[Disclosure: I am really happy to work with this post’s sponsor, Avatier, in order to bring you this fascinating look at sci-fi cinema history!]

When you’re creating anything, you’re going to draw on previous creations that other people have put out into the world.

Even the most famous stories draw on concepts from previous creators, using them to make the final product more interesting. That’s also true of seemingly modern tropes like that of AI.

If you want to understand AI in today’s films, it’s important to look at AI in films past. Here are some of the most iconic pre-1980’s AI that shaped today’s understanding of the trope.

Image credit: Jeremy Starling Used Via CC BY SA 2.0.

1927: Maria’s Double – Metropolis

This is potentially one of the first depictions of AI in modern media. Interestingly, Maria’s Double is an evil AI with adult-level intelligence, making it a precursor to the many evil AI of today. The special effects of the movie were incredibly advanced for its time, making it a trailblazer for current sci-fi cinema.

1951: Gort – The Day the Earth Stood Still

The Day the Earth Stood Still is still a hallmark of early sci-fi cinema; the cryptic phrase “Klaatu barada nikto” shows up in science fiction discussions even today. Gort, an interstellar police bot, perfectly showcases a vision of nearly limitless power in a controllable AI container.

1968: HAL 9000 – 2001: A Space Odyssey

HAL 9000 has likely had more of an impact on AI villainy than any other. Who can forget the famous, chilling line, “I’m sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that?” The concept of an evil AI with superhuman intelligence possessing an emotionless voice, but no body to speak from, is one that continues to influence science fiction writers whenever they want to create a villainous AI.

1977: R2-D2 – Star Wars

Here is one of the very first AI characters that seems to have a mind of its own and uses that mind for good. R2-D2 is a small robot that doesn’t speak English, but his charm and boisterous nature has made him a key component of Star Wars movies, TV shows, books, and more for decades.

1978/2005: Marvin the Paranoid Android – Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Following in the footsteps of R2-D2, Marvin the Paranoid Android is a good AI with lots of charms and quirks that make him more of a character than some other AI before him. Though the movie didn’t come out until 2005, audiences were enjoying Marvin’s character when Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was a radio broadcast back in 1978.

Image credit: Alien: Isolation, SEGA of America — Image credit: *Alien: Isolation*, SEGA of America

1979: MU-TH-UR 6000 – Alien

Alien launched a number of sci-fi tropes, but MU-TH-UR 6000, affectionately referred to as “Mother,” showcases an interesting way to incorporate environmental controls into a plot. Though the mainframe doesn’t show emotion or have much of a character to speak of, “her” position in the story is still impactful. She is used to disseminate vital information at key points in the narrative, which serves to ratchet up the film’s tension and terror.

Conclusion

Whether you’re doing research for your own sci-fi movie or you just enjoy knowing more about the movies you watch, it’s easy to see how these early AI depictions really shaped the way sci-fi narratives move today. As AI continues to grow and change in the real world, who knows whether these tropes will become reality?