Nowadays, we talk about AI as a fact of life—something we don’t always fully understand but use in our daily routines. Think about it: setting a timer in the kitchen? You use Alexa. Want a reminder? You ask Siri. AI has quietly integrated into our lives, but it has been shaping our imaginations for decades, often through pop culture.
Just the other day in Phoenix, I was driven by a Waymo—a driverless car—and it drove better than most Uber drivers I’ve had. It’s incredible how far we’ve come, but did you know AI’s origins in pop culture go back a long way?
In a previous article, we explored the history of AI. We talked about ancient myths like Talos and Pygmalion—ancient Greek stories of man-made creations that imitated human behavior. While those myths were early explorations of AI-like concepts, today we’ll dive into how modern pop culture has shaped AI—and vice versa.
When Did You Think We First Talked About AI? Spoiler: It Wasn’t As Recent As You Think!
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1. I, Robot (The Book, Not the Movie)
You might remember I, Robot as a Will Smith action movie. Well, sorry to break it to you, but the movie had very little to do with Isaac Asimov’s 1950 sci-fi masterpiece. The book explores the Three Laws of Robotics:
1.A robot may not harm a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2.A robot must obey orders given to it by humans, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3.A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
In I, Robot, we follow Dr. Susan Calvin, a RoboPsychologist (a term invented way before its time), who deals with robots that navigate ethical dilemmas around these laws. The book isn’t just about robots; it’s about human nature, ethics, and politics, as Asimov envisions how robots could reshape society.
2. Blade Runner: The Birth of Cyberpunk
When people think of Blade Runner, they often picture the 2017 movie with Ryan Gosling, but the real classic is the 1982 version starring Harrison Ford. It was based on the 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick.
Blade Runner essentially created the cyberpunk genre, which has influenced everything from movies to anime. In a future world where replicants (bioengineered humans) struggle for freedom, the film raises big questions about what it means to be human in a world dominated by AI.
3. Lost in Space: The Original Robot Helper
Most people today know Lost in Space from Netflix, but it started way back in the 1960s as a TV show (and even earlier as a radio drama). The show followed the adventures of the Robinson family and their robot named… Robot (not the most creative name, but hey, it worked).
Robot wasn’t just comic relief; it helped solve problems and guide the family through challenges. You could say it was the original AI sidekick, a precursor to the personal assistants like Siri and Alexa we rely on today.
4. Alien: The AI That Would Do Anything to get a Xenomorph
In Alien, the AI wasn’t exactly a good guy. You might remember Ash, the android on board the Nostromo who betrays the crew. But even more terrifying was Mother, the AI system that controlled the ship and made key decisions.
Mother wasn’t just an assistant—it had a hidden agenda, much like the plot twists we fear in AI today. Think of it as Siri with a hidden, capitalist motive, willing to risk everything for profit.
5. Knight Rider: The 80s Sentient Car
Before David Hasselhoff was running in slow motion on the beaches of Baywatch, he starred in Knight Rider, a show about KITT, a sentient, talking car with AI-driven abilities. KITT wasn’t just a supercharged car; it could think, reason, and help solve crimes alongside Hasselhoff’s character.
If you’re thinking Tesla today, KITT was that but with 80s flair—an early pop culture imagining of a self-driving, AI-powered vehicle that could also be your buddy.
6. Rosie from The Jetsons: The Original Robo Maid
Who could forget Rosie, the robot maid from The Jetsons? She was one of the most iconic representations of what we thought robots could be: cheerful, helpful, and a bit sarcastic. Think of her as the original Roomba, but with way more personality.
Rosie kept the futuristic Jetson family in order and gave us a sneak peek into how we imagined robot helpers in our everyday lives.
7. Short Circuit: Is Johnny 5 Alive?
If you loved Stranger Things, you might want to dig back and watch Short Circuit. Released in the 1980s, it featured Johnny 5, a military robot who becomes self-aware and develops a personality. The movie explored the moral dilemmas around whether Johnny 5 was just a machine or something more.
This movie had a lasting impact on how people viewed robots: as more than just tools, but potentially as living beings with their own agency.
8. RoboCop: AI Meets Law Enforcement
RoboCop gave us a glimpse into the dark side of AI in law enforcement. In a futuristic world where crime was out of control, AI technology turned a dying cop into RoboCop, a machine-human hybrid tasked with bringing order to the city.
RoboCop’s struggle with his own identity—and whether he was more human or machine—was a key theme. The film raises questions about the ethics of AI in policing, which are even more relevant today.
9. Terminator: The Dark Side of AI
Perhaps the ultimate example of AI gone wrong is Skynet from the Terminator franchise. In this world, Skynet is an AI system that becomes self-aware, decides humanity is a threat, and triggers a nuclear apocalypse.
The T-800, famously portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is sent back in time to wipe out future resistance leaders. It’s the epitome of AI as a destructive force, and it shaped how a generation thought about the dangers of AI.
How AI in Pop Culture Shaped Our Views
From Johnny 5 to Skynet, AI in pop culture has been warning us, inspiring us, and making us dream about a world filled with machines that can think, learn, and even feel. These fictional representations have shaped how we think about AI in real life.
Are we ready to trust AI to make decisions for us? To drive our cars, clean our homes, or even decide our fates?
Pop culture may have started the conversation, but now we’re living in the era where those what ifs are becoming reality.
Did I miss any? Comment below with your favorite AI pop culture reference! And if you want to keep exploring AI in pop culture, subscribe to my newsletter for more deep dives every Sunday!