Apple TV‘s new sci-fi show featured an intriguing AI disclaimer in its closing credits, which makes a lot of sense after its recent episode.
Although Apple TV has been the home of some of the best sci-fi shows for quite some time, the streamer has now added a new series to its catalog that further elevates its sci-fi game. The show not only boasts a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 100% but also has Breaking Bad‘s creator, Vince Gilligan, as its showrunner.
Interestingly, the show recently gained a lot of attention for also featuring an AI disclaimer in its end credits: “This show was made by humans.” After its episode 3’s story developments, the AI disclaimer makes a lot more sense and seems to hold direct relevance in the series’ story.
Pluribus Seems Like The Perfect AI Allegory After Episode 3
After episode 3, it is hard not to see Pluribus as the perfect allegory for AI and its dehumanizing impact on humans. In the show’s world, a happiness virus infects almost everyone on Earth, leading to most humans feeling a constant sense of bliss. The infected ones are also a part of a hivemind, preventing them from having an individuality of their own.
In Pluribus‘ episode 3, it becomes evident that the hivemind is not capable of making any choices of its own. Like most AI bots of modern times, it remains highly agreeable regardless of what the protagonist asks from it. Even when the main character, Carol, asks if she can get an atom bomb, the hivemind responds with a “yes” instead of considering the ethical implications of the action.
The characters infected by the hivemind also often drop random facts about things during conversations and often overstep boundaries with their desire to please Carol. Even when they are given simple instructions to not do something, they find workarounds to defy the instructions in the silliest ways.
Many such similarities exist between the hivemind in Pluribus and modern-day AI systems, making it hard not to wonder if the show is secretly criticizing AI. The fact that it is emphasized that the show was made by humans seems like another solid indicator that Pluribus serves as an AI allegory.
The AI Allegory Makes Sense, But It May Be Too Soon To Conclude Where Pluribus Is Going
Even though the AI allegory theory makes a lot of sense, it may be too soon to draw any solid conclusions about what Pluribus is truly about. The show has been going in a very intriguing direction so far, raising many questions about what it means to be human. Many of the core ideas and story beats in the Apple TV sci-fi show support the AI allegory theory, but there is likely more to the series than meets the eye.
