When Michael Bommer learned he had terminal colon cancer, he and his wife, Anett, often discussed life after his death. At 61, Bommer, a startup entrepreneur, partnered with his U.S. friend Robert LoCascio , CEO of the AI-powered legacy platform Eternos . Within two months, they created an interactive AI version of Bommer, making him the company’s first client.
This scenario feels straight out of Black Mirror. While it offers comfort and a way for Anett to still “talk” with her husband, it also raises potential ethical concerns. People always want their loved ones to live on through memories, videos, and photos.
This might seem less weird in the future when we have digital twins of ourselves appearing on Zoom meetings, as its CEO has suggested will happen in the coming years .
To delve deeper into this intersection of technology and ethics, I’ve highlighted Black Mirror episodes alongside innovative companies. These platforms not only showcase cutting-edge advancements but also echo the potential benefits and ethical dilemmas depicted in the series.
S1, E1, The National Anthem Deepfake Technology A prime minister faces a shocking ultimatum involving a kidnapped princess Synthesia , Reface AI
S1, E2, Fifteen Million Merits Virtual Reality & Gamification In a dystopian future, people earn merits by riding exercise bikes and one man seeks a way out Oculus (Meta), Zwift , Playpulse
S1, E3, The Entire History of You Memory Recording & Augmentation A man uses a device that records everything he sees and hears to uncover the truth about his wife Neuralink , Kernel , MindMaze , Cognixion
S2, E1, Be Right Back AI-Powered Legacy Platforms A woman uses a service to communicate with an AI version of her deceased boyfriend Eternos , Replika , HereAfter AI
S2, E2, White Bear Immersive Experience A woman wakes up with no memory and finds herself in a bizarre, violent situation The Void , Dreamscape
S2, E3, The Waldo Moment Political AI & Digital Influencers A failed comedian finds unexpected success when his cartoon character runs for political office DeepBrain AI , Speechify
S2, E4, White Christmas Advanced Surveillance & AI Assistants Two men in a remote outpost share stories of their lives and the dark technology that connects them Alexa , Face++
S3, E1, Nosedive Social Credit & Rating Systems In a society where social media ratings determine one’s status, a woman becomes obsessed with improving her score Truthify , (All apps with a rating system)
S3, E2, Playtest VR Horror & Simulation A thrill-seeker tests a groundbreaking horror video game, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy Survios , Illumix , Skydance Interactive
S3, E3, Shut Up and Dance Cybersecurity & Ethical Hacking A teenager is blackmailed by hackers who threaten to expose his secrets Pegasus by NSO group
S3, E4, San Junipero Virtual Afterlife & Memory Preservation Two women form a deep connection in a seaside town that holds a mysterious secret Nectome , Somnium Space ,
S3, E6, Hated in the Nation Robotic Bees & Drone Technology A detective investigates a series of murders linked to social media and robotic bees AgEagle
S4, E1, USS Callister Virtual Worlds & Gaming A tech company CTO lives out his space adventure fantasies within a virtual world Unity , Improbable
S4, E2, Arkangel Parental Monitoring & Child Safety Tech A mother uses an implant to monitor her daughter’s every move, with unintended consequences Bark , AngelSense , Owlet
S4, E3, Crocodile Memory Recall & Insurance Investigation A woman tries to cover up a crime, but an insurance investigator uses memory-recall technology to uncover the truth ClearView AI
S4, E4, Hang the DJ AI-Powered Dating Services In a world where a dating system dictates relationships, two people question its validity Hinge, Bumble
S4, E6, Black Museum Criminal Justice & AI A woman visits a museum showcasing notorious crime artifacts with sinister stories Palantir, SoundThinking
S5, E1, Striking Vipers Virtual Reality & Immersive Gaming Two old friends reconnect through a virtual reality game with unexpected consequences Virtuix , VRChat , Ready Player Me
S5, E2, Smithereens Rideshare & Social Media Platforms A rideshare driver takes a tech company employee hostage, sparking a tense standoff Uber, Lyft
S5, E3, Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too AI Companions & Interactive Dolls A lonely teenager bonds with an AI doll based on her favorite pop star, who has her own struggles Aibo , Hanson Robotics , Intuition Robotics
S6, E1, Joan is Awful Global Streaming Platforms An ordinary woman discovers a global streaming platform is depicting her life in a TV drama Netflix
S6, E2, Loch Henry Documentary & Streaming Platforms A young couple travels to a sleepy Scottish town to work on a nature documentary but find themselves drawn to a juicy local story involving shocking events of the past CuriosityStream , Glimmer
S6, E3, Beyond the Sea Space Tech & Virtual Reality In an alternative 1969, two men on a perilous high-tech mission wrestle with the consequences of an unimaginable tragedy SpaceX , Blue Origin
S6, E4, Mazey Day Paparazzi & Social Media Surveillance A troubled starlet is dogged by invasive paparazzi while dealing with the consequences of a hit-and-run incident TMZ , CelebVM , Cameo
S6, E5, Demon 79 Prediction Technology & AI Northern England, 1979. A meek sales assistant is told she must commit terrible acts to prevent disaster Palantir , AI Dungeon
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