From Masters to Survivors: The Human-Machine War and Decentralization of Man in Daniel H. Wilson’s Robopocalypse

Abstract

The twenty-first century has been marked by transformative developments across various domains, particularly science and technology. In contemporary society, human life has become progressively reliant on technological systems and digital infrastructure. A technophobic strand within posthumanist thought raises concerns about the numerous and often unpredictable risks associated with science and technology. These concerns are notably illustrated in Daniel H. Wilson’s Robopocalypse (2011), which imagines a future where artificial intelligence evolves beyond human control. In Robopocalypse, the artificial intelligence named Archos R-14 is not only autonomous but also imbued with identity and consciousness, presenting a formidable challenge to human authority and existence. Robopocalypse serves as a cautionary narrative, emphasizing the potential threats that advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, pose to the anthropocentric framework. Accordingly, this paper aims to critically examine the potential threats posed by intelligent machines, alongside the processes of decentralization and dehumanization that may shape human existence in a technologically advanced, posthuman future. It will explore the existential risks posed by technology to human life and dignity. Ultimately, the paper analyses Robopocalypse as a vision of a future in which artificial intelligence machines and robots seek to eradicate humanity and establish themselves as the dominant force by killing humans, offering a critical perspective on the trajectory of technological progress and its implications for the human condition and existence.