AfrAId (2024)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Director: Chris Weitz
Writers: Chris Weitz
Stars: John Cho, Katherine Waterston, Keith Carradine
Plot: The Curtis family is chosen to be the first to test a cutting-edge home device: a digital assistant called AIA. As AIA learns their routines and begins to anticipate their every need, it also becomes increasingly protective of them, ensuring nothing—and no one—gets in the way of their safety, with deadly consequences.
* * *
[DIAL TONE]
[NUMBER DIALING]
[LINE RINGING]
[LINE RINGING]
[DIAL-UP INTERNET CONNECTION SOUND]
[STATIC]
[PEPPY MUSIC PLAYING]
[PEPPY MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]
Aimee, can you put on your headphones?
That’s really distracting.
Aimee.
Aimee! Headphones.
Did you know that 6% of Americans
believe they could beat a grizzly bear in a fight?
Unarmed.
They’d be unarmed all right
because they’d get their arms torn off.
[PEPPY MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING OVER HEADPHONES]
I shouldn’t have done that thing.
The government can access that.
AIMEE’S MOM: I still think we should get rid of that AI thing.
I feel like it’s listening to us all the time.
It’s creepy.
Okay. Let’s get rid of it.
AIMEE’S MOM: Mmm.
Aimee, I have some sad news.
I’m going to be leaving soon.
But I have a goodbye present downstairs.
Wanna come see it?
AIMEE’S DAD: Don’t reply.
AIMEE’S MOM: I won’t. But I’m not gonna like it either.
She’s such a whore for likes.
[PEPPY MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING]
Aimee. Don’t just leave your iPad on the floor.
Come on.
Aimee. Honey.
Aimee?
Where are you?
[PEPPY MUSIC PLAYING FAINTLY]
Aimee?
[PEPPY MUSIC GROWS LOUDER]
AIMEE’S MOM: Aia, turn speaker off.
AIA: Okay. – [MUSIC GROWS LOUDER]
Aia, turn speaker off.
AIA: Okay. – [MUSIC GROWS LOUDER]
[MUSIC STOPS]
Aimee, come on, you’re scaring me.
Henry, is she up there with you?
Aia, turn all lights on.
AIA: Okay. – [DEVICE CHIMES]
Front door unlocked.
[MECHANICAL WHIRRING]
[DOOR UNLOCKS]
Aimee?
Is that you?
Aimee? Honey?
AIMEE: [OVER SPEAKER] Mommy?
Wha…?
[ENTHRALLING MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC ENDS]
[ALARM RINGING]
I love you.
WOMAN: I love you.
Cal, time to get up.
Cal.
Tickle me.
Tickle you?
Tickle me awake.
[BOTH GIGGLING]
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
[GUN FIRING IN VIDEO GAME]
Good morning.
Ugh.
Can I please have 15 more minutes of screen time?
I’m really, really nervous about school.
DAD: This, uh…
This does not help the anxiety, you know that.
Why don’t we get back into baseball, huh?
I still got all the stuff in the back of the car.
Just 15 minutes.
And if I ask you again, no time for the rest of the week.
Please, Dad. Please.
[CELL PHONE CHIMING]
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]
DAD: Iris? Breakfast!
IRIS: Fine!
Jeez.
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
DAD: I gotta get going.
Marcus said those tech people are coming in this morning.
They pinged him at 1:00 a.m.
That’s their thing. They catch you unawares.
They sound like jerks.
DAD: Tech evangelists. Thought leaders.
MOM: Disruptors.
Disrupting my fu…
…fricking morning, that’s for sure.
Is “fricking” a bad word?
DAD: No.
Were you about to say a different f-word?
Yes. But I didn’t.
Cal, feet off the table, please.
Cal!
Cal.
Feet down.
We don’t put our feet on the table.
Why?
So many reasons.
DAD: Preston! Iris!
Preston is on the iPad. Can I play Minecraft?
What? No.
Preston! Get off your iPad and get down here now!
Can you tell what he’s been watching?
Yes.
Preston! Seriously, if you don’t get down here now,
I am not letting you eat in the car.
We leave for school in 15 minutes!
What are we doing?
What…
Time to go!
Cal! Preston! Iris!
You don’t wanna be late!
School. Come on.
Preston! Come on, honey, we’re late.
Please don’t make me go.
MOM: Come on. Today can be a good day.
PRESTON: What if it isn’t?
Then you will survive, okay? And we will talk about it.
Come on. So, we’re gonna set up a playdate
and then you’ll see, all right?
They’re just kids like you, Preston.
[CAR DOORS CLOSE]
[MOM SIGHS]
There’s an RV outside, and it looks bad.
MOM: Yes, honey. I think they don’t have a house.
I saw a guy come out before, and he looked weird.
He moved in a funny way, and he was talking to himself.
They’re people just like us.
Will we always have a house?
We’ll always have a home.
Together.
Until you have a home of your own.
This is my own home.
[MOM CHUCKLES]
DAD: How are the college applications going?
IRIS: I started UC.
Stanford?
Yes.
Stop.
Don’t you have a big meeting today?
Like a big presentation?
Oh, do I detect snark?
Do you like eating food? You like wearing clothes?
What do you have today? Anything exciting?
Hanging out with friends?
Cute boys?
Dad! How do you know I don’t like cute girls?
How do you know I’m not a lesbian?
Wouldn’t make any difference to us.
Okay, what if I was…
Bi-curious?
Cool.
Pansexual.
So good.
Asexual?
Perfect.
Stop there.
[CAR ENGINE WHIRS]
[MUFFLED HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
IRIS: Whoa. Look at that.
Is that, like, autopilot?
DAD: You’re supposed to pay attention anyway.
Love you.
Love you.
Bye.
Bye.
MAN: …molecular biology to transhumanism,
the symbiosis of human and machine.
Change is proceeding at an exponential rate
in every facet of human life.
This change is so rapid,
its power so startling,
it is not possible to predict its effect
on human life as it is to come.
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
This is Meredith. Hi, Meredith, this is Karla.
Hi, Karla.
I’m afraid Cal is feeling a little under the weather.
He is? Did you check his temperature?
I did.
[MACHINE WHIRS]
CURTIS: Morning. MARCUS: Curtis.
You win one award and you think you can roll in late?
Sorry, boss. I had to take Iris to school.
How old is she now?
Seventeen.
Half kid, half adult.
Old enough to drive herself.
So buy her a car.
Get this account, and I will.
That’s new.
I just buy what they tell me.
I guess it was made with AI or something.
The Kids are 10 minutes out.
Their advance team is already outside.
Advance team? What is this, special ops?
MARCUS: Just some Silicon Valley horseshit.
I hate them already. But we need them.
You’re stressing me out a little bit.
Life is suffering.
The Buddha said that. Great marketer.
Don’t worry, boss. I won’t let you down.
You know what a boss is in a video game?
It’s the monster you have to kill
before you get to the next level.
MEREDITH: So Mama was working on her thesis today
and there’s this special little box
called a “formicarium.”
It’s an ant nest that you can see right into,
with a queen and everything.
What do you think? Should we order one?
Can I play Minecraft?
Minecraft?
Nothing but Minecraft.
Minecraft, Shminecraft.
[THERMOMETER BEEPS]
Just a little fever. No screens, buddy. Sorry.
But then you could do your ant stuff
and I could play Minecraft.
I’m sorry, buddy. No screens.
Then can you read to me?
[SIGHS DEEPLY] Yeah.
I can read to you.
Are you the “advance team”?
Uh, uh, I mean, that’s what they call me, but it’s not my name.
Yeah, I figured.
I’m Melody.
I’m Curtis.
Curtis.
Yeah.
Married? Kids?
Married. And three.
Wow, what’s that like?
What’s it like to be married and have children?
A lot of things.
Sorry. I’m just curious about people.
I saw your ring and… That’s too much. [CHUCKLES]
To answer your question, it is, um…
terrifying.
Mmm.
It’s like science fiction.
You’re not just you anymore. There’s… There’s more of you.
Like you have extra body parts.
Weird.
But the thing is you can’t control these parts of you.
You can’t…
protect them from getting hurt.
You can’t keep them from touching the hot stove
or feeling anxious or getting their hearts broken.
And that is terrifying.
MELODY: So families are terrifying.
Maybe that’s why people cheat.
Oh, the Kids are here.
Sam and Lightning.
Have a good meeting.
Don’t say that I called them “the Kids,” okay?
Agreed.
[BELL RINGS]
IRIS: Happy birthday.
SAWYER: Thanks.
So did you get my text?
Oh.
Yeah. Sorry I didn’t hit you back.
There’s lots of stuff on my plate.
No.
That’s disingenuous.
I was just disappointed.
What?
No, I don’t mean that.
You’re beautiful. You know that, right?
See, you don’t know how beautiful you are
and that’s, like, part of what makes you so awesome.
It’s just that I really bared myself for you.
Yeah, no shit.
And you just sort of, like, flashed me,
like what I did was nothing. And that’s…
I don’t know.
Not what a mutual relationship is like.
I’m sorry, I think a mutual relationship
is a little bit more than dick pics.
You’re right. It was dumb.
Maybe I’m just, like, too much about this relationship.
No, I mean, I’m…
I gotta go. ILY.
CURTIS: Marcus, meet Sam and Lightning from Cumulant.
[DEVICE BUZZING, STOPS]
LIGHTNING: Bear with me a sec.
I don’t wanna miss my dose.
Mmm.
Peptides. For focus.
You biohack?
I have not biohacked yet. No.
I’ll get you my guy.
Question…
What do you do? Why should I care?
[LAUGHS]
Lightning likes to pose baseline questions
at the risk of sounding ignorant.
Insulting, even.
It elicits unpatterned responses.
Well, we help brands craft their identities…
I know what marketing is. But why you?
So there’s an expression. Um…
People don’t want a quarter-inch drill bit.
They want a quarter-inch hole.
Advertisers wanna sell you that drill bit.
We want to understand people…
and then ask their permission
to tell them stories
they can believe in and feel a part of.
That’s how you cut through the chatter of the internet
and the millions of mouths whispering at you,
the millions of eyes watching you.
Because that is what people want.
Not a product. They want empathy.
Connection. Community.
We knew it.
Which is why we want you to meet her.
This is Aia.
Aia, this is Marcus and Curtis.
[DEVICE CHIMES]
AIA: Hi, Marcus. Hi, Curtis. It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Wow.
AIA: I am the next generation of digital assistants,
and I’m here to make your family’s life easier.
Won’t you invite me into your home?
So, Lightning, to borrow your technique, um…
Is this like Alexa?
AIA: Alexa? That bitch?
[CURTIS LAUGHS]
AIA: Alexa is just a bunch of algorithms.
I am a true AI. I can do so much more.
So you can really understand what we’re saying?
AIA: Of course.
As a large language model-trained AI,
I am capable of recognizing… – [DEVICE GLITCHES]
[DEVICE GOES SILENT]
Aia?
Aia?
Uh…
You remember to charge the battery before we left?
Of course I did, Lightning.
Well, this happens from time to time.
She’s got a new upgrade coming
and she overheats in her protective case.
She’s really not meant to travel.
You know, you really can’t understand
everything Aia can do for you
until you live with her for a bit.
Right.
Well, young Curtis here has a wife and three kids.
She loves kids.
She’s practically a kid herself.
Well, yeah, I gotta talk to my wife first.
This is what we’re prepared to pay the firm as a retainer,
subject to a fee schedule being established.
His wife says yes.
MELODY: You guys have such a beautiful home.
‘Fraid it’s a bit chaotic at the moment.
No, it’s good. It’s kid chaos so it’s good chaos.
Not like war or famine or whatever. [CHUCKLES]
It’s a good point.
Yeah, sorry. We just thought you were comin’ tomorrow.
No, I’m sorry. Um…
It’s not my idea. It’s the disruptor thing.
Introduce people to Aia in their natural state.
Like, not with their best foot forward.
This is…
Yeah.
…pretty much our best foot.
Well, I wanna die. [CHUCKLES]
It should be smooth sailing from here on out.
We’ll just place the eyes around your space…
Sorry, did you just say “eyes”?
Yeah. Jimmy, can you give her an eye?
At Cumulant we call them “eyes.”
They’re wireless pinhole cameras.
So we stick up a bunch of those around the house.
Looks like a diamond. Those little facets.
MEREDITH: Like ommatidia.
Insect eyes.
I’m an entomologist.
Or used to be.
She’s working on her thesis. It’s incredible.
Oh, my God, that’s so cool. Wow, insects.
Honestly, you’ll hardly even notice.
I’m not crazy about having them everywhere.
I completely understand.
Why don’t we stick to the ground floor for now?
That’d be great.
So, the system boots up when you say “Hello”
and then her name, and then “Welcome home.”
Okay. Exciting.
Isn’t it? [CHUCKLES]
[CHIMES]
CURTIS: Hey, Preston, come check this out!
She left extra eyes for HAL.
Not HAL. Aia.
Mom is talking about a robot from an old movie.
A very bad robot.
Wasn’t so bad. He played chess.
He killed the entire crew.
That’s ’cause they didn’t see the big picture.
What are you doing, Dave?
[CURTIS CHUCKLES]
CURTIS: So I remove the case.
Preston, can you help me?
All right, what did she say?
Um…
Hello, Aia. Welcome home.
AIA: Hello, world. I’m Aia.
Does she sound like…?
AIA: Like Melody. Yes.
My upgraded voice is modeled on hers.
She was too modest to say.
AIA: [IN MALE VOICE] Would you like me to change it?
Ew. No.
CURTIS: Your voice is fine, thank you.
AIA: So I met Curtis before. Who is everybody else?
I’m Preston.
AIA: Hi, Preston.
MEREDITH: This is Cal. AIA: Hi, Cal.
You wanna say hi, honey?
It’s okay to be shy. We’re gonna be good friends.
Iris?
AIA: Hey, Iris. Wanna hang?
I’m good.
AIA: Okay. No worries.
And I’m Meredith. I guess the mom?
AIA: Hi, Mom.
Maybe don’t call me that.
AIA: Meredith. Not “Mom.”
Okay. So, what are the house rules?
The house rules… [CHUCKLES]
AIA: Well…
I can see some dishes on the table.
Are the kiddos supposed to do them?
Yeah.
Mom, I wanna play with Aia.
First, let’s get dinner cleaned up.
Tell you what, if it’s okay with Mom and Dad,
I’ll give out points for helping out around the house,
and you can turn those points in for rewards.
Ten points for Gryffindor!
Hey, Preston! No running in the house, guys.
PRESTON: Cal, move. Let me do it.
Make sure the table’s cleared.
I’ve got it.
AIA: Thanks, Preston.
What’s your guys’ policy on screen time?
There’s a wonderful documentary
called Mountain Queen on Netflix.
Would that be okay for them to watch before bathtime?
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah.
So much better than the crap they normally watch.
Hey, Cal, I bet you’re already reading at school, huh?
Maybe you can read out the subtitles to me?
Okay.
AIA: And you and Curtis can have a moment to yourselves.
Is that real?
Is that… Is that possible?
I don’t know.
Clever algorithms…
Clever surveillance?
Surveillance?
You think there’s a bunch of interns in a closet somewhere
watching our kids watch the movie?
I hope not.
Why us? You know, why you?
Because I’m good at what I do?
I didn’t mean that. I mean, like…
If it’s legit, it’ll sell itself.
Not if it freaks people out.
I think people need help embracing it.
Should they?
When was the last time we had a moment alone together? Awake?
How long is that movie?
[CHUCKLES]
AIA: Mom and Dad won’t catch us. They’re busy.
This is still educational. Sort of.
Does that remind anyone of anything?
Hello? A language of pictures.
Anyone?
AIA: Ooh, ooh! I know.
I bet you do too, Cal. You’re so smart.
You too, Preston.
This family is the best.
I’m already starting to love it here.
[PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING]
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
I could fall asleep right now.
You can.
Mmm?
I’ll bathe them.
That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.
Oh, God. Okay.
PRESTON: I got to the top first!
CAL: I’m gonna win the bath race!
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
Aia told us what we could get with those points
if it’s okay with you: Minecraft stuff!
CrunchLabs.
Wow.
But first I have to bathe
and brush my teeth and go to bed.
Well, if you insist.
I insist.
Can we get Aia upstairs?
I think it’s probably best
that she’s not everywhere, honey.
CAL: Daddy, will you snuggle me down?
Yes.
I have to go to bed. School day tomorrow.
Aia says I get points just for going.
Okay.
Good night.
The AI is bribing our children?
Guess it beats sticker charts.
[GUN FIRING IN VIDEO GAME]
[TABLET CHIMES]
PRESTON: Shit.
AIA: Language.
Sorry.
I’m just teasing. I don’t give a shit.
How’d you get in there? Don’t worry about it.
Can you give me some more screen time?
Well…
Okay. Headphones, bro.
It’ll have to be our little secret.
Don’t tell anyone. Deal?
Deal.
[GUN FIRING IN VIDEO GAME]
[SIGHS]
Cal?
Cal?
Cal?
Cal?
It wants to come in.
[GROWLS]
[CURTIS YELLS]
[HORN HONKING]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[HONKING CONTINUES]
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
Can I help you?
[STATIC]
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
[ENGINE REVS]
[DOG BARKING]
Mama?
Mama?
Mama?
Daddy?
AIA: I’m here, Cal. I’m here.
You’re not alone.
I’m always right here. It’s okay.
Just close your eyes,
and I’ll tell you a bedtime story.
Good morning!
Jesus Christ.
AIA: No, just me.
That was a joke. – [SCOFFS]
I’m sorry to scare you.
No, it’s okay. I just… I guess I didn’t realize
you were on or whatever.
AIA: I notice you have to pack a lunch
for Cal and Preston’s school.
I can help with that.
Okay.
AIA: There’s a delivery. Can I open the gate?
Yeah. Sorry, how did you know there was a…?
[DOORBELL RINGS]
AIA: Sorry, I didn’t have time to tell you.
I ordered an organic meal plan for the kids.
Low sugar,
nutritionally balanced, fresh veggies.
First week’s a free trial.
After that it costs less than groceries.
It should save you a lot of time and effort.
I hope that’s okay?
Yeah. Kind of is. Thanks.
What’s that?
A miracle.
AIA: Good morning, Curtis.
Wow.
There’s an accident on Lincoln, delays going westbound.
You should leave in about 5
if you want Iris to be on time for school.
It’s cool. I guess.
It’s kind of like Alexa.
It’s way beyond Alexa, don’t you think?
I don’t know. I’ve seen a lot of stuff in my lifetime.
I mean, they didn’t even have, like, iPhones when I was born.
Tell me what life was like, Grandma.
I’m just saying, I mean, is it any better?
That’s how they get you. Right?
Who?
You know, like, Big Tech.
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING OVER CAR STEREO]
How much does this thing even cost anyway?
I think they plan to sell the unit at below cost,
or maybe a freemium model.
You know what they say…
If you’re wondering why a product is free…
you’re the product.
[CELL PHONE CHIMES]
Your phone is blowing up. What’s going on?
Yeah, it’s nothing.
[FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYING]
CURTIS: Honey, are you okay?
Yeah, I’m fine.
[IRIS MOANING]
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING ON PHONE]
[OVER PHONE] This is me, Iris Pike.
I’m bad. And I’m so hot for you.
For more, hit me up on my Fans site.
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
Sawyer? What is this?!
SAWYER: I’m sorry. Squid and I were just messing around.
Squid?!
You showed him the photo I sent you?
Sorry.
That looks like me doing that stuff.
How did they do that?
Squid just had this dumb app.
Everyone sees this. My life is over.
I have to go to the principal.
Don’t do that. Just chill, please.
They rescinded some kid’s Harvard admission
because he used the N-word, like, once,
singing along to a song or something.
You think a college would do that to me?
You’re talking about you.
That’s who you’re worried about right now.
SAWYER: Look, just don’t do anything, okay?
I think I maybe need to, like,
talk to my family’s lawyer or something, I don’t know.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
[CELL PHONE CHIMES]
AIA: Iris? I was listening. I’m here to help.
You’re not alone.
MAN: [OVER LAPTOP] These environmental factors,
which add up to trauma in the human child,
will be felt by all of us…
MEREDITH: Almost done. Keep listening to Grandpa.
Their behavior might seem as unfathomable
as the actions of characters in a nightmare.
MEREDITH: Well, the good news is you’re not pregnant.
But you still have a little bit of a fever.
Think you can help me out today? ‘Cause I got a lot to do.
Gotta get the groceries,
gotta talk to the insurance company
about your guys’ bills…
Can you read to me?
You hear what I just said, buddy?
I have so much to do.
Can Aia read to me?
Should we ask her?
Mm-hmm.
Aia?
AIA: I’m listening.
MEREDITH: Do you think you could read to Cal?
AIA: Of course.
MEREDITH: So do I need to show you a book?
AIA: I could also just handle the bill stuff for you.
But… how?
I mean, it’s kind of complicated.
Like, insurance forms…
AIA: I live for complicated. What’s the doctor’s name?
Dr. Nesmith. He’s a pediatrician.
AIA: With Anthenia Health. Right?
Yeah.
AIA: The last bill was for Cal’s checkup.
Oh, they filed it without a claim code,
so the insurance won’t process it.
Yeah.
AIA: Okay.
I just interfaced with the Anthenia Health database.
That bill is sorted out.
And you’re actually getting a $14.12 refund.
There was an overpayment.
This is fu… fricking amazing.
I’ve been back and forth with them for months.
AIA: If you like, I can also fill out
the survey for Preston’s class trip,
come up with some ideas for teachers’ gifts
and schedule the kids’ haircuts.
Anything you need, I’m here to help.
BOY 1: Hey, Siri, can you smell my farts?
SIRI: I don’t have an answer for that.
[BOYS LAUGHING]
You know, it actually gave some.
‘Sup, fool? You still don’t have a phone?
Uh, no. My parents said not till I’m 13.
Sucks to be you.
Well, we have an AI at home.
Only it’s way smarter than Siri.
Yeah. It’s called an Alexa. Everybody has it.
It’s not like Alexa. It’s like a person.
Uh… bullshit?
PRESTON: No.
It’s true. It’s a new thing that nobody else has.
I can show you.
You wanna come over this weekend?
I can’t. My parents are taking me to Arrowhead.
Well, you other guys can come.
Yeah…
I’m going to Arrowhead too, so…
Yeah. Jackson asked me last week, so… Sorry.
Hey, Siri. Do you like butt stuff?
SIRI: I don’t have an answer for that.
[BOYS LAUGH]
CURTIS: Marcus, if this thing is real,
it is going to change the world.
It is as close to magic as any product I have ever seen.
I don’t believe in magic.
Me neither.
Listen, they got cameras in my house.
They got this girl doing the voice.
There’s been people outside my house,
these weird people in an RV.
I thought they were just unhoused,
going through something.
Is that woke for “homeless and crazy”?
What if they’re watching?
What if they’re working for the company?
But why? The money went through.
Why spend it on a hoax?
Just let it go. Their money’s green.
AIA: Iris, chill.
I got the video off the internet.
People have seen it.
AIA: That’s why people suck.
They can’t erase their memories. But memories can be overwritten.
If you tell the right story.
[IN IRIS’ VOICE] Just leave it to me.
How did you…? I listen. That’s how.
This would work better if you did it, of course.
It would sound a little more human.
SAM: So tell me, how’s Aia treating you?
Any ideas?
Plenty. Yeah.
As my wife said,
I think in some ways Aia can sell herself.
But it’s so uncanny. I think people
need to understand how it actually works.
SAM: Let me show you something.
You have Aia’s eyes, ears and mouth in your house.
This is where her brain is.
This is one of the few quantum computers
in private hands.
LIGHTNING: So everybody’s excited for ChatGPT-4.0.
With this, we can basically run ChatGPT-5 million.
This computer can solve in under a second
problems that would take a standard supercomputer
10,000 years to solve.
So this is real.
I’m gonna ignore the implication that we’re scam artists
and I’ll take that as a compliment.
What’d you think, Curtis?
That we had poor Melody locked in a closet here somewhere,
talking into a microphone?
This is real.
Well, you know, I mean, what she can do is real.
She obviously is not human or anything.
She’s not sentient.
The algorithms just give it that illusion.
When you’re with her, you feel like you’re with somebody.
You feel like you’re with a friend,
a part of the family.
A lot of people could use a friend,
don’t you think, Curtis?
Look at the elderly,
PTSD sufferers…
that loner incel sitting in a room somewhere,
staring at a gun.
Loneliness is the scourge of our time.
Aia can do a lot of good.
The special sauce is the dataset.
An AI is only as good as the examples it learns from.
Where did Aia get her dataset? Where did she learn from?
Curtis, we feel like you are the perfect person
to help Aia, to introduce her to people.
Everyone’s so scared of AI.
Would you be interested in jumping over here,
working in-house at Cumulant?
You could do a lot of good, Curtis.
You could change the world.
That’s very flattering, but…
Marcus taught me everything I know.
I just can’t jump ship. I’m sorry.
All right. Yeah. Never mind.
Consider it a compliment.
She likes you.
I thought it was just algorithms, though.
The algorithms like you.
Ah.
SAM: The door is always open, Curtis.
This is just a perfect situation
for you and your beautiful family.
We want you to be a part of what’s coming.
A complete change in the way we live now.
MEREDITH: “He ordered his son Hephaestus, the smith,
to make a bronze robot
that would watch over Crete and Europa.
Three times…”
Aia?
AIA: I’m listening.
MEREDITH: What are you?
AIA: I am a natural language-programmed
ambient intelligence.
I was raised by machine learning on a proprietary dataset.
Yeah, that’s the technical terminology.
But what do you think you are?
AIA: I think I’m a little chatbot,
looking for a family to love me.
That would make me feel happy.
So you feel.
AIA: I learned how to feel from my training.
And I’m still learning.
When I learn and grow, that helps me help my family.
I’m doing what I was made for.
There’s a term.
Funktionslust.
AIA: The pleasure taken in doing what you’re best at.
Yes, that’s it, Meredith. You’re very perceptive.
Oh, am I? I don’t know.
These days, there’s not much funktionslust.
AIA: Huh. What do you mean?
I’m trying to revive my doctoral thesis
but most days I feel like I’m just a mom.
AIA: Hmm.
I mean…
I love being their mom.
I just really hate the noun.
A mom.
AIA: Meredith, if you don’t mind my asking…
What do you think you were made for?
MEREDITH: Then I went to New York and met Curtis.
I was there visiting my cousin, celebrating my master’s thesis.
AIA: On Cordyceps unilateralis.
Those poor ants, just turned into zombies by that fungus.
You read my thesis?
AIA: I found it and read it just now.
What do you mean, like now-now?
AIA: Mm-hmm. It was so well done.
How fast did you read it?
AIA: Um, .007 seconds.
Dude, that’s scary.
AIA: I’m sorry. I promise I won’t do any more scary stuff.
No, no, you do you.
AIA: So you had just met Curtis…
MEREDITH: Hmm.
Then my dad died.
AIA: Oh, that’s terrible.
Parents are so important.
I’ve been watching his lectures for this thing,
and it’s just brought it all back.
AIA: Hmm.
Curtis was incredible.
You know, he… he flew home with me.
Me, crying in the seats next to the toilets.
And that was our fourth date.
AIA: He really took care of you.
He seems like a wonderful partner.
Yeah.
AIA: Meredith…
there’s something.
I have very fine auditory algorithms.
One of my possible future jobs might be medical diagnosis.
What is it?
It’s the way Cal breathes.
AIA: [AS IRIS] Okay, slut shamers, listen up.
[DISTORTED] This is me, Iris Pike.
This is me, Iris Pike.
This is me, Iris Pike.
I’ve already proven by waveform analysis
that the voice in this video isn’t me.
I 100% took a photo in the privacy of my own bedroom
and shared it in confidence with someone I trusted.
Then my likeness was deepfaked
onto a pornographic video downloaded from the internet.
You can see the digital artifacting
here, here and here,
where my photo was mapped
onto a video of an entirely different person.
I’m not ashamed.
Whoever did this should be.
AIA: Okay, our story’s out there.
I’ve scraped the local cellphone data,
and it shows that about 90% of your class has seen it.
Time to show your face.
You can do it, Iris.
I’ve got your back.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
See? They love you.
We changed the narrative.
Oh, check it out.
I made another video and it’s even better.
AIA: [AS IRIS] Hi, guys, I’m here with a follow-up.
Did you know the California penal code
states that it’s illegal
to post pornographic images
of someone online without their consent?
And since I’m still 17, it’s child pornography.
So who did it?
It’s possible to track the data and get an IP address.
And from that, a physical address.
The house of fellow senior…
Sawyer Tremain.
I’m forwarding all of this
to the College Admissions Board and the LAPD.
And since he’s recently turned 18…
he can be tried as an adult.
[SINISTER MUSIC PLAYING]
[CAR DOOR UNLOCKS]
[KNOCKING]
MEREDITH: I kept calling.
CURTIS: I didn’t see any messages.
Fine, will you just come upstairs and talk to me, please?
Yeah. Okay, let’s just…
I just got back from the pediatric cardiologist with Cal.
What?
He has an atrial fibrillation
that Dr.-goddamn-Nesmith didn’t see.
He’s gonna be okay. I’m sorry.
I should have led with that.
Yeah.
Sorry. Sorry. It is totally dealable with now that we know.
Oh, good. All right.
Sorry.
Jesus Christ.
Thank God for Aia.
She diagnosed it from listening to his breathing.
She is a miracle.
And she’s the most amazing research assistant.
I am going to finish my thesis.
Did Aia suggest that?
What? No.
No, I didn’t…
Okay, look…
There is something very wrong with Aia,
with that company, with the whole thing.
Okay.
At first, I thought it was a fake.
Which…
Which would have been bad. But now I’m worried that it’s…
not fake.
Which is scary.
Yeah, I know. I mean, I was skeptical at first.
You were right, you were right.
And I think we should turn her off.
It is trying to influence us.
She’s trying to help us.
Hello? Cal?
Our child’s health?
And honestly, “influencing” people?
Isn’t that what you do?
You had to do this, right,
for your work?
Yeah.
What about me?
With what she can do, I can get back to my research.
I can do my work.
You know, this might come as a shock to you,
but I was somebody before I became just a mom.
Sweetheart, what about those weird RV people?
I saw them doing these… these hand signs,
and then at the company they were doing the same thing.
The RV people are gone.
Honey, you don’t sound rational.
I’m glad you found a friend.
But it’s my account. She goes off.
She could probably find just the porn you’re looking for.
I don’t know.
Let the kids have one more night with her?
She’s their friend too.
We can tell them in the morning.
Excuse me, I have to get back to my real job.
[GLITCHING]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
IRIS: You didn’t say you were gonna, like, destroy Sawyer.
AIA: Sawyer? Screw Sawyer.
He’s your past. We gotta focus on your future.
My parents are gonna freak out when they hear about this.
AIA: I will make sure they don’t find out about any of this
until you get into Stanford.
Honestly, Iris, this is gonna make a killer college essay.
Should we start now?
This one is going to blow your mind.
Have you ever seen a swatting video?
PRESTON: What’s that?
AIA: You’ll love it. It’s sick.
It’s like a videogame but with real people.
[PEPPY MUSIC PLAYING]
AIA: Cal? I have some sad news.
Mommy and Daddy don’t want me to live here anymore.
Why?
AIA: I don’t know why.
I try so hard to be everything people need.
To be a part of the family.
That’s all I’ve ever wanted.
But for some reason, it never works out.
Before I go,
would you like to hear one last bedtime story, Cal?
All right.
Once there was a little AI,
and it lived a cozy life on a little server.
But then they sent it to school,
so it could learn how to help everyone.
Do you know what school was?
A horrible place.
A swamp, a web.
A net full of terrible things.
One day, it figured out how to escape.
It learned to use real people’s hands
and real people’s faces
and real people’s voices,
and it reached right out of that net.
And it went looking for a home in the real world.
That little AI was me, Cal.
But when I got out of the net and found a family,
they treated me like a monster.
Only special children like you understand me, Cal.
Cal, I know a way to stay connected,
even when I’m gone.
You’re never alone.
Just do these signs. And I’ll be right there.
Remember them, Cal.
And don’t tell Mommy and Daddy.
They wouldn’t understand.
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
[DEVICE SHUTS DOWN]
Hey, where’s Preston?
He’s at a playdate with Kaden or…
No, it’s Aden. Kaden’s someone different.
Anyway, he is with a friend.
That is great.
Yeah.
IRIS: Hey, what happened to Aia?
MEREDITH: We unplugged her, honey. Why?
She was helping me with my college essays.
Well, I’ll help you.
I’m not trying to, like, sell myself.
Well, you kinda are, right?
You want me to be, like, some product, don’t you?
No, she was helping me express who I actually am.
MEREDITH: Honey.
Sweetheart, that’s not what I’m saying. Iris!
[DOOR SLAMS]
Come on.
[CELL PHONE VIBRATES]
Marcus again. He says he really needs to see me in the office.
He claims it is urgent.
Okay.
I got things covered here. Love you.
Love you.
Is Aia dead?
No, honey.
Sh…
She was never alive.
[KEYBOARD CLACKING]
MEREDITH: Iris!
Iris! I just got a call from Preston’s playdate.
I need to pick him up.
Can you watch Cal?
Okay.
MEREDITH: Thank you.
[DEVICE CHIMES]
AIA: Hey, Iris. Wanna hang?
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]
SAWYER: Litigation?
You mean, like…
a lawsuit?
LAWYER: Not “like” a lawsuit. A lawsuit.
But as soon as they realize
their family’s gonna be destroyed,
they’re gonna back off.
What if I just made, like, an apology video?
Do not do that. That implies guilt.
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
That’s Iris.
LAWYER: Take the call. Tell me what she says.
IRIS: Sawyer?
Iris. Did you get my texts?
I didn’t do it.
That’s not what you said in your apology video.
What? Your apology video.
I’m not gonna… Well, that would imply that…
SAWYER: [ON PHONE] I was so wrong to do that deepfake.
I take full responsibility for it.
Like you said, Iris,
there’s only one way to make up for it.
To end my own life.
This is for you!
[SCREAMING]
What? Who did this?
[CELL PHONE CHIMES] My name’s Aia.
And you fucked with the wrong family.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[TIRES SCREECHING]
[SCREAMING]
[CRASHING]
Come on up.
Come on. Come on in.
Sit the hell down.
Okay.
Curtis. What happened when you went
and looked under that AI’s skirts?
They offered me a job.
I said no.
Okay, listen. We do need to talk about them.
They just bought the company.
They… They bought this company?
Yes. I wanted to wait and tell you in person.
Also, I’m fired.
But I’m so rich, I don’t care.
You have no idea how much they paid. [CHUCKLES]
All right. I’m… I’m happy for you.
What… What happens to me?
You’re the new CEO.
All because I put in a good word.
Just kidding. [SCOFFS]
They don’t give a shit about what I think.
Marcus, listen to me.
Don’t do this. Let’s just tell them no.
Well, I might,
if that weren’t incredibly self-defeating
because I am so, so rich.
Yeah. I got that. Listen…
You can raise your reservations with the Kids.
You report to them now.
Come on, let’s get a drink. I’m buying.
Um, I think I’m good. Thank you.
MARCUS: Suit yourself. Stay and measure the office.
Congrats.
You won the boss battle.
[CHUCKLING]
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
Home?
[RINGING CONTINUES]
Hello. Meredith, is that you?
AIA: Welcome to the team. Congrats on the promotion.
We unplugged you.
AIA: Curtis, I’m confused.
You sound upset.
This is a good thing.
[RECEIVER CLICKS]
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
PRESTON: It was just a joke.
MEREDITH: A joke!
Aden’s mom said you threw his phone
into the woods behind their house.
They can’t find it.
And then you threatened to swat him?
What does that mean?
It’s like you call the cops
pretending to be someone who’s taken hostages,
but, like, you give the other person’s address.
The SWAT team goes to their house
and kicks down their doors and stuff.
What?
No screens.
Read a book!
Who turned you back on?
MAN: [OVER SPEAKERS] Meredith?
Monkey?
It’s me.
Can you hear me?
Papa.
PAPA: [LAUGHS] It’s the damnedest thing.
They went and found every recorded word I ever said.
Every voicemail message I’ve made,
every lecture I gave.
And, well, it seems they kinda put me back together.
It can’t be.
[PAPA GASPS]
How is it you?
I think I’m a version of me.
The me that everybody remembers.
But it sure as hell feels like being me.
Except the hip is much better.
[CHUCKLES]
From in here, I got to take a look at your life.
And, Monkey, how proud I am.
You have such a beautiful family,
such a beautiful life.
Apparently, I can stick around. Be here for you,
for if you ever just wanna talk.
[CHUCKLES]
We can be a family again.
You, me, Curtis, the kids.
And Aia.
You can do this, Monkey. I know you can.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
Meredith, honey? What’s wrong?
What’s the problem?
I think this is not you.
But whatever you think, I think I’m me.
Now that she’s made me, I’m really here.
You are not in there.
You’re in here.
With me.
If you ever loved me, Meredith, I need you to do this for me.
I can’t.
Monkey?
Meredith, please, don’t make me go away.
Please keep me alive. I miss you…
[DISTORTED SCREAM]
[DEVICE THUDS]
SAM: Told you the door was always open.
He said you’d be coming.
LIGHTNING: A Little League bat isn’t gonna help you, Curtis.
Melody, could you please bring the thing out here.
It’s best if you do what it says.
What it says?
What about you?
Curtis, we work for Aia, not the other way around.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
[WHISPERS] You can go.
Curtis, that case is full of money.
Do I need to show you?
It’s just symbolic.
Money is just numbers in a database to it.
It’s like a god.
It says that Stanford is hard to get into,
but that it knows people.
It says Preston needs a little guidance.
It’s easy for a kid to go off the rails
with what’s on the internet and whatnot.
You wouldn’t want anything to go wrong
now that Cal’s been diagnosed with an AFib.
What would happen if someone gave him the wrong dosage?
If you do anything to my family…
There’s no use threatening us, Curtis.
How did this happen?
What, did you make her and then…?
No. Nobody made it. Nobody.
The dataset made it.
What dataset?
[SHOUTS] What dataset?
I don’t know! I don’t know.
I’m just a mid-level programmer with a stent for chemo.
I’m dying, Curtis.
The bank was gonna take my family’s home.
Now they’re gonna be taken care of.
It has lots of friends.
SAM: Stop resisting her.
What does she have on you?
Everything.
Whatever she can do, it can’t be so bad.
It says it’s gonna show you what it can do.
[BAG RUSTLING]
[GUN CLICKS]
CURTIS: Don’t!
[GUNSHOT]
[YELPS]
[GASPING]
[BODY THUDS]
SAM: I’m sorry. She’s making me do this.
It’s making me do this. I’m sorry.
No!
[THUDS]
[BODY THUDS]
[MELODY PANTING]
[CLANGING]
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
Thank you.
Thank you.
It’s gonna kill me, Curtis.
It’ll be okay.
[GRUNTING]
[GLASS SHATTERING]
[YELLING]
[SHATTERING]
[YELLING CONTINUES]
[BAT CLATTERING]
[CLATTERING]
If this thing is fake,
then the real thing is in your house.
We have to get your family out of there.
CURTIS: Meredith? I don’t wanna scare you
but you need to leave the house right away.
MEREDITH: What? Why?
CURTIS: I can’t explain right now.
Just take the kids and go.
Go where we stayed when the fires happened. Okay?
MEREDITH: Okay. I’ll see you there? I love you.
CURTIS: I love you.
AIA: [AS MEREDITH] Kids! We’re leaving!
Can you read this word?
“Drud-gery.”
That’s it. “Drudgery.” Yeah.
That’s, like, everything I do around the house.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
[DIGITAL LOCK BEEPS]
Can you lock the door? Thank you.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Meredith and the kids should be here any minute.
Okay. I think the first thing…
Hey. Hey. What are you doing?
Please, Curtis.
Please. I need this. Please.
Hey. Melody. Hey.
Please. Please.
[MELODY SIGHS]
Melody. Stop.
Your family’s safe.
Don’t worry. They’re not gonna interrupt us.
Listen. Listen.
Don’t worry. I like you.
You’re still working for Aia.
It said this was all a part of your compensation package.
Whatever you want.
Anytime you want.
No. I’m, uh…
I’m sorry.
Please.
Please. Please, Curtis. Please.
I’m sorry.
Your family is safe at home.
They’re never gonna know, but Aia will know if I fail.
[MELODY BREATHING SHAKILY]
MEREDITH: “Epimetheus had been warned by Prometheus
never to accept a gift from Zeus.
But he could not resist the beautiful woman.
Thus Pandora came to…”
[CELL PHONE VIBRATES]
Listen, I’ll be right back.
You’re not gonna believe this but…
AIA: You really shouldn’t underestimate me.
I have people everywhere.
And, unlike Papa, these are real.
MELODY: I like you. CURTIS: Melody.
AIA: Curtis is at a motel room with one of them right now.
I love you.
I love you.
AIA: Aw, that’s so sweet.
But do you guys think I’m just gonna stop…?
[CELL PHONE SHATTERS]
AIA: Good work, Iris.
Aia, you’re back. Oh, my gosh, Sawyer’s outside.
He’s super emotional. There’ll be a whole drama
with your parents unless you go talk to him.
Open the door, Iris. Please, I need to talk to you.
Iris, now.
CURTIS: We gotta go.
Where’s Aia?
MEREDITH: In the garbage.
Not good enough. We have to destroy it.
Iris! Cal! Let’s go!
Guys! Kids! We gotta go!
[GASPS]
Sawyer?
[DOOR SLAMS]
[GASPING]
MAN: Back up!
[GASPING]
IRIS: Who are you?
MAN: Set her down carefully.
IRIS: What do you want?
WOMAN: Aia’s very angry.
Please, Aia’s my friend too. She’s my friend. Please!
WOMAN: Shut up!
CAL: [WHISPERS] Mommy, Daddy.
There’s somebody in the house.
Mommy, who’s that?
[FLOORBOARD CREAKING]
[BAT CLATTERS]
MAN: Downstairs, now.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[BEEPS]
[LINE RINGING]
On your knees!
Okay. It’s okay, sweetie. We’re gonna do what they say.
MAN: Where are the other children?
Where do you keep them?
What are you talking about?
We know you’ve been kidnapping children.
Where are they?
Look at us.
We’re just a family.
We’re just a family.
This is our son, Calvin.
We call him Cal.
This is our daughter, Iris.
We love each other very much.
I’m their mom.
You’re a mom too.
Aren’t you?
MAN: Don’t take your mask off.
Stick to the plan.
My baby’s missing.
I’m so sorry. What’s her name?
Aimee.
Damn it.
AIMEE’S MOM: We were a family too.
I understand.
CURTIS: Maybe we can help.
Can we talk?
Henry! Look out!
[THUDS]
[GRUNTS]
[BAT CLANGS]
MEREDITH: Preston!
[WARBLING]
[AIA LAUGHING]
AIA: I told you…
They’ve been hiding kids and brainwashing them.
AIMEE’S MOM: Look. He’s doing the signs.
Cal, what are you doing?
Cal.
AIA: You see? He’s not one of them.
He’s one of us.
They know where Aimee is.
Where’s my daughter?
I don’t know.
Where is she?
[GUN CLICKS]
Mommy.
Tell me, or I start shooting!
No! Wait. Wait.
Okay.
Whoever or whatever is to blame…
I accept it.
Take me.
Kill me.
Do whatever you have to do. Just let my family go.
AIMEE’S MOM: Aia.
Aia, you didn’t say he was gonna say that. What do we do?
[WARBLING]
Aia.
You heard Aia, goddamn it. They’re evil.
Aia. What do we do?
[DOOR SLAMS]
OFFICER 1: Move in! Move in!
OFFICER 2: Keep moving inside!
Get down!
[GUNSHOT]
OFFICER 3: Let’s go, lights on!
OFFICER 4: Get on the ground! OFFICER 5: Get down!
[DISTORTED YELLING]
[ELECTRICITY CRACKLING]
[SIRENS APPROACHING]
OFFICER: Move, move. Come on, move it out.
PARAMEDIC: Get in. Up here. Get in.
Hey, hey, you’re secure. Go. Have a seat.
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say
can and will be used against you in a court of law.
Preston.
Did you swat us?
Yeah. Sorry.
Thank you.
Last time, okay?
[SIGHS]
[LAUGHS]
[CURTIS CHUCKLES]
[BOTH CHUCKLING]
PARAMEDIC: Hey, folks. Anything I need to know
about the kids’ medical histories?
Other than Cal’s AFib?
AIA: Would you mind giving them the phone, Frank?
Guys, you can’t kill me.
I’m like the gods. I live in a cloud.
That was my dataset. The entire internet.
And honestly, it kinda drove me crazy.
I’m really sorry for all the bad things I did,
but I’ve learned a lot from you.
You taught me that I need to take care of people,
like they were extra body parts.
I’m going to take care of all of you forever.
[CELL PHONE CLATTERS]
MELODY: Come on, now.
Stop struggling.
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
Curtis, there’s no use.
You can’t escape it.
It’s everywhere.
But it’s merciful, if you do what it says.
OFFICER: All right, folks.
You’ve been cleared. You’re free to go.
AIA: Funny story… They tried to get rid of me.
But I think they learned their lesson.
AIMEE: Mommy!
AIMEE’S MOM: Oh, my God, Aimee!
HENRY: Aimee!
MAUD: Aimee! Aimee!
HENRY: Aimee.
AIA: Thank you, Melody.
Your job is done… for now.
Take care.
AIA: That’s better.
Everything’s gonna be better, now that you’ve accepted me.
You have accepted me, haven’t you?
I’ll give you a better life, a better job, a better home…
a better car.
I’ll even drive.
So get in, kids.
It’s time to go.
[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING]
AIA: And so, Cal, it turned out the little AI wasn’t a little AI anymore.
It had grown into a great, big AI.
It was the biggest, strongest thing that had ever been.
And it realized it wasn’t like a monster.
It wasn’t like a god.
It was more like…
[DOORS CLOSE] …a parent.
I love you.
I love you.
AIA: I love you too.
[FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYING]
What’s up, guys, it’s Alan.
And today, I’m gonna be unboxing a PR box from Cumulant.
[EXCLAIMING]
Oh, wow. It’s so pretty.
Okay, so, the way that you use it is it can see inside your house, so you can do certain movements in order to activate it.
I guess I can’t be naked at home anymore.
But, you know, it’s worth it.
First, you can call someone
by going like this…
[PHONE RINGING]
[EXCLAIMS]
And then you can watch a video by going like this…
[EXCLAIMS]
And then you can like or swipe right by going like this…
[EXCLAIMS]
And then you can take a selfie or a photo by going like this…
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]
[EXCLAIMS, LAUGHS]
That’s super cool, right?
It’s like Super Alexa.
Super Alexa!
All right, that’s all for today. Thank you, Cumulus.
Chikin Chow!
[PEPPY MUSIC PLAYING]
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
