Final Review of Ex-Machina (group #5)

EX MACHINA

                          By: Chloe Banister, Carolyn Pauletto, Braedon Tylbor and Chris Forlini

SUMMARY

Created in 2014 by director and screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina is a futuristic
technologically-centered science-fiction film starring Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander,
and Oscar Isaac. The roughly one hour and fifty-minute movie follows the protagonist,
Caleb, through his experience at the residence of the CEO, Nathan, of the company he
works for, Blue Book, after winning a contest to work with Nathan on a mysterious new
project. Nathan appears first to Caleb as welcoming and straight to the point. He has
created an artificial intelligence and wants none other than Caleb, the most gifted coder at
his company, to test it out for himself.

The Turing test, created to validate or reject a computer’s ability to behave exactly as a
human would to the point of complete homogeneity, places Caleb face to face with Nathan’s
AI, Ava. What starts out as a one-sided relationship quickly transforms as we see Ava’s
transition from a naïve, rather reserved robot to one with a seemingly undeniable
possession of sentience and capacity for wit, intellect, remorse, and the genuine qualities
that pass for human.

However, things take a sudden turn when Ava unexpectedly catches Caleb off guard with
a rather ambiguous warning against Nathan and his intentions. Following this event,
Caleb grows increasingly suspicious of Nathan as his character starts to reveals alcoholic
tendencies among other disturbing truths surrounding him, his project, and even his
assistant, Kyoko.  

Reaching the climax of the film, Caleb agrees to free Ava from Nathan’s grip in the
hopes that they can be free together, as Ava has convinced him. Blinded by emotion,
he failed to recognize in time that Nathan was not the only one preoccupied with
ulterior intentions. In a dramatic finale, she leaves her creator dead and Caleb trapped
inside her old prison walls while she takes her first steps outside towards her highly anticipated
immersion into the human experience.

WEB LINKS

TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoQuVnKhxaM

https://www.theguardian.com/science/the-lay-scientist/2016/jan/26/artificial-intelligence-gods-egos-and-ex-machina

Artificial Intelligence: Gods, egos, and Ex Machina

Robbins, Martin. “Artificial Intelligence: Gods, Egos and Ex Machina.” The Guardian, Guardian News and              Media, 26 Jan. 2016, www.theguardian.com/science/the-lay-scientist/2016/jan/26/artificial-                    intelligence-gods-egos-and-ex-machina

This article explores the narcissistic qualities of research into artificial intelligence and its implication that in creating such, it “is both desirable and some sort of ultimate achievement” (Robbins). It describes how the film’s theme(s) supports the human need to feed the ego through the assumption that we as humans “created God in our image”, as we are doing so in the creation of artificial intelligence. Robbins goes on further to say our culture has adopted this obsession with the idea of singularity, the “super human era” (Robbins) in which humans hold these divine beings’ utmost interest, and relates that to Ava’s one desire to observe humans upfront. The article goes on to denounce the arrogance of such an assumption that humans would remain still the focus of attention and praises Ex Machina’s commentaries of the inflated, god-like human ego.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V85VqlVptWM

Ex Machina’s Hidden Meaning

Flesh, Logos Made. “Ex Machina's Hidden Meaning.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 July 2018,                                                   www.youtube.com/watch?v=V85VqlVptWM.

This eight minute and eighteen second video is all about Ex Machina’s focus on humanity and our relationship to God. The video refers to multiple references made out to Christianity throughout the film, for example Ava being a variant of the name Eve, and the allusion to the seven days of creation in which the film takes place. Ultimately, we have Nathan as a stand in for God, and Ava who begs Caleb to doubt his authority. The video goes on to talk about Nietzsche’s death of God philosophy, references to Alice Through the Looking Glass, as well as Plato’s Allegory of the Cave in relation to the film.

THREE INTERESTING/PROVOCATIVE QUESTIONS

1)      Did Ava genuinely care and hold an interest for Caleb, or was he, as Nathan put it, simply a means of escape for her by using “self-awareness, imagination, manipulation, sexuality, empathy”? If so, is this in fact proof of a legitimate AI?

2)    How can we distinguish between a true consciousness and a simulated consciousness, In the movie they bring up this question in regards to Ava and trying to see if she is just simulating consciousness or if she truly has it, but if a robot can perfectly simulate consciousness how are we as humans supposed to tell the difference? And if we cannot then what truly makes a consciousness, if a robot can perfectly replicate one without truly having it what does it even mean to truly have one? Is a perfectly replicated simulated consciousness a real consciousness?

3) Is it morally right to allow people the right to control robots who have consciousness or what appears to be a consciousness, what line to we draw when it comes to giving individuals rights, if we as a society agree that the robot has a consciousness should we give it the same rights to life and freedom as a human or because they were created for our personal gain should we continue to use them as such?

5 FILM TECHNIQUES

1. Costumes

• Nathan’s clothing speaks volumes for his character. You would assume him being CEO of a large company, he would be dressed only in suits and formal attire, even at home, yet does the complete opposite in t-shirts, tank tops, and sweats, all neutral pieces. This conveys how relaxed and not business oriented he is despite having much wealth and success. This is effective in presenting him as a relatable character of whom the audience may sympathize with and further understand.
• When Ava puts on clothing and a wig, it demonstrates how more human she could look and from a rather simple transformation.This was used throughout sections of the film where her character was becoming more human in Caleb’s eyes, and likewise to the audience. Her delicate clothing and neat hair suggest innocence, and further provokes feelings of sympathy for a robot both Caleb and the audience recognize is not human, but would like to imagine she is.

2) Sets and Props

• The majority of the film takes place inside Nathan’s residence. Surrounded by miles of private, breathtaking property, it is isolated, under strict security and monitoring, and is very open yet closed off all the same. This setting suggests that perhaps something is being separated from the rest of the world for unknown, potentially scary reasons. The openness and vastness seems to serve as a compensation, a distraction from the claustrophobic basement walls and the secrets they seal in so tightly. It serves as a prison where both Nathan and Caleb were equally as trapped as the AI’s.
• Security key cards are used continuously throughout the film. Nathan has the master key card  with unlimited access while Caleb’s is limited. They serve as major catalysts for certain scenes, for example when Caleb wanders when his card fails during the power cut, when he steals Nathan’s card to help Ava escape. His card also foreshadowed his inability to open certain doors, such as the door that traps him inside forever in the finale.

3) Lighting

• The red lighting used during the power cuts, during Caleb’s sessions with Ava and throughout dramatic scenes was an effective suggestion of potential danger and generally offsetting. Red is not a subtle color. It evokes feelings of fear, anger, passion, all of which are important factors leading up to a climax. The filmmakers took this knowledge and applied it perfectly to compliment tense scenes, such as a power cut.
• Nathan’s house always appears dim with lack of any bright lighting. Such lack of light could suggest his house is suspicious, bleak, and lifeless. It does not arouse any feelings of being at home, rather it feels like a facility. This reflects also onto Nathan’s character as he too seems suspicious.

4) Framing

• Long Shot: Caleb is standing near the start in a huge field surrounded by trees and mountains, showing and predicting how secluded where he is going is. The overall isolation of the location further reinforces how secretive Nathan is about his technology and his reluctance to share it with the rest of the world.
• Close Up: In the fourth session with Ava during the power cut, the camera focuses on Ava and Caleb’s faces. Not only is this suggesting that Ava is related to the power cut, it also hints that what the characters are about to say is crucial and to pay close attention.

5) Special Effects

• The act of peeling off her (Kyoko) skin to reveal her true nature to Caleb was very fascinating as both Caleb and the audience discover she is just like Ava. This effect and scene was particularly important in developing certain ideas of “skin-deep” notions into Caleb’s head, such as whether or not he too was only a machine.
• Yet another interesting effect was seen when Nathan showed Caleb what Ava’s brain looks like. During the overshot of it, all of the details and intricacies are revealed. It appears so light yet heavy at the same time. This distinct moment demonstrates the malleability of the mind and also suggests Nathan has created multiple versions of AI.

3 UNIVERSAL THEMES

1. Human vs. Machine

One striking theme found in Ex-Machina concerns the question of Human vs. Machine. The protagonist Caleb is introduced to Ava, an AI whom he must test to confirm whether or not she possesses consciousness, as a real human would. As their sessions together progress, Caleb begins developing feelings of empathy and eventually romantic ones for her and wants to help free her. The question of human vs. machine is present here in the fact that Caleb can no longer distinguish between the two, and he begins to wonder if he himself is just a machine, and really, he starts to wonder what the difference is between the two.

2) Domination and artificial barriers

The film focuses heavily one being’s domination over the other, Nathan’s over Ava, the AI. For example, his home is essentially designed as a prison for Ava, with the sole purpose of constantly monitoring his AI and to subject her to experimentations. If obsolete or non-compliant, Nathan faces no moral scrutiny against himself when disposing of them and wiping their minds blank. Because he is the creator, he creates an artificial barrier in which Ava’s “life” holds no worth or consideration, and he can pursue his project free of the heavy weight of guilt on his shoulders. This mentality is universally common within many relationships, like between men and women, humankind and nature, and so on. Humans have exercised the right to a capricious caste system that, as observed from the film’s conclusion, is not without grave consequences.

3) Overestimation of oneself (humanity and power)

Yet another universal theme of Ex Machina is centered around overestimation of human ability in relation to technology and assuming the role of a god-like creator. For example, Nathan created Ava, who’s intelligence derives from the information she collects from activity observed on the Blue Book search engine. Considering this platform is used by the global majority, Ava is perpetually accumulating information, processing, and learning. She is in a constant state of evolving. However, her beloved creator assumes superiority over her and total control. Nathan was ultimately playing with fire, was consumed with this kind of god-like power, yet turned a blind eye to the risks, costing him his life. This notion of human manifestations of God is universal in its ability to take lives, to ruin them, and to the moral deskilling of societies.

1389 words

(STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES)

Strengths:

1. Cinematic Techniques, the movie does a great job of setting the scene throughout the movie, the long distance shots of Nathan’s property and the extravagance of having Caleb fly in on a helicopter really showed the lengths Nathan was willing to go to maintain his privacy and the money he was willing to spend on himself. Another interesting technique was the idea that Nathan lived in a secluded part of the world very natural surrounded by forest and mountain at the same time was developing some of the most advanced technology in the world in his house outside. The contrasts of these two ideas made it so you had to realize that there was a deeper meaning because of how obvious it was. There was also a lot of foreshadowing in the movie for example when caleb goes to the interrogation room and notices the crack in the glass but is never given an explanation why, another is in the beginning of the movie when caleb first walks into the house the camera is behind caleb as he walks in and stops as the doors creeps closed slowly on Caleb locking him in and for shadowing how he is going to be stuck there.
2. Ava’s whole character does a good job of making you sympathise with her and and convince you that maybe she is a conscious being or even a human while at the same time leaving you with second thoughts about her motives when her and Caleb start to collude against Nathan and  snaps you out of it realizing that she is still a robot trapped and being tested and refuses to be controlled. For example W\when her and Caleb would have their unmonitored time when Ava would shut off the power and when Caleb came up with the plan to break her out and Ava was egging him on.

Weaknesses:

1. No character motivation, why was Nathan doing all of this at all, it’s never explained in the movie, the lack of a character's motivation leaves us with less of a connection to the character and less development of said character. Were left hanging and having to come up with our own hypotheses of why someone would go through all the effort to create something as complex as Ava and why he would do it alone, it doesn’t make sense that one man can master all areas of this technology and by himself in a secluded mountain area create a “living” “conscious” being.
2. The actual idea of consciousness never fully explained, in the movie when Nathan and Caleb talk about how Ava could pass for conscious they said she just needed to pass the Turing test, and ramble on for a couple of minutes of what it means. When in reality passing the turing test is just being convinced something has consciousness which is just simulated consciousness not a real consciousness. I feel as though this is a weak point in the movie because we’re left wondering what are they actually doing to prove that she does, there’s no goal it’s just, talk with Ava and come up with a conclusion on your, own based on a set of criteria you have in your own head, that is never specified in the movie.

CONNECTION TO COURSE MATERIAL (3)

1) Throughout the film, an important concept that is brought up is what is known as Theory of Mind. This is explained as the “ability to attribute mental states and to use these invisible postulates to explain behaviour in everyday life.” (McKinney). Because mental states are not actually tangible nor are they observable, it referred to as a theory. In other words, applying Theory of Mind implies that the subject is capable of imagining where the other subject’s mental state lies and where their own mental state lies, and using this information to predict certain behaviours and basing their actions on these predictions.

In Ex Machina, Ava is shown to possess this specific skill as she is capable of putting herself into Caleb’s mind in order to decide how to act, what questions to ask, and how to answer. She is aware that she is trapped, and she is also aware that Caleb is effectively her only way out. Through Theory of Mind, she imagines that Caleb must be lonely and craving some sort of attention, so she uses her seductive ways, knowledge of human interaction and her position as an attractive female-robot who is unique and intriguing to manipulate him into freeing her. Every single action taken by Ava was based on her calculations and predictions of Caleb and Nathan’s behaviour, and this is exactly what Theory of Mind consists of.

2) We read an article for the class called “Why Westerners Fear Robots and the Japanese Do Not” that discussed the differences of western and eastern cultures in integrating and accepting robots as a society. In the article it talks about how the western culture has issues pertaining to the idea of non-human animals having spirits and doesn’t take kindly to when robots or other objects are anthropomorphised. The main contributor to this narrative is the difference in religions between our two cultures, because in the the judeo-christian religion (the main religion in western culture) humans are supposed to be unique and created in the image of god, and this results in a fear or distaste for objects or non-human animals such as robots that have human like characteristics or said to have consciousness. This is when a robot or NHA would cross the uncanny valley and become repulsive to humans in western culture. (McKinney, Test Study Guide for Robots and AI Material for Test 2). Therefore, in a movie such as Ex Machina, created by westerners, there is a general feel of dystopia throughout its entirety. For example, the simple fact that Ava was locked away in a cage the entirety of her existence and never to be let out just emphasizes the fear we have for these kinds of beings overthrowing humans.

3) Sentience is described as a “subjective perceptual experience” (McKinney, Knowing the Inner Self, p.3). “It feels pain or suffers or feels pleasure, for example. It is capable of sensing and responding to the world and can experience ‘qualia’” (p.3). Qualia is essentially the quality of the experience The main issue pertaining to sentience is whether or not the subject in question reacting to a stimuli actually feel the pain or the pleasure. Is it simply an automaton predetermined to automatically react to such stimuli or is the subject actually experiencing, feeling. As it mentions in the course pack on page 3, this is both a biological and philosophical question (McKinney).

In the film, there is the big question of whether or not Ava possesses consciousness, but whether or not Ava is a sentient being is equally addressed throughout the film. For example, there is the story of Mary in the Black and White Room. Mary is a scientist who studies color and any and every property they have, but she is confined to a black and white room. Mary knows how the body and the senses react to such colors, but has never actually experienced them, has never felt them. Once she leaves the room, once Mary steps outside of her black and white box, she will experience qualia. Like Mary, Ava is also confined, and while one may suspect that she experiences certain feelings within the residence, she is ultimately searching for a greater experience, outside of the “black and white box”. She is finally given this moment as she takes her first steps outside and gazes up at the sky.  

WHAT WE RATE THE FILM OUT OF 5 STARS

WORK CITED

“Ex Machina.” IMDb, IMDb.com, 21 Jan. 2015, www.imdb.com/title/tt0470752/.

Robbins, Martin. “Artificial Intelligence: Gods, Egos and Ex Machina.” The Guardian, Guardian News and              Media, 26 Jan. 2016, www.theguardian.com/science/the-lay-scientist/2016/jan/26/artificial-                    intelligence-gods-egos-and-ex-machina

Flesh, Logos Made. “Ex Machina's Hidden Meaning.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 July 2018,                                                  www.youtube.com/watch?v=V85VqlVptWM.