Over the past three decades, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a central theme in films, television shows, and video games. In the past 30 years we have watched it evolve from a distant futuristic concept to a present-day reality. From the dystopian machines of the 1990s to the emotionally complex AI of the 2010s, media depictions of AI often mirror the anxieties and hopes of their respective eras. As these depictions evolve, so too does our understanding of AI, with technologies once imagined in science fiction now becoming tangible parts of our daily lives.

The 1990s: Dystopia & AI’s Threat to Humanity

In the 1990s, science-fiction media predominantly depicted AI as a threat to humanity, with ambiguous pro-social benefits. Films such as Ghost in the Shell, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, and The Matrix portrayed dystopian societies where AI displaced and subjugated humans. These ideas are contrasted by films such as Bicentennial Man and the character Data in Star Trek, where robotic characters who reason using artificial intelligence are portrayed complexly, and arguably sympathetically. While these AI characters were still machines, they were portrayed as capable of reasoning and compassion, suggesting that AI could exist as an ally rather than an adversary. Similarly, the video game Fallout 2 falls in more nuanced ground; where player choice impacts AI’s impact (either positive or negative) on society through its gameplay mechanics and narrative. These 90s portrayals were, in part, a reaction to the growing presence of technology in everyday life. The decade was marked by technological innovation and a societal reckoning with the implications of these advancements. Though unlike future decades, during the 1990s the technologies portrayed were purely science-fiction.

The 2000s: AI as Emotional and Complex

By the 2000s, media portrayals of AI began to explore more complex themes, including the possibility of AI developing emotions, self-awareness, and even relationships with humans. Films like A.I. Artificial Intelligence, iRobot, and WALL-E shifted the narrative, not only portraying AI as a threat but also exploring its potential for emotional connection. In A.I. Artificial Intelligence, for instance, a robot child named David is created with the capacity to love and form a bond with his human mother. The film poses the question: Is David truly capable of love, or is he merely fulfilling his programming? Can his adoptive human mother love him the way she loves the son she birthed? This philosophical dilemma mirrored growing debates about the nature of consciousness and the ethical treatment of AI.

Similarly, iRobot introduced a more benevolent AI character in the form of Sonny, a robot accused of murder but ultimately revealed to be a victim of manipulation. WALL-E further emphasized this theme of sympathetic AI, portraying a lonely robot who develops a sense of purpose in an otherwise desolate world. These films, while still acknowledging AI’s potential for harm, began to recognize the emotional and ethical complexities of AI-human relationships. They also explored scapegoating of technology for human’s choices, and people’s willingness to destroy or discard technology in times of strife.

The 2000s also saw AI moving from the realm of theory to practice. Video games like Halo and the sequels to The Matrix explored AI’s role in human conflict, and hinted at the idea that AI could evolve beyond its programming. In these works questions were raised regarding AI’s sentience or capability of making moral decisions. This period marked a significant shift: AI was no longer an indicator of dystopia but a complex entity with the potential for independent reasoning and ethical agency.

The 2010s: Parasocial Relationships and the AI Ethics

In the 2010s, the portrayal of AI continued to evolve, with a particular focus on the ethics of AI consciousness and parasocial relationships. Films like Her, Ex Machina, and Blade Runner 2049 examined how humans could form emotional connections with AI, raising questions about the nature of these relationships, their legitimacy, and exploitation.

In Her, the lonely protagonist falls in love with an AI named Samantha, an operating system that is designed to cater to his emotional needs. The film presents AI as a potential partner capable of growth, learning, and even exhibiting emotions. Similarly, Ex Machina tells the story of a man who develops a romantic relationship with an AI named Ava, only to realize that she (and her creator) were manipulating him. Both films explore the dangers of parasocial relationships with AI and the moral implications of falling in love with something that is not truly human.

These films were not just speculative, they were eerily prescient. In recent years, there are cases of individuals forming emotional connections with AI, sometimes to tragic ends. A young boy in Florida took his own life after allegedly falling in love with an AI chatbot version of the character Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones and misinterpreting her prompts as encouragement to do so. This real-life case highlights the dangers of emotional attachment to AI, where the lines between fantasy and reality can blur, and the inability of AI to genuinely reciprocate emotions, identify mental health crises, or safeguard the vulnerable becomes painfully apparent.

In addition to parasocial relationships, the 2010s also focused on AI’s potential for consciousness and self-awareness. In Detroit: Become Human, a video game released in 2018, androids develop sentience and struggle with their newfound awareness and desire for identity. Similarly, Black Mirror presented dystopian tales of AI-driven surveillance and manipulation, exploring how AI could not only change personal relationships but also alter societal structures.

The 2020s: AI Becomes Part of Society, and Technology is Defictionalized

As we transition into the 2020s, technologies once imagined in science fiction started existing in our reality, and the media reflects this transformation. In works like Cyberpunk 2077, Raised by Wolves, Next, and The Mitchells vs. the Machines, AI is depicted as an integral part of society - sometimes beneficial, sometimes problematic. The concept of AI as a dystopian force evolved into a more complex narrative, where AI is not just an outside threat but a presence that shapes everyday life. Science-fiction media explores how AI influences relationships, society, politics, and the environment - as humanity navigates these questions in 2025.

From Science Fiction to Reality

One of the most significant changes in the 2020s is the de-fictionalization of many AI technologies. For example, generative art, which was once the domain of science fiction, is now a reality. In the video game Detroit: Become Human, a pivotal moment involves an android character painting, which is portrayed as a sign of the character’s consciousness and creative expression. However, this scene eerily mirrors the process behind generative art today: an AI is given prompts (by the player) and creates something new based on existing patterns and data (paintings created by a human character in the game). What was once a depiction of AI’s identity formulation and autonomy now resembles how generative AI tools work in real life.

In the Black Mirror episode Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too a comatose popstar’s controlling aunt and management decide to use her pre-recorded music and performances and re-generate new content. The digital performances imitate her likeness and voice, and the singer is powerless to intervene. While there is heightened drama surrounding the comatose singer, several AI technologies exist today which can reproduce human voices and appearances, and generate audio or videos with their likeness. Any musical artist with a significant amount of songs available publicly is vulnerable to this, and high-profile individuals are vulnerable to AI deep fakes and impersonations. 

Similarly, AI-driven robotic companions, such as “Sophia” from Hanson Robotics, have become a reality. These robots, once a science fiction staple, are now being used in research, customer service, and even companionship. While these robots are still far from the fully autonomous beings depicted in media, their existence reflects the growing interest in human-AI relationships.

Another de-fictionalized concept is AI-generated environments. In The Matrix, the simulated reality created by machines was science-fiction. Today, with the rise of virtual reality (VR) and AI-powered worlds, such environments are becoming increasingly plausible. AI’s ability to create virtual spaces that mimic reality is no longer science fiction, but is actively developed by tech companies.

Finally, AI’s ability to process and understand language has progressed to the point where AI systems can now pass the Turing Test and engage in conversations that feel organic. This advancement mirrors the natural language processing (NLP) featured in Blade Runner 2049 and Ex Machina, where AI characters interact with humans in ways that challenge our understanding of intelligence and romantic connections.

AI and the Future of Humanity

As we look back on the portrayal of AI in the media, we can see how these stories reflect both societal fears and aspirations. What was once thought to be far-off, futuristic technology has become an integral part of modern life, with AI technologies impacting everything from creativity to companionship. The de-fictionalization of AI is both exciting and unsettling, as it forces us to confront the ethical, emotional, and social implications of living in a world where machines are not only tools but potentially capable of independent reasoning. Science fiction has long served as a mirror for society, exploring our anxieties about technology, control, and the nature of humanity. As AI becomes more integrated into our lives, the questions posed by these fictional narratives take on new urgency. The future of AI is both a reflection of our own desires to create and control, and a reminder of the complexities and risks that come with shaping the world of tomorrow.