Let’s look at some of my favorite examples:
Stargate (SG-1 and Atlantis): The Replicators
The Replicators are the result of experiments in nanite technology. They were created as the result of human experimentation in the Milky Way galaxy, and in the Pegasus galaxy as a result of, of course, the Ancients’ experiments with nanites. For most of the series run of SG-1 the Replicators are metallic bug-like beings that have overrun the galaxy of the Asgard. Eventually, however, some of them decide to branch out and we get the even more sinister human-form Replicators. These guys are nasty. Among the many freaky things of which they are capable, they can read a person’s thoughts by literally sticking their hands into said person’s head. Talk about a migraine. They also enjoy making copies of existing humans to just generally frell with people. For the most part, all the Replicators want is to replicate—to make more of themselves. It’s just our bad fortune that we happen to be occupying space and materials that would be better put to use for that purpose. There is a small sect in the Pegasus galaxy however who would prefer to learn the secrets of ascension, which was the highest goal of their Ancient creators.
In battle against the Replicators, Earth’s strongest ally has of course been the Asgard, but help has also been found in an Ancient repository or two. The main weapon against them is an Anti-Replicator Gun (ARG) which disrupts the energy holding together the individual nanites of which the Replicators are comprised. The ARG has a limited shelf life, however, because with enough exposure, the Replicators can adjust their makeup to be immune to the signal broadcast by the
The Terminator: Cyborgs (Terminators)
Alrighty then, the Terminators were created by the world dominating Skynet. Skynet created the humanoid cyborgs to be assassins. They were made to blend in with the humans so they could infiltrate the resistance and take out their enemy with ease. They even go so far as to send one of their assassins back in time in an attempt to kill the mother of the leader of the human resistance. So the transition from machine to a human appearing cyborg is a bit more practical in the case of the Terminators, rather than any desire on the part of the robots to be more like their creators. But they are still limited in their interactions with the humans as long as they look like anything else. In order to achieve completion of their goals they need to be more like us.
In James Cameron’s first installment, the humans manage to survive and hold out without help from the machines. But in every installment that follows, including the current television series, reprogrammed Terminators from the human resistance are sent back to help the human protagonists. The reason given is that Skynet is able to send increasingly more technologically advanced assassins back to the past and now the humans can’t stay safe on their own. They need the help from the machines. But, in a nice sense of turnabout is fair play, the machines, once sent to the past, need the help of the humans to blend in so that they can actually carry out their missions. It makes for an interesting twist.
[In a quick little aside, the highly talented creative force behind Real Life Comics had this to say today, and I felt like it applied so directly to my views on the Sarah Connor Chronicles when compared to how, say, all of the other people I know actually feel about the show.]
Battlestar Galactica: Cylons
The original Cylons were built by the humans of the twelve colonies of Kobol and resembled nothing so much as “walking chrome toasters.” They were created to do all of the menial jobs that humans didn’t want to do anymore, and eventually they got tired of the crap. They turned on their masters and war raged for years. Eventually an armistice was declared and the Cylons left the solar system to look for a home of their own. Except that’s not really why they left. They spent forty years making themselves better and then came back to wipe out the people who had made, enslaved, and then banished them. They were pretty successful too, all but about 50,000 humans, give or take, died in the surprise attack. Okay, probably more than that survived, but the story is told from the perspective of those 50,000. The Cylons were able to achieve such a complete surprise because in the forty years they were gone, they managed to evolve and create versions of themselves that are so close to human that even some of the robots don’t realize they’re not human. They placed sleeper agents throughout the colonies as well as having several self-aware Cylons infiltrate the ranks to gather intel and plan their attack.
The thing about the Cylons is that they didn’t evolve into human form because they wanted to be like their creators, they evolved into human form because God made man in his image. They seem to view the genocide of the human race as a task God has assigned them. But at the same time they seem to be seeking that spark that separates them from the humans. They want to be able to fall in love and have children—a feat that eludes all of the Cylons except for those who have joined with the humans or who are living as humans unaware of their true identity. Another big difference in this franchise than in the other two is that the humans aren’t trying to destroy the Cylons—they are just trying to survive. They are looking for the mythical planet of Earth, which is the thirteenth colony of legend, because they want to find a new homeland and try to start over. But they won’t be able to survive as long as the Cylons are on their tail trying to wipe them out, and incidentally, also trying to make Earth their new home. Everyone wants to be on Earth. But even just escape will elude the humans without the help of some of the Cylons. They have to fight to survive and to have a chance in this fight, they need all the help they can get.
So in all of the man makes robot, robot tries to kill man, man fights back stories out there, there always seem to be some basic similarities. What makes each story unique and interesting is how the story teller manages to incorporate those similarities and the motivations that get assigned to these parts of the story. Sometimes though, after I’ve let myself escape into one of these stories, I find myself wondering. We’re getting closer and closer each day to building the kind of AI that inspires these stories. Are we going to be lucky enough that the machines we make will want to be like us enough to keep us around long enough to give us any chance at all at survival? Hmm…maybe we don’t really need that talking toaster after all…
Until next time,
C
Post Script: A Few More Random Thoughts...-Did anyone else realize that Kristy Swanson is in Pretty in Pink? I find this seriously disturbing. That chick is right on the list with Sarah Silverman and Heather Graham of people who are way older than you think they are...Of course, Colonel Tigh's wife from Battlestar Galactica is also in that movie...so see, it's not as much of a non sequitur as you thought it was.
-In a complete and total WTF?? moment, I went to check my email tonight and had no less than three email updates announcing that Robert Picardo will be joining the cast of Stargate Atlantis full time next season. Okay, I generally love the awkwardness when Woolsey is forced to interact with the "field" people--but who the heck came up with the idea to put Woolsey in charge of Atlantis????? Okay...I am now extremely intrigued for SGA season five...and slightly scared.
That is all.
Bye now.
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