We were warned about the dangers of AI in films and books, but Rannu’s Child Machine drives the point home like a wooden stake to the heart.
Child Machine
I was looking for something different to watch on Prime and came across a film called, Child Machine, written and directed by Rain Rannu and starring Johann Urb, Anna Elisabeth Leetmae, Yulin Ng, Priit Pius, Tom Urb, Adam Cullen, and Laura Peterson-Aardam.
At first, because I had originally thought the film boring…I was flipping between watching TV and playing with my phone, but something about the film, had me put down my phone and paying close attention to the story, which is about a young child, Alex (Anna Elisabeth Leetmae) who is vacationing in the Estonian countryside with her parents (Adam Cullen and Laura Peterson-Aardam) on an “internet-free vacation”. While the parents prepare breakfast, the child grabs her math book and tablet and explores the bogs when she comes across an abandoned wartime bunker.
Once inside, Alex is trapped with four adults who don’t prioritize her safety. The tech group led by Marlon (Johann Urb) are working on an AI program, which they call Milo, to write a good movie. Marlon has his father (Tom Urb) there for a father/son bonding experience, and he also has two tech geniuses, Priscilla (Yulin Ng) and Tuano (Pritt Pius) to help him perfect the program, that for now, must be kept offline.Marlon has his father (Tom Urb) there for a father/son bonding experience, and he also has two tech geniuses, Priscilla (Yulin Ng) and Tuano (Pritt Pius), to help him perfect the program, which, for now, must be kept offline.
Alex wants to go home, but her pleadings are ignored. In the meantime, a huge search party has begun to search for the child. To keep Alex quiet and out of the way, Marlon puts Alex in charge of the facility’s cleaning robot…a R2-D2 version of a Roomba. Alex is teaching the Roomba to do a better job of recycling and keeping the bunker clean. To help keep the child occupied with teaching the Roomba, Marlon connects Roomba to Milo.
Conclusion with SPOILERS
It was in the news recently that several AI programs have escaped and attacked other AI programs. Now I pay attention to this type of news because we have a corrupt government that is forcing AI Centers all over the United States against the wishes of American citizens.
The film used real AI-generated visual effects that were made using cutting-edge AI technologies that had only been in existence for a few months, and you have to remember that this is a 2022 film.
I began to really pay attention when Milo was studying the child’s relationship with the uncaring adults, but more so when Milo paid attention to how Alex was teaching the Roomba to help her escape the bunker.
Marlon, Priscilla, and Tuano were under the false impression that as long as they kept Milo offline, they could control the program. Best-laid plans by men and mice…right? Alex wasn’t the only one who wanted to escape that bunker.
The film was developed in consultation with prominent AI safety advocate Jaan Tallinn (co-founder of Skype and the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk).
What are the perils of Inadequate AI Containment? Answer: The illusion of control and the Human Factor. So, back to the film…yes this is a spoiler…but bear with me…Alex is reunited with her parents, but the Roomba who had learned through trial and error, much like Alex…did what it was trained to do. CLEAN THE BUNKER!
Please watch Child Machine, and if your government wants to build an AI Center near you…pull the cord…not that it will help…but…