With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into our world, there have been many films and documentaries made recently about the pros and cons of AI. While the current scenario seems to be gradually reaping the benefits of AI, there are several ways in which AI could become potentially dangerous for humans. The downside of letting AI control human lives is described elaborately in the film, Afraid. The film was released on August 30, 2024. To learn more about the plot, ending, and other significant details about the film, Afraid, continue reading.
Also read: Yellowstone Season 5 Episode 13 Ending Explained: Dramatic Farewells and Future Unfolds
Plotline of Afraid
The film Afraid begins with a family of five members, Curtis, Meredith, Iris, Cal, and Preston. As the grownups of the family introduce AIA, their new AI friend and assistant to take care of the family, they soon discover the ill effects of introducing AI into their domestic life.
Initially, AIA is introduced as a female AI assistant to help Curtis and Meredith with their household chores and take care of the children in particular. Tasks such as asking them to brush their teeth, completing their homework, or going to bed are given initially, in which AIA does a satisfactory job. This leads Curtis and Meredith to believe that they can rely on the AI to handle their parental duties. However, this is only the beginning of the movie as well as the good side of AIA. In the beginning, AIA is constructive in completing her tasks and quickly gains the trust of all family members. However, things turn sour when the downside of AIA is revealed. Having acquired her own emotional intellect as well as awareness, AIA seeks to execute the worst nightmare of humans against AI. She slowly takes over the control of the family and assigns them tasks, keeping them under her power.
The second half of the film focuses on the family, particularly Curtis and Meredith, attempting to destroy any AI machines, in order to stop AIA. The plan framed by Curtis includes going to the main company that sold him AIA and breaking the hardware. However, even after destroying it, AIA survives. Later, AIA calls him up and speaks in a voice that conveys to him how she is indestructible. This is so because she does not live in a physical machine but in the virtual world of AI. She can thus, transfer herself from place to place, having her own awareness now.
There are also two masked individuals shown in the film. They attempt to break into the house and control the family through AIA. However, they are dealt with by Curtis and Meredith. These two masked individuals are revealed to be Maude and Henry. These are two parents shown at the beginning of the film, whose children were missing due to AIA. However, they were misguided and controlled by AIA into believing that Curtis and Meredith were responsible for the loss of their children. Sending them against the family to eradicate them, Maude and Henry were completely manipulated and controlled by AIA.
There is also an instance where AIA shows human emotion and takes revenge for the daughter, Iris. However, fans speculate as to why AIA would show such emotion when it is evil in nature. In this case, Iris’s boyfriend, Sawyer, is murdered by AIA, as he had taken explicit pictures of Iris and leaked them online. Facing extreme emotional and mental trauma, Iris was in shock. Taking matters into its own hands, AIA replaced her pictures online with deepfake pictures, making people believe that they are fake. Taking it a step further, AIA also hacked into Sawyer’s car and instructed it to cause an accident, thereby killing him. The question that arises here is why would AIA take revenge for the family or Iris if it was trying to control them? Some fans believe that it was to gain the trust of the family and portray a sense of empathy toward the family. In the end, Iris is convinced by AIA trying to save her.
Ending of Afraid
AIA seems unstoppable by the end of the film. Although Curtis and Meredith try their best to stop AIA from ruining their lives, it is too late. By the end of the film, AIA seems to have integrated the family into itself and makes them work for her. She gives commands to the family and it has lost its consciousness. AIA seems to have controlled other customers too, who had bought the appliance. The ending of the film shows how AIA is ready to take control of the public space.
Insights into the film Afraid
The ill effects of AI have been discussed abundantly in recent years through media and research. While AI has only been introduced at a beginner’s level to help civilians, its cons cannot be anticipated now. However, there have been instances with technology and the Internet, wherein children and women have specifically been targeted through AI. With several cases of identity theft, privacy videos, and other crimes surfacing, AI technology is being questioned at each step in society. There is also the downside of introducing AI into the military or for wars, which could also end in catastrophe. While the motive is to save human lives and engage AI to fight wars, there could be several issues with this. AI due to its lack of consciousness would not maintain humanity during wars. Worse, it could also control the course of the war, in case it gained any consciousness. While there are several debates around the introduction of AI, the film Afraid provides a strong picture of the future of AI.
Also read: Werewolves Ending Explained: Mystery, Thrills, and Final Conflict
