Artificial Intelligence in Popular Culture: Gender, Humanity, and Societal Implications

This paper explores the portrayal of artificial intelligence (AI) in popular culture and its impact on societal perceptions, focusing on films such as Blade Runner 2049, Her, and television series like Westworld. These narratives challenge traditional notions of gender, identity, and humanity, reflecting contemporary anxieties and ethical dilemmas related to AI's integration into society. By utilizing frameworks such as Judith Butler's theory of gender performativity and posthumanist perspectives, the study examines how AI characters in Blade Runners 2049 and Westworld disrupt binary ideas of gender and personhood. Additionally, the paper discusses the role of AI in reinforcing or challenging neoliberal ideologies, highlighting how virtual worlds created by technology manipulate emotions, memories, and identities to maintain the status quo. Through an analysis of AI's representation in media, this paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on the social and ethical implications of AI technologies and their role in shaping future societal norms.