‘VisionQuest’ Made Me Question Everything I Feel About AI

AI has always been one of the core parts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. J.A.R.V.I.S.’s introduction in Iron Man has blossomed into a whole crew of AI characters who have joined in on the fun, although, usually always from afar. VisionQuest took it one step further, introducing us to new counterparts of different AI characters, turning them from digital assistants and the robotic arms that we’re used to seeing in the MCU to human-like avatars, giving them actual personas, allowing us to see more of their personalities and how they work together within the consciousness of Vision. Seeing their sacrifices (J.A.R.V.I.S., no!) and their triumphs (E.D.I.T.H., yes!) definitely had us feeling real emotions for these characters.If this was five years ago, I would not even think twice about any of this. But, here I was, really questioning how I was feeling because of the current landscape. In a time where AI is taking over jobs, causing a new kind of mental health crisis, data centers are taking our water and resources, and increased fears of an AI takeover, there’s a certain kind of unsettledness when it comes to seeing the mixture of humanity, personality, and even memories being given to these AI characters and the fact that I am mourning over them.VisionQuest makes it clear that what happened in Westview was not “real” and was all part of Wanda’s magic. While the current versions of Vision and Tommy didn’t actually live out those events, they cannot deny the connection they feel towards one another due to the “memories” they hold from that time. But are those memories just something that was programmed within them or something that has become real?Of course, this is all gets blurry when you remember that this TV show is pure fiction. However, it’s the human parts of ourselves—the connection to life and emotion—that cannot help but process what we’re seeing as real. It’s also the humanity that is given to it by the human writers, actors, and those behind the scenes allow us to connect with this as an art form. And maybe that’s what makes this all so much more complicated.DENNYS ILICThe blurring of reality and AI is nothing new. Some people view AI as their real-life friends and partners. F.R.I.D.A.Y. notes that she lost “half of her world,” when she lost Tony Stark, showing how close she felt to him despite just being a program. Others have created AI personas of their loved ones who passed as a way to keep their spirit alive. Which brings us to the center of all of this, someone who is neither AI nor someone with broken memories: Wanda. Westview was an illusion created in her grief to help her mourn Vision and also create the future that she had always wanted, one with a husband, a house, and kids. She created a new kind of real, not only for herself, but for those around her.So we have to ask ourselves, if something fake can make us feel something real, then what really is the truth? If we still don’t know, then AI certainly won’t either. In the case of VisionQuest, it’s clear that one of the important things needed to make something real is love. The love that Wanda has for her family. The love that these creators have for these stories. And the love that we, as viewers, have for these characters. That’s what makes it all feel real even though we know it’s fiction. And that’s what drives Vision and Tommy to finally recognize each other as father and son. Without love, it will never feel real. And I think—and I hope—that it will remain something that AI in real life will never learn how to replicate.