19 2001: A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey

A Prophecy of our Times

By Ivana Fletcher

Have you ever watched the iconic movie ‘2001: A Space Odyssey?’ If not, I would encourage you to do so but brace yourself for a mind-boggling adventure as this film can still puzzle us today as it did half a century ago when it was released in 1968. With its showcase of the future technology, it can be seen as a blueprint of the digital world we are living in today and a true masterpiece of science-fiction. KUBRICK AND CLARK Collaboration on the Plot With the most amazing director at the time, Stanely Kubrick and a celebrated sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clark working together on this project, you are in for an absolute treat. The opening film scene depicts a group of ape-like humans jumping around a mysterious black monolith. This encounter initiates a change in the behavior of one of the ape-men who discovers his own strength by using a bone as a weapon and killing another apeman. I don’t know about you, but the shape of this black slimline monolith strangely resembles one of the iPhones and we know that mobile phones with internet access have brought huge benefits to our lives but also many dangers like instant access to pornography and cyber bullying to name a few. The next scene catapults us into space, millions of years into the future. A gigantic, two-wheel shaped spaceship is set to go on a mission to investigate another monolith on Jupiter. There are only a few crew members, of which two are astronauts and three are scientists in hibernating state.

HAL

The real game player and the antagonist in the film is the super intelligent and sentient computer called HAL who controls the majority of space ship operations. His words are far more superior to the banal and superficial communication between the crew members. When HAL makes a mistake and the astronauts decide to shut him down, this seemingly benevolent and soft-spoken computer kills most of the crew. Eventually, HAL is shut down by the only remaining astronaut. Here Kubrick tries to predict the potential dangers of Artificial Intelligence that we all face in today’s world. Can we fully control the AI systems and eliminate any possibility of negative outcomes of their activities? Those are the questions we all need to ask ourselves next time we pick up our iPhones or switch on our tablets when checking the latest suggestions generated by algorithm programs on the internet. TABLET DISPUTE Another interesting fact is that Samsung used the film snippet during their infringement battle with Apple around the tablet patent. They claimed that the tablet-like screens used by two astronauts whilst eating are evidence of the existence of the idea-before the real tablet was invented. It is hard to imagine that Kubrick’s special effect team would create something so strikingly similar to the 21st century iPad or a tablet. Is it a coincidence or some sort of wonderous space force? I leave this for you to decide. LESSONS TO BE LEARNED There are many lessons to be learned from this motion-picture masterpiece. Although there are immense advantages of modern technology, there are many dangers that come with it too. We all need to ask ourselves how much our cognitive capacity has been impacted or even reduced due to relying too much on AI. Striking the right balance is the key, perhaps pick up that dusty road map instead of using a Satnav from time to time which may help us to retain some of our traditional know-how.