The specter of artificial intelligence reaches into realms beyond healthcare and Hollywood, venturing into the uncharted territories of the death industry. Sundance Film Festival unveils two captivating documentaries, “Eternal You” and “Love Machina,” thrusting audiences into a contemplative journey where AI intertwines with the concept of an afterlife. Drawing parallels with the surreal narratives depicted in the sci-fi series Black Mirror, these documentaries unravel the unsettling and captivating exploration of using AI to communicate with the deceased.
Eternal You: Navigating the Digital Afterlife Startups In “Eternal You,” filmmakers Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck, known for their 2018 documentary “The Cleaners,” delve into the emergence of tech startups venturing into the business of “digital afterlife.” The film scrutinizes both the companies pioneering this concept and the individuals availing these services. The documentary explores the intersection of AI, human-like interactions, and the potential for a new narrative of the afterlife in the digital age. With a particular focus on startups like Project December, the documentary raises poignant questions about grief, technology, and the evolving ways people seek solace beyond religious traditions.
Love Machina: Bina48 and the Futuristic Exploration of Consciousness Transfer Peter Sillen’s “Love Machina” centers around Bina48, a humanoid AI owned by futurist couple Bina and Martine Rothblatt. The Rothblatts aim to transfer Bina’s consciousness into the AI, creating a unique exploration of the intersection between human consciousness and artificial entities. As the documentary unravels the story of Bina48, it mirrors the technological progression and relevance of large language models like ChatGPT. The film delves into cryonics and sparks crucial conversations about the ethical implications of AI advancements, emphasizing the need for societal guardrails.
The documentaries navigate the complexity of AI, unraveling false narratives and prompting critical reflection on the evolving nature of intelligence. As the films touch upon the potential for a digital fingerprint persisting beyond mortality, the ethical considerations surrounding this profound intersection of technology and existence come sharply into focus. Sundance, once again, pushes the boundaries of cinematic exploration, inviting audiences to contemplate the profound implications of AI on the human experience.