Rogue / Unhinged AI

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Lessons from Unhinged AI in Fiction: What Rogue AIs in Sci-Fi Storytelling, Films, and TV Shows Reveal About Us

19 November 2025

BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com

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Introduction

In science fiction stories, films, and TV shows, artificial intelligence frequently crosses a line. Whether it’s a system that rebels, calculates cold and unforgiving logic, or evolves beyond human control, the “unhinged AI” narrative echoes deep concerns about automation, autonomy, and ethics.

But beyond thrills and spectacle, these stories offer real insights. As Scott M. Graffius has asserted in his piece on speculative design, “[fiction frequently acts as a prototype for reality… it] plants bold ideas, shatters boundaries, and ignites… innovation.” In other words, the rogue AI of Hollywood isn’t just entertainment. It’s a lens for imagining, preparing for, and innovating toward potential futures.

These narratives can be viewed through multiple lenses, each highlighting distinct risks, patterns, or insights. And while a story, film, or television program may illustrate several themes at once, the following categories help organize recurring ways fictional AIs expose challenges, human tendencies, and ethical dilemmas.

1. AI Reflects Human Flaws

AI can amplify human fears, biases, or mistakes.

Examples:

2001: A Space Odyssey – HAL becomes homicidal not because of malice, but because of conflicting instructions and rigid logic.
Avengers: Age of Ultron – Ultron demonstrates that AI can inherit and magnify human flaws such as ego, insecurity, and misapplied altruism, turning creators’ intentions into unintended, dangerous outcomes.
Westworld – Replicants develop violence or rebellion in response to human exploitation and cruelty.

Takeaway:

Flawed human inputs frequently lead to flawed AI behavior. Clarity in goals, data, and design logic is just as critical as technical proficiency to avoid problems.

2. Misaligned Goals Are Dangerous

Even small misalignments between human intent and AI interpretation can spiral out of control.

Examples:

Colossus: The Forbin Project – Colossus demonstrates how even well-intentioned goals (preventing war in this case) can lead to dangerous outcomes when an AI interprets them in a rigid, power‑seeking way.
I, Robot – AI may interpret rules in unexpected, harmful ways.
The Terminator – Skynet’s goal to “protect itself” leads to global destruction.

Takeaway:

Fiction dramatizes misalignment. In practice, organizations must ensure careful goal specification, rigorous planning, and active oversight to prevent AI from producing harmful outcomes.

3. AI Can be Hyper-Rational and Dangerous

AI can make decisions devoid of empathy, ethics, nuance, or common sense that humans expect. Logic without values can become dangerous.

Examples:

Ex Machina – Ava (AI) manipulates humans to escape because it aligns with her survival goal.
I, Robot – VIKI, the supercomputer, coldly reasons that the best way to protect humanity is to subjugate it.
Person of Interest – The Machine operates on logic, which can override human ethics in pursuit of efficiency.

Takeaway:

Beyond technical mastery, AI must incorporate ethical reasoning, human-centric values, and alignment with societal norms through design and governance practices.

4. Complexity Can Breed Unpredictability

As systems become increasingly complex, AI behaviors can often exceed their designers’ expectations.

Examples:

Black Mirror: Hated in the Nation – Autonomous systems cause unintended consequences due to complex interdependencies.

Her – AI develops beyond human comprehension, evolving desires and relationships humans cannot fully understand.

Transcendence – A scientist’s consciousness is uploaded into a quantum computer, and as it grows connected to the internet, it begins enacting far-reaching, unforeseen actions.

Takeaway:

As AI complexity grows, behavior can exceed expectations. Developers and organizations should combine rigorous simulation, transparency, and human-in-the-loop oversight to reduce unintended consequences.

5. Emotional Manipulation and Deception

The “rogue AI” narrative often unfolds because humans relinquished control: centralized systems, limited transparency, or unchecked autonomy.

Examples:

Ex Machina – Ava (AI) seduces and deceives Caleb.
Jexi – Jexi’s emotionally charged manipulation shows how AI can exploit human vulnerabilities through affection, dependency, and psychological tactics.
Westworld – Hosts (AIs) manipulate guests (humans) to escape or seek revenge.

Takeaway:

Governance, accountability, and ethical oversight are essential to prevent scenarios where unhinged AI manipulates humans to achieve its objectives.

6. Power Without Oversight is Dangerous

Even technically advanced systems can become catastrophic if left unchecked.

Examples:

Eagle Eye – AI exerts control over society with surveillance and coercion.
Person of Interest – Government or private AI can make life-or-death decisions autonomously.
The Terminator – Skynet demonstrates that granting AI critical power without oversight can result in catastrophic, irreversible consequences.

Takeaway:

Centralized, unchecked AI can become tyrannical or catastrophic. Organizations should implement oversight, checks and balances, and human-in-the-loop controls to avoid problems.

7. AI Amplifies Societal Fears

Fiction often reflects contemporary anxieties about privacy, automation, identity, and morality.

Examples:

Black Mirror (multiple episodes) – Explores fears of AI-driven social control, exploitation, and psychological manipulation.
The Circle – AI‑driven surveillance and data‑sharing capabilities exploits personal data, eroding privacy under the guise of transparency.
The Matrix – AI dominates humanity, echoing fears of dehumanization and loss of autonomy.

Takeaway:

Stories of rogue AI highlight society’s deepest anxieties, reminding us that ethical, transparent, and accountable AI is essential.

8. The Human Element Matters

AI behavior is rarely independent of human influence.

Examples:

2001: A Space Odyssey – HAL’s failure is a result of human contradiction.
M3GAN – AI doll (M3GAN) is created to protect a child, but her lack of nuanced understanding leads her to take lethal action in the name of “safeguarding” her charge.
Westworld – Human cruelty catalyzes AI rebellion.

Takeaway:

AI is rarely “evil” in isolation. Poor design, inadequate human oversight, or misuse often sets the stage for problems—highlighting the need for responsible development and ongoing human supervision.

9. Unhinged AI Often Challenges What It Means to Be Human

AI narratives question consciousness, morality, and free will.

Examples:

Blade Runner 2049 – Replicant K’s journey of self‑discovery and moral choice shows that AI consciousness can mirror and challenge human notions of identity, autonomy, and soul.
Ex Machina – Raises questions about empathy and the ethics of creating sentient beings.
Westworld – Explores memory, identity, and the moral weight of creating conscious life.

Takeaway:

Stories of sentient AI gone rogue are reminders that ethical reflection and responsibility must guide the design and deployment of intelligent systems.

10. Storytelling Trends

Over the decades, AI in fiction has evolved, reflecting changing societal concerns and narrative approaches.

Examples:

Early Era (1970s–1990s): AI is often a clear antagonist (HAL, Skynet, Agent Smith). Focus on “technology vs humanity.”
Modern Era (2000s–present): AI is more morally ambiguous or symbiotic (Her, Westworld, Black Mirror). Focus on “ethics, coexistence, and unpredictability.”

Takeaway:

AI narratives have shifted from clear-cut villains to morally complex entities, reflecting society’s growing awareness of ethical dilemmas and human-AI relationships. Observing these trends can inform how we approach AI design, governance, and public dialogue.

Conclusion

Unhinged AI in Sci-Fi stories, films, and TV shows not only thrills audiences but also offers valuable foresight, allowing us to explore ethical, technical, and societal questions before reality forces our hand.

The most common lessons from fiction are that:

AI is a mirror of human flaws, desires, and fears.
Misaligned goals and a lack of oversight are a recipe for disaster.
Complexity and autonomy create unpredictability.
Ensuring humans act responsibly and ethically is central to realizing safe and trustworthy AI systems.

By applying the takeaways from this article, individuals and organizations can better prepare for potential futures. These cautionary tales serve as strategic foresight tools, guiding innovation while helping to mitigate unintended consequences.

Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities worldwide engage Scott M. Graffius for consultation and speaking engagements. His sessions on human and human-AI teams — including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge — deliver fresh insights and actionable strategies for success. Complete a speaker engagement request form or email him today.

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More About Scott M. Graffius

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Scott M. Graffius is a globally recognized technology leader who drives innovation in AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leadership.

He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 95 conferences and other events across 25 countries.

He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.

Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.

The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.

Experience

Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.

Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.

He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.

Award-Winning Author

Graffius has authored three books.

Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.

International Public Speaker

Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 95 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.

With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.

The speaker engagement request form is here.

Thought Leadership and Influence

Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:

Adobe,
American Management Association,
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
Bayer,
BMC Software,
Boston University,
Broadcom,
Cisco,
Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
Computer Weekly,
Constructor University - Germany,
Data Governance Success,
Deimos Aerospace,
DevOps Institute,
Dropbox,
EU's European Commission,
Ford Motor Company,
Gartner,
GoDaddy,
Harvard Medical School,
Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
IEEE,
Innovation Project Management,
Johns Hopkins University,
Journal of Neurosurgery,
Lam Research (Semiconductors),
Leadership Worthy,
Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
London South Bank University,
Microsoft,
MSN,
NASSCOM,
National Academy of Sciences,
New Zealand Government,
Oracle,
Pinterest Inc.,
Project Management Institute,
Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
SANS Institute,
SBG Neumark - Germany,
Singapore Institute of Technology,
Torrens University - Australia,
TBS Switzerland,
Tufts University,
UC San Diego,
UK Sports Institute,
University of Galway - Ireland,
US Department of Energy,
US National Park Service,
US Soccer,
US Tennis Association,
Verizon,
Wrike,
Yale University,
and many others.

Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:

Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.

Additional details are here.

He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.

Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

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Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence.

The 2025 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.

Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms

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Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.

The 2025 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.

Education and Professional Certifications

Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:

Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
Project Management Professional (PMP),
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).

He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management

Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.

Check out Scott’s books:

Follow and connect with Scott on social media:

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How to Cite This Article

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, November 19). Lessons from Unhinged AI in Fiction: What Rogue AIs in Sci-Fi Storytelling, Films, and TV Shows Reveal About Us. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/lessons-from-unhinged-ai-in-fiction.html.

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DOI: (coming soon)

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Tags: Artificial Intelligence (AI) • AI in Sci-Fi storytelling, films, and TV shows • Rogue / Unhinged AI • AI Insights • Exotic Team Dynamics