The Evolution Of AI In Movies Explained

The first depiction of an AI character in cinematic history came along in Fritz Lang's "Metropolis," which debuted in 1927. The film was one of the very first sprawling special effect-driven spectacles, centering on workers in a far-future dystopia, where stark class divisions keep workers under the wealthy's thumb, and where reliance on machinery robs laborers of their humanity. It's considered one of the most important science fiction films ever made and imbues its AI with a villainous flair. In "Metropolis," an inventor decides to use his new robot, known as the Maschinenmensch, to take over the city. In order to do so, he disguises the robot as a young woman named Maria.