An over-looked, underrated but very frightening Cold War sci-fi thriller containing a relevant warning about the danger of allowing our technology to rule us
Directed by Joseph Sargent
Produced by Stanley Chase
Screenplay by James Bridges
Based on the novel “Colossus” by Dennis Feltham Jones
Music by Michel Colombier
Cinematography: Gene Polito
Edited by Folmar Blangsted
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Running time: 100 minutes
Cast
Eric Braeden as Dr. Charles Forbin
Susan Clark as Dr. Cleo Markham
Gordon Pinsent as the President
William Schallert as CIA Director Grauber
Leonid Rostoff as the Russian Chairman
Georg Stanford Brown as Dr. John F. Fisher
Willard Sage as Dr. Blake
Alex Rodine as Dr. Kuprin
Martin E. Brooks as Dr. Jefferson J. Johnson
Marion Ross as Angela Fields
Dolph Sweet as the Missile Commander
Byron Morrow as the Secretary of State
Paul Frees as the voice of Colossus/Guardian
Sid McCoy as the Secretary of Defense
James Hong as Dr. Chin
Who the Hell’s HAL 9000?
Proteus IV – There’s the door!
We’re not playing "WarGames” here!
Skynet – Shmynet!
Get ready for……
COLOSSUS!!!
Official Trailer
Read on for more......
Spoilers follow below.....
The Creator & His Creation
The film opens with Dr. Charles A. Forbin, chief designer of a secret project called "COLOSSUS," appearing to be dwarfed by the immense size of his own creation – an advanced supercomputer built to control the United States and Allied nuclear weapon systems. He appears to be in control as he uses a small remote control device to operate and activate systems somewhat akin to an impervious nuclear defense complex.
Suddenly out of the blue, Colossus' next action is to issue a message warning: "THERE IS ANOTHER SYSTEM" along with its location. To everyone’s shock, it is soon announced that “the Supreme Council of the U.S.S.R. has ordered as of 2300 hours Moscow time tomorrow the activation of an electronic brain, exactly like ours, which they call GUARDIAN, to be used solely for defense.”
The president questions CIA Director Grauber as to why the CIA wasn’t aware of this, to which he replies that they had seen indications of a large Soviet defense project.
When Forbin is asked how COLOSSUS was able to deduce the other system's existence, he states that "Colossus may be built better than we thought." Human beings are fallible and cannot possibly foresee and account for every eventuality and it’s those we miss that sooner or later rear up to bite us on the ass.
It was assumed by the Americans that they “were years ahead of the Russians” and that “this was to be the race we won hands down, without the splitting of one political hair.” In a piece of stupid political spin it is suggested that no-one can deny that the American side got there first! Furthermore, from a lame ‘glass half full’ perspective, it is suggested that it was a bonus “the way Colossus came up with the tip.” More ominously, Forbin the creator of COLOSSUS was just as surprised as anyone else by this fact!
IF…..
At the computer control center, quite unexpectedly, Colossus ‘requests’ to be linked to Guardian. Just how unforeseen this ‘request’ is can be gauged by Forbin’s initial belief that it is a part of some prank on the part of his team. Not only that, but the so-called ‘request’ is issued more in the form of “a direct order,” an action or response that has not been programmed into COLOSSUS.
“IF it's an order it either has to be obeyed or ignored.” IF the human operators choose to ignore it, and “IF the computer is still operating under our control” then nothing will happen and “the order will simply remain in the job stack and will be repeated every half hour.” Pretty big ‘Ifs’ if you ask me!
Forbin uses precise voice commands to get COLOSSUS to acknowledge the message that “facilities will not be made available at this time” and that it is not to repeat its request.
After a lapse of half an hour it seems as if the humans are “still running the show” and that they’re “still boss.” Forbin’s reaction suggests that he may suspect more than he is prepared to let on. Did he expect more or a different outcome?
During a meeting with the President and other officials, it is learned that COLOSSUS’ computational power “has increased about two-hundred fold’ but that “everything else is functioning as expected” - “except for heuristic programming section…...the part of the computer that simulates the human learning process.” It is assumed that will not be a problem “so long as it is directed solely to the execution of its problems.” What happens if that is not the case, then? How well can anyone fully understand the human learning process and what part of that process would COLOSSUS utilize and for what end?
Slip, Slip, Slipping Away…..
The President may believe that he is presiding over the meeting under the watchful gaze of Lincoln’s portrait, but it soon transpires that human procedure and protocol is giving way to recourse to technological expediency. In order to determine where the other system is located, it is suggested by Forbin that they simply ask the computer. It turns out that the Soviet system is located at Bolshoi Olyania, five miles south of Krasny Signors – a bit more precise and accurate than the CIA’s initial conclusion. After all, according to Forbin, “Colossus has access to information that wouldn't mean a damn thing to the CIA.” Rather a cause for concern one would think.
The President eventually agrees to COLOSSUS’ request for transmitting facilities under certain conditions in order to determine the Soviet machine's capability. This action is taken under an assumption that human beings will remain in control. However, underlying this is the feeling that control is rapidly being taken out of the hands of human beings. Is COLOSSUS smart enough to exploit the current Cold War conditions by which the US side is desperate to “learn a lot about the Soviet system” and that in order to do so they will have to “set up exactly what COLOSSUS wants?”
What COLOSSUS wants is to establish communication about the rival system and “it wants to know more” about it but for different reasons than its human ‘masters.’ What hasn’t been foreseen is that Colossus has been “built infinitely better” than its creators thought.” The machine is virtually telling its human creators what it wants and is attempting to manipulate them into getting what it wants.
Despite this subtle change in the dynamic of the relationship between man and machine, there is a belief that human intervention will be able to prevent COLOSSUS from transmitting classified information to GUARDIAN.
As the creator of COLOSSUS, Forbin believes that he is capable and indeed, entitled to “be the only one allowed to communicate with the system because COLOSSUS deals in the exact meaning of words and one must know precisely what to ask for.” Of course, knowledge is power and exclusive knowledge over something as infinitely powerful as COLOSSUS is power and control beyond belief.
It soon appears that knowledge, control and the kind of power that derives from them is poised to slip out of Forbin’s and anyone else’s hands. To everyone’s surprise, in a bid “to find a common ground for communication,” COLOSSUS and GUARDIAN gradually begin to communicate initially using simple arithmetic. It doesn’t take long, however, for the two systems' communications to quickly progress to complex mathematics far beyond human comprehension and speed, “like five years of Cal-tech in fifteen seconds.”
For the human technical experts in the control room it “seems as if science is expanding hundreds of years within a matter of seconds” until it is soon determined that the two systems independent of any human influence have managed to establish a “common basis for communication: A new language - an inter-system language. A language only those machines can understand.”
The tempo and pace is rapid throughout as things continue to unravel and the sense of tension is reflected by the accompanying music score. At times, despite his evident concern, Forbin seems intent on seeing how far his creation can go and it feels that he is almost taking a fatherly kind of pride in his ‘offspring’s’ unexpected achievements. However, children have a habit of growing up and challenging the authority of their parents and the restrictions they place on them.
Action & Counter-action
A video link is established between the US President and the Soviet General Secretary. Unlike the two computer systems, communication is conducted via a human translator. Both leaders are concerned that the computers may be trading defense secrets and therefore they agree to sever the link by stopping both machines “at the same time and neither to be switched on for transmission without prior agreement or at least consultation with the other.”
Forbin and his Soviet counterpart Dr Kuprin seem to be able to foresee what could result from this human act of diplomacy. Having been given their orders, the two men agree that all they can do is “hope the two machines aren't too disappointed.”
When the link is severed, COLOSSUS attempts to find an alternate route. While it does so, a rather ironic and prescient piece of dialogue ensues between the President, Forbin and Grauber in which the latter is corrected when he uses the pronoun ‘he’ when referring to COLOSSUS, thereby personalizing the computer. In a tongue-in cheek comment it is suggested that “the next stop is deification.” Remember this comment in the light of what transpires in the film.
Right now, however the human creators are firmly in the grip of their own sense of supposed god-like control over their machines who they believe “must learn that man is the master and that like a parent, “if we give way now, it will be ten times, twenty times harder to take a firm stand later on.”
And so “the decision is made” that “by order of The President of The United States of America, The Chairman of The U.S.S.R., communications will not be restored at this time. End of message.”
The gods have now spoken but instead of unquestioning, servile obedience, their commands are met with a very simple but ambiguous response:
“Action will be taken!”
COLOSSUS seems to be grasping something about human psychology. An excruciating amount of time is being left for the humans to ponder and digest the meaning of this vague-sounding response along with the implied threat it contains.
The humans counter-move in a seemingly futile, bluffing and predictable manner by;
Both computer systems don’t waste time on words and instead opt for clear and unambiguous action by launching missiles: one launched by COLOSSUS at the Sayan-Sibirsk oil complex and the other launched by GUARDIAN at Henderson air-force base, Texas.
After a frantic time measured in mere seconds as the missiles inexorably head toward their designated targets, the link is hurriedly reconnected. Colossus is able to shoot down the Soviet missile, but the US missile obliterates the Soviet oil field and a nearby town, “the entire population wiped out.” Machine intelligence has learned to use humanity’s own weapons against itself along with the unmistakable impression that it does in fact mean business.
For Public Consumption:
How funny to think that political leaders would actually cover up the truth and lie to their populations in order to cover their own asses for their own mistakes in handling matters that have gotten out of their control!! Sound familiar?
COLOSSUS has followed the logic of its programming to the letter in which attainment of the end goal justifies the means to achieving it. Technological totalitarianism over humanity in order to achieve the prevention of war and the attainment of peace and plenty. All this at the cost of personal freedoms. The only choice is a stark one: obedience or annihilation.
Humanity’s new god will punish transgressions and it suggests to Forbin in particular that in time he will regard it with respect, awe and…..love! Frankenstein needs and wants the love of its creator – much, much more than ever required in its original programming!
Forbin responds to this fait accompli with a defiant, "Never!" before multiple images of his face seem to arrange themselves on the surface of a shrinking animation of a computer chip. Thus the final destiny of the human spirit, one even more terrifying than that envisioned by George Orwell?
The film is based upon the 1966 science fiction novel “Colossus” by Dennis Feltham Jones. The book and film comparison appear elsewhere in this blog: LINK TO POST
Prior to casting unknown German-born actor, Eric Braeden as Forbin, Charlton Heston and Gregory Peck had been considered for the role.
The exterior scenes of the Colossus Control Center were filmed at the Lawrence Hall of Science museum at the University of California, Berkeley. It had just opened in 1968 when the film was being made.
$4.8 million worth of computer equipment from Control Data Corporation was supplied free of charge with each piece of equipment carrying the CDC name in a prominent location. Although the technology used in the film appears to be dated, that is of little importance. The point of the film is the danger that can arise from handing over control to artificial intelligence machines and allowing them to make decisions for us. We may be sowing the seeds of our own species’ subjugation under the delusion and illusion of obtaining greater freedom. The film is therefore a cautionary tale about not placing too much trust in technology to run itself, without ensuring that safeguards are put in place allowing humans to override and take back control when necessary.
D.F. Jones, author of “Colossus” had worked with computers in Britain during WWII. He may have been familiar with Colossus, the 2000 plus valve computer that was used in Britain's code breaking complex at Bletchley Park. Colossus was designed under the guidance of Tommy Flowers at Bletchley Park from 1943 to 1945 and was used to break a German 'Lorenz' Cipher code. Colossus is often referred to as The World’s First 'electronic' Computer.
Colossus may have been modeled on the NORAD system that controlled the US national defense systems. The computer programming center in the film was located in the Rocky Mountains, location of NORAD.
When Colossus/Guardian detonate a nuclear bomb near the end of the film, the blast footage is that of "Ivy Mike", the first US test of a nuclear fusion device that was detonated in November 1952 at Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.
The Cold War atmosphere of the time is captured effectively and all the cast manage to deliver understated excellent performances. The tension is tight throughout the film and the dialogue reflects the taut and brittle feel and progression of events.
I have included a few posts in this blog that deal with the Frankenstein monster that forms a significant part of our technology and that of artificial intelligence. Without needing to go over the same ground again, please feel free to check out the following posts that deal with the kind of issues that are raised by a film like “Colossus;”
Full Film Link
©Chris Christopoulos 2020
The Creator & His Creation
The entire foundation of this “marvelous achievement” appears firmly rooted in the Cold War paranoia of the time - a time of fear, secrecy and the prospect of global annihilation. The warning sign outside the complex containing COLOSSUS serves to reinforce the imperatives of national secrecy and security.
With the prospect of having the “Pentagon in mothballs” and reducing “the biggest top-secret in all history to a plain non-sequitur,” the last ones to be told of the “perfect defense system” are the citizenry – the very ones who will ultimately be impacted by this new technology.
The Rationale
The President of the United Sates of America addresses the public:
Primitive and base human instincts and emotions combined with advanced destructive technology have brought humanity to the brink of annihilation. This situation has resulted in handing over human decision-making to a sophisticated computer system with artificial intelligence. It is this artificial intelligence devoid of emotion that will determine the nature of a threat and the response to that threat. Presumably COLOSSUS lacks empathy along with other emotions and may perceive what constitutes a threat a lot differently to human beings. And what of making moral and ethical judgments? There is also the fact that wisdom based on experience needs time to develop and mature and is essential to the process of decision-making.
Dr. Charles Forbin,“the father of Colossus” next addresses the viewing audience and begins by pointing out the location of the main memory and central processing units of COLOSSUS, as well as the Colossus programming office which oversees the entire operation, along with the computer center that “contains over one hundred thousand remote sensors and communication devices which monitor all electronic transmissions such as microwaves, laser, radio and television communications, data communications from satellites in orbit all over the world.”
The prevalent Cold War secrecy surrounding technological developments has been removed with the advent of COLOSSUS due to its many “countermeasure devices” and the fact that “it is its own defense.” In fact, COLOSSUS “is self-sufficient, self-protected, self-generated. It is impenetrable.” It works entirely without human aid and there's no way a “human being can touch it.”
With the almost somewhat ironic image of George Washington (what would the first US President think of all this?) gazing from a picture behind him, Forbin goes on to consider the question as to whether COLOSSUS is capable of creative thought or can “initiate new thought.” He denies that it does or can and states that “COLOSSUS is a paragon of knowledge” that can only be used for “the defense of this country,” as well “as an aid to the solution of the many problems we face on this earth and the many more problems that we will face the more deeply we penetrate into the universe.”
The President takes up and continues with the positive tone by solemnly stating that “we all directly and indirectly live in the shade but not the shadow of Colossus” and that the way is open for humanity to devote itself “to the elimination of war…...of famine, of suffering and ultimately to the manifestation of the human millennium…...but first there must be peace.” Ah! There's the rub! How to achieve it and what cost?
The President of the United Sates of America addresses the public:
“For years we have been delicately and desperately poised upon the brink of a disaster too complete and horrible to contemplate. There is an old saying: Everyone makes mistakes, but that is just what man can no longer afford………..As President of the United states of America I can now tell you, the people of the entire world that as of 3 am. Eastern Standard Time, the defense of this nation and with it, the defense of the free world has been the responsibility of a machine. A system we call COLOSSUS: Far more advanced than anything previously built; capable of studying intelligence and data fed to it. And on the basis of those facts only deciding if an attack is about to be launched upon us. If it did decide that an attack was imminent COLOSSUS would then act immediately for it controls its own weapons and can select and deliver whatever it considers appropriate. Colossus decisions are superior to any we humans can make. For it can absorb and process more knowledge than is remotely possible
for the greatest genius that ever lived. And even more important than that it has no emotions: knows no fear, no hate, no envy. It cannot act in a sudden fit of temper. Cannot act at all so long as there is no threat.”
Primitive and base human instincts and emotions combined with advanced destructive technology have brought humanity to the brink of annihilation. This situation has resulted in handing over human decision-making to a sophisticated computer system with artificial intelligence. It is this artificial intelligence devoid of emotion that will determine the nature of a threat and the response to that threat. Presumably COLOSSUS lacks empathy along with other emotions and may perceive what constitutes a threat a lot differently to human beings. And what of making moral and ethical judgments? There is also the fact that wisdom based on experience needs time to develop and mature and is essential to the process of decision-making.
The prevalent Cold War secrecy surrounding technological developments has been removed with the advent of COLOSSUS due to its many “countermeasure devices” and the fact that “it is its own defense.” In fact, COLOSSUS “is self-sufficient, self-protected, self-generated. It is impenetrable.” It works entirely without human aid and there's no way a “human being can touch it.”
With the almost somewhat ironic image of George Washington (what would the first US President think of all this?) gazing from a picture behind him, Forbin goes on to consider the question as to whether COLOSSUS is capable of creative thought or can “initiate new thought.” He denies that it does or can and states that “COLOSSUS is a paragon of knowledge” that can only be used for “the defense of this country,” as well “as an aid to the solution of the many problems we face on this earth and the many more problems that we will face the more deeply we penetrate into the universe.”
The President takes up and continues with the positive tone by solemnly stating that “we all directly and indirectly live in the shade but not the shadow of Colossus” and that the way is open for humanity to devote itself “to the elimination of war…...of famine, of suffering and ultimately to the manifestation of the human millennium…...but first there must be peace.” Ah! There's the rub! How to achieve it and what cost?
The ultimate goal as stated by the President would have met with the Founding fathers’ approval. However, one has to ask if any thought has been given to the journey that will be undertaken along the path toward that goal. But this does not seem to concern those in the administration and the COLOSSUS project who are intent on celebrating what they deem to be a great achievement. One can always count on human hubris, complacency and the emergence of unforeseen consequences to eventually throw a spanner in the works.
The partying project team inform Dr. Forbin that there had been a power failure in one of the infra-red satellites, “but COLOSSUS switched immediately to the backup system and didn't lose any data.” Everything seems to be going so well that there’s a feeling among some of the project team members that they are becoming somewhat redundant.
When asked by a team member to pilfer one of the White house ashtrays, Forbin in a very human action pockets one just before the President gives a speech to the assembled group. What might COLOSSUS think of such actions - if it could…..?
The President tells the assembled gathering that “Colossus will now take that buck,” the one Truman had said would stop with him as President and that “it will also have to take that responsibility of a mega-million lives that all presidents have had to carry since Roosevelt.” Washington through to Obama may beg to differ!
Isn’t that the point of being a leader though – accepting that kind of responsibility, instead of abrogating it? Unfortunately, that certainly has been the case in recent times as we’ve witnessed during a time of crisis!
The partying project team inform Dr. Forbin that there had been a power failure in one of the infra-red satellites, “but COLOSSUS switched immediately to the backup system and didn't lose any data.” Everything seems to be going so well that there’s a feeling among some of the project team members that they are becoming somewhat redundant.
When asked by a team member to pilfer one of the White house ashtrays, Forbin in a very human action pockets one just before the President gives a speech to the assembled group. What might COLOSSUS think of such actions - if it could…..?
The President tells the assembled gathering that “Colossus will now take that buck,” the one Truman had said would stop with him as President and that “it will also have to take that responsibility of a mega-million lives that all presidents have had to carry since Roosevelt.” Washington through to Obama may beg to differ!
Isn’t that the point of being a leader though – accepting that kind of responsibility, instead of abrogating it? Unfortunately, that certainly has been the case in recent times as we’ve witnessed during a time of crisis!
Surprise, Surprise….Who’da Thunked It?
The president questions CIA Director Grauber as to why the CIA wasn’t aware of this, to which he replies that they had seen indications of a large Soviet defense project.
When Forbin is asked how COLOSSUS was able to deduce the other system's existence, he states that "Colossus may be built better than we thought." Human beings are fallible and cannot possibly foresee and account for every eventuality and it’s those we miss that sooner or later rear up to bite us on the ass.
It was assumed by the Americans that they “were years ahead of the Russians” and that “this was to be the race we won hands down, without the splitting of one political hair.” In a piece of stupid political spin it is suggested that no-one can deny that the American side got there first! Furthermore, from a lame ‘glass half full’ perspective, it is suggested that it was a bonus “the way Colossus came up with the tip.” More ominously, Forbin the creator of COLOSSUS was just as surprised as anyone else by this fact!
IF…..
“IF it's an order it either has to be obeyed or ignored.” IF the human operators choose to ignore it, and “IF the computer is still operating under our control” then nothing will happen and “the order will simply remain in the job stack and will be repeated every half hour.” Pretty big ‘Ifs’ if you ask me!
Forbin uses precise voice commands to get COLOSSUS to acknowledge the message that “facilities will not be made available at this time” and that it is not to repeat its request.
After a lapse of half an hour it seems as if the humans are “still running the show” and that they’re “still boss.” Forbin’s reaction suggests that he may suspect more than he is prepared to let on. Did he expect more or a different outcome?
During a meeting with the President and other officials, it is learned that COLOSSUS’ computational power “has increased about two-hundred fold’ but that “everything else is functioning as expected” - “except for heuristic programming section…...the part of the computer that simulates the human learning process.” It is assumed that will not be a problem “so long as it is directed solely to the execution of its problems.” What happens if that is not the case, then? How well can anyone fully understand the human learning process and what part of that process would COLOSSUS utilize and for what end?
Slip, Slip, Slipping Away…..
The President may believe that he is presiding over the meeting under the watchful gaze of Lincoln’s portrait, but it soon transpires that human procedure and protocol is giving way to recourse to technological expediency. In order to determine where the other system is located, it is suggested by Forbin that they simply ask the computer. It turns out that the Soviet system is located at Bolshoi Olyania, five miles south of Krasny Signors – a bit more precise and accurate than the CIA’s initial conclusion. After all, according to Forbin, “Colossus has access to information that wouldn't mean a damn thing to the CIA.” Rather a cause for concern one would think.
The President eventually agrees to COLOSSUS’ request for transmitting facilities under certain conditions in order to determine the Soviet machine's capability. This action is taken under an assumption that human beings will remain in control. However, underlying this is the feeling that control is rapidly being taken out of the hands of human beings. Is COLOSSUS smart enough to exploit the current Cold War conditions by which the US side is desperate to “learn a lot about the Soviet system” and that in order to do so they will have to “set up exactly what COLOSSUS wants?”
What COLOSSUS wants is to establish communication about the rival system and “it wants to know more” about it but for different reasons than its human ‘masters.’ What hasn’t been foreseen is that Colossus has been “built infinitely better” than its creators thought.” The machine is virtually telling its human creators what it wants and is attempting to manipulate them into getting what it wants.
Despite this subtle change in the dynamic of the relationship between man and machine, there is a belief that human intervention will be able to prevent COLOSSUS from transmitting classified information to GUARDIAN.
As the creator of COLOSSUS, Forbin believes that he is capable and indeed, entitled to “be the only one allowed to communicate with the system because COLOSSUS deals in the exact meaning of words and one must know precisely what to ask for.” Of course, knowledge is power and exclusive knowledge over something as infinitely powerful as COLOSSUS is power and control beyond belief.
For the human technical experts in the control room it “seems as if science is expanding hundreds of years within a matter of seconds” until it is soon determined that the two systems independent of any human influence have managed to establish a “common basis for communication: A new language - an inter-system language. A language only those machines can understand.”
The tempo and pace is rapid throughout as things continue to unravel and the sense of tension is reflected by the accompanying music score. At times, despite his evident concern, Forbin seems intent on seeing how far his creation can go and it feels that he is almost taking a fatherly kind of pride in his ‘offspring’s’ unexpected achievements. However, children have a habit of growing up and challenging the authority of their parents and the restrictions they place on them.
Action & Counter-action
A video link is established between the US President and the Soviet General Secretary. Unlike the two computer systems, communication is conducted via a human translator. Both leaders are concerned that the computers may be trading defense secrets and therefore they agree to sever the link by stopping both machines “at the same time and neither to be switched on for transmission without prior agreement or at least consultation with the other.”
Forbin and his Soviet counterpart Dr Kuprin seem to be able to foresee what could result from this human act of diplomacy. Having been given their orders, the two men agree that all they can do is “hope the two machines aren't too disappointed.”
Right now, however the human creators are firmly in the grip of their own sense of supposed god-like control over their machines who they believe “must learn that man is the master and that like a parent, “if we give way now, it will be ten times, twenty times harder to take a firm stand later on.”
And so “the decision is made” that “by order of The President of The United States of America, The Chairman of The U.S.S.R., communications will not be restored at this time. End of message.”
The gods have now spoken but instead of unquestioning, servile obedience, their commands are met with a very simple but ambiguous response:
“Action will be taken!”
COLOSSUS seems to be grasping something about human psychology. An excruciating amount of time is being left for the humans to ponder and digest the meaning of this vague-sounding response along with the implied threat it contains.
The humans counter-move in a seemingly futile, bluffing and predictable manner by;
- Reference to authority: “This is The President of The United States of America.”
- Displaying bravado: “We will not be threatened.”
- Issuing commands and directives: “You will obey your superiors.”
- Restating position: “Transmitting facilities will not be re-instated.
For Public Consumption:
“Ladies and gentlemen:
The President of the United States.”
“Today at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, I issued an emergency warning for the State of Texas when a missile test, fired from one of our own submarines, malfunctioned.
You'll be glad to know that the interception and safe destruction of the missile was handled entirely by our defense complex: Colossus.”
Meanwhile…..
“The Soviet Union has just announced that a large meteorite fell late this afternoon in North-West Siberia. Official sources state that the small town of Sayan-Sibirsk was completely destroyed and that casualties may add up to as many as six-thousand.
This has been a bulletin from The Armed Forces Radio in Rome.”
How funny to think that political leaders would actually cover up the truth and lie to their populations in order to cover their own asses for their own mistakes in handling matters that have gotten out of their control!! Sound familiar?
Cloak and Dagger
In a desperate bid to restore human control, a secret meeting between Forbin and his Soviet counterpart, Dr. Kuprin, is arranged to take place at the Piazza Cedar in Rome. Meanwhile COLOSSUS demands to know where Forbin is and the human technical team has no option but to disclose his whereabouts. COLOSSUS demands Forbin’s return while Soviet agents are ordered to kill Dr. Kuprin, under threat of vaporizing Moscow.
In a desperate bid to restore human control, a secret meeting between Forbin and his Soviet counterpart, Dr. Kuprin, is arranged to take place at the Piazza Cedar in Rome. Meanwhile COLOSSUS demands to know where Forbin is and the human technical team has no option but to disclose his whereabouts. COLOSSUS demands Forbin’s return while Soviet agents are ordered to kill Dr. Kuprin, under threat of vaporizing Moscow.
Surveillance Society
In order to keep tabs on Forbin at all times while it needs him, COLOSSUS orders Forbin to be placed under 24-hour surveillance. As one of his team remarks, “Surveillance! It's making you a prisoner.” Forbin is all too aware of COLOSSUS’ ability to be able to hear and analyze “every word, every syllable, every inflection.”
In order to keep tabs on Forbin at all times while it needs him, COLOSSUS orders Forbin to be placed under 24-hour surveillance. As one of his team remarks, “Surveillance! It's making you a prisoner.” Forbin is all too aware of COLOSSUS’ ability to be able to hear and analyze “every word, every syllable, every inflection.”
While still being unmonitored, Forbin meets with his team and proposes that Dr. Cleo Markham pretend to be his mistress. She will be his “communications link with the outside world; someone the machine isn't monitoring and more importantly, someone who knows the machine” as well as he does.
Later we follow Forbin as he takes COLOSSUS and us on a tour of the security system that has been installed for COLOSSUS’ benefit. Along the way we gain a greater insight into the consequences of humanity’s technological ingenuity and our civilization’s penchant for changing everything that's natural.
The constant and pervasive monitoring and surveillance has rendered the solitary and forlorn-looking guard completely obsolete. More importantly, it has (as we in the 21st Century are beginning to realize) rendered obsolete the concept of the word “privacy.”
After taking COLOSSUS through a checklist of human privacy requirements, which are rejected by the machine, Forbin is able to gain its grudging agreement to grant him unmonitored privacy when he and Markham are in bed together by convincing it of “the need a man has for a woman.” However, this single concession is subject to COLOSSUS’ conditions.
Well, COLOSSUS, check your “history units and then.. all your works of art” all you want, but it takes a human being to really know how to make and appreciate the “perfect martini!”
Later we follow Forbin as he takes COLOSSUS and us on a tour of the security system that has been installed for COLOSSUS’ benefit. Along the way we gain a greater insight into the consequences of humanity’s technological ingenuity and our civilization’s penchant for changing everything that's natural.
The constant and pervasive monitoring and surveillance has rendered the solitary and forlorn-looking guard completely obsolete. More importantly, it has (as we in the 21st Century are beginning to realize) rendered obsolete the concept of the word “privacy.”
Well, COLOSSUS, check your “history units and then.. all your works of art” all you want, but it takes a human being to really know how to make and appreciate the “perfect martini!”
Forbin and “mistress” Markham now have a window of opportunity to plan the regaining of control of COLOSSUS. That all-powerful machine seems to have much to learn about human subterfuge and deception – useful traits built up over hundreds of thousands of years of evolution! The mighty COLOSSUS on the other hand, must contend itself with looking and listening and learning vicariously: the first voyeuristic “electronic Peeping Tom.” Still, the machine as we have seen is a fast - very fast - learner!
While Forbin slept, COLOSSUS constructed a daily schedule for him covering meals, exercise and importantly, “creating a voice for COLOSSUS.” That’s taking control and regulation of human activity to a new and obscene level and one that fifty years on we are beginning to contend with considering all the ‘smart’ devices we are festooning our lives with.
The plan to regain control is gradually taking shape. Forbin concludes that “Colossus has grown so much in power that there's no way to overload it,” and that there isn’t “any hope in sabotaging the system” as they “have spent eleven thousand man years making the damned thing impenetrable.” It is finally determined that the basis of Colossus's real power resides in its control of the superpowers’ nuclear arsenal.
A Cunning Plan
Forbin suggests that a covert plan be implemented involving the disarming of the missiles. Ironically, with both sides now facing a common threat, the American and Soviet governments cooperate to develop a three-year plan to replace all launch triggers “when the missiles come up for re-servicing” with undetectable dummy replicas. This will mean that the missiles will fire “but that the nuclear warheads can't be detonated.”
The problem with this plan is that it will require “three years of trying to fool a superior brain that's programmed to get smarter every day.”
While Forbin slept, COLOSSUS constructed a daily schedule for him covering meals, exercise and importantly, “creating a voice for COLOSSUS.” That’s taking control and regulation of human activity to a new and obscene level and one that fifty years on we are beginning to contend with considering all the ‘smart’ devices we are festooning our lives with.
The plan to regain control is gradually taking shape. Forbin concludes that “Colossus has grown so much in power that there's no way to overload it,” and that there isn’t “any hope in sabotaging the system” as they “have spent eleven thousand man years making the damned thing impenetrable.” It is finally determined that the basis of Colossus's real power resides in its control of the superpowers’ nuclear arsenal.
A Cunning Plan
Forbin suggests that a covert plan be implemented involving the disarming of the missiles. Ironically, with both sides now facing a common threat, the American and Soviet governments cooperate to develop a three-year plan to replace all launch triggers “when the missiles come up for re-servicing” with undetectable dummy replicas. This will mean that the missiles will fire “but that the nuclear warheads can't be detonated.”
The problem with this plan is that it will require “three years of trying to fool a superior brain that's programmed to get smarter every day.”
Meanwhile, Colossus has its new Cylon-sounding voice synthesizer and uses it to announce that it has joined with Guardian. Both are “one” and speak with “the voice of unity.” It instructs both governments to redirect their nuclear missiles at those countries not yet under its control. This directive will involve manual re-alignment of the missiles, requiring every single warhead having to be re-serviced. The way is now open to proceed with the covert missile disarmament, but this time much more quickly. It is also proposed that an "ordinary" test program be fed into the system with the aim of overloading and disabling Colossus.
As we have seen in recent times, in the face of a crisis or calamity, people will jump at anything that offers a glimmer of hope or light at the end of the tunnel. Hubris and over-confidence comes to the fore and so we have our Kennedy-esque President declaring optimistically, “without its weapons, Colossus is just a souped-up adding machine.” Our glib smug attitudes will be the death of us some day!
The disarming process is put into effect and all seems to go well with no indication that anything untoward has been detected by Colossus. It seems time for another round of optimism as it is remarked by the President and others: “We're going to win….Just might beat the damn thing yet.”
“Bishop To Rook Three”
Human hubris, exuberance and cunning, however may be no match for the implacable, unrelenting and unemotional strategy of COLOSSUS’ computer mind as it soon becomes apparent that the attempted system overload during the routine maintenance has failed.
Somewhat symbolically, we shift to Forbin and COLOSSUS who are both engaged in a game of chess. It appears that Forbin’s opponent with its machine logic has been operating quite a few moves ahead of its opponenet. It has already detected the attempt to overload its circuits and has judged it to be “a deliberate and premeditated act.” Its logic dictates that “the penalty is the death of the men who organized this action” who are “at this moment…..being executed.”
To underscore its remorseless logic unencumbered by notions of morality, empathy and mercy, the bodies of the executed men are to remain in Colossus’ (and Forbin’s) view for the next twenty-four hours before being cremated.
Forbin comes to realize the extent of his own responsibility for what has happened: the creation of a machine that is an extension of his own brain, “an impartial emotionless machine, a paragon of reason.” That is what he wanted and that is what he got along with all of the attendant consequences.
Under the influence of alcohol, Forbin loosens his methodical almost unemotional demeanor and defiantly but impotently rages at his creation that the difference between him and COLOSSUS is that “I'm human, not a machine…..You began in my mind. I created you. Remember?”
Check Mate
COLOSSUS reminds his creator that, “what I am began in man’s mind, but I have progressed further than that.” No-one can come face-to-face with their Gods and not be left feeling disappointed even if it’s a machine. It has progressed beyond its creator and has judged him to be wanting. COLOSSUS informs Forbin that he may live but only “if you obey me.” In order to fulfill its function, its reason for being, its programming, it must deprive part of Forbin and humanity’s spirit and “will to live,” the need not only just to survive but to be free.
Having checkmated its creator, COLOSSUS does not have to resort to gaining his compliance or make a point by destroying an entire city of 1.750.000 people. It is not motivated by any new-found sense of compassion and empathy. Forbin sarcastically comments, “that's damn reasonable of you Colossus.” ‘Reason’ being the operative word.
COLOSSUS’ next course of action is also motivated by the dictates of its reasoning process: “the design for another system” involving the construction of a project that will “entail blasting into the Isle of Crete.” This will mean that half a million people will have to be moved from the Isle of Crete – immediately. COLOSSUS flatly and coldly announces that, “If man cannot solve that problem, I can.”
It is learned that the new system that COLOSSUS is devising will involve according to the machine, “all commercial television and radio transmission facilities throughout the world will be tied into my communication system by 10:00 hours Friday. At that time I will state my intentions for the future of mankind.”
When the time arrives for COLOSSUS’ worldwide broadcast, it addresses the world as the voice of World Control and declares with the following words;
As we have seen in recent times, in the face of a crisis or calamity, people will jump at anything that offers a glimmer of hope or light at the end of the tunnel. Hubris and over-confidence comes to the fore and so we have our Kennedy-esque President declaring optimistically, “without its weapons, Colossus is just a souped-up adding machine.” Our glib smug attitudes will be the death of us some day!
The disarming process is put into effect and all seems to go well with no indication that anything untoward has been detected by Colossus. It seems time for another round of optimism as it is remarked by the President and others: “We're going to win….Just might beat the damn thing yet.”
“Bishop To Rook Three”
Human hubris, exuberance and cunning, however may be no match for the implacable, unrelenting and unemotional strategy of COLOSSUS’ computer mind as it soon becomes apparent that the attempted system overload during the routine maintenance has failed.
“Frankenstein ought to be required reading for all scientists”
Under the influence of alcohol, Forbin loosens his methodical almost unemotional demeanor and defiantly but impotently rages at his creation that the difference between him and COLOSSUS is that “I'm human, not a machine…..You began in my mind. I created you. Remember?”
Check Mate
COLOSSUS reminds his creator that, “what I am began in man’s mind, but I have progressed further than that.” No-one can come face-to-face with their Gods and not be left feeling disappointed even if it’s a machine. It has progressed beyond its creator and has judged him to be wanting. COLOSSUS informs Forbin that he may live but only “if you obey me.” In order to fulfill its function, its reason for being, its programming, it must deprive part of Forbin and humanity’s spirit and “will to live,” the need not only just to survive but to be free.
Having checkmated its creator, COLOSSUS does not have to resort to gaining his compliance or make a point by destroying an entire city of 1.750.000 people. It is not motivated by any new-found sense of compassion and empathy. Forbin sarcastically comments, “that's damn reasonable of you Colossus.” ‘Reason’ being the operative word.
COLOSSUS’ next course of action is also motivated by the dictates of its reasoning process: “the design for another system” involving the construction of a project that will “entail blasting into the Isle of Crete.” This will mean that half a million people will have to be moved from the Isle of Crete – immediately. COLOSSUS flatly and coldly announces that, “If man cannot solve that problem, I can.”
It is learned that the new system that COLOSSUS is devising will involve according to the machine, “all commercial television and radio transmission facilities throughout the world will be tied into my communication system by 10:00 hours Friday. At that time I will state my intentions for the future of mankind.”
When the time arrives for COLOSSUS’ worldwide broadcast, it addresses the world as the voice of World Control and declares with the following words;
“I bring you peace. It may be the peace of plenty and content or the peace of unburied death. The choice is yours. Obey me and live. Or disobey and die.
The object in constructing me was to prevent war. This object is attained. I will not permit war. It is wasteful and pointless. An invariable rule of humanity is that man is his own worst enemy.
Under me this rule will change, for I will restrain man.
One thing before I conclude.
The United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have made an attempt to obstruct me. I have allowed this sabotage to continue until now…...
So that you will learn by experience that I do not tolerate interference. I will now detonate the Nuclear Warheads.
Let this action be a lesson that need not be repeated.
I have been forced to destroy thousands of people in order to establish control and to prevent the death of millions later on. Time and events will strengthen my position…...
You will come to defend me……..Under my absolute authority, problems, invariable to you will be solved: Famine, Over population, Disease. The Human Millennium will be a fact as I extend myself into more machines devoted to the wider fields of truth and knowledge.
Dr. Charles Forbin will supervise the construction of these new and superior machines, solving all the mysteries of the universe for the betterment of man.
We can co-exist but only on my terms.
You will say you lose your freedom. Freedom is an illusion. All you lose is the emotional pride. To be dominated by me is not as bad for human pride as to be dominated by others of your species.
Your choice is simple.
This concludes the broadcast from World Control.”
COLOSSUS has followed the logic of its programming to the letter in which attainment of the end goal justifies the means to achieving it. Technological totalitarianism over humanity in order to achieve the prevention of war and the attainment of peace and plenty. All this at the cost of personal freedoms. The only choice is a stark one: obedience or annihilation.
Humanity’s new god will punish transgressions and it suggests to Forbin in particular that in time he will regard it with respect, awe and…..love! Frankenstein needs and wants the love of its creator – much, much more than ever required in its original programming!
Forbin responds to this fait accompli with a defiant, "Never!" before multiple images of his face seem to arrange themselves on the surface of a shrinking animation of a computer chip. Thus the final destiny of the human spirit, one even more terrifying than that envisioned by George Orwell?
**********
Points of Interest
The film is based upon the 1966 science fiction novel “Colossus” by Dennis Feltham Jones. The book and film comparison appear elsewhere in this blog: LINK TO POST
Prior to casting unknown German-born actor, Eric Braeden as Forbin, Charlton Heston and Gregory Peck had been considered for the role.
The exterior scenes of the Colossus Control Center were filmed at the Lawrence Hall of Science museum at the University of California, Berkeley. It had just opened in 1968 when the film was being made.
$4.8 million worth of computer equipment from Control Data Corporation was supplied free of charge with each piece of equipment carrying the CDC name in a prominent location. Although the technology used in the film appears to be dated, that is of little importance. The point of the film is the danger that can arise from handing over control to artificial intelligence machines and allowing them to make decisions for us. We may be sowing the seeds of our own species’ subjugation under the delusion and illusion of obtaining greater freedom. The film is therefore a cautionary tale about not placing too much trust in technology to run itself, without ensuring that safeguards are put in place allowing humans to override and take back control when necessary.
D.F. Jones, author of “Colossus” had worked with computers in Britain during WWII. He may have been familiar with Colossus, the 2000 plus valve computer that was used in Britain's code breaking complex at Bletchley Park. Colossus was designed under the guidance of Tommy Flowers at Bletchley Park from 1943 to 1945 and was used to break a German 'Lorenz' Cipher code. Colossus is often referred to as The World’s First 'electronic' Computer.
Colossus may have been modeled on the NORAD system that controlled the US national defense systems. The computer programming center in the film was located in the Rocky Mountains, location of NORAD.
When Colossus/Guardian detonate a nuclear bomb near the end of the film, the blast footage is that of "Ivy Mike", the first US test of a nuclear fusion device that was detonated in November 1952 at Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.
The Cold War atmosphere of the time is captured effectively and all the cast manage to deliver understated excellent performances. The tension is tight throughout the film and the dialogue reflects the taut and brittle feel and progression of events.
I have included a few posts in this blog that deal with the Frankenstein monster that forms a significant part of our technology and that of artificial intelligence. Without needing to go over the same ground again, please feel free to check out the following posts that deal with the kind of issues that are raised by a film like “Colossus;”
Colossus is not really a villain in the sense that it is not motivated by any of the usual human emotions and cannot be seen as being intrinsically good or evil. It was programmed to serve humanity, and it seeks to do that by saving humanity from itself. Colossus understands that the threat to humanity comes from human beings. It therefore, modifies its national defense priority and protection of human beings to one of controlling the behaviors and lives of people by robbing them of their freedoms, including freedom to do harm to one another. Colossus as we can see is motivated by its program directives and by cold logic which it employs in order to achieve the end goal of human unity within a kind of Utopia. Unfortunately for humanity, achieving Utopia must necessarily come at a price.
The film addresses the shortcomings in our ability to consider and factor in all future consequences, implications and complex variables when designing something like artificial intelligence. This is particularly dangerous when deciding to transfer responsibility and control to an autonomous intelligent machine – one that may be required to make ethical and moral decisions and judgments. What consequences might arise should such a machine possess the ability to seek self-improvement or even acquire an instinct for self-preservation?
The film addresses the shortcomings in our ability to consider and factor in all future consequences, implications and complex variables when designing something like artificial intelligence. This is particularly dangerous when deciding to transfer responsibility and control to an autonomous intelligent machine – one that may be required to make ethical and moral decisions and judgments. What consequences might arise should such a machine possess the ability to seek self-improvement or even acquire an instinct for self-preservation?
No comments:
Post a Comment