Science on Screen®: Artificial Intelligence in Film: Are We Destined for Dystopia?

Are we destined for dystopia? Rick Deckard’s job as a “blade runner” in the year 2019 is to track down bioengineered humanoids. We don’t yet live in this dystopian future of synthetic humans and space colonies, but could we? What is artificial intelligence (AI) already capable of? And what might AI look like during our lifetime? 

Science on Screen® returns with a screening of Blade Runner: The Final Cut and a conversation with University of Pennsylvania Ph.D. Candidate and AI educator, Matthew Malencia.

SCIENCE ON SCREEN ® PRESENTS:

Blade Runner: The Final Cut (1982) | Artificial Intelligence in Film: Are We Destined for Dystopia? A presentation on what artificial intelligence (AI) may look like in your lifetime.

The film screening begins at 7:30 PM in the 1903 Theatre followed by the presentation by Matthew Malencia. 

If you purchase a ticket for this event you are not required to stay for the presentation following the screening of Blade Runner: The Final Cut (1982). 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Matthew Malencia is a robotics researcher, an AI educator, and a science policy advocate. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania with advisors Dr. Vijay Kumar and Dr. George Pappas, and is a visiting researcher at the University of Cambridge with Dr. Amanda Prorok. His research focuses on fairness and diversity on robot teams. Matthew is the co-director of AI4ALL@GRASP, a summer program that teaches Philadelphia area high school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and robots. Lastly, Matthew works with the Science Policy & Diplomacy Group at the University of Pennsylvania on AI ethics and policy. He has written multiple AI memos; engaged with policymakers on AI topics; and, during a science and technology forum, delivered an intervention on the floor of the United Nations. 

ABOUT SCIENCE ON SCREEN ®:

Science on Screen ® is a grant-funded program that pairs film screenings with presentations by notable speakers in STEM fields. The Colonial Theatre is pleased to participate in this national program for a sixth, consecutive year. 

Science on Screen® is an initiative of the COOLIDGE CORNER THEATRE, with major support from the ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION.

FILM SYNOPSIS

Deckard (Harrison Ford) is forced by the police Boss (M. Emmet Walsh) to continue his old job as Replicant Hunter. His assignment: eliminate four escaped Replicants from the colonies who have returned to Earth. Before starting the job, Deckard goes to the Tyrell Corporation and he meets Rachel (Sean Young), a Replicant girl he falls in love with. Based on Philip K. Dick’s memorable dystopian novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968)