Science Fiction and Film Fanatics: AI, Memory & the Meaning of Companionship

Robot & Frank (2012)

Set in a not-so-distant future, Frank, a retired jewel thief struggling with memory loss, is given a humanoid robot by his son to help with daily tasks. Initially resistant, Frank soon realizes the robot’s potential as an accomplice for one last heist. As their unlikely friendship grows, the film explores themes of aging, autonomy, and the role of artificial intelligence in human lives. A heartwarming and thought-provoking story about companionship, technology, and what it means to remember.

1. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

• Publication Date: July 13, 2021
• Length: 160 pages | Audiobook: ~4 hours, narrated by Em Grosland
• Summary: In a peaceful post-industrial world, a traveling tea monk meets a robot named Mosscap—the first to return from the wilderness since AI left human society centuries ago. Mosscap only has one question: What do people need? This heartwarming and philosophical novella explores purpose, identity, and the connection between humans and machines.

2. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

• Publication Date: March 2, 2021
• Length: 320 pages | Audiobook: ~10.5 hours, narrated by Sura Siu
• Summary: Klara, an Artificial Friend designed to be a companion for children, observes the world from her position in a store, eagerly hoping to be chosen. When she is finally purchased by a sickly girl named Josie, Klara's deep devotion leads her to seek ways to "help" her human companion, even as she grapples with the limits of her understanding. A touching and thought-provoking novel about love, loneliness, and AI consciousness.

3. Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan

• Publication Date: April 18, 2019
• Length: 336 pages | Audiobook: ~11.5 hours, narrated by Billy Howle
• Summary: Set in an alternate 1980s Britain, this novel follows Charlie, who purchases one of the first synthetic humans, Adam. As Adam integrates into society, his presence complicates relationships and raises moral dilemmas about free will, ethics, and what it truly means to be human. A provocative exploration of AI, love, and the consequences of playing god.

Additional Movies Related to the Theme:

1. Bicentennial Man (1999)

• Summary: Based on an Isaac Asimov story, this film follows Andrew, an AI servant who gradually gains self-awareness and desires to become fully human. It explores the evolution of AI and what it means to be alive.

2. Her (2013)

• Summary: A lonely writer forms a deep emotional bond with an advanced AI operating system named Samantha. This film examines the nature of love, consciousness, and human connection in a digital age.

3. The Iron Giant (1999)

• Summary: A heartwarming animated film about a young boy who befriends a massive robot with a mysterious past, raising themes of friendship, choice, and what it means to be a hero.