Long before there was WOPR/Joshua of WarGames, Skynet of The Terminator, or The Matrix, there was the 1970 classic science fiction film, Colossus: The Forbin Project. Based on the novel Colossus by D.F. Clark and a screenplay by Oscar Winner James Bridges (The China Syndrome), it stars Eric Braeden (Titanic, The Young and the Restless) and Susan Clark (Webster). You will likely recognize quite a few of the supporting cast including one of the most prolific actors in Hollywood who is still going strong, James Hong (Everything Everywhere All at Once, Big Trouble in Little China, Kung Fu Panda).
While the technology and other elements are definitely dated and the pacing isn't what most modern audiences are used to, the vision isn't far at all from what some of the key architects behind AI and many of the world's scientists have cautioned about: the danger to humanity when AI become self-aware.
We are currently very close to AI being beyond the computing ability of most humans, and very soon, its capacity may surpass all humans. Are we ready for where that might lead...?
The description below from Rotten Tomatoes does contain a bit of a spoiler if you haven't seen it before. But, there are still plenty of surprises.
Tucked away in a secret location in the Rockies, Dr. Charles Forbin (Eric Braeden) has developed a massive computer system, dubbed "Colossus," that is supposed to ensure the nation's safety against nuclear attack. But when Colossus connects to a similar Russian computer, "Guardian," the intelligent machines begin conducting a private dialog. Nervous as to what they might be plotting, Forbin severs the connection, only to have Colossus threaten a nuclear attack if the link isn't restored.
