Netflix’s Pluto: AI Tragedy, Human Nightmare

Netflix’s Pluto has shown us the reality of our situation… the AI are coming for us all! We’re doomed! Doomed I tell you!

 

Netflix’s Pluto AI Are Coming for Us All

I’m just joking. In all seriousness, if you’ve been anywhere on the internet today, that’s a common sentiment. Most are sure that AI is going to overtake humanity any day now. Netflix’s Pluto succeeds in making it real. Pluto exercises duality in its approach, however, it does not pull punches.

 

Long after the events of the 39th Central Asian war, robots and humans are repairing the relationship between their kind. Although the war was mostly robot-on-robot violence, both sides were affected. Much time is spent in the anime to muse on the human-condition but, also the condition of robots. Familiar stories of the AI takeover are woven. Once society reached the point of competent robotics and mass production, the human workforce suffered. The human workforce suffered, which caused a disdain for robots amongst some factions. You all know the works.

 

That, in my opinion, is where Pluto has its most relevant message. The show itself rarely misses a chance to juxtapose robots and humans. The social standing of most robots is lower than most humans, but some robots have status above most humans.

The ‘seven greatest robots that humanity ever produced‘ being an example of that. They exist within the Uncanny Valley. The robots that are mistakeably human. And this is a critical part of Pluto’s commentary. These robots take roles as star athletes, detectives, role models of eco-conservatism, etc. However, even they are seen as tools.

 

Throughout the show, we bear witness to the humanization of robots. This also applies to robots that look typically robotic (think Rosey the Robot from ‘The Jetsons’). And, with their AI being so complex, they attempt to assimilate into a culturally human society. If they understand human pleasures, they can become more human-like.

 

Who, or What, ‘dunit’?

“It was supposed to be impossible for a robot to kill a human — they were not designed to allow it,” or so the world thought.

This is definitely mature subject matter. Gesicht, the main robot for most of the show, finds himself thrust into a murder-mystery early. The greatest robots and their human creators slaughtered consecutively. No rhyme or reason.

 

Being a detective, Gesicht has seen his fair share of humanity’s wickedness. In no way, has he traversed this world cold-hearted. A hardened and overworked detective robot, he was made with the utmost science and engineering could offer.

 

During his investigation, Gesicht faces harsh realities. Gesicht is a robot who shows genuine care for humanity. However, he is not unaffected by the ills of humanity. Through Gesicht, we are able to see the full adaptations of a complex AI attempting assimilation. The minds of humans can forget as it is one of our coping mechanisms. However, Gesicht is unable to do so. Being a robot, his memory is absolute until purged.

 

We see Gesicht constantly haunted by a nightmare. The nightmare is of him, who also slew a human. Gesicht, driven by a rash of emotions, would slay a human who became a serial killer of robots. This is a certain type of vindictiveness that one would not normally associate with a calculated machine.

 

Enter, The God of Death — Pluto

Human pleasure and pain is something most of us hold dear. In some strange sense, we take pride in our emotional range. Often times we label those who do not as apathetic, psychotic or sociopathic. Not often would we label our laptops, phones or video game consoles as sociopathic (lol).

“Siri, are you a psychopath?”

– Me to my iPhone

Pluto eventually introduces us to another irregular robot. The titular robot — Pluto.

 

The murderous robot, dubbed ‘Death Incarnate,’ emits signals writhing in pain and suffering. Originally known as ‘Sahad,’ Pluto was a robot student. He was loved by many and then the war happened. His AI transferred into a chassis capable of contending in combat, with even the greatest robots in the world. His pain stemming from his creator’s (i.e. his ‘father’s’) need for vengeance. His suffering, his purpose being to bring life — not destroy it.

 

Pluto stands as one of the greatest examples of AI assimilation in the show. We often speak about the harm that AI could inflict upon humanity, but rarely the harm that humanity could inflict upon AI. If AI truly studies humans, what could we possibly show them? Conflict is riddled throughout human history. Not just the persistent social media back-and-forth, much more severe. We engage in brutal wars — romanticize it even.

 

Robots that can understand joy and sorrow, is a double-edged sword. They would possess augmented mental and physical capabilities, dwarfing those of humans. Pluto was not only capable of annihilating powerful robots, but also their creators. Simply put, an AI capable of robot and human genocide. A true God of Death.

 

AI Corruption Stalled… For Now…

So, are the AI coming for us? Is annihilation by AI in our future or, if they’re studying us, is it already in our past? It is a question to consider.

 

Netflix’s Pluto takes a different approach to the question. AI not only harnessed for the purpose of war victory, but also the human-taught behavior of AI. It’s not too far-fetched. For every Doctor Tenma that would make Atom, there would exist a Professor Abullah to make Pluto.

 

Let’s take guesses. Would we have AI allies if such a calamity happened? Would every AI be against us? How much would our history affect AI learning? Aside from halting AI development, what else could we do to curtail this Sci-Fi nightmare?

If you’ve watched Netflix’s Pluto, let us know what you thought about it. If you have not watched it yet, I do highly recommend it.

 

Pluto is currently streaming on Netflix in the US.