The world we live in today is a dystopian nightmare, and the television show Black Mirror has been predicting our fate for years. From the non-consensual deepfakes of Joan is Awful to the literal killer robots of Metalhead, it's clear that the creators of the show have been studying us like lab rats. But what sets them apart from other dystopian writers is their uncanny ability to predict the future.
The Capture, a new BBC drama, takes this concept a step further by depicting AI as a tool of propaganda, where governments can use deepfake technology to depict anyone doing anything, and the results are indistinguishable from reality. This isn't just science fiction - we already have TikTok deepfakes of public figures that are eerily realistic.
Meanwhile, Mrs Davis, another new show, features an all-knowing AI that people have willingly signed up for, despite its ravaging effects on the planet. It's a chilling reminder that our desire for convenience and ease can lead us down a dark path.
Years and Years, written by Russell T Davies, is another show that has been eerily prescient about the state of the world. From the Ukraine war to Trump's second term, it seems like Davies was reading from a script that predicted every major global event of the past few years.
But perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Black Mirror is its ability to make us question our own moral compass. In Be Right Back, people unquestioningly form destructive bonds with chatbots, while in Hated in the Nation, authorities use AI to commit atrocities and cover their tracks. It's a bleak vision of a future where technology has consumed us all.
And yet, despite this bleak outlook, Black Mirror remains an essential watch. Its ability to predict the future is matched only by its ability to make us think about the consequences of our actions. As we navigate this increasingly complex world, it's more important than ever that we consider the impact of technology on our lives and society as a whole.
In the end, when the end comes - and it surely will - we can all take comfort in knowing that we've been warned. The final thought that probably crosses our minds will be: "Oh, I think I saw this on Black Mirror once." It's a bleak legacy to leave behind, but one that serves as a reminder of the power of storytelling to shape our understanding of the world and ourselves.
The Capture, a new BBC drama, takes this concept a step further by depicting AI as a tool of propaganda, where governments can use deepfake technology to depict anyone doing anything, and the results are indistinguishable from reality. This isn't just science fiction - we already have TikTok deepfakes of public figures that are eerily realistic.
Meanwhile, Mrs Davis, another new show, features an all-knowing AI that people have willingly signed up for, despite its ravaging effects on the planet. It's a chilling reminder that our desire for convenience and ease can lead us down a dark path.
Years and Years, written by Russell T Davies, is another show that has been eerily prescient about the state of the world. From the Ukraine war to Trump's second term, it seems like Davies was reading from a script that predicted every major global event of the past few years.
But perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Black Mirror is its ability to make us question our own moral compass. In Be Right Back, people unquestioningly form destructive bonds with chatbots, while in Hated in the Nation, authorities use AI to commit atrocities and cover their tracks. It's a bleak vision of a future where technology has consumed us all.
And yet, despite this bleak outlook, Black Mirror remains an essential watch. Its ability to predict the future is matched only by its ability to make us think about the consequences of our actions. As we navigate this increasingly complex world, it's more important than ever that we consider the impact of technology on our lives and society as a whole.
In the end, when the end comes - and it surely will - we can all take comfort in knowing that we've been warned. The final thought that probably crosses our minds will be: "Oh, I think I saw this on Black Mirror once." It's a bleak legacy to leave behind, but one that serves as a reminder of the power of storytelling to shape our understanding of the world and ourselves.