nuanced stories of brilliance, triumph and ethical conundrums are always worth analysing — are there learning points for our field, which is focused on the realm of sight, eyecare and vision preservation? Oppenheimer’s relentless pursuit of scientific knowledge mirrors the dedication of physicians and vision scientists to medical research and the advancement of medical knowledge.
His journey was riddled with ethical dilemmas. This “American Prometheus” serves as a reminder to us that ethical considerations should be central to our practice: when implementing cutting-edge technologies or striking a balance between progress and potential risks in a new intervention. Nolan’s scenes showing the Trinity test highlight the fine balance between innovation and safety when developing the atomic bomb.
The story and the film highlight the power of collaboration, with scientists from diverse backgrounds coming together for a common goal. Some of them came from tremendously different backgrounds in theoretical and experimental physics. In ophthalmology, too, collaboration plays a crucial role in advancing research, developing new therapies, and improving patient outcomes. Ophthalmologists, optometrists, orthoptists, vision scientistsand other healthcare professionals collaborate to address complex eye conditions and promote ocular health worldwide.
Oppenheimer had many flaws, many struggles, and his work took a considerable emotional toll on him. On a personal level, Oppenheimer battled depression despite professional success. Many physicians can identify with the challenge of maintaining mental health amid a demanding yet rewarding career. Burnout is increasingly recognized in medicine. Ophthalmologists must take care of themselves, with self-compassion, before they can care for others.
We must also navigate the human element in our practice, demonstrating empathy, understanding, and compassion whilst treating our patients, and consider the potential consequences of decisions on our patients’ lives, including issues such as patient autonomy, end-of-life care, and the use of advanced technologies in treatment.
The fallout from Oppenheimer’s involvement in the atomic bomb project had significant repercussions on his life. He became an advocate against development of the Hydrogen bomb. He faced challenges, both personally and professionally, and experienced moments of failure.
In medicine, accountability and learning from historical mistakes are crucial. Understanding past medical errors and striving for continuous improvement helps physicians provide better patient care and uphold trust with their patients. Physicians, too, encounter setbacks and challenging patient outcomes. Learning from adversity and using it as a platform for growth and improvement is a shared experience between Oppenheimer and healthcare professionals.
Summary
Ultimately, the film highlights the enormous responsibility which comes with the ability to impact human life, the importance of ethical principles, and the inner toll this can take . While the scale differs greatly, ophthalmologists, eye practitioners and physicians in general can relate in ensuring their knowledge benefits humanity.
Oppenheimer’s conflicted journey serves as a somber reminder of the ethical considerations that must accompany scientific advancements with immense consequences.
