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Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror has long been warning us about the dystopian future technological advances could land us in.
Now, in a rather ironic twist of fate, AI has predicted which episode of the hit series is most likely to come true.
For those unfamiliar, Black Mirror is a near-dystopian anthology series.
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Each episode is its own standalone, yet all instalments are somewhat connected by themes of technology and media to comment on a particular contemporary social issue.
And often, it's absolutely terrifying.
The series has received mass praise for showing viewers the ways in which seemingly positive technological advances might serve to be a downfall of the human race.
In honour of Black Mirror returning to Netflix for its seventh season last week (10 April), Tyla asked AI chatbot ChatGPT: 'Which episode of Black Mirror is most likely to come true?'
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And these are the top four contenders that feel 'eerily plausible (or are basically already happening)', according to ChatGPT.
4. 'Hated in the Nation' (Season 3, Episode 6)
In 'Hated in the Nation,' which aired back in 2016, autonomous drone bees, known as ADIs, that were created to replace a now-extinct bee population get hacked to target people chosen by online hate mobs.
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ChatGPT says this could come true for three reasons: 'drones already have facial recognition, online cancel culture and mob mentality is real and AI-driven micro-drones are being developed.'
"We’re not that far from programmable swarms," the chatbot warns.
3. 'The Entire History of You' (Season 1, Episode 3)
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A real throwback all the way to Black Mirror's first ever season, 'The Entire History of You' sees people gain access to a memory implant that records everything they do, see and hear, which can replayed whenever they choose.
"Companies are already working on memory enhanced tech and brain-computer interfaces," the AI tool explains. "Smart glasses, body cams and personal surveillance tools are creeping in."
For instance, Elon Musk's Neuralink is already working on its brain chip called The Link, aiming to enable 'individuals to control external devices like computers or smartphones using their thoughts'.
"Imagine being able to rewind and review every moment of your life... it’s equal parts cool and terrifying," the chatbot says.
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Honestly, we agree more with the latter.
2. 'Metalhead' (Season 4, Episode 5)
In 'Metalhead' - which aired during the show's fourth season - humanity is hunted by killer robot dogs in a post-apocalyptic world.
AI says the episode may become reality due to Boston Dynamics' creepily life-like robot dogs already being tested for use in law enforcement and the military.
Indeed, last year, Miami-Dade Police Department's SWAT team unveiled its new robot dog 'Spot', which it said would 'lower the risk for officers and anyone involved in a crisis with police'.
The same robot dog, made by Boston Dynamics, was also spotted patrolling Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.
"Autonomous weapons + AI = danger zone," the AI chat warns.
"These bots don’t (yet) hunt humans... but their agility and AI capabilities are uncomfortably advanced."
1. 'Nosedive' (Season 3, Episode 1)
And the most likely episode to come true shouldn't come as a surprise considering our obsession with social media validation.
In 'Nosedive,' individuals are rated following every social interaction and their score determines their access to jobs, housing and status.
Creepily, China has already began rolling out its own version of a social credit system that tracks people's behaviour and rewards or punishes them accordingly.
Before you panic too much, the system in question isn't like the one shown in the infamous Black Mirror episode, but it's more of a national database that takes standard financial credit rating systems to the next level.
The BBC reports that it's a 'database that compiles fiscal and government information, including minor traffic violations, and distils it into a single number ranking each citizen', giving them a 'trustworthiness' rating.
Those with 'low' social credit scores may face various restrictions included limited access to loans, travel, or government services. Meanwhile, those with high social credit scores could be in line for a whole load of benefits including as priority access to services or lower interest rates.
On top of all that, the chatbot points out: "We’re already rating drivers, customers, sellers, even roommates."
Now, imagine our obsession with being validated online leading to real-life social and legal consequences. No, thank you!
Topics: Artificial intelligence, Technology, TV And Film, Netflix, Black Mirror
Bec Oakes