Recently a friend and I decided to rewatch “Ex Machina”. The film that only a few years ago was one of the most mind-blowing sci-fi’s out here. We both remember we enjoyed the fresh film when we watched it upon release in 2014, we thought it should win Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards, which it was nominated for.

However, upon rewatching, this -still great- film, we both had a similar thought. Once a repository of our deepest speculations and anticipations about Artificial Intelligence, This film now appears somewhat anachronistic, a relic from an era when our comprehension of AI was nascent.

Ex Machina depicts a philosophical inquisition into the essence of consciousness and existence, leveraging Ava, a humanoid robot, as a conduit to explore the moral and existential ramifications of creating beings capable of thought, learning, and seemingly, feeling.

Watching “Ex Machina” in 2014, left the audience suspended in a philosophical quandary, balancing on the fragile line separating humanity and artificiality. 

Since the release of “Ex Machina,” AI has undergone staggering evolutions, permeating every layer of our existence, from the mundane to the complex. What the film represented through Ava’s confinement and prototype existence seems now like an emblem of our past misconceptions and trepidations, a symbol of our rudimentary foray into the AI realm.

It becomes a mirror reflecting our early steps into this domain, showing how our early endeavours were imbued with naivete and fears. In today's technological landscape, AI is not merely a figment of science fiction. It has transcended the physical confines depicted in such narratives and is now an omnipresent entity, interwoven into our everyday lives.

It’s the silent partner in our interactions, innovations, and creations, reshaping our perceptions and relationships with the world. The exponential proliferation of AI in sectors like healthcare, education, and finance has transmuted it from a futuristic fantasy to a ubiquitous reality, quietly fueling technological revolutions and redefining paradigms.

The trajectory of AI development, however, has significantly skewed towards the virtual realm, a more realistic direction to our innovations being more software-centric.

This departure from the idea of a tangible, giant humanoid form, everywhere around us, while, potentially, less exciting than movies we watched for the past decades, is certainly less terrifying.

However, having AI, mainly, in software form neither removes doubts about the danger of its evolution nor answers the moral, social, and existential inquiries about the reality of AI today.

The discourse around AI has broadened beyond abstract philosophical explorations often depicted in films, pushing us to address the pressing and tangible ethical and socio-economic ramifications of integrating AI into our societies.

The debates are no longer confined to whether AI can attain consciousness; rather, they encompass urgent and pragmatic concerns about how AI will reshape our societal structures, livelihoods, and interactions. While cinema might delve into the profound and the existential, the reality necessitates addressing immediate questions, such as how we will sustain economic stability and social equity in a world increasingly dominated by AI.

The prospect of AI influencing or replacing human roles in various sectors brings forth complex issues of job displacement, income inequality, and the need for comprehensive societal adjustments. Contemplating whether AI can experience consciousness is a luxury when compared to the urgency of resolving how humanity will coexist and adapt in an AI-centric landscape.

It is imperative that our journey in AI development is marked not only by technological advancements but also by robust ethical frameworks and socio-economic considerations to navigate the transformative potentials of AI responsibly.

Building on the practical and ethical considerations of AI, it is critical to acknowledge that the advancements in AI are not just about confronting challenges, ethical dilemmas, or fear from the future; they also unlock unprecedented positive transformations and solutions to age-old problems.

The power of AI to bring about transformative change is exemplified by innovations such as AlphaFold by DeepMind, which has made groundbreaking strides in deciphering complex protein structures, heralding a new era in our biological comprehension and medicinal discoveries, and addressing issues that have remained unresolved for generations. 

This is indicative of AI’s potential to not just reshape our societal structures and moral compass but also to expand the horizons of our knowledge and capabilities. Just like the discovery of fire or the advent of electricity marked pivotal points in human history, the transformative essence of AI is unveiling realms of possibilities and innovations that were once considered beyond reach.

This duality of AI, as a source of both disruption and enlightenment, underlines the multifaceted nature of its impact on our existence and progress. The discourse surrounding AI is a tapestry woven with threads of excitement for its boundless possibilities and concerns over its unintended repercussions and ethical dimensions.

The apprehensions about AI becoming a potential existential threat are valid, necessitating thoughtful exploration and vigilant ethical scrutiny.

We are on the brink of more groundbreaking developments in AI. The questions surrounding the nature of consciousness, the existence of sentient AI, and the symbiotic coexistence of humans and AI dominate our thoughts, enveloping us in a cocoon of possibilities, responsibilities, and moral dilemmas.

The future is a canvas painted with endless possibilities, a tapestry woven with threads of caution, curiosity, ethical integrity, and profound responsibilities. It is through enlightened and equitable dialogue that we can traverse the multifaceted landscapes of AI, fostering its ethical evolution and leveraging its transformative essence for the collective benefit of mankind.

Reflecting on “Ex Machina,” the journey it represents seems more symbolic, a metaphor for our explorations and dilemmas in the evolving landscape of AI. It stands as a mark on our progression in AI's world, highlighting the myriad of moral and philosophical inquiries that are integral to this evolution.

It subtly reminds us of the uncharted terrains and ethical complexities inherent in AI, emphasizing our collective responsibility to tread carefully and ethically in these evolving domains. Our dialogue around AI is evolving, intensifying from hypothetical musings to real and urgent debates about the ramifications of birthing entities that could mirror our consciousness. 

Although the film remains a significant piece of cinematic art, our journey in AI has advanced far beyond the scenarios it explored. We are active architects in AI’s development, shaping its trajectory and focusing on the real, vital philosophical and ethical questions that arise with the progression of potentially conscious entities.

It is imperative that we proceed with caution, curiosity, and moral integrity, as the emerging landscape of AI promises not only unprecedented possibilities but also unprecedented responsibilities.