Even – or especially – if you’ve never heard of these 10 films, you owe it to yourself to see them. Or … (+)
If you’re a tech leader – and even if you’re not – you owe it to yourself to watch at least a few of the films on this list. Each of them raises deep ethical questions and is otherwise gripping.
Here are 5 lesser-known works of cinema that await you online or on old-fashioned DVD or Blu-Ray discs. For each film I include:
- a reference to an ethical question raised by the film
- a reference to deepen the ethical issues of the film
- The Rotten Tomatoes rating at the time of this article’s publication
- where to look
1. The girl of fireworks
David Girard Tatum Matthews, Franklin Ritch and Sinda Nichols from “The Artifice Girl”
Release date: 2022
Director and screenwriter: Franklin Ritch
With : Tatum Matthews, David Girard and Sinda Nichols
Summary: A team of special agents discovers a revolutionary AI program used to bait and catch online predators.
Ethical question: Is it ethical to use AI in law enforcement without considering potential unintended consequences?
To find out more: “Ethical AI in Law Enforcement: Balancing Innovation and Responsibility” by Jared Barnhart is a good overview of some of the key ethical questions associated with the role of artificial intelligence in policing.
Why you should watch: Offers a low-budget but impactful exploration of AI’s darkest ethical challenges.
Rotten Tomatoes 92%
Where to watch: Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
2. Ghost in the Shell (animated film)
We are unable to show you an extract from this film, so here is a photo from a Japanese manga fan … (+)
Release date: 1996
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Writer: Kazunori Itō
Main actors (voice): Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Ōtsuka, Kōichi Yamadera
Summary: A cyborg policewoman and her partner track down a mysterious and powerful hacker called Puppet Master, an autonomous AI program
Ethical question: How do we define identity and consciousness in beings who are both human and machines?
To find out more: Donna Haraway’s pioneering essay, “The Cyborg Manifesto,” contained in her book, Simians, cyborgs and women: the reinvention of naturediscusses the boundaries between humans, animals and machines.
Why you should watch: A seminal work of anime that explores the philosophical aspects of AI and humanity.
Rotten Tomatoes 95%
Where to watch: Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
3. Metropolis (1927)
A poster for Fritz Lang’s 1927 drama “Metropolis” starring Brigitte Helm.
Release date: 1927
Director: Fritz Lang
Writers: Fritz Lang, Thea von Harbou
With : Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel, Gustav Fröhlich
Summary: A silent classic, Metropolis presents a disturbing vision of the future in which the rich live in luxury, workers work underground, and a scientist creates a humanoid robot to control people.
Ethical question: Do we have an ethical responsibility to ensure that AI will not manipulate or oppress others?
To find out more: Cathy O’Neil’s book Weapons of mathematical destruction examines how algorithms and AI are used to perpetuate inequality and exploitation in education, employment, and the criminal justice system
Why you should watch: It is a groundbreaking classic that laid the foundation for discussions about AI ethics. Don’t let his age discourage you. It remains essential viewing and entertaining (if unsettling) to boot.
Rotten Tomatoes 97%
Where to watch: Streaming on Max or available on Blu-Ray via Kino Lorber Films
4. Robot and Frank
Actors Jeremy Strong, James Marsden, Frank Langella, Liv Tyler and director Jake Schreier attend the … (+)
Release date: 2012
Director: Jake Schreier
Writer: Christopher Ford
With : Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden and Liv Tyler
Summary: Aging ex-con receives robot guard from son, leading to unusual criminal partnership
Ethical question: What are the moral implications of creating personal bonds with AI companions?
To find out more: Sherry Turkle’s book, Alone together: why we expect more from technology and less from each other“, discusses human-robot relationships as part of broader cultural shifts resulting from our increasing reliance on technology.
Why you should watch: A heartwarming and humorous look at camaraderie and the evolving role of AI in everyday life.
Rotten Tomatoes 87%
Where to watch: Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
5. Coded bias
What does your phone see when you look at it?
Release date: 2020
Director: Shalini Kantayya
Main cast: Features Joy Buolamwini and other experts
Summary: This documentary explores the biases inherent in AI algorithms, particularly in facial recognition technology.
Ethical question: How can we combat and mitigate bias in AI systems to prevent harm and ensure fairness?
To find out more: THE Digital Legal Procedure Clinic from Cornell University has created a nifty one-page PDF titled “Coded Bias: An Annotated Reading List on Facial Recognition”
Why you should watch: This is an accessible view of some of the ethical challenges AI poses today.
Rotten Tomatoes 100%
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix
“Where are my favorite films about AI ethics?”
“Where are my favorite movies about AI ethics?”
You may be wondering why this list doesn’t include 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick, HerOr AI: Artificial Intelligence. They are not on this list because they are all well known and far from underrated. Of course, even if you’ve seen them before, each one is worth revisiting, especially regarding the ethical questions they raise.
But there are many other films about AI ethics worth considering. Due to lack of space, we cannot include them here. But we will do that in a future article, so stay tuned!
