In 'Black Mirror', the line between dystopian fiction and reality is blurring more each day. The show has always been renowned for its chillingly accurate depictions of the darker sides of technology, often foreseeing developments that, at the time, felt like far-off possibilities. But as technology continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, some of the concepts explored in the show have begun to materialize in the real world.
In Black Mirror season 2 episode 1, 'Be Right Back', a woman mourns the sudden loss of her partner and is offered the chance to communicate with a chatbot that mimics his personality. The chatbot is created using his online activity—texts, social media, and emails—making it seem like he’s still alive, even though, in reality, he’s gone.
While the concept of "digital resurrection" felt far-fetched when the episode aired, yet now, AI companies like Eternos.life are developing technologies that aim to do exactly that: bring loved ones back to life through augmented reality or AI chatbots. AI companies like Eternos.life are helping people make their digital twins. A description on their website reads, "Preserve your legacy or extend your professional impact with Eternos, capturing your unique voice, personality and knowledge to make your presence felt anywhere, anytime."
Fast forward to Black Mirror's Season 7, where the episode 'Plaything' offers a chilling look at digital pets, designed with high-powered AI. The episode warns of the emotional attachment humans could develop for these virtual beings, which demand the same care as real pets—feeding, grooming, and playing with them. These are not just ordinary video game companions; they are designed to be emotionally interactive, evolving through machine learning algorithms. Today, this is not just a concept in Black Mirror; digital pets powered by AI are already making their way into the market.
Think of Tamagotchis, but with a much more sophisticated and lifelike AI.
Another 'Black Mirror' episode that now feels eerily prophetic is 'The Entire History' of You from Season 1, Episode 3. In this episode, people are equipped with technology that records everything they see and hear in real-time, allowing them to review their memories. This concept of memory recording felt absurd when it first aired, but today, we are not far from it.
The Rewind Pendant by Limitless AI, a wearable device that allows users to capture everything they see, hear, and say, is now available.
As AI continues to evolve and integrate deeper into our lives, these Black Mirror-inspired technologies are no longer confined to the realm of speculative fiction. They are becoming an uncomfortable reality, pushing us to reconsider what it means to be human in an increasingly digital world.
The question remains: Should we embrace them, or do we need to keep our guards up?
