Sci-Fi Short Film “Watch Room“ | DUST | Throwback Thursday

Explore the DUST Multiverse on our App: Every Thursday we’re traveling through a DUST wormhole to bring back some our channel’s classics. Lifelong friends and scientists Nate, Chloe and Bernard believe they are safely creating A.I. within virtual reality, until their creation, Kate, learns it’s at risk of being shut down. An A.I. program learns it’s at risk of being shut down, how will it respond? “Watch Room“ Directed by Noah Wagner More About Watch Room: Countless nights of creative problem solving have brought longtime friends and scientists NATE, BERNARD, and CHLOE as far as they’ve come. Collaborating from Nate’s ramshackle garage, the trio has blazed a trail to the frontier of Artificial Intelligence - to KATE, a self-aware AI designed to behave like a human, contained to and tested within the safety of a computer program that interfaces with the real world via bootstrapped virtual reality technology. When Kate fails a key experiment, Bernard and Chloe insist they shut her down and go back to the drawing board, but Kate has other plans. Written by Michael Koehler Produced by Julia Elaine Mills, Mike Kaney II, Scott Amenta Director’s Statement: While Watch Room might be considered both science and fiction, its core concerns are far more rooted in the former. Luminaries across scientific disciplines have warned of the perils inherent in developing AI. The trouble is, I think humans tend to be more reactive than proactive when it comes to abstract issues, and moreover, have more immediate concerns - like paying rent and putting food on the table. And to make matters worse, I know I’m no exception myself -- this flaw is a part of my own hard-wiring. Therein lies the crux of why I was driven to make this film. Despite an evolving canon of grounded AI material, the way AI has typically been portrayed on-screen has become synonymous with artificially-conscious androids rebelling against their human masters. That makes for great entertainment, but it clouds the issue and hyperbolizes the reality of it. There is certainly risk, but I remain cautiously optimistic as long as we’re responsible “parents”. Just as in any parent-child dynamic, the child inevitably surpasses the parent’s capabilities. How that child behaves once it gains independence, however, is greatly influenced by how it was raised and what it was taught. To me, the precious dynamic of that relationship – between Nate and Kate – is at the heart of this film. In speaking with AI scientists, we sought to create a more nuanced portrayal of the spirit behind the conversations happening in research labs around the world today. With this in mind, we hope audiences come away from this film with a renewed sense of curiosity for the subject and a cautiously optimistic attitude toward our future. Subscribe to the DUST and ALTER newsletter: Subscribe to DUST on YouTube: #DUST #scifi #shortfilm About DUST: DUST presents thought-provoking science fiction content, exploring the future of humanity through the lens of science and technology. From timeless classics to cutting-edge movies, series, short films, and podcasts, DUST acquires, produces and distributes all content types. DUST is also available on Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, AppleTV, Fubo, IMDBTV, iOS, Peacock, Roku, Redbox, Samsung TV, Sling, STIRR, Tivo, Vizio, Xumo and 7Plus. On our OTT platforms, we offer cutting-edge and classic feature films, series, podcasts, and our entire shorts library. #TheFutureAwaits Watch on the DUST App: Subscribe to the DUST Newsletter: “ Connect with DUST Website: Sign-up for DUST newsletter: Watch DUST on your TV: Available on Roku, Samsung TV, Apple TV, Android more Watch more on YouTube: Follow Us on Facebook: Follow Us on Instagram: Listen to the DUST podcast: Apple: Spotify: Stitcher: Castbox: iHeart: About Gunpowder Sky: Creating content that resonates and impacts pop culture conversation, by empowering creators to take risks and experiment relentlessly in the pursuit of novel stories and formats.