Tag: Reality

Interfering Humans and Machine: What Direction is AI?

Jazmine F.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

The genre of cyberpunk is a genre that explores the influences and advances of technology. This is done through the lens of a dystopian view and narrative of human vs AI (machine). The works such as Blade Runner, Neuromancer, and Machinehood illustrate how technological advancements contribute to corporate power, the barrier between ethical boundaries, and the exploitation of humanity for control and profit. How does the power of cyberpunk resonate with contemporary issues?


In Blade Runner, the corporation is responsible for manufacturing replicants, so important to be able to decipher between humans and replicants. This leaves a debate on technology and artificial intelligence. This relates to today because tech industries such as Google and Meta use artificial intelligence to reshape society’s potential. The ethical implications of technology are often put behind the scenes due to economic growth and the influences of AI on the personal things of humans. 


In Neuromancer, there’s like an exemplification of corporate greed and the dehumanization of individuals. The families with the power and wealthiness in which they are given the power to construct their lives and live the substantial life they perceive it to be; which makes splits in society because of what people have. Technology corporations that are as big as Amazon and Apple influence global economic and political decisions in everyday life. The wealth of these big advances creates a hierarchy. 


In Machinehood, the commodification of human labor and experience is expressed. The pill funders control the economy of human enhancement which ultimately creates a model where humans have to adapt to demands to be able to survive. 

The million-dollar question: Are Corporations Moving Toward a Cyberpunk Reality? The corporate-driven dystopias presented in the cyberpunk narratives do appear to be chilling as it is viewed through the lens of today. corporate landscape. A company like Amazon impacts aspects of daily life because it provides shopping and entertainment, etc. While this is a fact it is important to recognize the intensity of this movement. For example, in the Blade Runner, there seems to be a more ruthless control and it stands on a level of a controversial real-world application of AI. 


While the cyberpunk view is hyperbolic; itā€™s not completely divergent from reality. Cyberpunk incorporates real issues in reality within the corporation to serve as a warning in a sense. There is much emphasis on corporate that diverges into the ethical technology and economic views of the real world. Even though cyberpunk may seem extreme in its characteristics in the dystopian view; it has real-world issues that are grounded as a reminder to consider the possible impacts on society. 

In conclusion, I feel as if cyberpunk narratives provide a speculative but cautionary portrayal of corporate power and greed, which can be beneficial to the real world. These cautionary narratives reflect many concerns present in contemporary society. The stories urge us to consider how far we are willing to allow technology and corporations to influence our lives and at what cost will we allow them. By embracing both the warnings and the exaggerations of cyberpunk, society has the potential to prevent these fictional dystopias from becoming reality; in which we would need to act on now to prevent this from happening.Ā 

Humanity through AI

Jaylyn J.
Reading Time: 3 minutes

What it means to be human is a theme in science fiction, often examined through the lens of advanced technology and artificial beings. Ridley Scottā€™s Blade Runner and William Gibsonā€™s Neuromancer both address this theme, through different technological frameworks. Blade Runner examines humanity through the lens of bioengineered replicants, while Neuromancer delves into the nature of human identity by its depiction of cyberspace and artificial intelligence. Although they have differing settings and approaches, both works raise questions about identity, consciousness, and the depths of emotion.

In Blade Runner, the question of humanity is explored through replicantsā€”biologically engineered beings who are almost identical to humans. The film gets deep into what it means to be alive by showing us how these replicants experience emotions and desires. Take Roy Batty, for instance. Heā€™s a replicant who knows heā€™s running out of time, and his famous line, ā€œAll those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rainā€. Itā€™s a powerful moment that makes us question if being human is about more than just our biology. If these artificial beings can feel such intense emotions, donā€™t they deserve to be considered human in some way? Another key point is empathy. The replicantsā€™ emotional struggles are contrasted with the often cold and detached behavior of human characters like Deckard. Initially, Deckard views the replicants as mere machines, but as he gets to know them better, he starts to feel more empathy. This shift highlights the idea that empathy and the ability to connect with others are crucial to understanding what makes us human. Deckardā€™s journey suggests that maybe being human is less about what weā€™re made of and more about how we relate to one another.

On the other hand, Neuromancer, by William Gibson, explores the concept of humanity through its portrayal of cyberspace and AIs. In this world, characters like Case get to plug into a digital realm, which raises interesting questions about identity. The AIs in the novel, Wintermute and Neuromancer, have their own forms of awareness and goals. Wintermute drive to merge with Neuromancer to become something greater mirrors the replicantsā€™ desire for a longer life. It makes us wonder if artificial beings can have their own kind of consciousness and self-awareness that might even surpass ours. Cyberspace itself adds another layer to the discussion. Caseā€™s ability to escape his physical body and live within the digital world challenges the idea that identity is tied to our physical form. The novel suggests that maybe consciousness and identity arenā€™t just about our bodies but can exist in a digital space too. However, while cyberspace offers new possibilities, it also makes Case feel isolated and fragmented. This highlights a key point: while technology can offer amazing new ways to experience life, it can also complicate our sense of self and our connections with others.

Both Blade Runner and Neuromancer give us unique takes on what it means to be human. Blade Runner uses the emotional depth and existential struggles of its replicants to challenge our ideas about humanity. The film makes us think that empathy and self-awareness might be what really define us, even if those traits appear in artificial beings. Neuromancer, on the other hand, plays with the idea of identity in a digital age. It asks whether our consciousness and sense of self can exist outside of our physical bodies and how that might change our understanding of what it means to be human. In the end, both stories push us to think beyond the simple definitions of humanity. They make us consider that being human might be more about our emotions, our connections with others, and our sense of self, whether weā€™re talking about people or advanced artificial entities.

Ushering A New Era: Blurring The Line Between AI and Human

Devin P.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

In the past few years, the distinction between human and artificial intelligence (AI) has dramatically shifted. What we once considered to be science fiction, confined to the lens of cyberpunk in media, is readily becoming a reality. Tools that use artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT and other AI models, are increasingly capable of incredible feats. They can now mimic human conversation, critical thinking, creatively find solutions, and make decisions based on evidence-based logic. This has led us to question: what does it even mean to be human? If what once separated the machine from the human has been conquered, what can we use to distinguish ourselves now? The boundary continues to steadily blur.

One significant change has been the advancement of AI in the creative realm. AI-generated art, music, and even prose have gained massive popularity. AI is no longer restricted to performing routine or mechanical tasks. It can work in spaces once deemed exclusive to the complexity of the human brain, providing more evidence of the growing blur between what is human and what is AI.

This shift in the boundary can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the improvement of machine learning algorithms has allowed AI to produce more sophisticated and nuanced outputs. Secondly, access to large datasets has enabled AI to learn more about human style and complexity. AI algorithms have deeply studied human nature in an attempt to provide tools that can identify and solve individuals’ unique needs. Thirdly, societal and economic pressures are pushing for the adoption of AI in industry, as it offers efficiency and cost-saving potential.

The blurring boundary raises some critical questions. As AI becomes more integrated into society and creative processes, will human contributions still hold the same value? Where do we draw the line for AI decision-making in ethical matters? Would we let an AI decide to take someone off life support, or will that always remain a human responsibility? The bottom line is clear: AI will continue to advance, and we will soon have to reevaluate what we know about human identity and human intelligence.

Ident(IT)y

Ranaya B.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
This image symbolizes the kinds of posts users are influenced by.

In recent years, we’ve witnessed a rise in the use of social platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and virtual reality games. Many individuals now use social media to portray the person they wish to be, rather than who they truly areā€”a phenomenon I refer to as “Faking It Til You Make It.” This shift became apparent as more users began showcasing their achievements or as celebrities started flaunting their lifestyles online. Originally, social media was intended to create a global space for connection, allowing people to explore new cultures and traditions. The idea was to share moments like a simple birthday post, where a user might post a picture with a caption like “It’s my birthday,” and their followers would like it and move on. However, today, social media has evolved into something far more complex, with some people struggling to distinguish between online personas and reality.

The line between physical and digital identity has become increasingly blurred, making the concept of “self” more fluid than ever. Social media isn’t the only place where new identities are crafted; video games also play a role. For instance, in the game SIMS, users create characters and dictate their life stories. Researchers suggest that the integration of information technologies into people’s social roles and relationships offers new insights into human behavior. They also explore how IT has become deeply embedded in social routines, shaping new expectations for how individuals perform roles and maintain social networks, ultimately influencing their self-conceptions.

As we live in an era where social media and gaming are endless tunnels of trendy aesthetics, I’ve observed how these platforms can impact relationships and even careers. Many people lose their sense of identity as they try to conform to the “digital” persona they’ve created, only to find that their real lives don’t align with this constructed image.