The Cost of Technological Control: AI, Privacy, and the Erosion of Human Relationships in Black Mirror
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Abstract
In the era of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) has impacted every aspect of human existence, both overtly and covertly. Nearly every home has smart gadgets like smart watches, refrigerators and robotic vacuum cleaners. Additionally, the field of cinema has also evolved to have an exclusive genre with artificial intelligence as its main focus. This study looks at how AI is portrayed in the Netflix sci-fi anthology series Black Mirror, with particular focus on the episodes "Arkangel" and "Crocodile." The human-AI interaction is examined in both episodes from the perspectives of moral responsibility, memory, autonomy, and monitoring. "Arkangel" questions the moral boundaries of parental monitoring and the psychological effects of relying too heavily on AI. "Crocodile" challenges the commercialisation of memory and questions how privacy, consent, and the use of AI is implemented in law enforcement. By employing textual and visual analysis, the paper investigates how Black Mirror functions as a speculative critique of the unchecked advancements of AI, emphasising the deterioration of ethical standards and the potential dangers of prioritising control and efficiency over human connections and emotional attachment.
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