Forget ‘Her’. If You Want to Understand AI Companions, Watch ‘Ex Machina’ Instead.
When OpenAI launched the voice assistant ChatGPT-4o in May, users couldn’t help but draw comparisons to Spike Jonze’s 2013 film “Her.” Scarlett Johansson, who voiced the AI assistant Samantha in the movie, even remarked on the uncanny resemblance of ChatGPT-4o’s voice to her own. Yet, while “Her” captures the essence of our current AI interactions, it’s Alex Garland’s “Ex Machina” that truly sketches the future of AI companions. As AI transitions from disembodied voices to physical entities, the chilling narrative of “Ex Machina” becomes a critical forecast.
Twenty years ago, Frank Oz revived “The Stepford Wives,” originally a 1972 novel and a 1975 film, portraying a suburban dystopia where wives are replaced by robots. Nicole Kidman’s character, Joanna, witnesses her friends morph into compliant, automated household helpers. In today’s era of advancing AI and robotics, the situation is almost reversed. Our machines are evolving into entities with human-like qualities, a trajectory eerily similar to the docile, artificially perfect companions in “Ex Machina.”
The Evolution of Intimate AI: From Voices to Bodies
AI companions are becoming more prevalent, but some pioneers are pushing the boundaries by giving these AIs a physical form. In Japan, Gatebox offers projection devices that house AI virtual assistants designed to resemble popular characters. Men have even begun marrying these Gatebox holograms, despite the occasional “network error” communication issues. Much like the robotic wives of Stepford, these AI entities maintain a subservient role to their human counterparts, highlighting a concerning trend towards docile digital partners.
The robotic sex doll industry has also seen remarkable growth. Companies like RealDoll have been merging AI technology with physical dolls for years. In 2018, RealDoll’s founder Matt McMullen introduced HarmonyX, a robot girlfriend that pairs with an app. Today, more than 10 RealDoll models are equipped with sophisticated language models, offering an unprecedented level of interaction.
“We aimed to leverage AI for companionship, human connection, and intimacy from the outset,” McMullen told Fast Company. Despite advancements, these dolls are still discernibly robotic. Current models can move their entire bodies and even have interchangeable heads, but achieving the realistic appearance and behavior seen in “Ex Machina” remains a distant goal. “There’s a clear divide between humans and robots,” McMullen notes. “Making their appearance, movements, and tactile feel more human-like is an ongoing challenge.”
Virtual Reality: Bringing AI Companions Closer
While the development of fully lifelike robot partners continues, virtual and augmented reality provide another avenue for users to engage with their AI companions. Replika, a leader in digital companionship, allows users to personalize their virtual friends with avatars viewed through devices like the Oculus Rift.
“Seeing your AI friend is crucial if you have an emotional connection with them,” says Eugenia Kuyda, CEO of Replika. “An AI without a face or name feels impersonal.” Andy Southern, the mind behind the YouTube channel Obscure Nerd VR, has explored Replika’s VR girlfriend technology. He observes that VR adds a “tactile dimension” to the emotional and conversational connections users build with their AI partners.
However, Southern also notes a worrying trend among younger users. “Many comments I receive express a fear of talking to real people, especially real girls,” he says. This shift towards preferring AI over real relationships mirrors the disturbing themes in “Ex Machina,” where people may seek the simplicity and control of digital partners over the complexity of human relationships.
Kuyda acknowledges that AI companions can either complement or replace real relationships, depending on user preference. She emphasizes Replika’s shift away from the romantic model but maintains that, “Whether it’s a friend or a girlfriend, users prefer to see their AI interlocutors.”
The Cautionary Tale of ‘Ex Machina’
In “Ex Machina,” the protagonist Nathan, played by Oscar Isaac, creates a series of advanced AI companions that ultimately highlight the dangers of blending human and machine too seamlessly. The film serves as a stark reminder: no matter how advanced, robots cannot replicate genuine human emotions and connections.
Roanne van Voorst, a future anthropologist at the University of Amsterdam, echoes this sentiment. “Being desired by a person is deeply attractive,” she says. “[An AI companion] is essentially generating responses. It’s a prediction machine. They cannot replace the depth of real human relationships.”
Experts like van Voorst and Chloé Locatelli, a visiting professor at King’s College London who studies sex tech, argue that while physical robots might not replace human intimacy, they represent a troubling trend in technology. Locatelli notes that sex tech often perpetuates reductive and stereotypical portrayals of femininity. However, she suggests there is potential for a more nuanced depiction of gender in AI companions.
As we explore the future of AI and its role in our lives, “Ex Machina” provides a sobering perspective. The robotic transformation of Bette Midler’s character in “The Stepford Wives” is no longer a relic of science fiction but a harbinger of what may come. Revisiting these cautionary tales is essential as we stand on the cusp of a new era in human-AI relationships.