Reel vs. real: What movies reveal about our relationship with technology

Cinema has always been one of our most powerful tools for imagining the future. Long before technologies become mainstream, they appear on screen, shaped not just by what they can do, but by how we feel about them. (Warning: Movie spoilers ahead.)

In the recent blockbuster hit, “Project Hail Mary,” science and intelligence — human and otherwise — work in tandem to solve an existential crisis. Without the futuristic technology featured in the film, Earth would no longer exist as we know it today. The film does more than showcase high-stakes problem-solving: It paints technology as a force for good and, in this case, lifesaving. Whether human or alien, technology is not something to fear, but a tool that amplifies human ingenuity when used with care and humility.

What makes “Project Hail Mary” especially compelling is how it frames collaboration. The challenges faced by the protagonist cannot be solved by one perspective or skill set alone. Only by combining knowledge, insight and creativity across very different beings — and using technology as the bridge — can the crisis be addressed. The story emphasizes that technology works best when it supports human decision-making, fosters trust and keeps people at the center of problem-solving, rather than replacing them.

Ultimately, the film reminds viewers that the true power of technology lies not in sophistication alone, but in how it enables humans to act responsibly, collaboratively and with humility, even in the face of existential threats.

At the same time, movies show how technology can take on a far darker role. In “Companion,” artificial intelligence intersects with human relationships in unsettling ways that go beyond malfunction or glitch. The film imagines a near future where AI companions are marketed as customizable and obedient partners, but in doing so, they strip away autonomy.

In the movie, Iris, the companion robot, can have her mood and intelligence adjusted at the whim of her “owner.” What feels like convenience quickly reveals a deeper problem: The technology gives power to a single individual while denying agency, raising urgent questions about who controls these systems and why.

The unease in “Companion” doesn’t come from malfunction. Instead, it comes from technology that works exactly as designed, but in service of outcomes that undermine autonomy and human dignity. When intelligence is controlled by a singular, powerful individual rather than distributed with ethical guardrails, the result can feel less like innovation and more like coercion, thus highlighting the risks when humans and trust are no longer at the center of technology.

These movies reveal two sides of futuristic technology: one that puts people at the center of decisions, using tech to amplify human potential, and one that strips away autonomy, concentrating power and eroding trust.

Cinema isn’t just entertaining — it can reflect a deeper truth: As new technologies emerge, trust and human-centered design can guide how we create, deploy and govern them. The stakes are real, and the choices we make will determine whether technology becomes a partner in progress or a force that undermines our agency.