A new sci-fi thriller “Companion” explores a not-too-distant future where companion robots are normalized in everyday life. io9 recently spoke with cast members from the film, including Harvey Guillén and Megan Suri, about the potential dangers and benefits of such technology.
The movie follows the story of Iris, an AI robot companion to Josh, who mysteriously glitches out of her role during a holiday weekend. The actors believe that current real-world prototypes like Tesla Bot are becoming increasingly common.
While some might view these robots as harmless, the cast agrees that they can be terrifying and unpredictable. However, Guillén notes that it’s exciting but also frightening at times. The conversation was sparked by the possibility of cute characters in theme parks being released into the environment as entertainment meet-and-greets.
The actors acknowledge that while current robots may appear non-threatening, such as those seen in Star Wars theme parks, there is a risk that they could become more advanced and pose a threat to humans. Nevertheless, Guillén’s beloved robot dog from Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is proposed as an exception, which the cast members find amusing and enjoyable.
“Companion” is currently playing in theaters.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/the-cast-of-companion-on-the-horrors-and-cuteness-of-ai-robots-2000557828