(PJ Media)—In a classic 2012 episode of “The Big Bang Theory,” the notoriously girl-shy Raj Koothrappali buys a new iPhone, starts talking to Siri, and instantly falls head-over-heels in love. As much in love as broadcast TV will allow a half-hour sitcom about three super-genius geeks to portray.
The following year, director Spike Jonze released “Her,” starring Scarlett Johansson and Joaquin Phoenix, about a man who falls in love with his AI-powered PC’s operating system. Needless to say, in an R-rated movie, set in the near future, much more about this romance can be depicted than whatever the CBS censors allowed Raj and Siri to get up to.
(WARNING: Spoilers abound going forward, but we are talking about a movie released in 2013. If you’ve never seen it, go to Amazon Prime Video, check it out, and come back here when you’re done.)
The concept of supersmart AI is nothing new in science fiction, of course. In his 1970 book, “The Film Director as Superstar,” critic Joseph Gelmis asked Stanley Kubrick several questions about one of the most important characters of “2001: A Space Odyssey,” the Hal 9000 supercomputer that dominated the film’s third act.
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