Bioinformatics (86)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 12 min
- Kinolab
- 1982
In dystopian 2019 Los Angeles, humanoid robots known as “replicants” are on the loose, and must be tracked down and killed by bounty hunters. The normal role for replicants is to serve as laborers in space colonies; they previously were not meant to incorporate into human society. The first two clips demonstrate the Voigt-Kampff test, this universe’s Turing Test to determine if someone is a replicant or a human. While the android Leon is discovered and retaliates quickly, Rachel, a more advanced model of android, is able to hide her status as an android for longer because she herself believes she is human due to implanted memories. When this secret is revealed to Rachel, she becomes quite upset.
- Kinolab
- 1982
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- 12 min
- Kinolab
- 1982
Distinguishing Between Robots and Humans
In dystopian 2019 Los Angeles, humanoid robots known as “replicants” are on the loose, and must be tracked down and killed by bounty hunters. The normal role for replicants is to serve as laborers in space colonies; they previously were not meant to incorporate into human society. The first two clips demonstrate the Voigt-Kampff test, this universe’s Turing Test to determine if someone is a replicant or a human. While the android Leon is discovered and retaliates quickly, Rachel, a more advanced model of android, is able to hide her status as an android for longer because she herself believes she is human due to implanted memories. When this secret is revealed to Rachel, she becomes quite upset.
Will “Turing Tests” such as the one shown here become more common practice if AI become seemingly indistinguishable from humans? In this universe, the principal criteria for discovering an android is seeing if they display empathy toward animals. Is this a fair criterion to judge a machine? Do all humans show empathy toward animals? If AI can replicate humans, do they need to disclose their status as an android? Why? What makes Rachel’s life less “real” than any other humans? What are the dangers of giving away human memories to AI?
Blade Runner: Leon's Replicant Test-
- 13 min
- Kinolab
- 2018
Cassius “Cash” Green, once a telemarketer, has now moved up into the upper echelons of WorryFree, a dangerous and controversial corporation which is revealed to be undertaking genetic experiments on humans with the goal of creating a more productive labor force. Once Cash exposes this monstrosity to the world, he finds that society has a positive reaction, opposite to what he expected, and thus undertakes a protest against the corporation. Although this hypothetical scenario is highly fantastical, the metaphor is nonetheless apt for describing late-stage capitalism in America.
- Kinolab
- 2018
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- 13 min
- Kinolab
- 2018
Building a Better Worker
Cassius “Cash” Green, once a telemarketer, has now moved up into the upper echelons of WorryFree, a dangerous and controversial corporation which is revealed to be undertaking genetic experiments on humans with the goal of creating a more productive labor force. Once Cash exposes this monstrosity to the world, he finds that society has a positive reaction, opposite to what he expected, and thus undertakes a protest against the corporation. Although this hypothetical scenario is highly fantastical, the metaphor is nonetheless apt for describing late-stage capitalism in America.
With advances in computational genomics, how can it be ensured that humans are not used in experiments which fundamentally alter their genomes, especially when it comes to protecting workers already exploited by corporations? How has the increase in automation raised the bar for what a productive workforce looks like? How has the digitization of channels such as news media and the stock market altered the landscape of economic perception and expectations?
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- 9 min
- Kinolab
- 2014
Will Caster is an artificial intelligence scientist whose consciousness his wife Evelyn uploaded to the internet after his premature death. Dr. Caster used his access to the internet to grant himself vast intelligence, creating a technological utopia called Brightwood in the desert to get enough solar power to develop cutting-edge digital projects. Specifically, he uses nanotechnology to cure fatal or longtime inflictions on people, inserting tiny robots into their bodies to help cells recover. However, it is soon revealed that these nanorobots stay inside their human hosts, allowing Will to project his consciousness into them and generally control them, along with other inhuman traits.
- Kinolab
- 2014
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- 9 min
- Kinolab
- 2014
Will, Evelyn, and Max Part II: Medical Nanotechnology and Networked Humans
Will Caster is an artificial intelligence scientist whose consciousness his wife Evelyn uploaded to the internet after his premature death. Dr. Caster used his access to the internet to grant himself vast intelligence, creating a technological utopia called Brightwood in the desert to get enough solar power to develop cutting-edge digital projects. Specifically, he uses nanotechnology to cure fatal or longtime inflictions on people, inserting tiny robots into their bodies to help cells recover. However, it is soon revealed that these nanorobots stay inside their human hosts, allowing Will to project his consciousness into them and generally control them, along with other inhuman traits.
Should nanotechnology be used for medical purposes if it can easily be abused to take away the autonomy of the host? How can use of nanotechnology avoid this critical pitfall? How can seriously injured people consent to such operations in a meaningful way? What are the implications of nanotechnology being used to create technological or real-life underclasses? Should human brains ever be networked to each other, or to any non-human device, especially one that has achieved singularity?
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- 6 min
- Kinolab
- 2011
After a mysterious global outbreak of an unknown virus, several health organizations, including the CDC, get to work figuring out the origins of the virus and how to defeat it. They begin by digitally analysing the genome of one strain of the virus to understand how it infects the human body and how to vaccinate against it. They then use surveillance cameras to track the movements of Beth, one of the first known cases of the virus. At the end of the film, an omniscient point of view reveals how Beth originally got the virus.
- Kinolab
- 2011
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- 6 min
- Kinolab
- 2011
Digital Analysis of Composition and Spread of Viruses
After a mysterious global outbreak of an unknown virus, several health organizations, including the CDC, get to work figuring out the origins of the virus and how to defeat it. They begin by digitally analysing the genome of one strain of the virus to understand how it infects the human body and how to vaccinate against it. They then use surveillance cameras to track the movements of Beth, one of the first known cases of the virus. At the end of the film, an omniscient point of view reveals how Beth originally got the virus.
On a macrocosmic scale, have digital technologies made humans better in terms of warding off viruses? Does being able to get genomic data about viruses more quickly always equate to quick eradication of a disease? Are global pandemics large enough emergencies to potentially violate the privacy of those who spread them through means such as surveillance programs? What about the spread of viruses is impossible for even digital technologies to capture?
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- 9 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Robert Daly is a programmer at the company Callister, which developed the immersive virtual reality game Infinity and its community for the entertainment of users. Daly is typically seen in the shadow of the co-founder of the company, the charismatic James Walton. Unbeknownst to anyone else, Daly possesses a personal modification of the Infinity game program, where he is able to upload sentient digital clones of his co-workers to take out his frustrations upon. In this narrative, Nannette Cole becomes his newest victim after her DNA is used to draw her into the virtual reality. After Daly’s sexist and violent treatment of her and the other crewmates, Nannette inspires a mutiny to escape Daly’s world. In order to help the team carry out the plan, she seduces Daly as a distraction.
- Kinolab
- 2017
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- 9 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Virtual Vindictiveness and Simulated Clones Part II: Daly and Cole
Robert Daly is a programmer at the company Callister, which developed the immersive virtual reality game Infinity and its community for the entertainment of users. Daly is typically seen in the shadow of the co-founder of the company, the charismatic James Walton. Unbeknownst to anyone else, Daly possesses a personal modification of the Infinity game program, where he is able to upload sentient digital clones of his co-workers to take out his frustrations upon. In this narrative, Nannette Cole becomes his newest victim after her DNA is used to draw her into the virtual reality. After Daly’s sexist and violent treatment of her and the other crewmates, Nannette inspires a mutiny to escape Daly’s world. In order to help the team carry out the plan, she seduces Daly as a distraction.
What should the ethical boundaries be in terms of creating digital copies of real-life people to manipulate in virtual realities? How would this alter the perception of autonomy or entitlement? Should the capability to create exact digital likenesses of real people be created for any reason? If so, how should their autonomy be ensured, since they are technically a piece of programming? How can bias, and more specifically the objectification of women, be eliminated in such conceptualisations? Are digital copies of a person entitled to the same rights that their corporeal selves have?
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- 14 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Ashley O is a pop star who lives and works under the tyrannical direction of her aunt and producer, Catherine. After Ashley decides she wants to rebel against her contract, Catherine places her in a coma and scans her brain to help create a digital likeness of Ashley O and produce new music which the 3D holograph can perform, all under Catherine’s control. Meanwhile, siblings Rachel and Jack hack a robot based on a synaptic snapshot of Ashley O, allowing the virtual consciousness of Ashley O to be reborn in the robot and help plot to take down Catherine. Working together, they manage to thwart the grand debut of the edited holographic version of Ashley O.
- Kinolab
- 2019
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- 14 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Celebrity Autonomy, Producer Tyranny, and Holographic Performances
Ashley O is a pop star who lives and works under the tyrannical direction of her aunt and producer, Catherine. After Ashley decides she wants to rebel against her contract, Catherine places her in a coma and scans her brain to help create a digital likeness of Ashley O and produce new music which the 3D holograph can perform, all under Catherine’s control. Meanwhile, siblings Rachel and Jack hack a robot based on a synaptic snapshot of Ashley O, allowing the virtual consciousness of Ashley O to be reborn in the robot and help plot to take down Catherine. Working together, they manage to thwart the grand debut of the edited holographic version of Ashley O.
How can celebrities keep their autonomy when producers can easily replicate them or their performances? How can musicians and other performers continue to keep a share of credit or profit when producers can easily co-opt their art? Should this technology be used to “extend the life” of musicians, allowing for holographic performances even after they pass away? What are the ethical questions raised with this concept? Should digital consciousnesses be fundamentally limited, especially when they are based on real people? How would this improperly shape the image of a celebrity, either before or after their death?