Her Depicted an Optimistic AI Future That Now Seems Unrealistic
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Her depicts a future where AI is widely accepted and has led to great economic progress, allowing even a letter writer like the protagonist to afford a luxury lifestyle. This seems very unrealistic now.
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The movie shows the rise of AI companions like Samantha, the OS Theodore dates, as a gentle and positive development with no downsides. This seems naive today as AI advances raise more concerns.
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Her captures the techno-optimism of the early 2010s, when progress was assumed and tech was seen as connecting people rather than isolating them. Today's views on tech are much more critical.
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The idea of dating or falling in love with an AI, which seemed far-fetched in 2013, is now happening in reality as people bond with chatbots. This aspect of Her is actually less sci-fi today.
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Theodore's job writing personal letters is exactly the kind likely to be replaced by AI. The fact that his career and upper-middle-class lifestyle remain stable in the film, despite AI advancement, strains believability.