Both the book Fahrenheit 451 and the movie I, Robot explore comparable themes, including independent thought and intellectual freedom, as well as the control exerted by technology. These themes are accentuated by the shared settings and time periods of both works. In I, Robot, there is a distinctive robot named Sunny who stands out due to his ability to think and make independent judgments, which sets him apart from other robots.
In addition to an artificial intelligence called VIKI, which has the ability to evolve and make its own decisions, Sunny and VIKI can think independently and influence their society. This connects to the theme of independent thought and intellectual freedom, as they are able to affect their civilization. The characters in Fahrenheit 451, such as Clarisse, Faber, Beaty, and Montag, also experience changes in society due to their intellectual freedom and independent thought. Moreover, VIKI cleverly manipulates the thoughts of other robots under her control, similar to how Faber and Clarisse inspire Montag to think independently.
All of the characters in both I, Robot and Fahrenheit 451 possess independent thinking abilities, allowing them to fully comprehend thoughts without any limitations. This capability fosters a greater level of understanding. In the novel I, Robot, the society heavily relies on robots whose main function is to serve and protect humans. Similarly, in Fahrenheit 451, technology’s rapid advancement enables machines to exert control over individuals, rendering people increasingly susceptible to its influence. In this dystopian world depicted in Fahrenheit 451, a robotic dog known as the “Hound” holds more power than it provides assistance to firemen; it spies on and eliminates those who grasp the extent of government control and censorship.
Both I, Robot and VIKI demonstrate a parallel theme: the rise of artificial intelligence. In the film, VIKI’s power expands as it takes advantage of all the other robots to manipulate humans. These outcomes become possible due to humanity’s excessive reliance on technology and their surrendering control to it.
