The Horizon Guide to AI(2018)

Documentary looking at the perception of AI from 1964 to the present day. Can we be optimistic about all that AI can deliver - or fearful of its ability to control our lives?

The Horizon Guide to AI traces artificial intelligence through six decades of BBC science programming, from 1964 to the present day. The documentary reveals a recurring cycle: each new technology arrives with utopian promise, triggers public anxiety about machines replacing humans, then settles into everyday acceptance before the pattern repeats. For decades, scientists pursued the dream of AI-powered humanoid robots—a goal that seemed within reach until an unexpected development shifted the landscape entirely. Today, AI systems are woven into smart technology that shapes our daily routines. As we grapple with genuine concerns about AI's power and control, the Horizon archive asks whether we'll enter the next decade with optimism about AI's potential or fear of its influence over our lives.