It's almost 11pm in Australia,The Swingin’ Stewardesses but Guy Pearce is full of energy. He's talking about robots.
The star of Mementoand L.A. Confidentialhas just been in a film called Donny the Drone-- a post-apocalyptic short in which an initially friendly-looking robot (voiced by Pearce) is given a humanitarian award.
It's a beautifully-shot, Black Mirror-esque dive into a debate that's been terrifying Stephen Hawking, the entire tech industry and pretty much everyone who's ever seen a single sci-fi film: what is going to happen to us if technology keeps advancing at its current, near light-speed rate?
Pearce, it turns out, is just as obsessed as the rest of us.
SEE ALSO: AI in 2017 can't nearly match the smarts of 'Star Wars' droids — it barely understands us"I’m so fascinated by our fascination with technology," he tells me on our call.
"You know, you look at the scale, you look at the progression of this, and you think, well, how far can we go?"
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable When it comes to machines like the artificially intelligent drone featured in the film, though, Pearce has mixed feelings.
"I think we have this very dark and strange compulsion to reproduce ourselves," he says. "And not just in the natural way of having children but in the idea of creating a robot and being able to communicate with that robot, and then have that robot do things for us."
On the one hand, Pearce says, it's exciting and brilliant that we've managed to create these things. But it does raise some big questions.
"Can we develop the brain of this computer or this robot that we’re creating to the point where we actually become equals?" Pearce wonders. "Or where perhaps this robot surpasses our own intelligence?"
Directed by 26-year-old film-maker Mackenzie Sheppard, Donny the Dronetells the story of a super-smart drone that's managed to win the Person of the Year award for his humanitarian work.
Donny has a sweet little face and a soothing voice. He buzzes around the stage and describes, with the aid of some scenic video footage, the journey across the world that's led him to this point. The whole thing starts off wholesomely enough, but -- as this isartificial intelligence we're talking about -- the fear of the future (and machines) is lurking right around the corner.
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable 
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable "I think our fear of what we’re capable of – and therefore meaning what we’re capable of creating – probably scares us," explains Pearce.
"Are we going to turn in on ourselves?"
"And I think for most of us, who sort of sit at home and go to our fairly standard jobs and do what it is that we do -- that aren’t governments creating military-style machines and computers, etc. -- we’re probably sitting here going, 'What are they creating next?'
"'Are we going to implode? Are we going to turn in on ourselves?'"
It's all very exciting to watch TV shows about technology and marvel at robots that can vacuum the house, says Pearce, but how far is it all going to go?
"I do think that society’s fear about it is valid," he says. "I think probably it’s complex and it’s confused, because it’s also infused with the excitement about potential and possibility.
"But you look at how depressed the world can be, how much we’re destroying in the world, on this planet, on this green and blue planet that we live on… so all of this wonderful technology we’re creating, we know that we’re destroying ourselves with it."
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Best Garmin deal: Save over $100 on Garmin Forerunner 955
Kayak's emoji search function brings the speed and fun of texting to travel
C'mon now: There are plenty of good reasons why Trump didn't recognize LGBTQ Pride
7 wedding apps that will make planning your big day a whole lot easier
Best keyboard deals: Save on Asus gaming keyboards at Amazon
Toilet seat covers are a great skincare product
Disney and Pixar's new film 'Luca' will spend a summer in the Italian Riviera
Facebook boasts that ad boycott won't make a dent
The Mismeasure of Media
This Ethereum flash crash shows how cryptocurrency markets are super risky
Episode 4: The Wave of the Future
Lady Gaga's hiking outfit proves she's the DGAF duchess we always knew she was
Someone painted Mark Zuckerberg's face on their nails and he's into it
Facebook CEO corrects confused congressman over Trump Jr. Twitter ban
Best robot vacuum deal: Save $200 on Eufy X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum
This Ethereum flash crash shows how cryptocurrency markets are super risky
Diddy has so many of his own names to remember he forgot Kendall Jenner's
The new iPhone 12 is going to be late this year
Shop Owala's Memorial Day Sale for 30% off tumblers
NASA sends Perseverance rover to Mars in stunning launch
Politician's moving speech: 'Marriage equality vote is a license for hate'The Notes app: Where our weirdest, purest selves resideNew Zealand's frightening Nevis Catapult hurls you across a ravineApple Music has a new mix based on what your friends are listening toCuriosity rover celebrates six cold, lonely years on MarsMailChimp boots InfoWars as Alex Jones' problems mountTesla wants to buy SolarCity for $2.8 billionWhy Elon Musk can get away with tweeting about Tesla's business plansMurdering its mascot, and other ways Brazil is already ruining the OlympicsPolitician's moving speech: 'Marriage equality vote is a license for hate'Tesla wants to buy SolarCity for $2.8 billionThe InfoWars app is still alive and well in the App Store and Google PlayWhy Elon Musk can get away with tweeting about Tesla's business plansThe Notes app: Where our weirdest, purest selves resideTaylor Swift and Bryan Adams tag team Summer of '69 in a perfect duetWhy some baby boomers are eating up the QAnon conspiracyTwitter explains why it hasn't banned Alex JonesTrucker dad takes his daughter's doll to work, adventure ensuesThe Couch Potato app for iOS tracks inactivityHow to see the Perseid meteor shower peak this weekend In defense of being a Boyfriend Girl online Apple’s iPhone 12 apparently doesn’t support 5G in dual SIM mode, but a fix is coming Orrin Hatch says he didn't mean 'shot their wad' like that Google discontinues Nest Secure alarm system Trump appointee claims Trump is the real victim of bizarre emails targeting Democrats Trump just said the scariest thing of his presidency and this has gotten totally out of control iPhone 12 and 12 Pro review roundup: Here's what critics are saying Bill Murray saw 'Groundhog Day' on Broadway last night and was extremely Bill Murray J.K. Rowling rips into Donald Trump and Fox News with 2 brutally effective tweets Joe Scarborough announces millennials' latest victim: the military 'The Office' stars recall an iconic cold open and some best lines of the series Uber and Lyft drivers are employees, California appeals court affirms Rudy Giuliani's unfortunate 'Borat' appearance is now a meme New NYC commuter themed See Hummer EV do its CrabWalk move on video University will offer places over Snapchat because Gen Z hates phone calls GMC revives gas John Oliver gets sewage plant named after him, pays a cheerful visit Tom Holland responds to ridiculous meme about a frog hiding in his mouth 'Borat 2' reviews are in. Here is what critics think of it.
2.2536s , 10132.7109375 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【The Swingin’ Stewardesses】,Fresh Information Network