AI as an active inhabitant of postmodern life: exploring hyperreality and paranoia in the film 2047 Virtual Revolution

The postmodern age is characterised by extreme paranoia in which we are deceived by artificial intelligence. Digitalisation is a central trope of this age, and hyperreality hinders our view of reality. People live in a simulation world where reality and fiction are no longer distinct. Images have become a reality for them. This research analyses the film 2047: Virtual Revolution in relation to Baudrillard’s concept of hyperreality and its connection to paranoia. It further sheds light on the continuous surveillance of artificial intelligence in people's lives. The film reveals that governments, corporations, and artificial intelligence are collaborating to create simulations for people in the form of virtual games. This simulation can also lead to paranoia when people struggle to adjust to the real world and are unable to distinguish between reality and fiction. AI continuously surveils characters in movies. Their locations, IP addresses, and devices, such as phones, are easily traceable. AI plays a significant role in movies, serving as a powerful and all-knowing character. This study presents a future scenario that warrants further investigation by future researchers from a new perspective. It creates awareness among the masses to be critical of the virtual world in which they are living.