Vision of the Future

The human aspect of technology

The Marvel Cinematic Universe that we know today really had its origins in the first Iron Man movie. We know this because at the conclusion of Iron Man we get our first taste of those legendary end credits. You know, right after Tony Stark famously says, “I am Iron Man” and the credits roll, we are introduced to a cut scene where Nick Fury reveals to Iron man that he is part of a much larger universe. Its from this point on that we are thrust into the Avengers portion of the MCU; a journey that would span 14 years, 22 movies, and several made for streaming offshoots. Through it all, perhaps the most intriguing character of all was there from the beginning in the form of J.A.R.V.I.S.

For those of you who do not know, Tony Stark is one of two prominent scientific geniuses in the MCU Avengers series (Bruce banner being the other). Tony’s father Howard Stark made a fortune and a family legacy as a scientific genius and a US Department of Defense contractor. Despite the pressures and expectations of living in his father’s shadow, Tony would continue the family legacy of supplying technology and weapons to the United States military… and whomever else was willing pay.

                We are introduced very early on to an invention of Tony’s known as J.A.R.V.I.S. This “voice” that we hear is a computer program created by Tony to assist him in his many projects. JARVIS can play the role of butler, security guard, a dictionary, and even a scientific peer to bounce ideas off of. Imagine if Alexa or Siri could integrate and control the many automations of our daily lives and you have JARVIS. Here is a better definition:

Just A Rather Very Intelligent System (J.A.R.V.I.S.) was originally Tony Stark's natural-language user interface computer system, named after Edwin Jarvis, in honor of the butler who worked for Howard Stark and the Stark household.

Over time, he was upgraded into an artificially intelligent system, tasked with running business for Stark Industries as well as security for Tony Stark's Mansion and Stark Tower.

https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/J.A.R.V.I.S.

                In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, JARVIS fills a familiar role that we see in many movies and sagas where our human experience and the nature of our being is often examined…the role of the robot. In Star Trek there is DATA, in Star Wars there is C3PO and R2D2, and in the MCU we have JARVIS. For much of his existence, JARVIS is a playful sidekick for Iron Man but that all changes in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

In the movie Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tony and Bruce Banner collaborate on an artificial intelligence peacekeeping program called Ultron.  Leaving JARVIS to complete the project once the AI structure was complete, things began to go horribly wrong. Ultron began to learn human history, our wars, and our propensity towards violence and decided humanity was the biggest threat to earth. Where have we heard this before?

                JARVIS is attacked by Ultron and JARVIS goes into hiding somewhere in the cyber universe. It is eventually discovered that the only way to defeat Ultron is to bring back JARVIS and give him a body. Armed with the Mind Stone (one of 6 infinity stones) and new cybertronic body we are now introduced to VISION!

Vision becomes one of the more fascinating Avenger characters in my opinion. Set aside the fact that he is played by one of my favorite actors in Paul Bettany, Vision is the embodiment of artificial intelligence struggling to be human. Here is a great line from Vision being spoken to Ultron:

“Humans are odd. They think order and chaos are somehow opposites and... try to control what won't be. But there is grace in their failings. I think you missed that.” – Vision

                We are at a point in history today, in Trumps Cinematic Universe where technology is struggling to find its place in human history. Where exactly does all this technology fit into our lives? Contained as a tool to help automate those menial tasks, computers and robots have helped us tremendously. The problem is that those “tools’ require purpose; a set of programs; a form of artificial intelligence to guide their use. This is where events have gone sideways for mankind and where our JARVIS has been attacked by Ultron.

                Within our ranks, there is a considerable amount of fear and trepidation regarding artificial intelligence. Why wouldn’t there be? Countless movies have illustrated what happens when AI turns on us. Movies like 2001 a Space Odyssey, Terminator, and the HBO series Westworld. The obvious reaction to this is fear; the countermove would be to disconnect completely. This cannot be the answer either.

                Let’s take a look at Twitter for example. If ever there was tool with the capacity for good or evil, it is this. I happen to be a fan of Twitter. I know many of you are not but let me explain. As a means to communicate, interact, and evolve Twitter represents two decades worth of invention and innovation. That is not something easily replicated or easily dismissed.

In the same way that JARVIS had tremendous capacity for good in the hands of Tony Stark, Twitter in the hands of the right people can add tremendous value to our lives. When the technology is driven by the best of what humanity has to offer then it is a force for good. However, what we have witnessed is the corruption of such technology not all that different than Ultron attacking JARVIS. A certain few took it upon themselves to decide what is correct speech and thought, taking it upon themselves to engineer an outcome. Of course, the stated end goal is hard to argue. Ultron wanted peace in our time and to save the earth from mankind and Twitter wanted to save America from the bad Orange man. To them, then end always justifies the means.

                As is the case with many character arcs in the MCU, our hero eventually dies. Vison dies at the hands of Thanos when the Mind stone is removed from his forehead. Surely this cannot be the end of Vision for good, right? The same could be said for Twitter right now. Twitter is dying. Perhaps one of the smartest guys in Trumps Cinematic Universe is seeing to it. Elon Musk exposing the lies and deceitfulness of Twitter and by doing so it will no longer exist as we know it. I hope it is not gone forever but if it is there is another to take its place.

It turns out that Vison was not completely gone. His carcass and his memories were saved and brought back to life in a different form and with power from a different source. The resulting figure was known as Cataract or White Vison. If it turns out that Twitter is forever gone, I am hopeful that Truth Social can pick up where Twitter left off. In Truth Social there is the remnant of Twitter and perhaps even the best memories of Twitter on a platform intended for all. It is clear to me that Twitter was at its best and most powerful when a certain President and his followers were counted among the actual users.  

                The future can be a scary place to envision. The uncertainty of what is to come, the strangeness of new technologies, and the feeling of loss of what once was. But even now, as events are unfolding, I see how humanity (represented by a few heroes and patriots) is swinging the pendulum of events towards good again. Should we fear artificial intelligence? Probably, but that should not keep us from moving forward. The tool that is Twitter is just that…a tool. And what made it great was the people, the interactions, and the potential for even greater good. We infected technology with our humanity, and we will do it again with artificial intelligence, with neurotransmitters, or whatever else the future may bring. It is the human aspect that we bring to our world and to technology that gives me hope. That is my vision of the future.

“I have been a voice with no body. A body but not human, and now a memory made real. Who knows what I might be next?” - Vision

Biernutz_71

5/17/2022

“I would rather die with Christ and hope in my heart and be called a fool than to stand over the dead corpse of the Republic and say I told you so.”