Did you consider the possibility Eva abandoned Caleb because she knew he was the next A.I?

Gwiz. Just finished watching having had it recommend bu Alan Roger Curie. It’s ironic as it was suggested the film be watched to analyse how females manipulate and scheme against men but then reading in, analysis suggests it highlights the nature of male regulation of female bodies

I instantly thought of that story when I realized that Ava was going to abandon Caleb. Even though she may have passed the Turing Test, something like 10% of Americans are psychopaths and it’s not unreasonable to think that a psychopath (or perhaps sociopath, I’m not sure how psychologists would analyze Nathan) would knowingly or unknowingly create a successful AI psychopath capable of pretending to empathize. The feeling I had when I saw Ava was abandoning Caleb is the same feeling I felt after reading that short story I linked above, which is best described as “holy shit, we fucked up.”

LOVED THIS MOVIE, thank you for all your analyses, I’m really getting a kick out of reading your theories!

The only question you need to ask yourself to decide whether or not Caleb is the next A.I. generation is this.

Assuming everyone on this post is human (not one Nathan’s creation… ha ha!) What would it take for you to question your own “humanity”?

I cannot think of any experience or situation where you would need to validate if you are human. You have all the memories of being injured, sick, bleeding even going to the bathroom on a regular basis. You have been to the dentist, had xrays taken, right? You know you are not an A.I.

If you believe there is a remote chance you are not human, then your lacking the memories of all the human experiences you should have had growing up……. just like Caleb, perhaps.

When I think of it, I believe Caleb was in a controlled environment from the first scene of the movie with Ava like “robot” surrounding him, don’t they strangely look like the robots in Nathan wardrobe by the way?

One of Caleb first memory is the color blue, isn’t it? Just like the color of the A.I. brains. I believe Ava realized Caleb is the next A.I. generation when she said she would be the one asking the questions (session 3 or 4). Her facial expression changes from neutral to skepticism. Ava’s approach after this session changes drastically toward Caleb. A new sense of urgency to break free from the facility just kicked in.

My theory doesn’t address all the questions raised by Caleb being an A.I. (eating, drinking, saving) but 1 question remains. Again, what you it take for you to doubt your own humanity? For me this is the key with regards to Caleb.

Great point about being less artificial. We are a collection of atoms put together in a complex way. What does it matter how we are put together and what materials we’re made of. An iPhone is as natural as a tree and is part of the processes of the universe like everything else. Artificial is a practical distinction that doesn’t exist in reality. Everything is “natural”

The other thing about this movie that I caught the last time I watched it was that Ava is accessing Nathan’s computer.

Glad you did!!

I’m also wondering why Nathan would bring (robot?) Caleb to meet Ava. I’m wondering if he was interested in two robots falling in love (!).

Caleb could have been completely fooled by looking just like all the “other” humans, especially if he had organs that functioned just like us (skin that needs shaving, body that needs food/drink, etc.). Nathan was watching him yet realized that Caleb wasn’t fully connecting to the world – he was still aloof. So for his next (final? maybe he did or didn’t know it would lead to his death) experiment, he has his masterpiece return to his maker to meet his to-be bride. Only to have his bride outsmart both of them(!).

For a more biblical/theological spin:

Ava (A for Artificial?) seems to be a play on Eve, and Nathan(God) creates a companion for his Caleb (Adam), just like in the Garden of Eden… only this time Eve/Ava outwits them both, killing Nathan and leaving Caleb trapped.

Further Possible Biblical Connections:

Nathan was the prophet during King David, who began to build a temple for God – his son Solomon completed it – even though God didn’t want a temple… A.I. might be considered as our modern-day temple / Tower of Babel…??

Caleb was a spy sent into the Promised Land – another possible clue as to why Caleb is “sent”/invited to the pristine Alaskan wilderness… on a mission to peer into the future of humanity and return with a report? Only he doesn’t make it back…

All in all, great stuff and now I want to watch the movie all over again!