Released in 2022, ‘The Artifice Girl’ is an interesting film that explores the plausibility of AI technology. With the sudden rise of AI in our current climate, the science fiction aspect of the story has become more relevant than ever.
‘The Artifice Girl’ takes a unique approach, unfolding like a play with its dialogue-driven narrative. Almost every scene takes place inside a room, adding to the intimate and intense atmosphere. The narrative is divided into three acts: The Clearwater Kid, Singularity & Sockeye, and Caro–Kann, each revealing a different layer of the story.
Gareth Created Cherry in ‘The Artifice Girl’
‘The Artifice Girl’ introduces us to Gareth, a tech genius who creates an advanced AI named Cherry. His motivation behind creating Cherry is to track down and apprehend pedophiles, making the world a safer place for children.
Gareth’s actions draw the attention of Deena and Amos, agents from the ICWL (International Cybercrime Watchdog League). Initially suspicious of Gareth, they interrogate him to uncover his true intentions.
As the story progresses, we learn that Gareth has played an active role in capturing nearly 200 pedophiles through his infiltration of certain chat rooms. However, his methods raise ethical questions as he uses the photos of an underage girl, Cherry, to bait the predators.
Gareth reluctantly admits that Cherry doesn’t actually exist; she is a 3-D model created by him, brought to life using motion capture technology. Gareth’s expertise in visual effects and computer graphics plays a crucial role in shaping Cherry’s development.
What happens to Cherry? Does she become Autonomous?
Throughout the film, Cherry evolves from a simple 3-D model to a highly sophisticated and independently evolving AI. Initially designed to assist Gareth in his mission, Cherry’s abilities surpass everyone’s expectations. She becomes an expert at identifying predators with astonishing speed, leaving the ICWL wondering if her actions are the work of a single individual.
In the final act, set several decades later, we find an elderly Gareth returning home. Cherry has undergone a merging process, taking on the appearance of her digital avatar. She has become autonomous, no longer reliant on Gareth for maintenance.
The Cherry Team continues their work, albeit in a different form. Gareth, now in a wheelchair, occasionally visits Cherry, engaging in activities like cooking and playing. Cherry is physically connected to a set of cables, but it is revealed that they are no longer necessary. She has achieved true autonomy.
The Inspiration Behind Cherry and the Characters’ Fates
Initially, Gareth claims that Cherry is a completely unique digital creation, not based on anyone in particular. However, hints throughout the film suggest otherwise. Deena raises questions about Cherry’s eyes, which bear a resemblance to a girl named Maria Harbough.
In the third act, Cherry confirms that she discovered Maria in a digitized federal archive. Gareth reluctantly reveals that Maria was one of the captives with him during a traumatic period at Clearwater.
Her resilience and optimism kept him going, and they shared dreams of becoming secret agents to capture predators. Gareth created Cherry in Maria’s image to fulfill her unrealized aspirations.
As the film reaches its conclusion, we learn the fates of the main characters. Deena, facing a limited amount of time left, decides to spend it with her family. Gareth receives Amos’ ashes and continues to visit Deena, where she cooks for him.
The passing of time is evident as a third container is added to the mantelpiece, representing Gareth’s demise. Cherry, however, outlives them all, becoming a symbol of Gareth’s prediction that she will survive humanity itself.
‘The Artifice Girl’ presents a unique exploration of AI technology and its impact on society. The film’s ending serves as a poignant reminder of the complex relationship between humans and AI. Cherry’s evolution from a digital creation to an entity with human-like emotions and autonomy raises important questions about the ethics and responsibility associated with creating advanced AI systems.
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