[Bbanggubneun Tajagi] Love and Friendship in the Age of Advanced Technology Between Humans and AI Robots

Kazuo Ishiguro 'Klara and the Sun'

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The science fiction (SF) film "Blade Runner," considered a classic depicting the coexistence and conflict between humans and machines, was a box office failure when it was released in 1982. This was because its content was too far ahead and disconnected from the interests of people at the time.

"The Matrix" is the most successful SF film dealing with the discourse between humans and machines. The fourth installment is scheduled to be released at the end of this year. When the first series of "The Matrix" was released in 1999, public interest in the future of humanity brought about by technological advancements was very high. This was due to the millennial fears.

In the 21st century, as the artificial intelligence (AI) industry has greatly advanced, programs or machines have gradually replaced humans in various industries and workplaces. Robots handle everything from simple cleaning to cutting-edge surgeries. Even in the media, robot reporters and AI anchors deliver the news. Now, movies or novels featuring AI robots no longer need to be labeled as SF.

What will the future look like? Will humans and machines live as complementary beings? The novel "Klara and the Sun" tells the story of a robot indistinguishable from humans in intelligence, emotion, and appearance living alongside humans. It is a new work published four years after Japanese-British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2017. It is a story about the love and friendship between a teenage girl named Josie, who is going through growing pains, and Klara, an AI robot called an "AF (Artificial Friend)."

The setting is a small town in the United States. Here, AFs upgraded through AI technology are continuously produced. Genetic engineering technology is also advanced, allowing human intelligence to be genetically enhanced. The author calmly portrays, through Klara's perspective, the humanization and limits of AI robots with self-awareness, as well as humans' desire to mechanize themselves to possess intelligence as outstanding as AI robots.

Klara enjoys watching the outside world from the AF store window. She likes to contemplate alone while observing cars on the road, people on the sidewalks, various objects, and the movement of the sun. Her ability to read human thoughts or infer events is superior to other AFs. Josie takes a liking to Klara and persuades her mother to bring Klara home.

Klara's love for Josie is pure and even agape-like. Josie faces an uncertain fate due to the side effects of genetic modification and may die at any time. Klara prays to the sun, which she believes to be omnipotent, to heal Josie. However, the sun does not grant Klara's wish. In response, Klara risks her own performance degradation and even destroys a robot at a construction site emitting harsh exhaust fumes, hoping the sun will be impressed and grant her wish.

Klara's ultimate goal is for Josie to regain her health and live happily with her boyfriend Rick. Readers understand well that Klara is programmed to do so. However, Klara only infers that this must be the feeling of love that humans possess.

On the other hand, humans appear cold and selfish. Josie also cares for Klara, but the intensity of her affection varies depending on her emotions, health condition, and surrounding relationships. When Josie finally recovers and leaves to attend college, the farewell scene with Klara feels even cruel. Like a grown girl putting away a now childish toy in a corner of the storage, Josie parts ways with Klara.

Josie's mother agreed to bring Klara home mainly to replace Josie if she died. The mother encourages Klara to imitate Josie's words and actions. She even plans to create a figure that exactly resembles Josie's appearance and dress Klara in it. Klara senses that even if she perfectly imitates Josie, she cannot become a real human due to the "gaze" humans have toward her.

Klara meets her end in a junkyard piled high with discarded AFs. Yet, Klara is happy. "I'm so glad Josie is happy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.