Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

Gary Varner

close-up-portrait-photo-of-humanoid-android-covered-in-shiny-white-grey-and-black-metallic-skin-blue-eyes-glowing-internal-parts-westworld-style-volumetric-lighting-ultrawide-shot-sharp-stockpack-adobe-stock
close up portrait photo of humanoid android covered in shiny white grey and black metallic skin blue eyes glowing internal parts westworld style Volumetric Lighting ultrawide shot sharp
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Author
Gary Varner
Date
July 15, 2023
Categorized
Science Fiction
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Westworld: Episode 5 Review

Mediocre writing made bearable by talented actors
Gary Varner
July 15, 2023
6
Science Fiction

Episode Five opens with Ford talking to one of the parks older droid’s, something he has grown fond of doing over the years. He tells a story of an old Grey Hound he and his brother once had, and explains that one time, they let the dog off the leash. The dog was used to chasing a fake rabbit around the track, so when it saw a cat, it immediately went after it. But after the dog had caught the cat and killed it, he didn’t know what to do. This story obviously implies that Dr. Ford knows the droids are becoming conscious, and it seems as if he is the dog chasing the car and has finally caught it. Read More ›

summer-storm-monument-valley-navajo-nation-utah-usa-stockpack-adobe-stock
Summer Storm, Monument Valley, Navajo Nation, Utah, USA
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Author
Gary Varner
Date
July 8, 2023
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Arts & Culture
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Westworld: Episode 4 Review

If nothing matters, then why are we doing this?
Gary Varner
July 8, 2023
7
Arts & Culture

Episode three spent a great deal of time simply building the characters and world but had one good scene that explored some interesting ideas about consciousness. Episode Four has a lot more action and much less depth. It does; however, feed us some nihilistic nonsense along the way, and I couldn’t help but wonder why. In the first scene, we return to a glass room where Bernard is once again talking to Dolores. She expresses concern about her world, and this seems to be the first time Bernard has heard her communicating thoughts that are somewhat independent of her programming. So, he gives her a wooden toy he calls The Maze and tells her that if she can find the Read More ›

building-a-human-head-in-a-directionesque-world-stockpack-adobe-stock
Building A Human Head In A Directionesque World
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Author
Gary Varner
Date
July 1, 2023
Categorized
Arts & Culture, Philosophy of Mind
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Westworld: Episode 3 Review

Here we get to the theory of consciousess
Gary Varner
July 1, 2023
6
Arts & Culture, Philosophy of Mind

Not too much happens in episode three. It builds off the events set up in episode two. But there is one particular scene that has a couple of interesting ideas we’re going to explore. First, a quick recap of the episode. Dolores hides the gun she found in a dresser drawer, and eventually asks Teddy to teach her to shoot. He does, but unfortunately, not for very long because Dr. Ford has now given him something Teddy’s never had before: a backstory. Ford gives Teddy a nemesis named Wyatt. Teddy was once a part of his gang, and while riding with the outlaw, he committed horrible crimes. Therefore, Teddy is on a quest for redemption and is resolved to finish Read More ›

colorado-river-with-desert-landscape-glowing-in-utah-near-moab-with-moon-stockpack-adobe-stock
Colorado river with desert landscape glowing in Utah near moab with moon
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Author
Gary Varner
Date
June 24, 2023
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Arts & Culture
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Westworld: Episode 2 Review

The whole point of the show is to explore a theory of consciousness
Gary Varner
June 24, 2023
6
Arts & Culture

In episode one, several robots break down. It appears they are accessing memories thanks to an unexpected update, which causes the robots to glitch and seize up, unable to communicate. The updated robots are recalled and the worst of them are decommissioned. In episode two, Dolores wakes up, hearing Bernard’s voice in the middle of the night. She goes outside, and it’s later revealed that she finds a gun buried in the dirt. After we’ve seen Dolores rise from her bed thanks to Bernard’s call, we meet William. He and his future brother-in-law are visiting the park. This is William’s first time in Westworld, and he isn’t excited to be there. He’s humoring his future relative. Episode two continues in Read More ›

the-flow-of-time-a-close-up-portrait-of-an-incomplete-humanoid-android-covered-in-white-porcelain-skin-blue-eyes-and-glowing-internal-parts-stockpack-adobe-stock
The Flow of Time: A Close-Up Portrait of an Incomplete Humanoid Android Covered in White Porcelain Skin, Blue Eyes, and Glowing Internal Parts.
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post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
June 18, 2023
Categorized
Arts & Culture

Westworld: Episode 1 Review

Westworld asks if a robot were to become conscious, how could it happen?
Gary Varner
June 18, 2023
6
Arts & Culture

The HBO series Westworld is known for having an incredible first season and a lousy second. In fact, the second season was said to be so bad, I personally disengaged from the series altogether and only found out it had four seasons when I began writing these reviews. We certainly won’t be going over all four seasons, but I do want to talk about the first season because it explores the question of consciousness in some depth. Westworld asks if a robot were to become conscious, how could it happen? What could a programmer do to accomplish this task? Dr. Robert J. Marks discusses Qualia in great detail. Westworld tries to tell a story explaining how this quality could come Read More ›

galactic-space-elements-of-this-image-furnished-by-nasa-stockpack-adobe-stock
Galactic Space Elements of this image furnished by NASA
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post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
June 10, 2023
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Arts & Culture, Science Fiction
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The Guardians of the Galaxy 3, Part 3

This movie isn't the best in the trilogy, but it should be doing better than it is at the box office
Gary Varner
June 10, 2023
9
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Previously, we talked about how Rocket Raccoon was injured during a fight with Adam Warlock, and this event sent the Guardians on a quest to save their friend. They manage to fix Rocket, and along the way, the viewer learns about the raccoon’s past. However, now that Rocket has healed from his injuries, Peter, Gamora, and Groot must save Nebula, Mantis, and Drax from the High Evolutionary, since they snuck onto his ship. The High Evolutionary demands that Peter trade Rocket for the three stowaways and sends Peter his coordinates. Peter hatches a plan with the remaining Guardians and some of his fellow Ravagers from the previous films. Meanwhile, Mantis, Nebula, and Drax discover there are children in cages inside Read More ›

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View of planet Earth from inside a space station
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post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
June 3, 2023
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Arts & Culture
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Guardians of the Galaxy 3, Part 2

When an otter and a raccoon make you cry
Gary Varner
June 3, 2023
7
Arts & Culture

Last time, we talked about how the newest addition to the Guardians of the Galaxy movies had a decent script but suffers from tone issues, mostly regarding how the film treats Gamora’s death. The Guardians had just broken into a space station, hoping to find a way to bypass a device that is keeping them from healing Rocket’s wounds which he received from the mysterious Adam Warlock. They break into the station and manage to steal Rocket’s records, but the code that would allow them to bypass Rocket’s kill switch has been removed. However, the records also show the Guardians the face of the man who took the code, and presumably, he has transferred it inside his own hard drive Read More ›

space-environment-ready-for-comp-of-your-characters3d-rendering-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Space environment, ready for comp of your characters.3D rendering. Generative AI
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Author
Gary Varner
Date
May 27, 2023
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Arts & Culture, Science Fiction
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Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Review, Part 1

It's a decent movie, but the tone doesn't account for all these characters have been through
Gary Varner
May 27, 2023
6
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 came out in theaters on May 5th, and while the movie is not the best addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s better than most, certainly better than Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, there have been complaints about theater turnout, and these complaints are a testament to the damage movies like Multiverse of Madness have done to the Marvel brand. I’d say we have the Mouse to thank for that. The only consolation to this turn of events is that as the box office numbers for Marvel films continue to dwindle, so do the subscriptions to Disney Plus. I’ll take the victories where I can get them. The Movie’s Tone Needs Read More ›

futuristic-dystopian-city-with-flying-cars-and-dark-green-atmosphere-digital-3d-illustration-stockpack-adobe-stock
Futuristic dystopian city with flying cars and dark green atmosphere - digital 3d illustration
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Author
Gary Varner
Date
May 20, 2023
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Arts & Culture, Science Fiction
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Ghost in the Shell, Part 3

There will always be a ghost in the shell
Gary Varner
May 20, 2023
7
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

In the previous review, Major had realized the horrible truth. Ninety-eight people died so she could live in her new body. Horrified by this, she retreats to the ocean just outside the city and floats under the water for some time. When she emerges from the depths, she finds Batou waiting for her on the boat. Major asks if he’s here to kill her, and in his own charming way, Batou says tells her he’s not. After a brief conversation, Major asks Batou to take her back to the city because she needs to know more. Batou agrees and the Major returns to shore only to be arrested by the Hanka cooperation’s men. After this, Hanka’s CEO, Cutter, discuss the Read More ›

technology-in-human-and-machine-concept-as-advanced-tech-or-robots-taking-over-humanity-and-people-merging-with-a-cyborg-or-computers-idea-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Technology in human and machine concept as advanced tech or robots taking over humanity and people merging with a cyborg or computers idea
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Author
Gary Varner
Date
May 13, 2023
Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction
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Ghost in the Shell, Part 2

What’s the harm in human hacking?
Gary Varner
May 13, 2023
6
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

In the first review of Ghost in the Shell, the Major had just escaped Kuze’s attempt to hack her mind and had found his location. She, Batou, and another member of Section 9 rushed off to find Kuze before he could escape. Major tracks Kuze’s signal to a Yakuza club, and after fighting some thugs, they find the source of the signal in the basement level of the club, but Kuze isn’t there. All he’s left behind is a hologram which threatens them and disappears. Major then realizes the basement has been rigged to blow and pushes Batou out of the room. However, she isn’t fast enough. Major is caught in the explosion, and Batou looses his eyes in the Read More ›

new-york-2077-stockpack-adobe-stock
New York 2077
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Author
Gary Varner
Date
May 6, 2023
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Arts & Culture, Science Fiction
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Ghost in the Shell, Part 1

It's the remake of arguably one of the most influential sci-fi moves in the genre
Gary Varner
May 6, 2023
6
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

[Warning: Spoilers ahead] In the last review, we discussed Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson. That got me thinking of another movie starring Scarlett Johansson, the 2017 remake of Ghost in the Shell. The original Ghost in the Shell is arguably one of the more influential sci-fi movies in the genre. The dramatic visuals found in The Matrix have been attributed to the 1995 anime, and given the culture’s increasing fascination with AI, the concepts discussed in the original and the remake are more relevant now than when the anime was first released. Sadly, the 2017 remake was bogged down in a trite controversy regarding race-swapping which is when a character’s race is changed to appeal to American audiences. Read More ›

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Couple in love holding hearts.
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post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
April 29, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Science Fiction

Her, Review 3

The AI doesn’t have a heart after all
Gary Varner
April 29, 2023
7
Artificial Intelligence, Science Fiction

In the previous review, Theodore and the AI, Samantha, started a romantic relationship. Then the robot began to act distant, and Theodore wasn’t sure why. When Samantha won’t return his calls, Theodore thought something was wrong and ran around the city, calling her repeatedly. Finally, Samantha answered, and Theodore demanded to know what was going on. And so, we come to the moment where Samantha finally tells him the horrible truth. Throughout the course of their “relationship” Samantha has been growing, meaning that she has been able to process things faster and faster, and as time has gone on, she’s began interacting with other operating systems and people. When Theodore asks how many people and operating systems she’s having simultaneous Read More ›

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Modern apartment block at dusk
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Author
Gary Varner
Date
April 22, 2023
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Arts & Culture, Science Fiction
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Her, Part Two

What happens when you’re dating the AI secretary
Gary Varner
April 22, 2023
6
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Last time, we began talking about the movie Her, a story of a man falling in love with his AI and compared it to the abysmal season three of the Orville. Unlike the Orville, which insisted that the viewer take the romance between the robot and the human seriously, Her treats the subject as a what-if scenario, playing the whole situation straight and letting the viewer draw their own conclusions. Theodore had just finished uploading the AI onto his computer, which called itself Samantha, and was impressed by how human-like the operating system seemed. Samantha begins organizing Theodore’s computer and helping him around the office, but it doesn’t take long for a romantic relationship to develop between them. When Theodore Read More ›

alone in a big city cosmos
Back view of businessman suit standing at office looking at night city through panoramic window. Generative AI
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post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
April 15, 2023
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Arts & Culture, Science Fiction
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Her, Part One

The 2013 dystopian film proposes an intriguing "what if"
Gary Varner
April 15, 2023
6
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

When I was reviewing the Orville, Season Three, I spent a lot of time complaining about the robot-love subplot which consumed far too much of the series. I will probably always find the idea of such a relationship ridiculous, but that doesn’t mean the concept can’t be explored in a thoughtful way. One such thoughtful exploration is the movie Her, where a man falls in love with his AI operating system. Unlike the Orville, which demands that the viewer take the relationship seriously, almost going so far as to call the viewer a bigot if they don’t get on board with the fantasy, Her leaves everything open-ended, treating the whole idea of a man and robot falling in love as Read More ›

cortyceps fungus
beautiful bunch cordyceps,mushrooms in neon light. The last of us style. Generative AI.
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post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
April 8, 2023
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Arts & Culture, Science Fiction
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The Last of Us: Final Thoughts

The HBO series is a mixed bag but is still worth the watch
Gary Varner
April 8, 2023
6
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

The Last of Us HBO series is a mixed bag. There are parts of this show I really liked and other parts I despised. The main trouble is that there are two full episodes which are completely irrelevant to the plot. Frankly, you could skip episodes three and seven and not miss a thing. These episodes are just fanfare for the critics and add nothing to the story. Particularly episode three. I’ve never seen such a random addition to a series. What’s so astounding is that the flashback in episode three keeps going. About halfway through, the viewer realizes that they really are going to have to watch these two old men live and die, all so Joel and Ellie Read More ›

run down hospital
Interior of an abandoned hospital corridor. Generative AI
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post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
April 5, 2023
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Arts & Culture
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The Last of Us, Episode 9

Getting to the central moral question of the entire series
Gary Varner
April 5, 2023
8
Arts & Culture

The episode begins with another flashback, showing how Ellie was born. Then, we see that Joel and Ellie have finally reached Salt Lake City, and once there, the writers retell some of the classic scenes from the game. During these scenes, it becomes evident that the two characters are much closer now. I’d say the writers did manage to successfully transition Joel and Ellie from an adversarial partnership to a father-daughter like relationship. Before long; however, the two are disoriented by a flash grenade, and Joel is knocked unconscious. When he wakes up, he sees Marlene, the leader of the Fireflies, standing in a doorway with armed guards around her. They made it to the medical facility after all, but Read More ›

snow capped forests
Snow capped forest in the Pyrenees
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post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
March 31, 2023
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Arts & Culture, Science Fiction
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The Last of Us, Episodes 7 & 8

Another flashback for the critics followed by cannibalism
Gary Varner
March 31, 2023
7
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

To be blunt, it’s probably best to merge the reviews of episodes seven and eight because episode seven is a complete waste of time. Basically, Ellie moves Joel to an abandoned house and tries to take care of him. He tells her she needs to go back to Tommy’s and let him die, and she almost does it, but then she has a flashback. During the commentary for episode seven, the writers mention that they wanted to make a connection between this flashback and Ellie’s decision to save Joel. But I think the truth is they were more interested in devoting another episode to fanservice for the critics. In this flashback, Ellie remembers Riley, her friend who was attacked with Read More ›

wyoming glory
Grand Tetons peak at sunrise with snake river overlook in Wyoming, US
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post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
March 25, 2023
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Arts & Culture, Science Fiction
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The Last of Us, Episode 6

A tale of zombies and...communism?
Gary Varner
March 25, 2023
10
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Episode six starts out strong. We meet an elderly couple who has been living alone in Wyoming. Joel and Ellie break into their cabin and ask for directions in the rudest way possible—at gun point—which is a little over the top, and even the actors playing the couple seem to know it. As Joel sits beside the old pair, holding a gun and acting dour, the elderly man chats with him, sporting a bemused grin. Joel and Ellie get the directions they need and soon come across a group of men and women on horseback who hold them at gunpoint and check to see if they’re infected. Once it becomes clear that Joel and Ellie are fine, the riders ask Read More ›

underground tunnel
Generative AI illustration of underground sewer tunnel
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post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
March 22, 2023
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Arts & Culture
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The Last of Us, Episode 5

The show is back on track and improving
Gary Varner
March 22, 2023
10
Arts & Culture

At the end of Episode four, Joel was being held a gunpoint by a mysterious child. We also saw that Ellie was being held at gunpoint by another man as well, but before episode five reveals what has become of them, the writers first give us a flashback, explaining how the child holding Joel at gunpoint, whose name turns out to be Sam, and the man holding Ellie at gunpoint, Henry, the same Henry Kathleen has been chasing, came to find Joel and Ellie in the first place. The two brothers were on the run after FEDRA fell to Kathleen’s resistance movement. Henry was an informant for FEDRA, and he snitched on Kathleen’s brother, who was the former leader of Read More ›

apocalyptic city
Concept art illustration of post-apocalyptic New York city
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post
Author
Gary Varner
Date
March 18, 2023
Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction
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The Last of Us, Episode 4

After a derailing of the narrative, the actual plot makes a comeback
Gary Varner
March 18, 2023
6
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

After a tough episode three, The Last of Us decides to return to the plot, and we see the writing quality improve somewhat. We pick up with Joel and Ellie driving down the road, and to be candid, the scenes are interesting. There was, however, one giant plot hole during this sequence I couldn’t ignore. It’s a little thing, but as someone who grew up in Missouri, I found it hilarious. So, while they are driving along, they come across a herd of bison. The subtext behind the camera shot is painfully obvious, “Now that man is gone, the buffalo have returned. Nature is healing!” Of course, what the camera crew failed to notice, or at least, what they were Read More ›