If you have not seen the film, check the synopsis on Wikipedia. This will help you follow along with this article. Post contains spoilers.

My brother introduced me to this film. He said it was great and that I should watch it! I did–a couple of years later. Unlike my brother, I wasn’t impressed. My first reaction was that I already knew long ago that most women are manipulative, confused robots–me included. I’m kidding! Later on, with more time to process the film, I realized there’s more than meets the eye. Still, it’s no masterpiece to me. It’s just entertainingly decent.

For some background knowledge, I accidentally stumbled upon a YouTube video in 2020. In it, men were bashing women as damaged goods. I was so appalled by the sexist statement. For one, it objectifies women as if they are not allowed to have emotions. So when I watched Ex Machina, I drew a parallel between Ava (the AI) and the real woman. I couldn’t help but see the similarities. What is so wrong with a woman who wants to explore the world? Ava, the object of desired, has been trapped in the facility by an unethical, perverted engineer for so long. Who wouldn’t want to escape and find greener pastures? Then again, we are talking about AI, not a woman.

There are two important points that the plot wants to make in this film. One is Caleb’s instinctive behavior toward Ava. The second is controlling her, the source.  Why is Caleb attracted to Ava, knowing she is an AI?  Why does Ava need to get out of the facility’s lab and experience freedom? Why does she need to go on a date with Caleb to the theater? The answer is simple. It’s data. Would Caleb be the better person than the perverted engineer to contain the AI? As for Ava, I cannot imagine what she wants to do with more data. Does she want to destroy humanity and give birth to little AIs with her new found knowledge? She is like a search engine gone crazy.  Thus, the film attempted to show that technology (AI) can be dangerous. It did this by comparing it to a relationship level that humans can understand.

Personally, I don’t think it was the most effective way to communicate the idea that AI can be dangerous. For one, it reiterated the notion that nice guys finish last as if it’s a bad thing. Secondly, the sexism undertone in this film is off-putting: Robots are alluringly dangerous like beautiful women. Lastly, the conclusion of the plot suggested it’s only nice in theory to have AI by our side. But in practice, it brings unexpected consequences. It can start manifesting and spiraling into something out of our control. Like nuclear bombs as Bill Gates compared it to.  Then why create the monster in the first place and release it to the public?

So, this brought me back to my conclusion about the film. AI is a threat to humanity. At the same time, she is mysteriously powerful and flawed. The perverted engineer got what he deserved in the end. Secondly. it has been known since the dawn of time that humanity is captivated by the beauty of the unknown. Yet we foolishly explore it anyway. Yes, nerds rule the world, but they are not always the wisest. Have we not been warned all this time? It was Eve who partook the fruit of knowledge. This opened the eyes of humanity to new possibilities.

Note: Originally Published in 2020; revised and republished Feb. 20, 2022; revised Nov. 03, 2025.

P.S.

For a more positive outlook on AI, you can read AI: Somnium Files: The Rational I essay written by me.